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Title: TROPICAL SODA APPLE A NEW WEED THREAT TO FORESTS CROPLANDS AND NATURAL AREAS OF MISSISSIPPI

Author
item Bryson, Charles
item BYRD, JOHN - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Mississippi Forest Forum Magazine
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/8/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Tropical soda apple, Solanum viarum Dunal, is spreading at an alarming rate in the southeastern United States. It was first detected in Florida in 1988. Tropical soda apple now infests an estimated 410,000 ha in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Puerto Rico. It poses a real threat to the forest industry as a weed in tree culture, as a physical threat to humans because of the thorn-like prickles on the entire above ground portion of the plant, and as threat to the biodiversity in natural area. A history of tropical soda apple's spread, the means of dispersal, a taxonomic description, ecological information, its threat to pasturelands, croplands, forestlands, and natural areas are presented. Early detection, proper identification, and subsequent control measures are essential to prevent further spread of tropical soda apple in the United States