The potentially serious weed three-horned bedstraw has been detected for the first time in the central wheatbelt when its seeds were identified in a grain sample from a property west of Merredin.

The Department of Agriculture, Western Australia was alerted by Cooperative Bulk Handling (CBH) and has examined further samples from the property to confirm the weed seeds as three-horned bedstraw (Galium tricornutum).

The property has been quarantined and the Department has commenced tracing seed, machinery and stock movements with other properties over the past five years to determine where the weed originated and if it has spread.

Department weed scientist Jon Dodd said CBH would collect samples from grain deliveries to bins in the Merredin region this harvest to identify whether bedstraw occurred on any other properties.

Grain from the quarantined property would be delivered securely for export.

Dr Dodd said bedstraw was a competitive climbing plant similar to cleavers that formed dense masses of tangled vegetation in crops, along fence lines and in wasteland.

“Bedstraw is a major weed of crops in south-eastern Australia and could become a serious problem in WA if allowed to spread in crops.  It can be controlled by herbicides in cereal and legume crops, but is more difficult to control in canola,” Dr Dodd said. 

“The most recent infestation in WA was detected near Darkan in 2003 where an ongoing eradication program is in place on four properties.”

Three-horned bedstraw is a declared weed in WA (P1, P2 schedule). This classification prohibits the movement of contaminated machinery. Contaminated produce including livestock and fodder may not be imported and all plants found must be destroyed.

Dr Dodd said Department staff would carry out surveillance of the quarantined property and any other linked properties in the 2005 growing season when bedstraw plants were visible in crops or pastures.

"If present, bedstraw plants will be fully developed by next September. They have a straggly, scrambling or climbing habit, with weak, branched stems up to one metre long," he said.

Colour photos to aid identification are included in Farmnote 97/96 ‘Bedstraw’ and Farmnote 87/96 ‘Cleavers’ available from Department district offices and on the Department's website at www.agric.wa.gov.au

Suspect samples of bedstraw can be taken to the nearest office of the Department of Agriculture for identification or posted to AGWEST Plant Laboratories, Locked Bag 4, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983.

The Department is continuing to working closely with CBH, and will keep growers fully informed as new information arises.

Photo: Biosecurity officers Graham Blacklock, Kojonup (left) and Ted Knight, Mt Barker, show characteristics of approximately 2-month-old bedstraw plant found in barley.