Field assessment, in Greece and Russia, of the facultative saprophytic fungus, Colletotrichum salsolae, for biological control of Russian thistle (Salsola tragus)

Authors: Berner, Dana; LAGOPODI, ANATASIA - Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki; KASHEFI, JAVID - American Farm School; MUKHINA, ZHANNA - The All Russian Research Institute For Animal Health (ARRIAH); KOLMIETS, TAMARA - The All Russian Research Institute For Animal Health (ARRIAH); PANKRATOVA, LYUBOV - The All Russian Research Institute For Animal Health (ARRIAH); KASSANELLY, DOMENIQUE - Kuban State University; Cavin, Craig; Smallwood, Emily

Submitted to: Biological Control
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/5/2014
Publication Date: 9/1/2014
Citation: Berner, D.K., Lagopodi, A., Kashefi, J., Mukhina, Z., Kolmiets, T., Pankratova, L., Kassanelly, D., Cavin, C.A., Smallwood, E.L. 2014. Field assessment, in Greece and Russia, of the facultative saprophytic fungus, Colletotrichum salsolae, for biological control of Russian thistle (Salsola tragus). Biological Control. 76:114-123.

Interpretive Summary: Russian thistle (RT) is a problematic invasive weed in the United States (U.S.) and is a target of biological control efforts. The fungus Colletotrichum salsolae (CS) kills RT plants in greenhouse tests and is specific to Salsola spp., which are not native in the U.S. However, the effectiveness of CS in controlling RT has not been previously demonstrated. The objectives of this study were to determine in field tests: 1) disease progress of CS in time; 2) the relationship of disease progress to rainfall and temperature; 3) the effect of CS on RT plant density. Field tests were established in Serres and Kozani, Greece and Taman and Tuzla, Russia with collections of the fungus from the respective countries. The fungus was introduced to six field plots of an RT infested field in Serres, Greece on October 23, 2006. Four field plots in each of two fields at Kozani, Greece were treated in the same way on October 1, 2010. RT density was counted and recorded prior to introduction of the fungus and in September in each of two years following addition of the fungus. Rainfall and temperature data were collected and recorded at Serres and at the Kozani airport meteorological station. Disease progressed rapidly at both sites and was correlated with cumulative rainfall. By two years after introducing the fungus, RT had been eliminated from the Serres site and one field in Kozani. In the other Kozani field, RT density declined to 0-25 percent from original densities of about 80 percent. The fungus was added to RT plants in Taman and Tuzla, Russia. The proportion of diseased tissue reached 1.0 by 55 days after inoculation in both sites. Healthy RT plants that were near diseased plants became diseased quickly and reached the same disease severity as plants to which the fungus had been added. Disease severity was correlated with cumulative rainfall but not temperature. This fungus and procedure for introducing the fungus to fields offers a low-cost solution to RT infestations. Since CS is specific to Salsola spp., this effective biological control is also environmentally friendly.

Technical Abstract: Russian thistle (Salsola tragus, tumbleweed, RT) is a problematic invasive weed in the United States (U.S.) and is a target of biological control efforts. The facultative saprophytic fungus Colletotrichum salsolae (CS) kills RT plants in greenhouse tests and is specific to Salsola spp., which are not native in the U.S. However, the effectiveness of CS in controlling RT has not been previously demonstrated. The objectives of this study were to determine in field tests: 1) disease progress of CS in time; 2) the relationship of disease progress to rainfall and temperature; 3) the effect of CS on RT plant density. Field tests were established in Serres and Kozani, Greece and Taman and Tuzla, Russia with isolates of the pathogen collected in the respective countries. Solid inoculum was prepared by asceptically inoculating sterile mixtures of grain and grain hulls with axenic cultures of CS. Spore suspensions used in Russia were prepared by blending pure sporulating cultures of CS with distilled water and diluting the suspension to 10 EE6 conidia per ml. Six field plots, each subdivided into 36 subplots, of an RT infested field in Serres, Greece were inoculated on October 23, 2006 by placing about 300 g of solid inoculum in the center of each plot. Four field plots in each of two fields at Kozani, Greece were inoculated in the same way on October 1, 2010. RT density was counted and recorded in each sub-plot prior to inoculation and in September in each of two years following inoculation. Disease incidence and/or severity in each sub-plot were recorded at about 7-day intervals after inoculation. Rainfall and temperature data, from inoculation until 40-55 days after inoculation, were collected and recorded at Serres and at the Kozani airport meteorological station. Disease progressed rapidly at both sites and was correlated with cumulative rainfall. By two years after inoculation, RT had been eliminated from the Serres site and one field in Kozani. In the other Kozani field, RT density declined to 0-25 percent from original densities of about 80 percent in large areas of the field. RT plants in Taman and Tuzla, Russia were inoculated either with 250g of grain inoculum or with a suspension of 10 EE6 conidia sprayed onto each plant until runoff. The proportion of diseased tissue reached 1.0 by 55 days after inoculation in both sites. Non-inoculated plants that were near inoculated plants became diseased quickly and reached the same disease severity as inoculated plants. Disease severity was correlated with cumulative rainfall but not temperature. This pathogen and inoculation procedure offers a low-cost solution to RT infestations. Since CS is specific to Salsola spp., this effective biological control is also environmentally friendly.