Wandering trad (Tradescantia fluminensis) is an herbaceous groundcover native to South America that has become a significant environmental weed of temperate and sub-tropical regions of south-eastern Australia, with hotspots of invasion in moist forests of eastern NSW, south east Queensland and the Dandenong Ranges region of Victoria.

The leaf-smut fungus Kordyana brasiliensis was discovered on wandering trad during surveys in Brazil performed by researchers at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa. This exploratory research was part of the biocontrol program for this weed in New Zealand, led by Landcare Research.

CSIRO has been involved in research on wandering trad biocontrol since 2014. The risk assessment that was the basis of the application to seek permission for the release of the leaf-smut fungus in Australia was financially supported by CSIRO and the Australian Government’s National Environmental Research/Science Programme administered by the Department of the Environment and Energy.

Following its approval as a safe biocontrol agent for wandering trad, it was first released in the field in Australia in March 2019.

Research to develop optimal protocols for field release of the fungus and subsequent releases in the Dandenong Ranges region of Victoria in partnership with the community was co-funded by CSIRO and the Australian Government under the Improving Your Local Parks and Environment Program administered by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science and supported by the Community Weeds Alliance of the Dandenongs.

Between July 2020 to June 2023, CSIRO facilitated releases of the fungus across the range of wandering trad in New South Wales with funding from the NSW Environmental Trust.

Further information on previous research is available here: https://research.csiro.au/wandering-trad/previous-research/

This Trust-funded project has been reinvigorated and will continue to June 2026. Further details on the current project is available here: https://research.csiro.au/wandering-trad/current-research/