ARS | Publication request: BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF WEEDS: RESEARCH BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE: SELECTED CASE STUDIES

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: January 8, 2003
Publication Date: June 1, 2003
Citation: QUIMBY JR, P.C., DELOACH JR, C.J., WINERITER, S.A., GOOLSBY, J., SOBHIAN, R., BOYETTE, C.D., ABBAS, H.K. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF WEEDS: RESEARCH BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE: SELECTED CASE STUDIES. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE. 59(6-7):671-680

Interpretive Summary: Alien weeds are invading the US at a rapid rate causing losses in billions of dollars. The Agricultural Research Service, USDA is committed to conducting traditional biological control research projects to help manage invading weeds as part of policy in support of sustainable agriculture. Approach: Literature on current ARS research in biological control of weeds reviewed for solutions to specific conflicts of interest in selected cases. Impact: The review adds to a growing body of knowledge on risk management related to biological control issues. These case studies provide evidence that ARS scientists are confronting and solving conflicts of interest with transparency and responsability.

Technical Abstract: Research by the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) on biological control of weeds has been practiced for many years because of its inherent ecological and economic advantages. Today, it is further driven by ARS adherence to Presidential Executive Order 13112 (3 February 1999) on invasive species and to USDA-ARS policy toward developing technology in support of sustainable agriculture with reduced dependence on non-renewable petrochemical resources. This paper reports examples or case studies selected to demonstrate the traditional or classical approach for biological control programs using Old World arthropods against Tamarix spp, Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav) ST Blake and Galium lobata Ohwi = P montana. The examples illustrated various conflicts of interest with endangered species and ecological complexities or arthropods with associated microbes such as nematodes.