Research Project: Biological Control in Integrated Weed Management of Invasive Weeds from Europe, Asia, and Africa

Location: European Biological Control Laboratory

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

FIRST REPORT OF COLEOSPORIUM INULAE (COLEOSPORIACEAE) ON DITTRICHIA GRAVEOLENS(ASTERACEAE) FROM CYPRUS, FRANCE AND PORTUGAL AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR WEED BIOLOGICAL CONTROL - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Disentangling Taxonomic Complexity in the Native Range: Morphological and Genetic Differentiation Among Subspecies of Taeniatherum caput-medusae - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hinkle, M., Sforza, R., Smith, J., Serpe, M., Novak, S. 2025. Disentangling Taxonomic Complexity in the Native Range: Morphological and Genetic Differentiation Among Subspecies of Taeniatherum caput-medusae. Agronomy Journal. 15:454. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020454.

Reconstructing the introduction history of the invasive grass Taeniatherum caput-medusae subsp. asperum in the western United States: low within-population genetic diversity does not preclude invasion - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Marsch, D., Deines, L., Rausch, J.L., Tindon, Y., Sforza, R., Melton, A.E., Novak, S.J. 2025. Reconstructing the introduction history of the invasive grass Taeniatherum caput-medusae subsp. asperum in the western United States: low within-population genetic diversity does not preclude invasion. American Journal of Botany. e70001. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.70001.

How sweet is the extrafloral nectar secreted by the invasive alien Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus altissima Mill.? - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bon, M., Guermache, F., Kashefi, J., Sforza, R. 2023. How sweet is the extrafloral nectar secreted by the invasive alien Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus altissima Mill.?. International Journal of Plant Biology and Research. 11(1): 1135. https://doi.org/10.47739/2333-6668/1135.

The so-called ambrosia of the Arundo leaf miner, Lasioptera donacis, harbors a diverse endophytic fungal assemblage - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bon, M., Goolsby, J., Mercadier, G., Guermache, F., Kashefi, J., Cristofaro, M., Vacek, A., Kirk, A. 2023. The so-called ambrosia of the Arundo leaf miner, Lasioptera donacis, harbors a diverse endophytic fungal assemblage. Diversity. 15(4). Article 571. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15040571.

Submission of barcode sequences of the European moth, Gymnancyla canella Denis and Schiffermüller (Pyralidae), a candidate biocontrol agent of the invasive Russian thistles, Salsola spp. (Chenopodiaceae) in California - (Database / Dataset)
Bon, M., Desurmont, G., Guermache, F., Rector, B.G., Smith, L. 2023. Submission of barcode sequences of the European moth, Gymnancyla canella Denis and Schiffermüller (Pyralidae), a candidate biocontrol agent of the invasive Russian thistles, Salsola spp. (Chenopodiaceae) in California. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). OQ801570.

The seek for safety: The case of the French broom weevil - (Proceedings)

Prioritising environmental invasive weeds of European concern for classical biological control: A reanalysis - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lesieur, V., Sforza, R.F., Sheppard, A., Shaw, R. 2023. Prioritising environmental invasive weeds of European concern for classical biological control: A reanalysis. Weed Research. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1111/wre.12582.

Population-specific plant-plant signaling in wild lima beans - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Grof-Tisza, P., Morelon, S., Desurmont, G., Benrey, B. 2022. Population-specific plant-plant signaling in wild lima beans. Plants. 11(18):2320. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11182320.

Classical biological control - (Book / Chapter)
Borowiec, N., Sforza, R.F., Talamas, E., Roche, M., Smith, L. 2022. Classical biological control. Extended Biocontrol. Springer. Chapter 3, pp. 31-42.

Submission of mitochondrial sequences of one prospective biological control agent of french broom, the psyllid Arytinnis hakani - (Database / Dataset)
Bon, M., Desurmont, G., Kerdellant, E., Guermache, F., Sforza, R. 2021. Submission of mitochondrial sequences of one prospective biological control agent of french broom, the psyllid Arytinnis hakani. Genbank. OL631144.

Submission of DNA sequences of a Coleosporium rust infecting Stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens L. Greuter) in southern France and northern Greece - (Database / Dataset)
Bon, M., Kashefi, J., Guermache, F. 2021. Submission of DNA sequences of a Coleosporium rust infecting Stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens L. Greuter) in southern France and northern Greece. Genbank. OK356493 -499.

Occurrence of Aculus mosoniensis (Ripka, 2014) (Acari; Prostigmata; Eriophyoidea) on tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima Mill.) is expanding across Europe. First record in France confirmed by Barcoding - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kashefi, J., Guermache, F., Cristofaro, M., Bon, M. 2021. Occurence of Aculus mosoniensis (Ripka & Érsek) comb. nov. (Acari; Prostigmata; Eriophyoidea) on tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima Mill.) is expanding across Europe. First record in France confirmed by Barcoding. Phytoparasitica. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-021-00953-5.

Host specificity and preliminary impact of Lepidapion argentatum (Coleoptera, Brentidae), a biocontrol candidate for French broom (Genisata monspessulana, Fabaceae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kerdellant, E., Thomann, T., Sheppard, A., Sforza, R.F. 2021. Host specificity and preliminary impact of Lepidapion argentatum (Coleoptera, Brentidae), a biocontrol candidate for French broom (Genisata monspessulana, Fabaceae). Insects. 12(8), 691. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12080691.

Field assessment of the host range of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a biological control agent of the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Marini, F., Profeta, E., Vidovic, B., Petanovic, R., De Lillo, E., Weyl, P., Hinz, H., Moffat, C., Bon, M., Cvrkovic, T., Kashefi, J., Sforza, R., Cristofaro, M. 2021. Field assessment of the host range of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a biological control agent of the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). Insects. 12:637. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12070637.

Accidental introduction of Candidatus Liberibacter europaeus into New Zealand via a weed biocontrol agent from the UK - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Fowler, S.V., Lange, C., Beard, S., Cheeseman, D.F., Houliston, G.J., Paynter, Q., Peterson, P., Pitman, A., Smith, L., Tannieres, M., Thompson, S., Winks, C. 2021. Accidental introduction of Candidatus Liberibacter europaeus into New Zealand via a weed biocontrol agent from the UK. Biological Control. 160(2021) 104697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2021.104697.