Chondrostereum purpureum as an inundative biological control agent for invasive woody weeds in New Zealand

Chondrostereum purpureum is a basidiomycete fungus that is being investigated as an inundative biological control agent for invasive woody weeds This study was conducted to assess the susceptibility of seven species of weeds to C purpureum The species that were inoculated in this trial were broom (Cytisus scoparius) gorse (Ulex europeaus) buddleia (Buddleja davidii) Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa) hawthorne (Crataegus monogyna) poplar (Populus trichocarpa) and willow (Salix matsudana) Two isolates of C purpureum and a control were used and were each replicated 12 times All plants were potted and the trial took place under nursery conditions Mortality and canker size were measured 6 months after inoculation Data were analysed using SAS The highest mortality (50) was recorded for broom with one isolate but very little mortality was observed across the other species A highly significant weed by isolate interaction was observed with regards to lesion length with weed species susceptibility varying with respect to one of the C purpureum isolates Hawthorn and willow had greater lesion lengths after inoculation with the same isolate that had caused mortality in broom The results from this trial are being used to direct a larger field trial

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Biological Control of Pear Valsa Canker Caused by Valsa pyri Using Penicillium citrinum

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae7070198 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (7) ◽

pp. 198

Author(s):

Hongbo Yuan ◽

Bingke Shi ◽

Tianxiang Huang ◽

Zengqiang Zhou ◽

Li Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Antifungal Activity ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Disease Incidence ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Control Agent ◽

Penicillium Citrinum ◽

Lesion Length ◽

Dual Culture ◽

Valsa Canker

Valsa canker caused by Valsa pyri is one of the most destructive diseases of commercial pear. For the present analysis, 29 different endophytic fungal strains were isolated from the branches of a healthy pear tree. In dual culture assays, strain ZZ1 exhibited robust antifungal activity against all tested pathogens including Valsa pyri. Microscopic analyses suggested that following co-culture with ZZ1, the hyphae of V. pyri were ragged, thin, and ruptured. ZZ1 also induced significant decreases in lesion length and disease incidence on detached pear branches inoculated with V. pyri. ZZ1 isolate-derived culture filtrates also exhibited antifungal activity against V. pyri, decreasing mycelial growth and conidium germination and inhibiting V. pyri-associated lesion development on pear branches. These results suggest that the ZZ1 isolate has the potential for use as a biological control agent against V. pyri. The strain was further identified as Penicillium citrinum based on its morphological characteristics and molecular analyses. Overall, these data highlight a potentially valuable new biocontrol resource for combating pear Valsa canker.

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Population Dynamics of Broadleaf Weeds in Turfgrass as Influenced by Chemical and Biological Control Methods

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-06-144 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 55 (4) ◽

pp. 371-380 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Mohammed H. Abu-Dieyeh ◽

Alan K. Watson

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Population Dynamics ◽

Weed Control ◽

Seed Bank ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Control Agent ◽

Weed Species ◽

Early Autumn ◽

Herbicide Treatment ◽

Broadleaf Species

A 3-yr field study was conducted to determine the effect of a biological control agent,Sclerotinia minorJagger, and a common herbicide, Killex, on the population dynamics of dandelion and other broadleaf species and on the dandelion seed bank. Treatments were applied as one spring, one early autumn, or a spring plus an early autumn treatment per year. The response of the dandelion population to a spring herbicide treatment was similar to two applications per year (spring and early autumn). Significantly less dandelion control occurred after the first early autumn application of the herbicide. Two weeks after application, spring or early autumn treatments withS. minorwere equally effective in suppressing dandelions. In the second year of the two applications per year ofS. minortreatment, weed control was equivalent to the herbicide. By the third year of the one spring application ofS. minor, weed control was equivalent to the herbicide. Generally over the study period, the early autumn application ofS. minorwas less effective than the spring or the spring and early autumn applications. TheS. minortreatments significantly reduced the dandelion seed bank, and this effect was not significantly different from the Killex herbicide treatment. The rate, frequency, and seasonal timing of application had no effect on the dandelion seed-bank size, but terminating the application would gradually replenish the seed bank. Populations of white clover, broadleaf plantain, birdsfoot trefoil, and common ragweed were similarly suppressed by either theS. minoror the herbicide treatments. Yellow woodsorrel significantly increased after 1 yr of herbicide treatment compared with theS. minorand untreated control treatments, indicating a possible weed species shift. Turf quality was improved because of the herbicide andS. minortreatments, but grass injury and smooth crabgrass invasion were recorded in 17% of herbicide-treated plots.

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Hybridization between Dactylopius tomentosus (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) biotypes and its effects on host specificity

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485309990344 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 100 (3) ◽

pp. 331-338 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

C.W. Mathenge ◽

P. Holford ◽

J.H. Hoffmann ◽

H.G. Zimmermann ◽

R.N. Spooner-Hart ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Biological Control ◽

Host Specificity ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Control Agent ◽

Weed Species ◽

Maternal Parent ◽

Control Programs ◽

Fitness Index ◽

Biological Performance

AbstractDactylopius tomentosus is composed of biotypes adapted to different Cylindropuntia species. One biotype is an important biological control agent of C. imbricata in South Africa while another has the potential for the control of C. fulgida var. fulgida. These two weed species occur in sympatry in some areas of South Africa, so the introduction of the second biotype could result in hybridization, which, in turn, could impact on the biological control programs through altered host specificity and fitness of the hybrids. To anticipate what might happen, reciprocal crosses were made between the two biotypes, and the biological performance of the resultant hybrids was compared with that of each parental lineage on C. imbricata and C. f. var. fulgida. The biotypes interbred freely and reciprocally in the laboratory. Comparisons of crawler and adult female traits showed differences in performance that were dependent on the origin of the maternal and paternal genomes. However, when all traits were combined into a ‘fitness index’, both hybrids clearly outperformed the parental lineages. The increase in fitness shown by the hybrids over their maternal lineage was greater on the alternative host of the maternal parent than on the natural host of the maternal parent. Therefore, in areas where the two cacti occur in sympatry, hybridization between the biotypes is not expected to be detrimental to the biological control of either weed.

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Host Range of Herpetogramma basalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a Biological Control Agent for the Invasive Weed Alternanthera philoxeroides (Centrospermae: Amaranthaceae) in China

Journal of Insect Science ◽

10.1093/jisesa/iez102 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Shihai Chu ◽

Shengbo Cong ◽

Ruhai Li ◽

Youming Hou

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Host Range ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Oviposition Preference ◽

Multiple Choice ◽

Control Agent ◽

Alternanthera Philoxeroides ◽

Weed Species ◽

Amaranthus Tricolor ◽

Invasive Weed

Abstract Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. is an invasive herbaceous amphibious weed species in China. A pyralid moth Herpetogramma basalis (Walker) was discovered feeding on A. philoxeroides through field surveys and may be a potentially useful biocontrol agent. To determine the host range of H. basalis and evaluate its potential to control A. philoxeroides, no-choice and multiple-choice tests were conducted. Herpetogramma basalis fed on target weeds and 29 nontarget plant species. In addition to the target weed A. philoxeroides, H. basalis developed to adult on eight other nontarget species. Herpetogramma basalis survived to adulthood successfully on A. philoxeroides and less successfully on several other Amaranthaceae species. In multiple-choice studies, H. basalis showed a strong oviposition preference for A. philoxeroides over Amaranthus tricolor L. (Centrospermae: Amaranthaceae). Amaranthus tricolor was the only crop plant that supported the complete development of H. basalis. We cautiously recommend H. basalis for the biological control of A. philoxeroides in China.

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Cleopus japonicus releases and distribution of the buddleia biological control agent in New Zealand

New Zealand Plant Protection ◽

10.30843/nzpp.2011.64.6015 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 64 ◽

pp. 155-159

Author(s):

M.C. Watson ◽

T.M. Withers ◽

M. Heaphy

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

New Zealand ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Forest Health ◽

Control Agent ◽

Buddleja Davidii ◽

Location Data ◽

The North ◽

Forest Sites ◽

Commercial Forest

The buddleia leaf weevil Cleopus japonicus was released in New Zealand by Scion in 2006 as a biological control agent for the weed Buddleja davidii One thousand C japonicus adults were released at each of five commercial forest sites in the North Island A further 33 releases of approximately 14910 C japonicus were made between 2006 and 2011 in the North and South Islands on both privately and publicallyowned land and sites of conservation importance The weevil is known to have established at all sites with the possible exception of one release made in 2007 Location data of C japonicus provided by local and regional councils DOC forest health officers and others have provided information on the spread of C japonicus These data show C japonicus has spread over 50 km from some release sites and is rapidly increasing in population density and distribution

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Twophase openfield test to confirm host range of a biocontrol agent Cleopus japonicus

New Zealand Plant Protection ◽

10.30843/nzpp.2009.62.4776 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 62 ◽

pp. 184-190

Author(s):

M.C. Watson ◽

T.M. Withers ◽

R.L. Hill

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

New Zealand ◽

Host Range ◽

Laboratory Tests ◽

Biocontrol Agent ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Control Agent ◽

Second Phase ◽

Test Species ◽

Buddleja Davidii

The buddleia leaf weevil Cleopus japonicus was released in New Zealand in 2006 as a biological control agent for the weed Buddleja davidii A twophase openfield design was used to confirm laboratory host range and examine nontarget impacts in the field This was the first field trial undertaken in New Zealand and included six nontarget plant species Feeding and dispersal of the agent on the test species and B davidii were compared Cleopus japonicus strongly preferred B davidii Larvae were recorded on Verbascum virgatum and Scrophularia auriculata during the choice stage of the trial Killing the B davidii plants in the second phase resulted in adults feeding on the two exotic species V virgatum and S auriculata Minor exploratory feeding was recorded on the natives Hebe speciosa and Myoporum laetum These results confirm that laboratory tests conducted to assess the safety of this agent for release in New Zealand accurately predicted field host range

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Assessing the potential for biological control of Buddleja davidii with the fungus Chondrostereum purpureum

New Zealand Plant Protection ◽

10.30843/nzpp.2008.61.6876 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 61 ◽

pp. 396-396

Author(s):

T.D. Ramsfield ◽

M.W.P. Power

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

New Zealand ◽

Malt Extract ◽

Fruiting Bodies ◽

Buddleja Davidii ◽

Inundative Biological Control ◽

The World ◽

Chondrostereum Purpureum ◽

One Year ◽

Cut Surface

Buddleja davidii is a perennial woody shrub that is highly invasive in many parts of the world including New Zealand This study was conducted to assess the potential for inundative biological control of this weed using Chondrostereum purpureum a wound invasive basidiomycete The fungus has been registered for woody weed control in Canada and the Netherlands and is present throughout New Zealand Mature B davidii shrubs planted at the Scion campus Rotorua were cut 30 cm from the ground and the cut surface of the stems was immediately inoculated with C purpureumcolonised malt extract agar (MEA) and sealed with Parafilm There were four replicate shrubs for each of three isolates and the control (inoculation with sterile MEA) One year following inoculation no fruiting bodies of C purpureum have been observed on the treated B davidii Although the inoculated stems appear dead most replicates have extensive epicormic shoot development and are forming coppices

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