Whole-Genome Sequence and Draft Assembly of the Biocontrol Fungal Pathogen Albifimbria verrucaria CABI-IMI 368023

We report here the whole-genome sequence and draft assembly for a bioherbicidal strain of Albifimbria verrucaria , CABI-IMI 368023, which was formerly identified as Myrothecium verrucaria . This isolate has been well studied for the biological control of important weeds, including kudzu and giant salvinia.

Simulated Herbicide Spray Retention on Floating Aquatic Plants as Affected by Carrier Volume and Adjuvant Type

Foliar delivery of herbicides is a common means for plant management in aquatic environments. Though this technique is decades old, little is known about vegetative spray retention relative to this application method. A more complete understanding of maximizing herbicide retention could lead to improved plant management while simultaneously decreasing pesticide load in aquatic environments. Therefore, outdoor mesocosm experiments were conducted in 2020 to evaluate the effect of adjuvant type on foliar spray retention in waterhyacinth. Additionally, the effect of carrier volume on spray retention in waterhyacinth, waterlettuce, and giant salvinia was documented. Spray deposition did not differ among the nine adjuvants tested; however, spray retention was reduced 6 to 11% when an adjuvant was excluded from the spray solution. The effect of carrier volume on spray retention in waterhyacinth, waterlettuce, and giant salvinia was also investigated. Decreases in spray retention was most sensitive to increased carrier volume in waterhyacinth, followed by giant salvinia and waterlettuce. Among species, spray retention potential, as determined by intercept estimates, was greatest in waterlettuce and giant salvinia regardless of carrier volume. Asymptotes estimates for waterhyacinth, waterlettuce, and giant salvinia were 33, 46, and 79% spray retention, respectively. In other words, spray retention was the lowest and remained relatively constant at these values for the high carrier volumes tested (935 and 1870 L ha−1), which were likely due to the presence of pubescence on leaves and flatter leaf architecture represented by waterlettuce and giant salvinia compared to the glabrous vertical leaves of waterhyacinth. Future research will evaluate these concepts under field conditions.

Field site analysis of giant salvinia nitrogen content and salvinia weevil density

In 2012, a giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta Mitchell) biological control project was initiated in Louisiana. Although similar quantities of salvinia weevils (Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands) were released at all sites, weevil densities were highly variable among sites. Additionally, signs of plant nitrogen depletion (yellowing plants) were observed at some sites. Because it is well known that plant nutrition can affect the success of a biocontrol agent because of slowed development and/or reduced fecundity, the correlation between giant salvinia nitrogen content and Salvinia weevil density was investigated during the growing seasons of the second and fourth years. During 2013, weevils were reintroduced to sites, and the magnitude of adult weevil density increase varied by site. Giant salvinia nitrogen content varied among sites and sampling dates. Upper Big Break plants had greater nitrogen than all other sites during 75% of sampling dates. Additionally, adult and larval densities were significantly correlated to plant nitrogen content. During 2015, trends were less distinct and weevil densities and nitrogen content varied based on the interaction between sampling date and site, but a significant correlation was not detected. Results from 1-yr of a 2-yr study confirmed published reports of the importance of plant nitrogen content to salvinia weevil productivity. Additional studies are warranted to evaluate and understand the role of nitrogen at giant salvinia biocontrol field sites.

Evaluation of water lettuce, giant salvinia and water hyacinth systems in phytoremediation of domestic wastewater

The objective of this research was to ascertain the best conditions for efficient applications of water lettuce, giant salvinia and water hyacinth in improving the quality of low strength domestic wastewater. Water quality assessment of the wastewater samples before (influent) and after treatment (effluent) with effect to retention times (6, 12 and 24 h) was analysed. The outcome of the study at 6 h retention showed that water lettuce (6.8–7.0 pH, 50.5% colour, 46.7% biological oxygen demand (BOD) and 37.8% chemical oxygen demand (COD)), giant salvinia (6.9–7.1 pH, 40.5% colour, 60% BOD and 43.2% COD) and water hyacinth (6.7–6.9 pH, 45.5% colour, 53% BOD and 35.1% COD) reduction values were achieved. At 12 h retention, water lettuce (6.6–7.0 pH, 57.2% colour, 77.1% BOD and 74.6% COD), giant salvinia (6.4–6.8 pH, 81.1% colour, 66.7% BOD and 72.2% COD) and water hyacinth (6.4–6.7 pH, 61.9% colour, 70% BOD and 61.1% COD) reduction values were achieved. Similarly, for 24 h retention, water lettuce (6.6–7.0 pH, 76.7% colour, 53.2% BOD and 70.3% COD), giant salvinia (6.6–7.0 pH, 91.4% colour, 74.7% BOD and 81.0% COD) and water hyacinth (6.4–6.9 pH, 74% colour, 58% BOD and 67.2% COD) reduction values were achieved. These findings indicated that the retention times of 12 and 24 h provided suitable conditions to break down the organic contaminants present in the shallow ponds.

Salvinia auriculata (giant salvinia).

Salvinia auriculata is a floating aquatic fern that is often grown as an aquatic ornamental, but has escaped cultivation and become invasive in many regions worldwide. It is highly competitive and capable of extremely fast growth; high leaf and branch densities allow it to form continuous and large mats on the waters surface. It exhibits density-dependent morphological plasticity that increases its competitive potential. Under conditions of nutrient enrichment, it can form dense mats (>50 cm thick) that shade submersed aquatic plant species, impact fisheries and negatively affect recreational activities and transportation. Dense colonies can completely outcompete native flora, decrease biodiversity and contribute to habitat degradation. The species is listed as invasive in Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Taiwan, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Evaluation of new endothall and florpyrauxifen-benzyl use patterns for controlling crested floating heart and giant salvinia

The purpose of this research was to (1) evaluate concentration exposure time (CET) relationships for florpyrauxifen-benzyl (ProcellaCOR) for control of the floating leaved plant crested floating heart (Nymphoides cristata, CFH) and (2) evaluate foliar applications of endothall (Aquathol K) for control of CFH and the floating fern giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta).

Pengendalian biomassa giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) dengan grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Penelitian dilaksanakan selama 28 hari di Pusat Penelitian Lingkungan Hidup Institut Pertanian Bogor (PPLH-IPB). Perlakuan terdiri dari ikan kecil (panjang total 7-12 cm) dengan kepadatan 5 dan 10 ikan/akuarium dan ikan besar (panjang total 21-24 cm) dengan kepadatan 2 dan 4 ekor/akuarium. Kiambang (Salvinia molesta) dengan biomassa awal 100 gram dimasukkan pada setiap akuarium untuk menutupi permukaan wadah sebesar 75%. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa bobot tertinggi biomassa giant salvinia yang dikonsumsi sebesar 164,13±62,12 gram terjadi pada perlakuan grass carp ukuran besar dengan padat tebar 4 ekor, yang diikuti dengan pertambahan bobot ikan rata-rata sebesar 6,63±6,51 gram.

Kandungan Unsur Hara Pada Pupuk Organik Tumbuhan Air Lokal

Water hyacinth, giant salvinia and water lettuce are widely available in Central Kalimantan that can be used as organic fertilizer. This study aims to determine the nutrient content of solid and liquid organic fertilizers in water hyacinth, giant salvinia and water lettuce fertilizers. The results showed that solid organic fertilizer/compost and water hyacinth, water lettuce and giant salvinia liquid fertilizer have nutrient content needed by plants. In solid fertilizers, the Nitrogen of giant salviniacontent was 2.43% and lack of the minimum standard of solid organic fertilizer, while Phospor and Potassium content were not included in the standard. In liquid organic fertilizer, Nitrogen, Phospor and Potassium content were not included in the minimum standard organic fertilizer requirements

An Aircraft Wetland Inundation Experiment Using GNSS Reflectometry

In early May of 2017, a flight campaign was conducted over Caddo Lake, Texas, to test the ability of Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) to detect water underlying vegetation canopies. This paper presents data from that campaign and compares them to Sentinel-1 data collected during the same week. The low-altitude measurement allows for a more detailed assessment of the forward-scattering GNSS-R technique, and at a much higher spatial resolution, than is possible using currently available space-based GNSS-R data. Assumptions about the scattering model are verified, as is the assumption that the surface spot size is approximately the Fresnel zone. The results of this experiment indicate GNSS signals reflected from inundated short, thick vegetation, such as the giant Salvinia observed here, results in only a 2.15 dB loss compared to an open water reflection. GNSS reflections off inundated cypress forests show a 9.4 dB loss, but still 4.25 dB above that observed over dry regions. Sentinel-1 data show a 6-dB loss over the inundated giant Salvinia, relative to open water, and are insensitive to standing water beneath the cypress forests, as there is no difference between the signal over inundated cypress forests and that over dry land. These results indicate that, at aircraft altitudes, forward-scattered GNSS signals are able to map inundated regions even in the presence of dense overlying vegetation, whether that vegetation consists of short plants or tall trees.