USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

1. CLASSICAL BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF INVASIVE WEEDS BY PLANT PATHOGENS USDA, ARS, Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit (FDWSRU) ARS NAA Dr. Dana K. Berner Lead Scientist, Plant Pathologist Dana.Berner@ars.usda.gov 301-619-7316 Dr. Douglas G. Luster Plant Physiologist Doug.Luster@ars.usda.gov 301-619-7344 Dr. William L. Bruckart Research Plant Pathologist William.Bruckart@ars.usda.gov 301-619-2846 USDA FDWSRU Fort Detrick, MD Pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f.sp. salsolae Pathogen Uromyces salsolae • Obligate rust fungus • Host specific • Debilitates overall weed health • Plant test list submitted to APHIS Canada thistleCirsium arvense Common crupina Crupina vulgaris • Obligate rust fungus • Host specific • Debilitates overall weed health • Plant test list submitted to APHIS Musk thistle Carduus nutans Puccinia carduorium Released 1985 Rush skeletonweedChondrilla juncea Puccinia chondrillina Released 1978 Yellow starthistle Centaurea solstitialis Puccinia jaceaeReleased 2003 Current Advanced Pathogens Milk thistle Silybum marianum Russian thistle/tumbleweed Salsola tragus Pathogen Microbotryum silybum Fungus spores No seeds • Obligate systemic smut fungus • Host specific • Stops weed-seed production • Plant test list submitted to APHIS • Facultative parasitic fungus • Host specific • Kills weed seedlings and mature plants • Plant test list submitted to APHIS Diseased flower heads Your Input is Needed Communicate to regulators the Urgency to Release safe plant pathogens for Effective biological control of invasive weeds and Demand benefit-versus-risk based regulation Pathogen Puccinia crupinae Pathogen Puccinia punctiformis • Obligate systemic rust fungus • Host specific • Systemic infections give rise to spindly, pale shoots that die after producing infective spores • Naturalized in N. America • Field tests underway in MD and PA Past Successes at FDWSRU USDA Nondiscrimination Statement The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice &TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Commercial Endorsement Disclaimer The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this web site is for the information and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official endorsement or approval by the United States Department of Agriculture or the Agricultural Research Service of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.