Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Entyloma ageratinae
was released in New Zealand in 1998 to suppress mist
flower (Barton et al. 2007). Within 2 years, it had established at all the initial
release sites and was found up to 80 km from the nearest release site (Barton et al.
2007). Within 5.5 years, it had spread throughout the mist flower sites in the North
Fig. 10.2
Biological control of
Ageratina riparia
(known as mist flower or by its Hawaiian name,
Hamakua pamakani) by the foliar smut fungus
Entyloma ageratinae
in New Zealand.
Top row
:
The effect of the smut pathogen before (
left
) and after (
right
) its release and establishment in 1998.
The mean percentage of mist flower cover (the predominant plant in the dark green understory in
the picture on the left) determined from 51 sites decreased from 81 to 1.5% in 5 years.
Bottom
: a
smut-infected mist flower leaf showing necrotic lesions and white smut growth and sporulation.
Picture credit: Martin Heffer (foliar disease symptoms) and Alison Gianotti (before and after
pictures). The images were provided by Jane Barton, Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand
and reprinted here with permission from Landcare Research, New Zealand
