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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Biological Control of Pests Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #356987
Research Project: Bioherbicidal Control of Invasive Weeds with Indigenous Plant Pathogens

Location: Biological Control of Pests Research

Title: Extending the host range of the bioherbicidal fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene

Author
item Boyette, Clyde
item Hoagland, Robert
item Stetina, Kenneth - Ken

Submitted to: Biocontrol Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2019
Publication Date: 2/16/2019
Citation: Boyette, C.D., Hoagland, R.E., Stetina, K.C. 2019. Extending the host range of the bioherbicidal fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 29(7):720-726.

Interpretive Summary: Northern jointvetch, Indian jointvetch, and hemp sesbania are three of the most economically important weeds in southern U.S. rice production. Methodology was developed to control all of these weeds with the commercial bioherbicidal fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene (CGA), formulated either in water, an invert emulsion, or Silwet L-77 surfactant. In greenhouse tests, we found that CGA spores in any of these formulations controlled northern jointvetch 98-100%. Indian jointvetch and hemp sesbania were controlled at similar rates with CGA in invert or surfactant, but were not controlled with CGA in water. These results suggest that the host range of CGA can be expanded though formulation modification to enable this bioherbicide to control multiple weeds, thus improving its bioherbicidal marketing potential.

Technical Abstract: Spore formulations of the bioherbicidal fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene (ATCC No. 20358) (CGA) were evaluated for control of three weed species: northern jointvetch (Aeschynomene virginica), Indian jointvectch (A. indica), and hemp sesbania (Sesbania exaltata) in greenhouse experiments. Mortality, dry weight reduction and plant height reduction of A. virginica seedlings ranged from 98 – 100%, 15 days after inoculation with CGA in water, in an invert emulsion or in Silwet L-77 surfactant. However, CGA in water caused no effects of these parameters on S. exaltata, and only slight effects on A. indica. A. indica and S. exaltata were also severely injured (mortality, dry weight and plant height reduction, 98-100%) CGA in the invert emulsion or in Silwet L-77. The CGA in Silwet formulation incited infectivity and disease development more rapidly than the invert emulsion or water formulations of CGA in all species. These results suggest that the host range of CGA can be expanded though formulation modification to enable this bioherbicide to control multiple weeds.