[MAIPC] FW: [APWG] ARTICLE: Controlling an Invasive Tree with a Native Fungus: Inoculating Ailanthus altissima (Tree-of-Heaven) with Verticillium nonalfalfae in Highly Disturbed Appalachian Forests of Ohio

[Marc Imlay]

Successful biocontrol with no impact on natives.

 

From: APWG <apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org> On Behalf Of Park,
Margaret E
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2022 5:28 PM
To: apwg at lists.plantconservation.org; Forest Ecology Working Group
<forestecology at lists.fws.gov>
Subject: [APWG] ARTICLE: Controlling an Invasive Tree with a Native Fungus:
Inoculating Ailanthus altissima (Tree-of-Heaven) with Verticillium
nonalfalfae in Highly Disturbed Appalachian Forests of Ohio

 

Lauren S Pile Knapp, Joanne Rebbeck, Todd Hutchinson, Jacob Fraser, Cornelia
C Pinchot

Journal of Forestry, May 12, 2022, 

 

Highly disturbed forests are commonplace throughout the eastern United
States and their residing composition and structure is reflective of their
past land use. Management and restoration efforts are complicated by diverse
and abundant nonnative invasive plants, including Ailanthus altissima.
Verticillium nonalfalfae has been identified as a potential native
mycoherbicide option for Ailanthus. To test the efficacy of Verticillium on
Ailanthus we designed a study in highly disturbed forests of southern Ohio.
At each of five sites, we monitored symptomology, mortality, and rate of
spread of stem-inoculated Verticillium on Ailanthus in four inoculated plots
and compared it to a control plot. We also monitored native plants for
Verticillium symptomology and community responses to Ailanthus control. Our
results suggest that Verticillium is an effective tool for controlling
Ailanthus with no observed effect on native flora. Further, Verticillium
naturally spreads through stands and mortality is slow enough that other
resident nonnative invasive plants do not rapidly increase. 

 

Study Implications: Managing problematic invasive plants is a costly and
time-consuming endeavor that quickly overwhelms resources. The
identification and development of native biocontrols will help to suppress
invasive plants, especially when considered in conjunction with other
control options. Native biocontrols are pests or diseases that are typically
nonlethal residents of the local environment but have significant and
detrimental impact on nonnative plants. The native fungus Verticillium
nonalfalfae along with several other Verticillium species has been
identified to kill the invasive Ailanthus altissima. Verticillium can be
applied to a subset of Ailanthus stems, and through time, will spread
naturally with minimal impact to native species. 

 

See full article:
https://academic.oup.com/jof/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jofore/fvac013/6584
878?searchresult=1 



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