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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/11681/6361
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dc.contributor.authorShearer, Judy F. (Judy Fredrickson)en_US
dc.creatorAquatic Plant Control Research Program (U.S.)en_US
dc.creatorU.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Stationen_US
dc.date.accessioned2016-03-23T19:55:01Zen_US
dc.date.available2016-03-23T19:55:01Zen_US
dc.date.issued1996-02en_US
dc.identifier.govdocTechnical Report A-96-4en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11681/6361en_US
dc.descriptionTechnical Reporten_US
dc.description.abstractThe use of classical biocontrol techniques for milfoil management was not a viable option when the Joint Agency Guntersville Project sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Authority and Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began. No host specific insects had been approved for release, and overseas searches for pathogens had not yet been initiated. A microbial biocontrol strategy, the inundative method, utilizing an endemic plant pathogen, Mycoleptodiscus terrestris (Gerd.) Ostazeski (Mt), known to be a parasite on milfoil, was proposed. Introduction of microbes for biological control purposes against nuisance pest populations is strictly regulated by individual State agencies and two Federal agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Agriculture Protection Health Inspection Service. The use of a pathogen that is known to be endemic within a State lessens the fear associated with introducing a microbe into a new area. Surveys were conducted on Lake Guntersville Reservoir to provide documentation on pathogens of milfoil to faci litate the permitting process from State and Federal agencies. Thirty-two fungal species were isolated from milfoil stem tissue collected at Mud Creek, North Sauty, and Comer Bridge sites. Mycoleptodiscus terrestris was isolated from 29 of the 30 plant samples collected on Lake Guntersville. In addition to Mt, pathogenic species from the fungal genera, Pythium, Curvularia, Cylindrocarpon, and Macrophoma, were also collected. A formulation of the endemic pathogen Mt had been developed by EcoScience Inc., Worchester, MA. The mycelium of the fungus was grown in large fermentors, incorporated into a calcium alginate matrix, and extruded as strings approximately 2 by 20 mm. The formulated fungus or mycoherbicide was registered under the trade name Aqua-Fyte. Evaluation of the mycoherbicide under field conditions was undertaken in the summer of 1992. Aqua-Fyte was ineffective in reducing aboveground biomass of Eurasian watermilfoil under natural conditions in the field. Poor performance of the mycoherbicide was thought to be due to formulation problems rather than biological, chemical, or physical factors encountered in the field. The formulated strings did not appear to adhere to plant surfaces at enough contact points for the fungus to become well established in plant tissue and induce a disease epidemic. Because Aqua-Fyte did not produce the desired results in the field, the fungal component of the formulation needed to be reevaluated for its effectiveness as a biocontrol agent for milfoil. The mycelium of Mt applied as an aqueous medium to milfoil in laboratory and greenhouse experiments successfully produced disease symptoms in stem and leaf tissue and reduced aboveground biomass. However, when applied to milfoil in the field, the mycelium failed to produce a disease epidemic. Applying the fungus in mycelial form in the field has its drawbacks because there is immediate dissipation and dilution when adding the fungus as a liquified matrix to an aqueous medium. Before the inundative strategy of biocontrol can successfully be applied to management of submersed aquatic plants, research must focus on the development of carrier compounds that will adhere to the target plant at multiple points for long periods of time. Further pathogen research must address methods to enhance the fungal component through strain improvement, fermentation technology, and drying.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipAquatic Plant Control Research Program (U.S.)en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipUnited States. Army. Corps of Engineersen_US
dc.description.tableofcontentsPreface.........................v 1-Introduction.........................1 2-Materials and Methods.........................4 Pathogen Survey.........................4 Aqua-Fyte Survey.........................5 Mt Evaluation.........................8 3-Results and Discussion.........................10 Pathogen Survey.........................10 Mycoherbicide-Aqua-Fute Evaluation.........................11 Mt Evaluation.........................15 4-Conclusions.........................18 References.........................19 SF 298en_US
dc.format.extent29 pages/4.64 MBen_US
dc.format.mediumPDFen_US
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherU.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Stationen_US
dc.relationhttp://acwc.sdp.sirsi.net/client/en_US/search/asset/1042387en_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesTechnical Report (Aquatic Plant Control Research Program (U.S.)) ; no.Technical Report A-96-4en_US
dc.rightsApproved for public release; distribution is unlimiteden_US
dc.sourceThis Digital Resource was created from scans of the Print Resourceen_US
dc.subjectBiocontrolen_US
dc.subjectBiological controlen_US
dc.subjectEurasian watermilfoilen_US
dc.subjectFungal pathogenen_US
dc.subjectFungien_US
dc.subjectMycoleptodiscus terrestrisen_US
dc.subjectMyriophyllum spicatumen_US
dc.subjectAquatic Plant Control Research Program (U.S.)en_US
dc.titlePotential of a pathogen, Mycoleptodiscus terrestris, as a biocontrol agent for the management of Myriophyllum spicatum in Lake Guntersville Reservoiren_US
dc.typeReporten_US
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