Grasses as suitable targets for classical weed biological control

Sutton, G.F.; Canavan, Kim; Day, Michael; Breeÿen, A. den; Goolsby, John A.; Cristofaro, Massimo; McConnachie, Andrew; Paterson, Iain D.

doi:10.1007/s10526-019-09968-8

Cited by 24 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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Section: Review Of the Research Into Control Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Currently, around the world, there are no known biological control agents to control Eragrostis curvula (Sutton et al, 2019). Releasing biological agents to control invasive grasses have been met with several concerns over the impact they could have on closely related species, and the lack of natural species‐specific enemies available in the environment (Sutton et al, 2019). However, biological control agents have shown positive signs at reducing several invasive grasses such as Phragmites australis (Common reed) (Casagrande et al, 2018) and Nassella trichotoma (Serrated Tussock) (Humphries et al, 2020).…”

Section: Review Of the Research Into Control Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Germination biology, distribution and control of the invasive species Eragrostis curvula [Schard. Nees] (African Lovegrass): A global synthesis of current and future management challenges

et al. 2021

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Eragrostis curvula [Schrad. Nees] (African Lovegrass) is an invasive C 4 perennial grass that threatens the multifunctionality of agricultural landscapes in Australia, including agricultural productivity and biodiversity (Firn, 2009;Godfree et al., 2017). It is often described as an undesirable and moderately palatable species that is commonly found on lighter sandy soils along coastal areas within Australia; however, it can also be found further inland if conditions are suitable (Godfree et al., 2017;Roberts et al., 2021). When established, E. curvula can form dense swards that increase its competitiveness towards other species (Firn, 2009;Firn et al., 2010b;Johnston, 1989;Muyt, 2001). Further, research has shown that E. curvula has a strong allelopathic potential which may explain its dominance in grasslands (Ghebrehiwot et al., 2013). These swards can also lead to agricultural loss, a decline in co-occurring native species diversity and an increase in fire frequency and intensity, all of which can result in economic and environmental degradation of

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Section: Review Of the Research Into Control Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Review Of the Research Into Control Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Germination biology, distribution and control of the invasive species Eragrostis curvula [Schard. Nees] (African Lovegrass): A global synthesis of current and future management challenges

et al. 2021

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“…A further deterrent has been the concern over potential non-target damage on important grass crops (Briese et al, 2000). However, a recent study by Sutton et al (2019) has demonstrated that many grasses have suitably specific and damaging herbivores to warrant consideration for biocontrol.…”

Section: Biological Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

The invasive grass genus Nassella in South Africa: A synthesis

Mapaura

Canavan

Richardson

et al. 2020

South African Journal of Botany

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Three species of Nassella have naturalized in South Africa. Nassella trichotoma and N. tenuissima are declared weeds under category 1b of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEM:BA) and occur mainly in the montane grasslands of the Western and Eastern Cape provinces. Nassella neesiana is not listed in NEM:BA but is naturalized in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Free State provinces. Research conducted in the 1970s and 1980s led to vigorous government-funded awareness and control campaigns which ended in 2000. No research on Nassella distribution or control has been undertaken since then. Despite this hiatus, Nassella remains a dangerous genus in southern Africa, given the serious impacts of these species in similar social-ecological systems in Australia and New Zealand. This paper presents a synthesis of available information about Nassella invasions in South Africa and identifies research gaps. It specifically addresses these questions: What identification issues exist? What is the current spatial distribution of Nassella? What is the autecology of the genus? What are the social-ecological impacts of Nassella? What control measures are currently applied and what are their strengths and limitations? What do we know about Nassella distribution and its response to climate change? This paper highlights many knowledge gaps about Nassella, such as the species' current distribution range, field identification and detection difficulties, and the uncoordinated control efforts that require urgent research to inform an effective management response.

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“…Classical biological control is also proposed for M. maximus but would require agents specific enough to manage the invasive short form but not cause significant damage to the tall form that is used as forage, especially in Mexico and Central America. Understanding the genetic diversity of the target weed in its native and introduced ranges is critical to finding the best adapted and most host-specific agents (Goolsby et al 2006b;Sutton et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying the geographic origins of invasiveMegathyrsus maximusin the United States using molecular data

Gaskin

Goolsby

Bon³

et al. 2022

Invasive plant sci. manag.

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Guineagrass is non-native in the neotropics, with a tall form that is commonly used as a forage grass and a smaller statured form that is considered invasive in south Texas, USA. Biological control researchers are challenged to find an agent that will attack the short form, but not the desirable tall form in other parts of the Neotropics. We conducted molecular analyses on 155 Guineagrass samples from its native range in Africa and compared them to USA short form samples to help determine the geographic origins of its invasion. We found eight distinct genotypes in 34 short form samples from Texas and Florida, USA. Highest genetic similarity of invasive samples was with plants from South Africa, while highest matches for the desirable tall form were from Kenya, Uganda, Ivory Coast and Zambia. Ongoing biological control agent exploration and research has found agents from Kenya that are associated with a Guineagrass genotype not well-matched to the invasive short form, thus leading to a lack of rearing success. Two eriophyoid mite agents from the genetic match locality in South Africa have been evaluated but are not sufficiently host-specific, as they develop on both the short and tall forms. Additional exploration is needed at the genetic match populations in South Africa to discover and evaluate potential biological control agents for the invasive form of Guineagrass. Management Implications: The results of this genetic analysis identify native range origins of invasive Guineagrass in south Texas, allowing for potential to find highly host-specific biological control agents that will attack the invasive short form of Guineagrass and not attack the desirable tall form that is a valuable forage in the neoptropics.

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Grasses as suitable targets for classical weed biological control

Cited by 24 publications

References 86 publications

Germination biology, distribution and control of the invasive species Eragrostis curvula [Schard. Nees] (African Lovegrass): A global synthesis of current and future management challenges

Germination biology, distribution and control of the invasive species Eragrostis curvula [Schard. Nees] (African Lovegrass): A global synthesis of current and future management challenges

The invasive grass genus Nassella in South Africa: A synthesis

Identifying the geographic origins of invasiveMegathyrsus maximusin the United States using molecular data

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