Biological studies and field observations in Europe of Lasioptera donacis potential biological control agent of giant reed, Arundo donax, an invasive weed of the Rio Grande Basin of Texas and Mexico

Authors: Goolsby, John; Thomas, Donald; VACEK, ANN - The University Of Texas-Pan American; SALINAS, CRYSTAL - The University Of Texas-Pan American; Perez De Leon, Adalberto - Beto; SUMMY, ROD - The University Of Texas-Pan American; RACELIS, ALEX - The University Of Texas-Pan American; KIRK, ALAN - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL); MERCADIER, GUY - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL); BON, M - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL); GUERMACHE, F - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL); CRISTOFARO, M - Biotechnology And Biological Control Agency; DE SIMONE, D - Biotechnology And Biological Control Agency; DI CRISTINA, F - Biotechnology And Biological Control Agency; Yang, Chenghai; Gaskin, John; CIOMPERLIK, M - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); ROLAND, T - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); PEPPER, A - Texas A&M University; TARIN, D - Texas A&M University; LACEWELL, R - Texas Agrilife Research; MARTINEZ JIMINEZ, M - Instituto Mexicano De Tecnologia Del Aguas; VAUGHN, T - Texas A&M University; RUBIO, A - Texas A&M University; Strickman, Daniel

Submitted to: International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/10/2014
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Arundo donax, aka giant reed or carrizo cane is native to the Mediterranean and an invasive weed in Southwestern U.S., especially on the Rio Grande. Carrizo cane is a tall bamboo-like grass that dominates the riparian ecosystem of the Cattle Fever Tick Permanent Quarantine Zone (PQZ) along the Rio Grande and creates what is termed the 'pathogenic landscape' by facilitating the invasion of cattle fever ticks (CFT). Additionally, the density of the carrizo cane vegetation in the PQZ allows infested cattle to go undetected by United States Department of Agriculture, Animal, Plant and Health Inspection Services (USDA-APHIS) mounted inspectors. Biological control of giant reed leads to indirect control of CFT by altering the factors that favor survival and detection of CFT in the PQZ. As part of this biological control program, a leaf mining fly is being investigated for release in Texas. The fly has a symbiotic relationship with a fungus (that occurs worldwide) that allows the larvae to feed on the carrizo cane. This fly could have major impacts on this invasive weed because it causes the leaves to die prematurely. If the fly can be shown to be host specific to carrizo cane, Arundo donax a petition for its release will be submitted by USDA.

Technical Abstract: Giant reed, Arundo donax L. (Poaceae; Arundinoideae), is a clonal reed grass that is native from the western Mediterranean to India and invasive in North America and other arid temperate/subtropical parts of the world, including the Rio Grande Basin of Texas and Mexico. A biological control of giant reed was initiated in 2005 by USDA-ARS Mission, TX, and the USDA-ARS European Biological Control Laboratory in Montpellier, France. To date, two insects have been released (the armored scale Rhizaspidiotus donacis and the galling wasp Tetramesa romana) and two are under study (the fly Cryptonevra sp. and the leafminer midge Lasioptera donacis). Lasioptera donacis (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is a leaf-mining midge, females oviposit into leaf sheaths on giant reed, and larvae feed under the epidermis. Oviposition and larval feeding by the midge is always associated with one or more fungal species, including the cosmopolitan grass saprophyte, Arthrinium arinindinis. Infested leaf sheaths turn brown and black due to fungal growth, and the larvae feed on the fungus. As a result of this association, leaf sheaths and blades senesce prematurely, potentially reducing the ability of giant reed to create dense canopies. Collections of this potential biocontrol agent have been carried out in several countries including Spain, France, Italy, and Greece. Currently, field trials and laboratory bioassays are in progress to better understand the symbiotic relationship between plant (Arundo), midge (Lasioptera) and A. arundinis. North American accessions of A. arundinis are being evaluated to determine if they are compatible with L. donacis, in order to obtain the necessary biological information to evaluate the host range of L. donacis as a biocontrol agent for giant reed.