Biological control of weeds

Definition of a WEED
• “A plant out of place”
– Growing where they are not wanted
– A dandelion is a weed in a lawn, BUT grass is
a weed on a dandelion farm! (essential
source of nectar for honey bees in early spring)
– A wheat plant in canola field
– Mostly, exotic plants outside their native environments (but
bearing suitable climatic conditions) & lacking natural
enemies
• Consequences
– Significant losses to economic crops
– Detrimental effects in natural ecosystem
 Weed Management
• Mechanical control
– Hand or machine
– Burning
• Chemical control
– Herbicides
• Biological control
(Analogue to biocontrol of insect pests)
– Pathogens
• Bacteria; fungi; nematodes… etc.
– Host specific phytophagous insects
(plant “predators”)
• Classical biological control
• Augmentation biological control
 Biological control of weeds
• Examples
Dodder, a parasitic plant, infects
cranberry causing yield loss and
plant death; controlled with a
specified fungus

Waterhyacinth, an introduced
invasive aquatic plant, choking a
waterway in Mississippi; controlled by
insects introduced from the area of
weed Origin

Northern jointvetch infests rice fields,

lowering yields. Seeds mixed with
harvested rice lower crop quality;
controlled by aerial applications of
the bioherbicide Collego®
BEFORE AFTER
 Biological control of weeds
• Ex.: Purple loosestrife
– Valued wildflower native
Eurasian habitats
– Existing in small stands & as isolated
plants controlled by a complex of natural enemies
– It was introduced to North America in the late 19th
century where it now exists in huge, monotypic
stands, choking waterways and crowding out native
North American species.
– Traditional methods of weed control, such as
cultivation & the use of herbicides, are not practical
or desirable for such wide-ranging stands of weeds,
and biological control has become an attractive
strategy for control of pest weeds.
 Biological control of weeds
• Started in Canada in 1952
– Release of the defoliating beetles Chrysolina
quadrigemina & C. hyperici to control St. John's
wort
• Another examples of successful classical
biological control of introduced weeds in North
America:
– Nodding thistle (Canada; Kansas)
– Ragwort (BC, California & Oregon)
– Klamath weed (Ontario, California, Oregon &
Washington)
 Biological control of weeds
Estimated 50 - 75% of problem weeds were either accidental or
intentional introductions from other areas
 Biological control of weeds
• Considerations for species for introduction to control
pest weeds
– Specific to one plant species
– Has negative impact on host
plant individuals & its population
– Is prolific
– Thrives and becomes widespread in all habitats & climates
that the pest weed occupies
– Is good colonizer
– Less overall expense compared to other control tactics
– Does not require a high level of technology
– Less disruptive ecologically & so natural biodiversity is
maintained
 Classic biological control of weeds:
Case studies I

• The cactus moth & prickly pear cacti

– Cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorumorigins origin
to South America
– Prefers to lay its eggs & feed on prickly pear cacti,
Opuntia sp. (also known as Platyopuntia)
– Other related cacti are not thought to be
preferred hosts
 Classic biological control of weeds:
Case studies I
The cactus moth & prickly pear cacti
a) Before sunrise, female releases sex
pheromone signaling to males her
readiness to mate; males respond
b) Mating takes place
c) After incubation, female deposits egg
stick averaging 70-90 eggs
d) Eggs hatch in 25-30 day; gregarious
1st instar larvae bore into cactus pad
e) External damage is characterized by
yellowing of plant tissues, with oozing
of plant fluids & insect frass
f) Larvae feed on inside tissues
g) Larvae develop internally
h) Feeding results in hollowing out cactus pad; mature larvae exit cactus pad
i) Larvae form cocoons
j) Pupation is taken place under debris on the ground at the base of the plant.
k) After emergence, adult moths disperse to new areas
 Classic biological control of weeds:
Case studies I
• The cactus moth & prickly pear cacti
– in the 1920’s, prickly pear cactus spread widely
Queensland, Australia after accidental introduction
– Cactus moth introduced from its origin to Australia
to control prickly pear cactus
– Achieved control in 18 months; considered the
most effective biological control agent tested
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 Classic biological control of weeds:
Case studies I
• The cactus moth & prickly pear cacti
– The success C. cactorum in Australia influenced
its use in other parts of the world
 Classic biological control of weeds:
Case studies I
• The cactus moth & prickly pear cacti

– From biocontrol agent

to PEST
 Classic biological control of weeds:
Case studies I
• The cactus moth & prickly pear cacti
– Why pest?!
• Agriculture
• United States
– Rangeland Grazing
– Nursery Plants and Landscaping
– Fruit and Pad Production in California
• Mexico
– Fruit, pads (cladodes), and dye representing 2% of Mexico's
total agricultural production
– Cosmetics & other value added products
 Classic biological control of weeds:
Case studies I
• The cactus moth & prickly pear cacti
– Why pest?!
– Conservation
• Loss of Biodiversity
– Species richness
– Endangered Species impacted
• Habitat loss
– Major plant component of desert ecosystems (Sonoran,
Mojave, Chihuahuan deserts)

– Wildlife habitat and food source

 Classic biological control of weeds:
Case studies I
• The cactus moth & prickly pear cacti
– Why pest?!
– Human Impacts, Values
• Recreation
• Tourism
• Hunting
• Indigenous groups use for food, medicine
• Importance to farmers in subsistence areas
• Historically significant in culture and religion
 Classic biological control of weeds:
Case studies II
• Salvinia and phytophagous weevils
–The weed
• Salvinia, aquatic fern, spread by
human from SE Brazil to many
tropical & subtropical regions
• Prefers warm, nitrogen-rich water
• Out of origin area, lacks natural
enemies
• Became serious weed problem in
its non-native range
– Can completely block waterways, without visible control method
– Chocks flow, disrupting livelihood of people depend on
waterways (transportation, Irrigation, fishing…etc.)
 Classic biological control of weeds:
Case studies II
• Salvinia and phytophagous weevils
–The biocontrol agent
• 2 mm long weevil, Cyrtobagous salviniae
• Host specific
• Has high searching efficiency for salvinia
• No immigration with high population
• Adult feeds on salvinia buds
• Larva tunnels through buds & rhizomes
& feeds externally on roots
 Classic biological control of weeds:
Case studies II
• Salvinia and phytophagous weevils
–The control
• Initial biological control of salvinia failed because of
taxonomic mistakes of the plant & weevil
• The taxonomic problems solved in 1978
• The weevils used in many regions in Africa, Asia, US &
Pacific with outstanding successes
 Classic biological control of weeds:
Case studies II
• Salvinia and phytophagous weevils
–The control
• Economic benefits
– In Sri Lanks, the return in investment of 53 : 1 in terms of cash
– 1678 : 1 in terms of hours of labor
– The research team recognized by the UNESCO Science Prize, 1985

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