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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Lauderdale, Florida » Invasive Plant Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #370280
Research Project: Identification, Evaluation, and Implementation of Biological Control Agents for Invasive Weeds of Southeastern Ecosystems

Location: Invasive Plant Research Laboratory

Title: Eriophyid mite (Floracarus perrepae) reduces climbing ability of the invasive vine Lygodium microphyllum

Author
item David, Aaron
item Lake, Ellen

Submitted to: Biological Control
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/4/2020
Publication Date: 4/6/2020
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/6882563
Citation: David, A.S., Lake, E.C. 2020. Eriophyid mite (Floracarus perrepae) reduces climbing ability of the invasive vine Lygodium microphyllum. Biological Control. 146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2020.104271.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2020.104271

Interpretive Summary: Invasive vines often grow rapidly, smothering native vegetation and causing extensive ecosystem damage. Here, we quantified the growth rates of individual rachises (stems) of Lygodium microphyllum (Lygodiaceae; Old World climbing fern), a noxious invasive vine that has established in southern and central Florida. Healthy (undamaged) rachises of L. microphyllum grew fastest in Spring (2.22±0.13 cm/day), particularly in shade where rachises grew 45% faster than in full sun. Mite damage reduced rachis growth rates by 73% and greatly increased plant investment in rachises that did not climb. Furthermore, 85% of rachises did not recover from mite damage. The ability to impede a vine’s climbing may be critical towards the efficacy of a biological control agent, and future work should be directed towards developing such agents.

Technical Abstract: Invasive vines often grow rapidly, smothering native vegetation and causing extensive ecosystem damage. However, despite this impact, the growth rates of individual stems of multi-stemmed vines are rarely quantified. This information can be critical towards evaluating the impact of different management techniques, particularly damage caused by biological control agents. Here, we quantified the growth rates of individual rachises of Lygodium microphyllum (Lygodiaceae; Old World climbing fern), a noxious invasive vine that has established in southern and central Florida. Our objectives were to (1) quantify L. microphyllum rachis growth under varied light conditions and seasons; and (2) determine the effect of damage by the biological control mite Floracarus perrepae (Eriophyidae) to the apical meristem on rachis growth. We experimentally grew plants onto trellises to isolate, track, and measure individual rachises of the plant during 3 seasons (Spring, Summer, Winter). Healthy (undamaged) rachises of L. microphyllum grew fastest in Spring (2.22±0.13 cm/day), particularly in shade where rachises grew 45% faster than in full sun. Mite damage reduced rachis growth rates by 73% and greatly increased plant investment in rachises that did not climb. Furthermore, 85% of rachises did not recover from mite damage. Our findings are the first to quantify the rapid climbing ability of individual L. microphyllum rachises, as well as the potential for F. perrepae to substantially reduce this growth. Importantly, the ability to impede a vine’s climbing may be critical towards the efficacy of a biological control agent, and future work should be directed towards developing such agents.