Phytomyza vitalbae, Phoma clematidina, and insect-plant pathogen interactions in the biological control of weeds.

Field observations suggested that the introduced agromyzid fly Phytomyza vitalbae facilitated the performance of the coelomycete fungal pathogen Phoma clematidina introduced to control Clematis vitalba in New Zealand. However, when this was tested in a manipulative experiment, the observed effects could not be reproduced. Conidia did not survive well when sprayed onto flies, flies did not easily transmit the fungus to C. vitalba leaves, and the incidence of infection spots was not related to the density of feeding punctures in leaves. Although no synergistic effects were demonstrated in this case, insect–pathogen interactions, especially those mediated through the host plant, are important to many facets of biological control practice. This is discussed with reference to recent literature.

[1]  Developing in diseased host plants increases survival and fecundity in a stem‐boring weevil , 2002 .

[2]  M. Taper,et al.  Sources of mortality for a cynipid gall-wasp (Dryocosmus dubiosus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae)): The importance of the Tannin/Fungus interaction , 1986, Oecologia.

[3]  L. Morin,et al.  Hawaii's successful biological control strategy for mist flower (Ageratina riparia) - can it be transferred to New Zealand? , 1997 .

[4]  P. Hatcher.  THREE‐WAY INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PLANT PATHOGENIC FUNGI, HERBIVOROUS INSECTS AND THEIR HOST PLANTS , 1995 .

[5]  R. Hill,et al.  Host-range testing, introduction, and establishment of Cydia succedana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) for biological control of gorse, Ulex europaeus L., in New Zealand , 2002 .

[6]  R. Connor.  The Benefits of Mutualism: A Conceptual Framework , 1995 .

[7]  L. Kok,et al.  Transmission of Puccinia carduorum by the Musk Thistle Herbivores, Cassida rubiginosa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Trichosirocalus horridus and Rhinocyllus conicus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) , 1994 .

[8]  R. Carruthers,et al.  Accelerated Development of the European Corn Borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), Induced by Interactions with Colletotrichum graminicola (Melanconiales: Melanconiaceae), the Causal Fungus of Maize Anthracnose , 1986 .

[9]  R. Hill,et al.  Biology and Host Range of Phytomyza vitalbae and its Establishment for the Biological Control of Clematis vitalba in New Zealand , 2001 .

[10]  P. McEvoy,et al.  BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF PLANT INVADERS: REGIONAL PATTERNS, FIELD EXPERIMENTS, AND STRUCTURED POPULATION MODELS , 1999 .

[11]  D. Wood,et al.  TRANSMISSION OF THE PITCH CANKER FUNGUS, FUSARIUM SUBGLUTINANS F. SP. PINI, TO MONTEREY PINE, PINUS RADIATA, BY CONE- AND TWIG-INFESTING BEETLES , 1996, The Canadian Entomologist.

[12]  R. Charudattan.  Integrated Control of Waterhyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) with a Pathogen, Insects, and Herbicides , 1986, Weed Science.

[13]  F. Leggett,et al.  Impact of a disease and a defoliating insect on houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale) growth: implications for weed biological control , 2000 .

[14]  N. R. Spencer,et al.  Biological control of alien, invasive pine trees (Pinus species) in South Africa. , 2000 .

[15]  G. N. Agrios.  Chapter 13 – INSECT INVOLVEMENT IN THE TRANSMISSION OF FUNGAL PATHOGENS , 1980 .

[16]  N. R. Spencer,et al.  The biological control programme against Clematis vitalba in New Zealand. , 2000 .

[17]  K. Stephanie,et al.  Interactions between the rust fungus Puccinia punctiformis and ectophagous and endophagous insects on creeping thistle , 2001 .

[18]  A. Caesar,et al.  Insect - Pathogen synergisms are the foundation of weed biocontrol , 1999 .

[19]  H. S. Jacob,et al.  Prioritising agents based on predicted efficacy: beyond the lottery approach. , 2003 .

[20]  S. Bacher,et al.  Direct and Indirect Effects of a Shoot-Base Boring Weevil and Plant Competition on the Performance of Creeping Thistle, Cirsium arvense , 2001 .

[21]  N. R. Spencer,et al.  Biological control of mist flower (Ageratina riparia, Asteraceae): transferring a successful program from Hawaii to New Zealand. , 2000 .

[22]  M. P. Nooij.  The Role of Weevils in the Infection Process of the Fungus Phomopsis subordinaria in Plantago lanceolata , 1988 .

[23]  R E McFadyen,et al.  Biological control of weeds. , 1998, Annual review of entomology.

[24]  H. L. Martin,et al.  Potential of Cactoblastis cactorum as a Vector for Fungi Pathogenic to Pricklypear, Opuntia inermis , 2001 .

[25]  P. Hatcher,et al.  Plant pathogen : herbivore interactions and their effects on weeds. , 2001 .

[26]  A. Kruess.  Indirect interaction between a fungal plant pathogen and a herbivorous beetle of the weed Cirsium arvense , 2002, Oecologia.

[27]  P. Hatcher,et al.  Beetle grazing reduces natural infection of Rumex obtusifolius by fungal pathogens. , 2000, The New phytologist.