Project Number: 1920-22000-030-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: May 15, 2003
End Date: Aug 31, 2005

Objective:
Collect seed from European, Mediterranean and Eurasian populations of yellow starthistle, and perform genetic characterization studies on these and California populations of yellow starthistle. Evaluate pathogens of musk thistle and yellow starthistle in field trials at selected California infestation sites. Evaluate pathogens of Russian thistle for potential use as biological control agents. Conduct post-release monitoring of Puccinia jaceae, a very promising biological control agent for yellow starthistle, Centaurea solstitialis. Conduct foreign exploration for plant pathogen natural enemies of yellow starthistle and other high-priority weeds through the ARS European Biological Control Laboratory in Montpellier, France, and/or Thessaloniki, Greece. Conduct host-specificity testing of plant pathogen biological control agents for common cuprina, salsola, and other high priority weeds.

Approach:
Biological control of priority invasive weeds with plant pathogen biological control agents, with emphasis on discovery, host-specificity testing, and post-release monitoring. Consult with regulatory agencies to determine information needed to expedite release of pathogens for thistle control. Develop proposals for release of pathogens on musk thistles, yellow starthistle, and other high-priority invasive weeds. Establish field sites for pathogen release with equipment for monitoring of environmental variables. Collect new pathogens of high-priority invasive weeds from countries of origin and evaluate pathogen efficacy using safe containment greenhouse procedures. Collect yellow starthistle seed sources from countries of origin and use Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) to compare intra and inter-population variation in yellow starthistle from California and source countries. BSL 1/17/2002 - recertification has been requested.

Project Team

Luster, Douglas - Doug Berner, Dana Bruckart, William - Bill

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003

Related National Programs

Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)

Related Projects

Control of Canada Thistle Through Multiplication and Inundation of the Rust Fungus Puccinia Punctiformis    Field Testing and Host Range Determination of Microbotryum Cardui, a Potential Biological Control Agent for Carduus and Related Thistles    Release and Evaluation of the Rust Fungus, Puccinia Jaceae Var. Solstitialis, on Yellow Starthistle, Centaurea Solstitialis, in California