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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Frederick, Maryland » Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #155737
Title: RELEASE OF PUCCINIA JACEAE FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF YELLOW STARTHISTLE

Author
item Bruckart, William
item Luster, Douglas - Doug
item WOODS, D - CA DEPT OF FOOD & AG

Submitted to: Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/2004
Publication Date: 2/8/2004
Citation: Bruckart, W.L., Luster, D.G., Woods, D. 2004. Release of puccinia jaceae for biological control of yellow starthistle. Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts, in Lawrence, KS. Abstract #222.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Yellow starthistle (YST), Centaurea solstitialis, is a weed that infests many Western U.S. states. To date, insects, herbicides, mowing, or burning do not control YST. Classical biological control of YST is the strategy of choice for economic and environmental reasons. Puccinia jaceae, an host specific rust fungus, has been developed for this reason. The risk analysis included 65 species of plants in 10 families, of which 39 species were from the tribe Carduae (Asteraceae). Although safflower (Carthamun tinctorius) was slightly infected in the greenhouse, the rust fungus could not be maintained on safflower, and safflower planted next to infected YST in Greece did not become symptomatic. Proposal to release the fungus was reviewed by the USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Servoce and the USDoI, Fish & Wildlife Service (F&WS) for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance. A Finding Of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was issued from the review and a Plant Protection Quarantine Form 526 from California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) was signed on April 4, 2003, thus giving permission for the release. On July 7, 2003, the first North American inoculation of YST was made at the Meadowview lab of the CDFA, and a field release was made on July 8 in Napa Co., CA. Infection in the field was confirmed on July 30, 2003.