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Web URL(s): | http://www.wsweedscience.org//wp-content/uploads/proceedings-archive/2001.pdf#page=9 Last checked: 12/10/2013 Requires: PDF Reader Notes: Item is within a single large file |
Publication Type:
| Report |
Content Type: | Abstract or Summary only |
Author(s): | Sforza, R.;
Blank, B.;
Kashefi, J.;
Quimby, P. C. |
Author Affiliation: | Sforza and Quimby: European Biological Control Laboratory, USDA-ARS Campus International de Baillarguet, France; Blank: USDA-ARS, Reno, NV; Kashefi: European Biological Control Laboaratory, USDA-ARS, Thessaloniki, Greece |
Title: | The beginning of classical biological control against medusahead ryegrass |
Section: | Poster session Other records with the "Poster session" Section
|
Meeting Info.: | Coeur D'Alene, ID: March 12-15, 2001 |
Source: | Proceedings of the Western Society of Weed Science. Vol. 54, 2001, p. 1. |
Publishing Information: | Newark, CA: Western Society of Weed Science |
# of Pages: | 1 |
Keywords: | TIC Keywords: Biological control; Weed control; Taeniatherum; Geographical distribution
|
Abstract/Contents: | "Medusahead ryegrass is the common name of Taeniatherum caput-medusae sub. asperum (L.) Nevski (previously Elymus caput-medusae L.). It is a member of the Triticeae tribe of the grass family. This weed is invasive across millions of acres of large semi-arid areas of intermountain rangelands in western U. S. states, especially those sites that have high clay content soils. It is considered that this grass has not reached its ecological limit. This winter annual has its origins in areas bordering the Mediterranean sea and has been introduced into the US in the late 1880s. Two subspecies are known: sub. caput-medusae in West Mediterranean basin in Italy, France, Spain , North Africa, and also in the colder climate of Siberia; sub. asperum is present in all the Mediterranean basin in Hungary through Ukraine, Tadzhikistan up to Iran. Both subspecies of medusahead are known in the South of France from Menton to Perpignan. This grass is rare and found in relatively dry areas. Until now, no records are available on specific phytophagous insects or mites and nematodes. The objectives are to identify countries of origin of medusahead, and determine some sites of interest for collecting plant and insect material, to observe and collect candidate biological control agents and conduct host range testing. All types of agents will be investigated. No study on classical biocontrol by natural enemies has been done before. Based on literature, investigations will be actively carried out on shoot and root pathogens. The paradigm for biological control has been that exotic invasive species lack the web of predatory organisms that co-evolved in native habitats. This new program includes a global approach of biological control. Alternative mechanisms to explain invasiveness are often excluded. In that view, we will collect soil samples in different European areas to determine if soil composition may have an impact on spreading and competitiveness. The hypothesis is that soil fertility levels may be robust in predicting an alien plants invasiveness. In this scenario, an alien plant can alter soil processes including soil microflora and microfauna to make more available plant nutrients to itself and perhaps capture these plant nutrients more efficiently than the native vegetation it is replacing. Studies on enzyme activities, extractable nutrient levels, and N mineralization potentials will be conducted on soil samples. Maps of the distribution of the plant and the potential for finding future biocontrol agents will be presented and discussed." |
Language: | English |
References: | 0 |
Note: | "Paper number 2" This item is an abstract only! |
| ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete): Sforza, R., B. Blank, J. Kashefi, and P. C. Quimby. 2001. The beginning of classical biological control against medusahead ryegrass. Proc. West. Soc. Weed Sci. 54:p. 1. |
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| Web URL(s): http://www.wsweedscience.org//wp-content/uploads/proceedings-archive/2001.pdf#page=9 Last checked: 12/10/2013 Requires: PDF Reader Notes: Item is within a single large file |
| MSU catalog number: SB 610 .W43 v.49 |
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