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Research Project: Biological Control of Weeds Endemic to Southeast Asia and Australia that are Invasive in the United States

Location: Office of International Research Engagement and Cooperation

Project Number: 0210-22310-010-001-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jan 31, 2020
End Date: Jan 30, 2025

Objective:
Discover and develop biological control agents for invasive terrestrial and aquatic weeds, with emphasis on those invasive to Florida.

Approach:
Travel within Australasia, SE Asia, and China to a range of habitats to identify, collect and evaluate potential biocontrol agents of target invasive weeds in consultation with the ARS PI. Current targets will include the climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum, downy rose myrtle, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Melaleuca and hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata. Promising candidate agents will be shipped to U.S. cooperators for further study and development at U.S. quarantine facilities.