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Past Successes at FDWSRU
Your Input is NeededCommunicate to regulators theUrgency toRelease safe plant pathogens forEffective biological control of invasive weeds andDemand benefit-versus-risk based regulation
• Obligate systemic rust fungus
• Host specific• Systemic infections give
rise to spindly, pale shoots that die after producing infective spores
• Naturalized in N. America
• Field tests underway in MD and PA
Canada thistle Cirsium arvense
Pathogen Puccinia punctiformis
Pathogen Puccinia crupinae
Yellow starthistleCentaurea solstitialisPuccinia jaceae Released 2003
Musk thistleCarduus nutansPuccinia carduorium Released 1985
Dr. Dana K. BernerDr. Dana K. BernerLead Scientist, Plant Lead Scientist, Plant [email protected]@ars.usda.gov301-619-7316301-619-7316
Dr. Douglas G. LusterDr. Douglas G. LusterPlant PhysiologistPlant [email protected]@ars.usda.govv301-619-7344301-619-7344
Dr. William L. BruckartDr. William L. BruckartResearch Plant PathologistResearch Plant [email protected]@ars.usda.govgov301-619-2846301-619-2846
CLASSICAL BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF INVASIVE CLASSICAL BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF INVASIVE WEEDS BY PLANT PATHOGENSWEEDS BY PLANT PATHOGENS
USDA, ARS, Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit (FDWSRU)USDA, ARS, Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit (FDWSRU)
• Obligate systemic smut fungus
• Host specific• Stops weed-seed
production• Plant test list
submitted to APHIS
Pathogen Microbotryum silybum
Milk thistleSilybum marianum
Russian thistle/tumbleweedSalsola tragus
• Obligate rust fungus
• Host specific• Debilitates
overall weed health
• Plant test list submitted to APHIS
Pathogen Uromyces salsolae
Common crupinaCrupina vulgaris
• Obligate rust fungus• Host specific• Debilitates overall
weed health• Plant test list
submitted to APHIS
Rush skeletonweedChondrilla juncea Puccinia chondrillina Released 1978
Current Advanced Pathogens
• Facultative parasitic fungus
• Host specific • Kills weed seedlings
and mature plants• Plant test list
submitted to APHIS
Pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f.sp. salsolae
Fungus sporesFungus sporesNo seedsNo seeds
Diseased flower headsDiseased flower heads
