Tropical Soda Apple: Biology, Ecology and Management of a Noxious Weed in Florida

Revised! SS-AGR-77, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by Brent Sellers, Jay Ferrell, J. Jeffrey Mullahey, and Pat Hogue, informs readers about this serious weed problem in perennial grass pastures and native areas of Florida. It details the weed's taxonomy, biology, ecology, chemical control, biological control and management. Includes further sources of information. Published by the UF Department of Agronomy, February 2009. SS-AGR-77/UW097: Tropical Soda Apple: Biology, Ecology, and Management of a Noxious Weed in Florida (ufl.edu)

In the Footsteps of Cows: Using Livestock Tracing Technology to Trace and Predict New Weed Incursions of Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum) in Australia

Tropical soda apple is an aggressive prickly perennial shrub growing up to 2 m high. It invades open to semishaded areas, including pastures, forests, riparian zones, roadsides, recreational areas, and horticultural and cropping areas. In Australia during August 2010, the weed was identified on the New South Wales Mid North Coast. It is believed that tropical soda apple has been present in this area for a number of years and both systematic and ad hoc surveys have found the weed in other satellite locations. The discovery of tropical soda apple at several cattle handling facilities indicated that cattle are a significant vector for the weed. The aim of this project was to use the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) data to trace cattle movements from affected properties throughout New South Wales and into other Australian states. This has proved advantageous, as there are few other nonecological mechanisms to systematically trace significant weed movement. We have been able to conduct a pathway analysis of where this weed is likely to occur across New South Wales through the use of NLIS. Importantly, we can use this information to pinpoint surveillance activities for local managers, thus ensuring better use of resources. We have also been able to create a stochastic model for incursions at these sites using information gleaned from the NLIS data.

Weed Control in Florida Pastures With the Use of Aminocyclopyrachlor

Studies under Florida conditions for susceptibility of pasture weed species to the new herbicide, aminocyclopyrachlor (ACP), are essential. Sensitivity of weed species was dependent upon the species and environment. Whitehead broom was not susceptible to ACP. Dogfennel control was consistently above 85% 1 yr after treatment with ACP at 140 g ha−1 and all ACP premixes. Milkpea was initially sensitive to all ACP treatments, but regrowth was evident in all treatments after 1 yr at one location. All ACP treatments resulted in 100% control of tropical soda apple 1 yr after treatment at one location, but less than 50% control at a second location. Herbicide applications with ACP, when labeled, will likely provide good to excellent control (80 to 100%) of several weed species.

Economic Impact of Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum) on Florida Cattle Production

A written survey administered to 3,500 Florida cattle producers in 2006 documented tropical soda apple as the most common pasture weed across the state of Florida. Over 80% of the survey respondents reported tropical soda apple on their ranches, and over 65% declared the plant to be a major problem for their cattle operation. On ranches that reported tropical soda apple infestations, the level of pastures infested with this weed ranged from a low of 4% in north Florida to a high of 12% in central Florida. The cattle producers' most common strategies to tropical soda apple were herbicide application and mowing. These strategies were used by 32% of respondents in north Florida, 75% in central Florida, and 76% in south Florida. On a statewide basis, 20% of cattle producers used herbicides alone, 7% used mowing alone, and 20% used both methods. Some cattle producers reduced the cattle stocking rate as a consequence of tropical soda apple infestations. This negative impact was reported by only 2% of cattle producers in north Florida, 6% in central Florida, and 7% in south Florida. With the use of the economic input/output model IMPLAN, tropical soda apple control costs resulted in economic losses throughout Florida of $15 million annually in 2006 to cattle producers and their supporting business sectors.

Tropical Soda Apple Leaf Beetle, Gratiana boliviana Spaeth (Insecta: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae)

Tropical soda apple is a prickly shrub native to South America that is a major problem in pastures and conservation areas. So a multi-agency program supported the rearing, distribution, and release of more than 250,000 tropical soda apple leaf beetles across Florida from 2003 to 2011. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Rodrigo Diaz, William A. Overholt, Ken Hibbard, and Julio Medal, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, January 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in974