Partner und Internationale Organisationen
(Englisch)
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B, CH, CRO, D, DK, E, F, H, I, N, NL, S, SK, UK
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Abstract
(Englisch)
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Bindweed has become an increasingly pervasive problem in European agriculture over the past 50 years. It is one of the main weeds for which adequate controls (e. g. chemicals or culture practices like ground cover) are still not available. Furthermore, because of the public push for pesticide-free zones in amenity areas like children playgrounds and city parks, and because of the high labour costs to eradicate bindweed by hand, biocontrol is the most promising alternative. A fungal strain (Stagonospora convolvuli LA39) able to attack both, field and hedge bindweed was found in the UK. The efficacy of the strain was improved through specific mass production, formulation and storage techniques. This bioactive product controlled effectively the bindweeds in an amenity area and in maize crop situations. Its use fits best in an integrated pest management system where a green cover controls most of the weeds except the bindweeds. However, there is still a need for further improvement. Recent breakthroughs on the secondary metabolites of the biocontrol fungus (potential phytotoxins, e.g. leptosphaerodione) and the weed (calystegines) might be of key importance. Results of DNA marker analysis indicate that our biocontrol fungus has sexual reproduction, and that this can be used to further improve the strain. Another open question is whether the biocontrol insect (Melanagromyza albocilia) can be used to improve the ability of our fungus to penetrate the stems of bindweed. So far, strain LA39 has been used only in situations where fungicides were not applied (amenity areas, maize fields). To extend the spectrum for application of our biocontrol fungus to other agricultural areas (e. g. vineyards), it will be necessary to make it compatible with commonly used fungicides. For more details see: G. DÉFAGO, H.U. AMMON, L. CAGÁN, B. DRAEGER, M.P. GRAEVES, D. GUNTLI, D. HOEKE, L. KLIMES, J. LAWRIE, B. NICOLET, H.A. PFIRTER, R. TABACCHI and P. TÓTH. Towards the biocontrol of bindweeds with a mycoherbicide, green soil cover and insects. In Biological Control of Weeds in Crops, special issue of BioControl (Kluwer Verlag) in submission
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