Integrated Management of Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) with Insect Biological Control and Plant Competition under Variable Soil Nutrients

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 512-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin E. Burns ◽  
Deirdre A. Prischmann-Voldseth ◽  
Greta G. Gramig
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Soil Nutrients ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Agricultural Runoff ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Cirsium Arvense ◽  
Canada Thistle ◽  
Flower Number ◽  
Shoot Height

AbstractBecause of economic and environmental constraints, alternatives to chemical management of Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) are frequently sought, but adequate nonchemical suppression of this invasive species remains elusive. Combining biological control with other tactics may be an effective approach to suppress Canada thistle, but more information is needed about how environmental conditions affect interspecific interactions. We investigated effects of a biocontrol agent (Hadroplontus litura, a stem-mining weevil) and a potential plant competitor (common sunflower, Helianthus annuus, native annual) on Canada thistle under two soil nutrient regimes in outdoor microcosms. Larval mining damage was relatively light, and weevils negatively impacted only main shoot height and flower number. All measures of Canada thistle performance were reduced when plants were grown with common sunflower or in reduced nutrients, although effects of the latter on root biomass were not significant. Effects of common sunflower and soil nutrients on Canada thistle were generally additive, though a marginally insignificant interaction indicated a trend for greatest flower number with high nutrients and absence of common sunflower. Effects of weevils and common sunflower on Canada thistle were also additive rather than interactive. Although larval damage ratings were significantly greater on plants grown in high-nutrient soil, under our experimental conditions weevils and soil nutrients did not have a significant interactive effect on Canada thistle plants. Our results indicate that H. litura is a relatively weak biological control agent, but when combined with competitive desirable vegetation, some level of Canada thistle suppression may be possible, especially if soil nutrient levels are not highly enriched from agricultural runoff. Assessing the true ecological impacts of Canada thistle infestations may be an important direction for future research.

CEUTORHYNCHUS LITURA (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE): BIOLOGY AND FIRST RELEASES FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF THE WEED CANADA THISTLE (CIRSIUM ARVENSE) IN ONTARIO, CANADA

1973 ◽  
Vol 105 (12) ◽  
pp. 1489-1494 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. P. Peschken ◽  
R. W. Beecher
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Release Site ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Circumstantial Evidence ◽  
Cirsium Arvense ◽  
Female Development ◽  
Canada Thistle ◽  
Breeding Stock ◽  
Puccinia Punctiformis

AbstractCeutorhynchus litura (F.) laid an average of 123 eggs per female. Development from egg to adult took about 6 weeks at room temperature, followed by an obligatory diapause of 3–4 months. In laboratory rearings a maximum of only an 8-fold increase over the original breeding stock was achieved in one generation. The weevil was released against the weed Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.) near Belleville, Ont., in 1967. Near the centre of the release site on about 400 m2, thistle shoots have decreased to 4% of their former density of about 3–7 shoots per 0.25 m2. Circumstantial evidence indicates that the weevil aided in the spread of thistle rust Puccinia punctiformis (Str.) Rohl.

HOST SPECIFICITY AND SUITABILITY OF LEMA CYANELLA (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE), A CANDIDATE FOR THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF CANADA THISTLE (CIRSIUM ARVENSE)

1979 ◽  
Vol 111 (9) ◽  
pp. 1059-1068 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.P. Peschken ◽  
G.R. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
North America ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Cirsium Arvense ◽  
Canada Thistle ◽  
Main Host ◽  
Disease Free

AbstractThe host specificity of Lema cyanella (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and its suitability as a biological control agent were investigated. The females lay an average of 1564 eggs and development from egg to adult takes 17.6 days at 25°C during the day and 20°C during the night (average about 23°C). Feeding of adults and larvae is confined to Cirsium, Carduus, and Silybum species, and according to literature records, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. is the main host. No economic plants are attacked. A colony of field collected beetles imported from Germany was infected with a Nosema disease. It is recommended that disease free L. cyanella should be released against the weed C. arvense in North America.

HOST SPECIFICITY OF TINGIS AMPLIATA (TINGIDAE: HETEROPTERA): A CANDIDATE FOR THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF CANADA THISTLE (CIRSIUM ARVENSE)

1977 ◽  
Vol 109 (5) ◽  
pp. 669-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. P. Peschken
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Carthamus Tinctorius ◽  
Cirsium Arvense ◽  
Globe Artichoke ◽  
Canada Thistle ◽  
Cynara Scolymus

AbstractThe only confirmed host plant of Tingis ampliata H.-S. (Tingidae: Heteroptera) is Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.). For this and other reasons, T. ampliata appeared to be a promising biocontrol agent for use in Canada. However, in the laboratory, T. ampliata developed fertile eggs while feeding on the two economic plants globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) and safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), and nymphs developed to adults on globe artichoke. Therefore, T. ampliata should not be released in Canada.

AN ANNOTATED LIST OF INSECTS ASSOCIATED WITH CANADA THISTLE (CIRSIUM ARVENSE) IN CANADA

1976 ◽  
Vol 108 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Maw
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Cirsium Arvense ◽  
Phytophagous Insects ◽  
Canada Thistle ◽  
Insect Fauna ◽  
Annotated List ◽  
Insect Parasites

AbstractAs part of the biological control of Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., in Canada, a survey of the insect fauna showed 80 identified or apparent phytophagous species representing 24 families and seven orders and 47 species of visitors, insect parasites, and predators representing 28 families and six orders. Thirty-eight per cent of the phytophagous insects attack economic plants. Three species, Altica carduorum, Ceutorhynchus litura, and Urophora cardui, are specific to C. arvense and were introduced as control agents.

Field Trials of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum to Control Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Weed Science ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda S. Brosten ◽  
David C. Sands
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Root System ◽  
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Cirsium Arvense ◽  
Subsequent Reduction ◽  
Canada Thistle

An isolate of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary collected from a Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. # CIRAR] plant in Montana proved pathogenic on Canada thistle in field trials. In addition to attacking the thistle crown and causing wilting and death of the shoots, S. sclerotiorum also infected the root system. The high percentage of thistle shoot kill (20 to 80%) after treatment, and subsequent reduction in plant thistle density the following year, demonstrated the potential of S. sclerotiorum as a biological control agent for Canada thistle in Montana.

Interactions between Two Biological Control Agents and an Herbicide for Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) Suppression

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna K. Sciegienka ◽  
Elai N. Keren ◽  
Fabian D. Menalled
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Pseudomonas Syringae ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Cirsium Arvense ◽  
Shoot Biomass ◽  
Control Methods ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Canada Thistle ◽  
Shoot Number

AbstractWe investigated the single and combined effects of two biological control agents, the stem-mining weevilHadroplontus lituraand the pathogenPseudomonas syringaepv.tagetis, with a herbicide (reduced or full application of glyphosate: 0.63 kg ae ha−1, or 3.78 kg ae ha−1, respectively) on the growth of Canada thistle,Cirsium arvense. We hypothesized that first, although each control method would have a negative effect on Canada thistle shoot biomass, root biomass, and shoot number, the integration of more than one control method would have greater impact than individual control methods. Second, we hypothesized that the order in which control methods are applied affects the outcome of the management program, with a pathogen application following weevil infestation being more effective than one prior to it. Although control methods impacted Canada thistle growth (P < 0.001, expect for a nonsignificant impact of glyphosate on shoot number), the combined effect of the three control methods behaved, generally, in an additive manner. A marginal interaction between the pathogen and the herbicide (P = 0.052) indicated a slight antagonistic interaction between these control methods. An interaction between the two biological control agents tested (P < 0.001) indicated that application of a pathogen prior to the release of weevil larvae could be more deleterious to Canada thistle than a late application. The observed, mostly additive, relationship between biological control agents and herbicides implies that integrating control methods rather than using a single approach could lead to greater Canada thistle control.

scholarly journals Assessment of Potato Farmland Soil Nutrient Based on MDS-SQI Model in the Loess Plateau

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3957
Author(s):  
Yingying Xing ◽  
Ning Wang ◽  
Xiaoli Niu ◽  
Wenting Jiang ◽  
Xiukang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Soil Nutrients ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Soil Organic Matter Content ◽  
Farmland Soil

Soil nutrients are essential nutrients provided by soil for plant growth. Most researchers focus on the coupling effect of nutrients with potato yield and quality. There are few studies on the evaluation of soil nutrients in potato fields. The purpose of this study is to investigate the soil nutrients of potato farmland and the soil vertical nutrient distributions, and then to provide a theoretical and experimental basis for the fertilizer management practices for potatoes in Loess Plateau. Eight physical and chemical soil indexes were selected in the study area, and 810 farmland soil samples from the potato agriculture product areas were analyzed in Northern Shaanxi. The paper established the minimum data set (MDS) for the quality diagnosis of the cultivated layer for farmland by principal component analysis (PCA), respectively, and furthermore, analyzed the soil nutrient characteristics of the cultivated layer adopted soil quality index (SQI). The results showed that the MDS on soil quality diagnosis of the cultivated layer for farmland soil included such indicators as the soil organic matter content, soil available potassium content, and soil available phosphorus content. The comprehensive index value of the soil quality was between 0.064 and 0.302. The SPSS average clustering process used to classify SQI was divided into three grades: class I (36.2%) was defined as suitable soil fertility (SQI < 0.122), class II (55.6%) was defined as moderate soil fertility (0.122 < SQI < 0.18), and class III (8.2%) was defined as poor soil fertility (SQI > 0.186). The comprehensive quality of the potato farmland soils was generally low. The proportion of soil nutrients in the SQI composition ranged from large to small as the soil available potassium content = soil available phosphorus content > soil organic matter content, which became the limiting factor of the soil organic matter content in this area. This study revolves around the 0 to 60 cm soil layer; the soil fertility decreased gradually with the soil depth, and had significant differences between the respective soil layers. In order to improve the soil nutrient accumulation and potato yield in potato farmland in northern Shaanxi, it is suggested to increase the fertilization depth (20 to 40 cm) and further study the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer.

Absorption, Translocation, and Foliar Activity of Clopyralid and Chlorsulfuron in Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) and Perennial Sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis)

Weed Science ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 524-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malcolm D. Devine ◽  
William H. Vanden Born
Keyword(s):  
Cirsium Arvense ◽  
Canada Thistle ◽  
Similar Treatment ◽  
Sonchus Arvensis ◽  
Root Buds

Both14C-clopyralid (3,6-dichloropicolinic acid) and14C-chlorsulfuron {2-chloro-N-[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]carbonyl]benzensulfonamide} were readily absorbed by Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense(L.) Scop. ♯ CIRAR] leaves, with 99 and 75%, respectively, of the applied doses absorbed 144 h after application. Absorbed14C-clopyralid was rapidly exported from the treated leaves, whereas14C-chlorsulfuron was translocated much more slowly. After 144 h, 29% of the applied14C-clopyralid and 5% of the applied14C-chlorsulfuron were recovered in the roots and developing root buds of Canada thistle plants. Smaller amounts of the two herbicides were absorbed and translocated in perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensisL. ♯ SONAR) than in Canada thistle. More14C-clopyralid than14C-chlorsulfuron was absorbed and translocated out of treated leaves of perennial sowthistle, but equal amounts, 3 to 4% of the applied doses, were recovered in the roots and root buds 144 h after application. Foliar applications of clopyralid, followed by removal of the treated shoot 24, 72, or 144 h after application, markedly reduced shoot regrowth in both Canada thistle and perennial sowthistle. Similar treatment with chlorsulfuron did not prevent shoot regrowth in either species.

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