Location: Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research
Project Number: 8044-30400-001-021-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2025
End Date: Nov 3, 2026
Objective:
The objective of the agreement is to evaluate the efficacy of a recently approved foreign microbial biological control agent, Ramularia crupinae, in a natural field setting to manage the federally noxious weed, Crupina vulgaris. The biological control agent is being evaluated in other western states, but has not yet been introduced into Washington.
Approach:
(1) Establish Ramularia crupinae infections in common crupina field populations at trial sites located in Washington, (2) optimize protocols for Ramularia crupinae field inoculations, and (3) assess the establishment and impact of Ramularia crupinae infections.