Biology of host range testing for biocontrol of weeds

• Published in: Weed technology 1990-07, Vol.4 (3), p.465-470
• Main Authors: Weidemann, G.J. (Univ. Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR), Tebeest, D.O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AGENT PATHOGENE; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; AUXILIAIRE DE LUTTE BIOLOGIQUE; Biocontrol: An Applied Ecological Approach to Weed Management; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGICAL CONTROL; Biological control and other methods; BIOLOGICAL CONTROL ORGANISMS; CHAMPIGNON; CONTROL BIOLOGICO; DESHERBAGE; Disease resistance; Ecological genetics; ENSAYO; ESCARDA; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; FUNGI; GENETIC VARIATION; HERBICIDAS; HERBICIDE; HERBICIDES; HONGOS; HOST PARASITE RELATIONS; Host range; HOST SPECIFICITY; HOSTS; HOTE; HUESPEDES; LUTTE BIOLOGIQUE; MALEZAS; MAUVAISE HERBE; Medical genetics; MICROBIAL PESTICIDES; MYCOHERBICIDES; ORGANISMOS PARA CONTROL BIOLOGICO; ORGANISMOS PATOGENOS; Parasite hosts; Parasitic plants. Weeds; PATHOGENS; PESTICIDE MICROBIEN; phytopathogenic fungi; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; PLAGUICIDAS MICROBIANOS; Plant diseases; PLANT PATHOGENIC FUNGI; Plants; RELACIONES HUESPED PARASITO; RELATION HOTE PARASITE; TESTAGE; TESTING; VARIACION GENETICA; VARIATION GENETIQUE; WEED CONTROL; WEEDS
• ISSN: 0890-037X; 1550-2740
• DOI: 10.1017/S0890037X0002577X

The determination of host range is an important component in developing a plant pathogen for use as a bioherbicide. The safety of non-target economic and wild plants must be assured before experimental release and commercial use. In contrast to other methods of weed control, the genetic variability and genetic stability of both the weed and the biological control agent must be considered. Schemes to determine host range generally assume a close phylogenetic relationship between the weed host and its co-evolved pathogens. Therefore, testing generally is based on inoculation of genetically related plant species and progresses to more distantly related species until the host range is circumscribed. Several potential weaknesses in these schemes will be illustrated with examples using specific biological control agents. Future tests must place greater emphasis on testing taxa representing the full range of genetic diversity within the biogeographic area of intended use.