DNA Fingerprinting to Improve Data Collection Efficiency and Yield in an Open-Field Host-Specificity Test of a Weed Biological Control Candidate

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 429-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian G. Rector ◽  
Alessio De Biase ◽  
Massimo Cristofaro ◽  
Simona Primerano ◽  
Silvia Belvedere ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
Open Field ◽  
Collection Efficiency ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Weed Biological Control ◽  
Yellow Starthistle ◽  
Field Bioassay ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Test Plants

AbstractAn open-field test was conducted in southern France to assess the host-specificity of Ceratapion basicorne (Illiger), a candidate for biological control of yellow starthistle. Test plants were infested by naturally occurring populations of C. basicorne but were also exposed to sympatric herbivore species, including other Ceratapion spp. Insects from the test plants were collected directly into tubes of ethanol and were subsequently identified to species according to DNA sequence similarity with morphologically identified reference specimens. This integrated, morphological and molecular identification method was used in an effort to maximize the amount of data gained in the field bioassay and to minimize the number of taxonomist–hours necessary to complete the study. The results obtained showed that the French C. basicorne population only attacked yellow starthistle and cornflower, another known host of C. basicorne. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the insects collected from all other nonhost plants rejected the possibility that any were C. basicorne.

Postrelease Evaluation of Mecinus janthinus Host Specificity, a Biological Control Agent for Invasive Toadflax (Linaria spp.)

Weed Science ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nehalem C. Breiter ◽  
Timothy R. Seastedt
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Weed Biological Control ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Mecinus Janthinus

Toadflax invasion into natural areas has prompted interest in weed management via biological control. The most promising biological control agent currently available for the control of Dalmatian toadflax is Mecinus janthinus, a stem-boring weevil that has been shown to significantly reduce toadflax populations. Some land managers, however, are reluctant to release approved weed biological control agents based on concerns about possible nontarget impacts. Few postrelease examinations of biocontrol impact and host specificity have been performed, despite the call for such information. This study examined the host specificity of Mecinus janthinus, postrelease, in relation to Colorado sites to provide information to managers about its relative safety as a weed biological control agent. This study employed three components: (1) greenhouse choice and no-choice experiments; (2) no-choice caged field experiments; and (3) release-site evaluation of nontarget use of native plant species where this weevil has been released and has established. Both greenhouse and field experiments failed to demonstrate nontarget use of native plant species by M. janthinus in the region where it was studied, even in no-choice starvation tests. We found no evidence of nontarget herbivory on native plants growing at toadflax sites where M. janthinus was well established. These results support the continued use of M. janthinus as a low-risk biological control agent for the management of toadflax in the Rocky Mountain Front Range.

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