Location: Invasive Plant Research Laboratory
Project Number: 6032-22000-013-081-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2021
End Date: May 30, 2022
Objective:
1. Maintain laboratory colonies of the Brazilian pepper biological control agents.
2. Mass produce and release the Brazilian pepper biological control agents.
3. Confirm safety of the Brazilian pepper biological control agents.
Approach:
1. Establishment of field populations of newly approved agents by mass production of laboratory colonies and release onto groomed field plants.
2. Improve mass production with examination of optimal plant fertilizer levels.
3. Measure impact of biological control on the weed by measuring plant demographic parameters.
4. Confirm quarantine host range testing by exposing vulnerable plants integrated in a garden of the host weed.