BioControl (2002) 47, 463-479

W.Z. Tan, Q.J. Li and L. Qing (2002)
Biological control of alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) with a Fusarium sp.
BioControl 47 (4), 463-479
Abstract: Alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides G.) has become a serious weed in different crops in China. A fungal pathogen was found in Chongqing and Sichuan Provinces and was identified as a species in the Fusarium genus. The fungus produced macroconidia and chlamydospores abundantly on potato sucrose agar (PSA) plates. The best conidial production and germination and colony growth of Fusarium sp. were at 23-31°C and pH 6.7-7.0. Light period and flooding did not affect fungal growth and conidium formation. The herbicides, glyphosate and paraquat, inhibited the fungal development in vitro. The fungus did not affect seed germination and seedling growth of paddy rice, wheat, maize, oilseed rape and broad bean in laboratory or greenhouse trials. Inoculum density and wetness duration influenced the efficiency of Fusarium sp. to control alligatorweed; a concentration of 1.0 × 10⁵ spores^-1 ml and 12 h of high humidity duration after inoculation produced good infections on the weed at 23°C in the laboratory. When the fungus was applied to alligatorweed grown in greenhouse and in the field, good biocontrol efficiency was obtained: the plants started to wilt after four to five (greenhouse) or six days (field), and were killed 9-10 (greenhouse) or 13-14 (field) days after spraying the fungal inoculum. This was similar to the control efficiency resulting from glyphosate treatment. Therefore, this Fusarium sp. appeared to be a good candidate for further studies and a promising biocontrol agent to manage alligatorweed in some terrestrial and aquatic crops.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Alternanthera philoxeroides (weed)		China (south)