ARS | Publication request: Mutual benefits through formalized international collaboration on biological control of weeds with plant pathogens

Submitted to: Tunisia Journal of Plant Protection
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 19, 2011
Publication Date: November 1, 2011
Citation: Berner, D.K., Smallwood, E.L., Cavin, C.A., Eskandari, F., Tunali, B., Buyuk, O., Yildirim, A., Mukhina, Z., Kolomiets, T., Matveeva, T., Bogomaz, D., Kassanelli, D., Souissi, T., Mejri, D., Latiri, K., Kashefi, J., Lagopodi, A. 2011. Mutual benefits through formalized international collaboration on biological control of weeds with plant pathogens. Tunisia Journal of Plant Protection. 6(1):49-74.

Interpretive Summary: In the U.S., introduced invasive weeds have catastrophic effects on agricultural and natural ecosystems. Often the only economically feasible means for controlling these weeds is biological control through the introduction of natural enemies, including plant pathogens, from countries where the weed species are native and naturally controlled. The Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit (FDWSRU) of USDA, ARS has been successfully working on classical biological control of invasive weeds with plant pathogens for over 30 years. In order to discover new weed pathogens, collaboration with scientists in countries where the target weeds are native is essential. Until recently, however, these scientists were not actively involved in biological control of weeds. Now, biological control is becoming an attractive alternative and is of increasing interest to many of these scientists. This mutual interest has resulted in several formal and successful collaborative projects between FDWSRU and international scientists. Some of the results of these projects are summarized.

Technical Abstract: In the U.S., introduced invasive weeds have catastrophic effects on agricultural, aquatic, rangeland, riparian, and natural ecosystems. Often the only economically feasible means for controlling these weeds is classical biological control through the introduction of natural enemies, including plant pathogens, from areas where the weed species are native and naturally controlled. The Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit (FDWSRU) of USDA, ARS has been successfully working on classical biological control of invasive weeds with plant pathogens for over 30 years. In order to discover new weed pathogens, collaboration with scientists in regions where the target weeds are native is essential. Until recently, however, these scientists were not actively involved in biological control of weeds. Now, biological control is becoming an attractive alternative and is of increasing interest to many of these scientists. This mutual interest has resulted in several formal and successful collaborative projects between FDWSRU and international scientists. Some of the results of these projects are summarized.