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Reducing the fitness of an invasive weed, Parthenium hysterophorus: Complementing biological control with plant competition

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Shabbir, A., Dhileepan, K., Zalucki, M. P., Khan, N. and Adkins, S. W. (2020) Reducing the fitness of an invasive weed, Parthenium hysterophorus: Complementing biological control with plant competition. Journal of Environmental Management, 254 . p. 109790. ISSN 0301-4797

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Article Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109790

Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479719315087
Author URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337316622_Reducing_the_fitness_of_an_invasive_weed_Parthenium_hysterophorus_Complementing_biological_control_with_plant_competition

Abstract

We studied the effects of a biological control agent, Epiblema strenuana Walker (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) alone and together with a sown native grass, Astrebla squarrosa C.E. Hubb. and an introduced pasture plant, Clitoria ternatea L. on growth and seed production of Parthenium hysterophorus L. Astrebla squarrosa and C. ternatea individually reduced shoot dry biomass of P. hysterophorus by 30 and 42%, respectively; and by 48 and 70%, respectively in the presence of biological control agent, E. strenuana. Similarly, A. squarrosa and C. ternatea individually reduced weed seed production up to 48 and 64%, respectively; and by 73 and 81%, respectively in the presence of E. strenuana. In the presence of E. strenuana, the biomass of A. squarrosa and C. ternatea was increased by 13 and 10%, respectively. The biological control agent induced more galls per P. hysterophorus plant when either of the competing plants were present than when grown alone. The abundance of galls increased with pasture competition, but only for C. ternatea, and not for A. squarrosa. The biological control agent worked synergistically with the two competitive plants to reduce the growth and production of viable seed, which should lead to a decrease in the P. hysterophorus soil seed banks in the field, and eventually seedling recruitment in future generations of P. hysterophorus.

Item Type:Article
Business groups:Biosecurity Queensland
Keywords:Parthenium weed Biocontrol Epiblema strenuana Suppressive plants Seed quality
Subjects:Science > Invasive Species > Plants
Plant pests and diseases > Weeds, parasitic plants etc
Plant pests and diseases > Pest control and treatment of diseases. Plant protection
Live Archive:02 Jun 2020 01:09
Last Modified:03 Sep 2021 16:45

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