Mass Rearing of the Stem-Galling Wasp Tetramesa romana, a Biological Control Agent of the Invasive Weed Arundo donax

Moran, Patrick; Goolsby, John A.; Racelis, Alexis; Cohen, Allen Carson; Ciomperlik, Matthew A.; Summy, Kenneth R.; Sands, D. P. A.; Kirk, Alan A.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-391453-8.00006-6

Cited by 10 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 119 publications

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“…Nitrogen present in the peat-based soil may have obscured effects of fertilization on plant growth, but this soil was used to simulate the arundo wasp production system, in which lownutrient substrates like sand are not practical. (Moran et al, 2013). Total percent Biocontrol Science and Technology 509 leaf blade N was up to 2% higher than that observed by Spencer, Ksander, and Whitehand (2005), but those measurements were made on tip leaves from year-old field shoots.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…The arundo wasp reproduces parthenogenetically and colony output is 90% female ). The two source field populations were a mixture of four wasp accessions from southeastern France and Mediterranean coastal Spain, along with an adventive wasp population originally obtained from Laredo, TX, all released between 2009 and 2012 (Moran et al, 2013). Galled main and lateral shoot tips were dipped in paraffin wax to seal in moisture and shipped to the USDA-ARS Exotic and Invasive Weeds Research Unit in Albany, CA.…”

Section: Culture Of Plants and Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The position of the apical meristem (defined as the base of furled leaves at the shoot tip) was marked with permanent ink. Galls were collected 48-50 days after the colonization date, a gall development time based on preliminary observations in the greenhouse, and slightly longer than the 42 days development time allowed under 25-35°C mass-rearing conditions (Moran et al, 2013). Final shoot length and number of leaves were measured on the formerly caged shoot, and the combined length of all other shoots in the pot was determined.…”

Section: Wasp Colonization and Arundo Shoot Growth Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wasps were collected every 1-2 days for four weeks (Moran et al, 2013). Shoot sections were then dissected and larvae, pupae, and adults in the stem were determined.…”

Section: Assessment Of Wasp Colonization Success and Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Urea fertilization both before and after wasp infestation is part of the procedure (Moran et al, 2013), based on native range observations that wasps attack vigorous shoots. However, the benefits of urea fertilization for wasp production have not been quantified.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of nitrogen fertilization on growth ofArundo donaxand on rearing of a biological control agent, the shoot gall-forming waspTetramesa romana

Moran

Goolsby

2014

Biocontrol Science and Technology

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The shoot tip-galling wasp Tetramesa romana Walker (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) has been released for biological control of giant reed or arundo (Arundo donax L.) (Poaceae), an invasive grass in the USA and Mexico. The role of urea fertilization to improve plant-based mass-rearing was examined. In a greenhouse study, rhizomes were fertilized with urea pellets at rates equivalent to 1000 kg (low), 2000 kg (moderate), and 4000 (high) kg N per ha -1 . Total nitrogen content of ungalled stems was significantly 0.60-0.65% higher under low and moderate fertilization compared to unfertilized pots, and shoot water content was elevated 3-4% at all urea levels. Moderate fertilization significantly (by 1.4-fold) increased the relative growth rate of all shoots in pots, but did not affect final dry biomass. Fertilization did not affect number and duration of probing events by females. The percentage of shoots colonized by wasps that were galled, progeny production per shoot and per female, and emergent wasp size were not affected. However, average generation time (adult to adult) of emergent wasps was 4-5 days shorter on shoots in pots under moderate and high urea fertilization. After a four-week wasp emergence period, only 3-9% of progeny remained in fertilized shoots, while 21% of progeny remained inside unfertilized shoots. In field plots, fertilization did not affect gall density per m shoot length or per female released. Urea fertilization increased the efficiency of greenhouse rearing of the arundo wasp and availability of adults for release, even without direct effects on gall production.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Culture Of Plants and Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Wasp Colonization and Arundo Shoot Growth Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wasps were collected every 1-2 days for four weeks (Moran et al, 2013). Shoot sections were then dissected and larvae, pupae, and adults in the stem were determined.…”

Section: Assessment Of Wasp Colonization Success and Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of nitrogen fertilization on growth ofArundo donaxand on rearing of a biological control agent, the shoot gall-forming waspTetramesa romana

Moran

Goolsby

2014

Biocontrol Science and Technology

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Chilling injury in human kidney tubule cells after subzero storage is not mitigated by antifreeze protein addition

et al. 2023

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Exploring the Origin and Genetic Diversity of the Giant Reed, Arundo donax in South Africa

Canavan

Paterson

Hill

2017

Invasive plant sci. manag.

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The giant reed,Arundo donaxis one of the worst invasive alien species globally, including South Africa, where it invades riparian areas across the country. Biological control is being considered to address the invasive potential and negative impacts of the weed. This study investigated the phylogeography ofA. donaxto guide the biological control program. To determine plant haplotype and genetic diversity, three regions of the chloroplast were sequenced and three microsatellite markers were analyzed in 40 samples from across the plant’s distribution in South Africa. It was determined that all populations ofA. donaxin South Africa were haplotype M1, which is the most widely distributed haplotype worldwide, believed to originate from the Indus Valley, Asia. In addition, no genetic diversity was found, indicating that all theA. donaxpopulations in South Africa are essentially one clone. The results indicate that suitable biological control agents are likely to be found in the ancient native range of haplotype M1. This research has contributed to the global understanding of the phylogeography ofA. donaxand will guide the biological control program in South Africa.

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Mass Rearing of the Stem-Galling Wasp Tetramesa romana, a Biological Control Agent of the Invasive Weed Arundo donax

Cited by 10 publications

References 119 publications

Effect of nitrogen fertilization on growth ofArundo donaxand on rearing of a biological control agent, the shoot gall-forming waspTetramesa romana

Effect of nitrogen fertilization on growth ofArundo donaxand on rearing of a biological control agent, the shoot gall-forming waspTetramesa romana

Chilling injury in human kidney tubule cells after subzero storage is not mitigated by antifreeze protein addition

Exploring the Origin and Genetic Diversity of the Giant Reed, Arundo donax in South Africa

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