Location: Citrus and Other Subtropical Products Research
Project Number: 6034-22000-046-005-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jan 1, 2019
End Date: Dec 31, 2023
Objective:
The objectives of the research to be conducted under a collaboration between ARS and the Cooperator are to establish the extent of the host range of the potential biological control agent, Verticillium nonalfalfae for control of the highly invasive tree Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven).
Approach:
Laboratory and green house trials will be conducted to determine the pathogenicity of the isolate of Verticillium nonalfalfae and a centrifugal phylogenetic scheme will be used to determine the host range of the pathogen. Confirmation of infection by the applied pathogen will be conducted through standard morphological and molecular identification.