Location: Invasive Plant Research Laboratory
Project Number: 6032-22000-013-140-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2024
End Date: Jun 30, 2025
Objective:
1: Survey for and collect untested herbivores on Lygodium microphyllum in the new origin of invasion, Southeast Asia.
2: Develop and conduct host testing and related research for the most promising Lygodium microphyllum agent/s.
Approach:
Objective 1: We will survey for novel agents in the native range of L. microphyllum, particularly in Southeast Asia, the newly determined origin of Florida L. microphyllum. Our particular focus will be Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Further, we will establish relationships and collaborations with researchers and organisations in countries near to the area of origin that have not previously been surveyed, such as Vietnam and potentially the Philippines. Specific regions will be chosen based on the expanded molecular analysis of the origin of L. microphyllum in Southeast Asia.
ABCL will survey for new agents during these surveys. Although extensive herbivore surveys have already been conducted, we have two novel approaches that we utilize. There is a renewed interest in exploring the use of pathogens for biological control in the US. Pathogens have been highly effective biological control agents in Australia, and ABCL will draw upon the expertise already present within CSIRO, its parent organization, to develop a pathogen research program. ABCL will also incorporate collection and inspection of below ground plant parts, particularly the rhizomes of L. microphyllum, into our survey protocols. These plant parts have not been surveyed seriously in the past but may be associated with agents that have not been found so far. Molecular and morphological analyses will be used to identify the specimens
Through these surveys we will reinvestigate the diversity in Southeast Asia of agents that have already been released in Florida, such as the leaf galling mite F. perrepae. We expect that these mites will be more effective than those that have already been released in Florida. Mites, and other agents required by IPRL, will be shipped to IPRL for quarantine testing when appropriate.
Objective 2: ABCL will perform preliminary host plant testing for agents when needed, and we will perform research that supports quarantine host testing at IPRL. Our present host testing research plans relate to 1) new populations of existing agents such as F. perrepae, and 2) developing host testing protocols for pathogens of L. microphyllum. Supporting quarantine research at IPRL is a fundamental component of the overall research program. ABCL will provide agents prioritized for IPRL quarantine evaluation as needed from the native range.
For existing agents such as F. perrepae, we will coordinate our host testing efforts with IPRL. One consideration here is that revisiting past agents has benefits over the development of agents that are entirely new. Though this host testing does need to be performed it will be expedited because the biology of the herbivore, including rearing methods, its host specificity will likely be similar to the herbivores that have already been approved for release in Florida.
Pathogen host testing protocols will be developed by ABCL by drawing upon the extensive pathogen biological control expertise within our parent organization, CSIRO. We have isolated pathogens from L. microphyllum in Australia and are using these potential agents to develop these protocols.
