Invasiveness Assessment - Dodder (Cuscuta spp.) in Victoria (Nox)

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Plant invasiveness is determined by evaluating a plant’s biological and ecological characteristics against criteria that encompass establishment requirements, growth rate and competitive ability, methods of reproduction, and dispersal mechanisms.

Each characteristic, or criterion, is assessed against a list of intensity ratings. Depending upon information found, a rating of Low, Medium Low, Medium High or High is assigned to that criterion. Where no data is available to answer a criterion, a rating of medium (M) is applied. A description of the invasiveness criteria and intensity ratings used in this process can be viewed here.

The following table provides information on the invasiveness of Dodder.

A more detailed description of the methodology of the Victorian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) method can be viewed below:

Victorian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) method (PDF - 630 KB)
Victorian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) method (DOC - 1 MB)
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Common Name: Dodder
Scientific name: Cuscuta spp.

Question	Comments	Reference	Rating
Establishment
Germination requirements?	Seeds germinate in spring, summer and autumn, but mostly in late spring.	P & C (1992)	MH
Establishment requirements?	Requires host. Can grow in shade (Khanna et al 1976).	* See DAS (2976) p. 3	MH
How much disturbance is required?	Establishes in minor disturbed natural ecosystems (e.g. riparian), as well as vigorously growing crops.	Carr et al (1992) P & C (1992)	MH
Growth/Competitive
Life form?	Twinning parasitic annual herbs – climber/creeper.		ML
Allelopathic properties?	None described.		L
Tolerates herb pressure?	Consumed by herbivores – unsure of response/palatability. P & C (1992).	Morsesyan & Azaryan (1973)	M
Normal growth rate?	Rapid growth rate = to Orobanche aegyptiaca/ramosa. Zerman & Saghir (1995).	Abu-Irmaileh & Thanabi (1998)	MH
Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc?	Tolerant of drought (occurs in Sonoran desert), frost (occurs in Finland). Small seed would aid long distance dispersal. Also presumably water logging (occurs in riparian habitats) – host tol. Of w/1.	GRIN Carr et al (1992)	MH
Reproduction
Reproductive system	Reproducing by seed. Can also produce new individuals by asexual means.	P & C (1992) DAS (1976)	H
Number of propagules produced?	“Seed production is prolific and up to 16,000 seeds have been recorded from individual plants”.	P & C (1992)	H
Propagule longevity?	Seeds may remain dormant in the soil for at least 5 years. “Many (seeds) will remain dormant in the soil for years". As long as 10 years according to Menke (1954) (cited in DAS 1976). Stated to remain viable for > 60 years. (Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Ag. Fisheries and Food)	P & C (1992) Robbins et al (1951)	MH
Reproductive period?	Annual. Monoculture not formed because requires presence of host plant.	P & C (1992)	L
Time to reproductive maturity?	Seeds may be set when plants are only 3 weeks old.	P & C (1992)	H
Dispersal
Number of mechanisms?	Farm equipment, water, animals, (external & internal).	P & C (1992) DAS (1976)	MH
How far do they disperse?	Can be transported “great distances”. Such as: “Seeds of dodder pass through animals in a viable state and seedlings have been observed growing in droppings of cows, sheep, goats and kangaroos. Seeds are also known to be spread in mud on the feet of birds”	DAS (1976) P & C (1992)	H

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