Wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum)
Wild radish is a major weed of winter crops in southern and eastern Australia and Western Australia.
Profile
How does this weed affect you?
Wild radish can cause substantial crop yield reduction, seed contamination and tainting, and make combine harvesting difficult. Wild radish is relatively unpalatable to stock and can be toxic if ingested. Wild radish is also an alternative host or reservoir for a number of pathogen and insect pests of grain crops.
What does it look like?
Wild radish is an annual or biennial upright herb 15 - 100 cm tall. It has white or pale yellow flowers up to 4 cm in diameter and with 4 petals. Leaves are green to blue green, 15-20 cm long and rough to touch. The dry fruit are 1–5 cm long and 3–5 mm wide and are constricted between seeds. Wild radish has a slender taproot up to 1.6 m long.
Where is it found?
Wild radish is widespread across NSW from coastal regions to the far west. It is native to Europe.
How does it spread?
Most seed is spread by contaminated hay and grain. It can also spread by wind, water and sticking to hooves, machinery, vehicles, footwear and clothing.
References
Parsons, W.T., & Cuthbertson, E. G. (2001). Noxious weeds of Australia. CSIRO publishing.
PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 17 March 2021 from https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Raphanus~raphanistrum
More information
Control
Herbicide options
WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
See Using herbicides for more information.
2,4-D amine 625 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 800 mL–1.1 L/ha
Comments: Apply to rosettes before flowering.
Withholding period: 7 days withholding for grazing
Herbicide group: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
Resistance risk: Moderate
2,4-D LV ester 680g/L
(Estercide® Xtra)
Rate: 800 mL per ha
Comments: Boom spray application, up to rosette stage
Withholding period: Do not graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
Resistance risk: Moderate
MCPA 500 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 1.0 L/ha
Comments: Apply to rosettes before flowering.
Withholding period: Do not graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Biosecurity duty
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.
| Area | Duty |
|---|---|
| All of NSW | General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. |
For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.
Reviewed 2018
