Due to its long germination period and producing seeds that remain viable in the soil for many years, the prickly paddy melon weed has caused approximately $100 million in agriculture revenue losses annually – impacting grain yields, cattle deaths, and control measures. The good news is that researchers have just discovered its potential to revolutionise the construction industry.   

Researchers at the University of South Australia (UniSA) evaluated 50 native plants and weeds, identifying the prickly paddy melon as a source of cost-effective urease enzymes, which can be used to heal cracks in cement. According to UniSA geotechnical engineer Professor Mizanur Rahman, these enzymes showed superiority over commercial alternatives when extracted and processed, offering a more sustainable solution for cement production and soil stabilisation. 

This discovery marks a significant step toward addressing environmental concerns and creating innovative solutions for industries grappling with sustainability challenges, using a once troublesome weed as a resource for sustainability.   

Professor Rahman and his students collected the paddy melon weed from roadsides in Port Pirie in South Australia. Seeds of the paddy melon were then crushed, and enzymes extracted to create a highly concentrated powder through a freeze-drying process. This innovative technique significantly reduced cementation time from one week to six hours. 

Process from start to finish – picking the melons, extracting the seeds and the final powder form (Image: University of South Australia).

Beyond construction, mining, and forestry, paddy melon enzymes could be beneficial for environmental conservation. The enzymes could also reduce herbicide use in industries like forestry, providing an eco-friendly solution to manage weed growth. Indigenous communities dealing with soil erosion issues on Native Title lands, could also stand to benefit from this research. 

“I believe we have found a win-win solution that helps not only farmers, but also offers a natural cementation option for several industries and may help traditional owners protect or rebuild land that they manage," said Professor Rahman in a press release.  

While these findings offer a promising breakthrough, researchers emphasise the need for further exploration prior to large-scale industrial implementation.  

Images in this article were supplied by the University of South Australia.

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