Pesticides alternative strategy for Removal of Weed (Pueraria montana, Kudzu)
Subject Keywords
Pesticides, Chemicals
Sponsors
Description
Identifiers
Code
Effective date
Review year
Alternative Strategy
Boyette et al. (2001,2002) tested Myrothecium verrucaria, as a biological control agent for kudzu. The USDA-ARS biological control team showed that M. verrucaria applied at a high spore rate of 2x108 conidia/ml caused greater than 90% mortality of both young and old kudzu seedlings. They also determined that the disease severity increased with an increase in temperature to 30-40°C, suggesting that this mycoherbicide could be very active in the summer in the southern USA. The virulence of M. verrucaria against kudzu was increased in formulation with an organosilicon surfactant to cause 100% mortality of kudzu in the greenhouse and in the field 2 weeks after spraying at a rate of 2x107. As fungal activity requires the surfactant, the risk of the fungus spreading beyond the sprayed field is minimal.
Alternative Type
Specific strategy - Biocontrol
Pest Type
Weed
Alternative Trial
No
Coverage Country
United States of America
Method
Removal