Bioeradication:research and insights on five

common invasive plants in central Pennsylvania

Richard Gardnerrtgardner3@yahoo.com

http://www.slideshare.net/rtgardner3https://independent.academia.edu/RichardTGardner

NENHC

April 2015

Springfield, Massachusetts

Abstract: This presentation will discuss the effects of native organism systems on five common invasive non-native plants, i.e. bioeradication. Research over the last several years has shown that native organism systems are beginning to eradicate various invasive non-native plants from local ecosystems in central Pennsylvania and nearby states. This is very different than the magic bullet approach of biocontrol in that it relies on mutualistic native systems instead of a single non-native organism. The concept is based on Darwinian evolution over the (extended) period of time it takes a system to develop. Naturally, this approach is slower than biocontrol. However, instead of “control” with all the potential consequences of introducing another non-native into an ecosystem, the goal is extinction of the target non-native with lower ecosystem risk and lower negative environmental impact.

Article 1, section 27 of Pennsylvania’s constitution:

“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”

Ailanthus altissimaLonicera japonicaLonicera maacki

Lonicera morrowiiRosa multiflora

Walk more

Tinker less

Common name: Tree-of-heavenScientific name: Ailanthus altissima

Origin: China

Local habitat: prefers the edge of wooded areas and open fields even though it will

grow in wooded areas where light reaches the forest floor.

Identifying features: Dioecious tree with odd pinnate compound leaves with blade-like

leaflets which are opposite. Leaflets have one pair to several pairs of teeth

toward the proximal end. Each tooth has a gland on the distal end of the point.

The odor is unmistakable. Clusters of seeds are attached throughout the winter.

Bark has a grey harlequin pattern to it.

Reproduction: wind borne seeds and root clones when injured

Bioeradication system:

insects - Atteva aurea, the Ailanthus webworm, is a native moth whose larvae

feed on Simaroubaceae family members in the American south and Aculops

ailanthii, an eriophyoid mite. Both are specialists to Ailanthus altissima in

temperate areas.

diseases – Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. perniciosum , Fusarium lateritium, Fusarium

solani , Verticillium nonalfalfae, and other diseases.

flowers – A. aurea prefers compact inflorescences such as Asteraceae

and Lamiaceae.

The key to encouraging the system is to plant native wildflowers which have inflorescences close to stands of Ailanthus to serve as nectar sources for adult A. aurea. In central Pennsylvania flowers such as Solidago sp., Verbesinia sp. and Rudbeckia sp. are good nectar sources which bloom successively from early summer to hard frost.

My understanding it that A. ailanthii is primarily spread phoretically (hitchhikes) on A. aurea and secondarily by wind. Besides feeding on Ailanthus, A. aurea and probably A. ailanthii carry diseases which harm and/or kill Ailanthus.

Once a disease such as F. oxysporum or V. nonalfalfae infects one tree in a stand, others will be infected through the extensive network of interconnected root grafts common to stands of Ailanthus.

Note: Euwallacea validus, an ambrosia beetle which leaves tubes of white frass on the outside of Ailanthus trees, is an indication that the tree is weakened by disease or pesticide (Drill and Fill for example). It is not a carrier of disease but infests a tree after it is weakened.

Ailanthus altissima

female tree in winter with some of the seeds still attached

glands

Disease

Disease is characterized by chlorosis, bare branches and later by peeling bark. Eventually the trees fall.

The trees in these slides will be some of the sources of disease for this year’s experiments.

diseased trees

chlorotic leaves

Aculops ailanthii

Signs of A. ailanthii

1.) claw shaped leaves

2.) distorted rumpled looking leaves

3.) spotted chlorosis which is usually yellow but sometimes looks dusty white

4.) mites can be seen with a strong hand held magnifier or a highly magnified macro setting on a camera as small brown dashes on the underside of leaves.

Aculops ailanthii

claw shaped leaves caused by A. ailanthii

Atteva aurea

webs

chlorosis

heavily infested with A. aurea larvae

tree with chlorotic leaves

Multi-generation webs which will eventually defoliate these

young trees.

chlorosis

eggs

larva going into the pupa phase

chew marks made by

larvae

Atteva aurea with the probable presence of Aculops ailanthii

Complexity

A. ailanthii

A. aurea larva

A. ailanthii

A. aurea larva web

A. ailanthii

other herbivory, possibly grasshopper

chlorotic leaves

Ailanthus trees with dozens of A. aurea webs, A. ailanthii in proximity, disease, half dead trees from prior year and Rudbeckia laciniata nearby as a nectar source for adults.

Other

deer browsed young tree

Euwallacea validus infested tree after it was killed by Drill and Fill.

Note the white tubes protruding from the bark.

Drill and Fill

1. Drill a 3/8” hole 1-2” deep every 2” around the trunk.

2. Spray in 50.2% glyphosate (purple cap Roundup®).

3. Repeat for all obvious roots leaving the trunk.

This method may be done from the time the tree is leaving dormancy to a couple weeks before dormancy and possibly during dormancy.

Common name: Japanese honeysuckleScientific name: Lonicera japonicaOrigin: AsiaLocal habitat: prefers the edge of wooded areas and open woodlands, even though it

will grow in forestsReproduction: Cloning and bird distributed seeds.Identifying features: Elliptic shaped leaves opposite on climbing vines. Distinct flowers

with a sweet odor when in bloom. Prefers shaded edges of wooded areas with a substrate of brush and small trees on which to climb. Low growing quilt of vines covering the ground and low plants and shaggy vines up to 1” thick which climb around the trunks of trees.

Bioeradication system:There is extensive insect herbivory and apparent disease as evidenced by chlorotic leaves and dying stands in central Pennsylvania. Most probably the disease is a form of powdery mildew and the fungus Insolibasidium deformans as is found on L. maackii and L. morrowii. The herbivory may be opening up the plant to infection through feeding wounds and carrying the diseases between plants. Either way, the insect feeding wounds are potential openings for infection to enter the plant to either opportunistic local generalists or diseases specific to Lonicera sp. . There is the strong possibility that mites or a similar insect are involved in the spreading of disease between plants. (This year’s research.)

Birds and pollinators may play a part in transferring disease and herbivorous insects between plants and other non-native members of this genus.

This plant needs further investigation, but field observations are very encouraging.

Insolibasidium deformans infection

possibly powdery mildew and/or and Insolibasidium deformans infection

Herbivory and Insolibasidium deformans infection

L. japonica vines climbing a tree

Common name: Amur honeysuckleScientific name: Lonicera maackiiOrigin: AsiaLocal habitat: prefers the edge of wooded areas and open woodlands, even though it will

grow in forestsReproduction: seeds spread by birdsIdentifying features: Bushy shrub of up to 15 feet high with acuminate leaves.

Bioeradication system: Disease as evidenced by chlorotic leaves and dying stands in central Pennsylvania and some insect herbivory. The disease is mostly the fungus Insolibasidium deformans with a form of powdery mildew as is found on L. japonica and L. morrowii. Hyadaphis tataricae, the honeysuckle aphid, has not been seen, but this may be just taking time to look for it. There is the strong possibility that a mite or similar insect may be carrying diseases between plants. (This year's research.)

Birds and pollinators may play a part in transferring disease and herbivorous insects between plants and other non-native members of this genus.

This plant needs further investigation, but field observations are very encouraging.

Note: Recent experience in our yard with plants up to 7’ tall has shown that most if not all the plants can be pulled out by the roots without special tools. Winter before the ground has frozen or spring after the ground has thawed are the best times to pull out this plant due to its tendency to harbor large numbers of ticks.

Insolibasidium deformans infection

Herbivory similar to that found on Lonicera japonica

Common name: Morrows honeysuckleScientific name: Lonicera morrowiiOrigin: AsiaLocal habitat: prefers the edge of wooded areas and open woodlands, even though it will

grow in forestsReproduction: seeds spread by birdsIdentifying features: Bushy shrub up to 15 feet high with elliptic leaves.Bioeradication system: There is extensive disease as evidenced by chlorotic leaves and dying

stands in central Pennsylvania. The disease is the fungi Insolibasidium deformansand possibly a form of powdery mildew as was found on Lonicera maackii. Hyadaphis tataricae, the honeysuckle aphid, and other occasional herbivorous insects may be opening up the plant to infection through feeding wounds and carrying the diseases between plants. Either way, the insect feeding wounds are potential openings for infection to enter the plant to either opportunistic local generalists or diseases specific to Lonicera sp. . There is the strong possibility that a mite or similar insect may be carrying diseases between plants. (This year's research.)

Birds and pollinators may play a part in transferring disease and herbivorous insects between plants and other non-native members of this genus.

This plant needs further investigation, but field observations are very encouraging.

Note: Recent experience in our yard with plants up to 7’ tall has shown that most if not all the plants can be pulled out by the roots without special tools. Winter before the ground has frozen or spring after the ground has thawed are the best times to pull out this plant due to its tendency to harbor large numbers of ticks.

Insolibasidium deformans infection

Damage caused by Hyadaphis tataricae, the honeysuckle aphid.

Hyadaphis tataricae damage from the

prior year.

Common name: Multiflora roseScientific name: Rosa multifloraOrigin: AsiaLocal habitat: it prefers fields and field edges even though it will grow in wooded areasReproduction: seeds and stems cloningIdentifying features: the only rose I know of where the thorns curve towards the

center of plant

Bioeradication system: Rose rosette disease, an Emaravirus, Phyllocoptes fructiphilus, an eriophyoid (gall) mite, and a fungal pathogen in the Colletotrichum genus appear to be killing multiflora rose in the local area. The mites are supposedly transported by wind, but more probably phoretically by birds such as the Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos, which feed on the seeds and nest in the branches, pollinators and other insects.

Other: The witches broom associated with rose rosette disease is supposed to be disease caused. However, since P. fructiphilus is a gall forming mite, there is a strong possibility that much of the deformity is caused by this mite or as a combination of rose rosette disease and the mite.

CAUTION: When working with multiflora, thorns shatter into small slivers with skin contact which remain in the skin indefinitely. Therefore check scratches and pricks for pieces of thorns.

Rose rosette disease tends to be found areas with full or partial sun such as in and along fields .

Colletotrichum is found on plants in the understory.

Both appear to be fatal to Rosa multiflora.

rose rosette disease

chlorotic leaves are symptomatic of the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum

Bonus plant

Common name: Japanese stiltgrassScientific name: Microstegium vimineumOrigin: AsiaLocal habitat: wooded areas with partial to low sun. It usually starts along the edge of trails

and roads where people carry the hitchhiking seeds on their clothing or vehicles and animals in their fur. It spreads across the landscape from there. Intermittent/seasonal streams are often a preferred growing location and a corridor by which it spreads through the forest as mature seeds apparently float. Deer and other mammals may carry seeds in their fur into the forest.

Identifying features: silver vein down middle of leaf, large dense beds which become noticeable in early to mid summer especially along trails and intermittent stream beds. This is an understory or low light grass which is seldom found in full sun.

Reproduction: seeds which hitchhike on clothing, shoes and fur or flow down vernal streams

Bioeradication system:Bipolaris fungi species as evidenced by chlorotic leaves, probably from Zea mays,are apparently being spread by hikers and other mammals along the Appalachian Trail and other trails. In the same way hikers caused the spread of this plant, hikers are spreading the answer to this plant.

diseased plants

When looking for bioeradication systems look for the following:1.) at least one insect and/or insect vector, often more2.) disease(s)3.) close native relatives

There may be other organisms which help such as birds which spread non-winged insects or deer which may carry disease on their fur when moving about a landscape.

The more native relatives, family and genus, and the denser the population for both the non-native target and close native relatives, the more apt a system is to be present or to form in the future.

This coming field season will have five focal points:1. Inserting pieces and water emulsions of locally diseased Ailanthus

trees into holes drilled into healthy Ailanthus trees to see if moving disease from one tree to another is as simple as finding locally diseased trees to use as sources of disease.

2. Inserting pieces and water emulsions of glyphosate (Drill and Fill) killed trees which are decaying into healthy Ailanthus trees to see if the fungi which are decomposing the Ailanthus trees will cause death in healthy trees.

3. Looking for gall mites, aphids and other herbivorous insects on diseased Lonicera sp. and Rosa multiflora to confirm the disease vector and a possible cause of wilting or witches broom on diseased plants.

4. Transferring pieces of diseased and/or insect infested Lonicera sp. to healthy Lonicera sp. plants of the same and different species to see if the disease and insects can be moved from one plant to another within the species and between species.

5. Transferring pieces of diseased Rosa multiflora to healthy plants to see if the disease and insects can be moved from one plant to another. This may be difficult as it is increasingly hard to find healthy multiflora rose plants.

As an ecologist I am dealing with infinity minus one variables. (∞-1 = variables in a system)

Note on phoretic transport

Phoretic transport of mites and other non-winged herbivorous insects between plants is more probable than random transport by wind. Even though many of these insects have huge numbers and easily become airborne, the directedness of phoretic transport by insects and birds who use the plants as resources is more logical across and between landscapes than chance.

Wind transport logically works best in landscapes with high densities of the food plant close together. Whereas phoretic transport requires fewer food plants across a larger landscape.

The same may be true for fungal infections which have at least one phase (spore producing) on the outside of plants. Wind borne transport is most effective when there is a high density of the food plant as happened with the chestnut blight and the American Chestnut.

With fungal infections, especially ones that do not exist in any phase outside of a plant, the complexity is greater and may involve more than one organism to transport it between host plants.

presentation posted at:

http://www.slideshare.net/rtgardner3

https://independent.academia.edu/RichardTGardner

Contact information:

Richard Gardner

rtgardner3@yahoo.com

410.726.3045

We live in northern Berks County, PA.

Anyone who wants to visit us is welcome to.