Evolutionary Applications (2014) 7, 381-393

Wyatt I. Williams, Jonathan M. Friedman, John F. Gaskin and Andrew P. Norton (2014)
Hybridization of an invasive shrub affects tolerance and resistance to defoliation by a biological control agent
Evolutionary Applications 7 (3), 381-393
Abstract: Evolution has contributed to the successful invasion of exotic plant species in their introduced ranges, but how evolution affects particular control strategies is still under evaluation. For instance, classical biological control, a common strategy involving the utilization of highly specific natural enemies to control exotic pests, may be negatively affected by host hybridization because of shifts in plant traits, such as root allocation or chemical constituents. We investigated introgression between two parent species of the invasive shrub tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) in the western United States, and how differences in plant traits affect interactions with a biological control agent. Introgression varied strongly with latitude of origin and was highly correlated with plant performance. Increased levels of T. ramosissima introgression resulted in both higher investment in roots and tolerance to defoliation and less resistance to insect attack. Because tamarisk hybridization occurs predictably on the western U.S. landscape, managers may be able to exploit this information to maximize control efforts. Genetic differentiation in plant traits in this system underpins the importance of plant hybridization and may explain why some biological control releases are more successful than others.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Andrew P. Norton, John F. Gaskin

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tamarix ramosissima (weed)		U.S.A. (SW)
	Tamarix chinensis (weed)		U.S.A. (SW)
Diorhabda carinulata (weed bioagent)	Tamarix ramosissima (weed)		U.S.A. (SW)