Influence of obligate parasite Cuscuta campestris on the community of its host Mikania micrantha

Abstract

As a means of biologically controlling Mikania micrantha in South China, the influence of the native obligate parasite Cuscuta campestris on its natural community was studied in the field. Mikania micrantha is a non-indigenous vine that smothers other vegetation and has become a major invader of agricultural land and native areas in Southern China. These preliminary results showed pronounced effects on M. micrantha by C. campestris. Cuscuta campestris significantly reduced biomass of M. micrantha, increased species diversity and helped re-establishment of native species. Biomass of M. micrantha decreased from 328 g m )2 to 82 g m )2 , biomass of companion species increased from 41 g m )2 to 145 g m )2 , the total number of species increased from 7 to 19 and the species diversity index from 1.8 to 5.6, when C. campestris was present. These results indicated that the use of C. campestris could be a potentially effective way of controlling M. micrantha and could help us achieve the novel objective of biological control of weeds using weeds.

Native Cuscuta campestris restrains exotic Mikania micrantha and enhances soil resources beneficial to natives in the invaded communities

“…Previous studies have shown that native parasites can limit exotic invaders escaping from their natural enemies and have fewer negative effects on nontarget species (Sheldon and Creed 1995;Torchin and Mitchell 2004;Krakau et al 2006;Lian et al 2006;Mitchell et al 2006). Research has been dominated by laboratory studies.…”

“…Increasing evidence has shown that the native holoparasite Cuscuta campestris (Convolvulaceae, hereafter referred to as Cuscuta) is an effective means to control Mikania (Wang et al 2004;Shen et al 2005Shen et al , 2007, since it was first reported that Cuscuta parasitized and restrained Mikania in the fields of southern China in 2000 Zan et al 2002). Cuscuta decreased the photosynthesis and biomass production of Mikania (Shen et al 2007), inhibited its flowering and reproduction (Deng et al 2003;Shen et al 2005), and changed its biomass allocation (Lian et al 2006). Yet the effects of Cuscuta on nutrient patterns in Mikania and soil have not been examined explicitly.…”

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Chitinase-Homologous Gene from Mikania micrantha Infected by Cuscuta campestris

“…For example, pot trials showed that C. campestris significantly reduced the total biomass, changed the biomass allocation patterns, completely inhibited the flowering, and also reduced photosynthesis and growth of the parasitized M. micrantha plants (Shen et al 2005(Shen et al , 2007. Furthermore, field trials showed that C. campestris significantly reduced the biomass of M. micrantha (Lian et al 2006). However, no information is available on the function of PR genes of C. campestris-infected M. micrantha plants.…”

Plant invasions in China: an emerging hot topic in invasion science

“…Several papers explored approaches of using the native parasite Cuscuta campestris Yunck. to restrain the non-native M. micrantha (e.g., Shen et al 2005, Lian et al 2006b, Zhao et al 2008, Yu et al 2009). The beetle Agasicles hygrophila Selman & Vogt was revealed to be a useful and safe biocontrol agent of Alternanthera philoxeroides as it had only limited effects on the non-target species Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R.Br.…”