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The Potential of an Endemic Fungus, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, for Biological Control of Round-Leaved Mallow (Malva pusilla) and Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Knud Mortensen*
Affiliation:
Agric., Canada Res. Stn., Box 440, Regina, SK S4P 3A2. Canada

Abstract

A fungal pathogen, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Sacc. f. sp. malvae, isolated from anthracnose symptoms of round-leaved mallow (Malva pusilla Sm.), was shown in greenhouse tests to be host specific to Malva spp. and velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic. #3 ABUTH), and only with slight attack on hollyhock [Althaea rosea (L.) Cav. # ALGRO], Malope trifida Cav., and Venice mallow (Hibiscus trionum L. # HIBTR). Round-leaved mallow plants inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus were killed after 17 to 20 days. It was less pathogenic on velvetleaf with 60 to 70% attack. The fungus can readily be cultured and field tests from 1982 to 1987 resulted in excellent control of round-leaved mallow under natural conditions. Therefore, it has good potential for biological control of round-leaved mallow in field crops.

Type
Weed Biology and Ecology
Copyright
Copyright © 1988 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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