Evaluation of Rust Fungi as Biological Control Agents of WeedyCentaureain North America

Weed Science ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 34 (S1) ◽  
pp. 7-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan K. Watson ◽  
Michel Clement
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Spotted Knapweed ◽  
Cultivated Land ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Yellow Starthistle ◽  
Russian Knapweed ◽  
Centaurea Repens ◽  
Diffuse Knapweed ◽  
Asteraceae Family ◽  
Introduced Weeds

FourCentaureaspecies, diffuse knapweed (C.diffusaLam. # CENDI, spotted knapweed (C.maculosaLam. # CENMA), yellow starthistle (C.solstitatilisL. # CENSO), and the closely related Russian knapweed [Acroptilon repens(L.) DC. syn.Centaurea repensL. # CENRE] are serious introduced weeds which infest extensive areas of pasture and rangeland in Canada and the United States (1, 10, 14, 17, 18, 26, 30). Russian knapweed and yellow starthistle are also troublesome in cultivated land (1, 14, 26). These four species are members of the Cardueae tribe of the Asteraceae family and have been accidentally introduced from Eurasia as contaminants in crop seed.

Distribution of Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) and Russian Knapweed (Centaurea repens)

Weed Science ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald M. Maddox ◽  
Aubrey Mayfield ◽  
Noah H. Poritz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Importance ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Centaurea Solstitialis ◽  
Yellow Starthistle ◽  
Russian Knapweed ◽  
Centaurea Repens ◽  
The World ◽  
Made In

The world distributions of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L. ♯ CENSO) and Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens L. ♯ CENRE) are mapped based on information from world regional floras. A survey of weed specialists and herbaria was made in the United States, and the extent of the infestations and economic importance of these weeds was determined for the 48 contiguous states. Yellow starthistle currently occurs in 209 counties in 23 states and has apparently increased in abundance since 1970. Russian knapweed was reported in 412 counties in 21 states and does not seem to be spreading. Both of these weedy plant species are of greater economic importance in the western United States than in the east.

Elaiosomes on Weed Seeds and the Potential for Myrmecochory in Naturalized Plants

Weed Science ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 615-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W. Pemberton ◽  
Delilah W. Irving
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Leafy Spurge ◽  
Spotted Knapweed ◽  
Canada Thistle ◽  
Weed Seeds ◽  
Naturalized Plants ◽  
Bull Thistle ◽  
Diffuse Knapweed

Seeds of plants naturalized in the United States were examined for the presence of elaiosomes. Seeds of 47 species belonging to 13 families (Asteraceae, Boraginaceae, Dipsacaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Fumariaceae, Lamiaceae, Liliaceae, Poaceae, Polygonaceae, Resedaceae, Rosaceae, and Solanaceae) were found to have elaiosomes, indicating that these species are probably mymecochorous, i.e., dispersed by ants. These include important rangeland weeds such as bull thistle, Canada thistle, musk thistle, diffuse knapweed, spotted knapweed, and leafy spurge. Myrmecochory in naturalized species may enhance their weediness in areas where they are established and assist their colonization of new and relatively closed communities.

FIRST REPORT OF THE DISPERSAL INTO MONTANA OF UROPHORA QUADRIFASCIATA (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE), A FLY RELEASED IN CANADA FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF SPOTTED AND DIFFUSE KNAPWEED

1985 ◽  
Vol 117 (8) ◽  
pp. 1061-1062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jim M. Story
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
British Columbia ◽  
The United States ◽  
Flower Head ◽  
The Other ◽  
Centaurea Maculosa ◽  
Spotted Knapweed ◽  
European Origin ◽  
Mature Flower ◽  
Diffuse Knapweed

Two tephritid flies of European origin have been introduced into North America for biological control of spotted knapweed, Centaurea maculosa Lam., and diffuse knapweed, C. diffusa Lam. One, Urophora affinis Frauenfeld, was released in British Columbia in 1970 and in 5 states, including Montana, in 1973 (Hanis 1980a; Maddox 1979; Story and Anderson 1978). The other, Urophora quadrifasciata (Meigen), was introduced at Ned's Creek, British Columbia but was not released in the United States. The larvae of both flies induce galls (1 larva/gall) in immature knapweed flower heads and thus reduce seed production. Galls of Urophora affinis occur in the flower-head receptacle whereas galls of U. quadrifasciata are in the ovary wall. In contrast with U. affinis, which has only a partial second generation, U. quadrifasciata normally has 2 complete generations per year, induces thinner galls, and attacks more-mature flower heads than does U. affinis (Harris 1980a).

THE BIOLOGY OF CANADIAN WEEDS.: 43. Acroptilon (Centaurea) repens (L.) DC.

1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 993-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. WATSON
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Cultivated Land ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
Perennial Weed ◽  
Russian Knapweed ◽  
Centaurea Repens

Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens (L.) DC.) is an introduced persistent perennial weed species which is commonly found in cultivated land in western Canada and infrequently in southern Ontario. The weed is characterized by its extensive root system, relatively low seed production, and persistence. Cultural, chemical and biological control strategies of the species are reviewed. This summary of the biological information of Russian knapweed is presented as part of a series on the biology of Canadian weeds.

Seasonal dynamics of Urophora quadrifasciata on spotted knapweed in the Arkansas Ozarks

2009 ◽  
Vol 141 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dagne Duguma ◽  
Timothy J. Kring ◽  
Robert N. Wiedenmann
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
The United States ◽  
Spotted Knapweed ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Three Generations ◽  
Northern United States ◽  
Arkansas Ozarks

AbstractPeriodic sweep-net sampling and capitula sampling were conducted between April and October 2007 to determine the seasonal phenology of Urophora quadrifasciata (Meigen) (Diptera: Tephritidae) on spotted knapweed, Centaurea stoebe subsp. micranthos (Gugler) Hayek (Asteraceae), in the Arkansas Ozarks of the United States of America. Urophora quadrifasciata produces up to three generations in Arkansas, rather than being bivoltine as in the northern United States of America. The first, second, and third generations of U. quadrifasciata reached peak adult numbers around 26 May, 29 June, and 27 July, respectively. Males tended to emerge earlier than females but the female:male ratio was approximately 1:1 for most of the season. The majority of the offspring of the three generations emerged between June and October, while approximately 38% entered diapause and emerged as adults in April-June of the following year; 3.4 ± 0.1 (mean ± SE) (range 1–12) flies emerged from each infested capitulum. The absence of other, competing knapweed biological control agents as well as very low rates of parasitism, mild weather conditions, and a longer knapweed growing season likely contributed to the adaptation and establishment of U. quadrifasciata on spotted knapweed in Arkansas.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Infection of Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) by Synchytrium solstitiale, Causal Agent of False Rust Disease

Plant Disease ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. Widmer ◽  
F. Guermache
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
The United States ◽  
Carthamus Tinctorius ◽  
Centaurea Solstitialis ◽  
Yellow Starthistle ◽  
Rust Disease ◽  
Invasive Weed ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Centaurea Calcitrapa

Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) is an annual invasive weed in the United States with Mediterranean origins. The expense of chemical control and the vast area of invasion make this weed an appropriate target for classical biological control. Observations of a field site in southern France revealed small orange galls on the leaves of yellow starthistle seedlings caused by the fungus Synchytrium solstitiale. Inoculation of yellow starthistle seedlings with a suspension of zoospores released from infected tissue resulted in infection. Ten days after inoculation, typical orange galls appeared on the exposed tissue. Preliminary host range testing showed up to 100% infection of C. solstitialis seedlings from both France and the United States and infection of Carthamus tinctorius, Centaurea americana, C. diffusa, C. rothrockii, C. squarrosa, and Helianthus annuus seedlings. No symptoms were observed on seedlings of Centaurea calcitrapa, C. maculosa, C. sulfurea, Cirsium californica, C. occidentale, Cynera cardunculus, and Taraxacum officinale. Zoospores were released in a pH range between 4.45 and 8.25 and optimally at temperatures between 5 and 15°C. Infection of yellow starthistle seedlings occurred after a minimum 1-h exposure to a zoospore suspension at 20°C.

Geographic Patterns of Interspecific Hybridization between Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) and Diffuse Knapweed (C. diffusa)

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy C. Blair ◽  
Ruth A. Hufbauer
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
North American ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Spotted Knapweed ◽  
The North ◽  
Hybrid Swarms ◽  
Hybrid Plants ◽  
Introduced Range ◽  
Diffuse Knapweed ◽  
A Site

AbstractHybridization between species has the potential to change invasion dynamics. Field observations suggest that spotted knapweed and diffuse knapweed, two ecologically and economically destructive invasive plants, hybridize in their introduced range. As a first step towards understanding whether hybridization has affected the dynamics of the invasion of these species, we conducted field surveys in the introduced (North American) and native (European) ranges to discern patterns of hybridization and measured fitness-related traits among field hybrids and parental species. In North America we detected plants with hybrid morphology in 97% of the diffuse knapweed sites (n= 40); such hybrid plants were taller and more often exhibited polycarpy than plants with typical diffuse knapweed morphology. Hybrids were not detected in North American spotted knapweed sites (n= 22). In most regions surveyed in Europe, diffuse knapweed and spotted knapweed were isolated from each other and existed as distinct, nonhybridizing species. However, in Ukraine, the two species frequently coexisted within a site, resulting in hybrid swarms. On average, the plants from the North American diffuse knapweed sites (including plants with both diffuse and hybrid morphology), were larger than the apparently pure diffuse knapweed in the native range. The cross-continental patterns of hybridization likely are explained by differences in cytology. It recently has been confirmed that the spotted knapweed in North America is tetraploid whereas the diffuse knapweed is diploid. Genetic incompatibilities associated with these two cytotypes likely prevent ongoing hybridization. We hypothesize that hybrid individuals were introduced to North America along with diffuse knapweed. Because plants with hybrid morphology are found in nearly all North American diffuse knapweed sites, the introduction of hybrids likely occurred early in the invasion of diffuse knapweed. Thus, although the presence of hybrids might facilitate the ongoing invasion of diffuse knapweed into North America, elevated concern regarding their presence might not be warranted. Because such individuals are not likely to represent a new hybridization event, currently effective management strategies used in diffuse knapweed sites should not need alteration.

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