Biology, distribution and management of the globally invasive weed <i>Solanum elaeagnifolium</i> Cav (silverleaf nightshade): A global review of current and future management challenges

Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav (silverleaf nightshade) is a deep-rooted, multi-stemmed, perennial, herbaceous woody plant that has been observed to threaten agricultural and native biodiversity worldwide. It widely agreed without efficient integrated management, S. will continue cause significant economic environmental damage across multiple scales. estimated the annual impact of in Australia exceeds AUD $62 million, with this figure likely be much higher other countries invaded by plant. can also tolerate high level abiotic stress survive range temperatures (below freezing point 34°C) areas an average yearly rainfall between 250 600 mm. Its extensive deep taproot system capable regenerating asexually its many seed dispersal mechanisms; it quickly spread establish itself within region. This makes containment management species especially challenging. Previous largely focused on biological control, competition, essential oils, grazing pressure, herbicide application manual removal. Despite large available techniques, there little success long-term control elaeagnifolium, only handful methods such as oils have shown reasonable for controlling weed. Therefore, review aims synthesise identified potentially useful approaches recorded literature which deal biology, distribution management. explores previous current techniques ascertain research gaps knowledge required assist effective economically sustainable invasive