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Controlling Weeds with Phytopathogenic Bacteria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

David R. Johnson ,
Donald L. Wyse  and
Keith J. Jones
David R. Johnson
Affiliation:
Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108
Donald L. Wyse
Affiliation:
Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108
Keith J. Jones
Affiliation:
Mycogen Corporation, 5501 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121
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Abstract

Until recently, phytopathogenic bacteria have not been considered potential biological weed control candidates because they lack the ability to penetrate intact plants. This deficiency can be overcome by providing entry wounds or using surfactants. Spray application of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis (5 × 108cells/ml) in aqueous buffer with a surfactant produced severe disease in Canada thistle, common ragweed, Jerusalem artichoke, sunflower, and certain other members of the Compositae under field conditions. Spray application of the bacterium without surfactant was ineffective on all reported hosts. Xanthomonas campestris pv. poannua controlled annual bluegrass in bermudagrass golf greens when applied by spray during mowing. The bacterium entered through mowing injuries, causing lethal, systemic wilt. Application of the bacterium to annual bluegrass in the absence of fresh mowing injuries failed to produce symptoms. Under field conditions, this previously unknown pathovar's host range was limited to a single subspecies of annual bluegrass, but inundative application to freshly mowed turf resulted in infection of diverse annual bluegrass biotypes. In field trials, six monthly applications resulted in greater than 70% control. The preceding examples are among the first attempts to use foliar phytopathogenic bacteria for biological weed control. Efficacy of these bacterial bioherbicides and of future biocontrol strategies employing bacteria is dependent on facilitated host penetration.

Keywords

Annual bluegrass, Poa annua ssp. annua L. (Timm) ♯3POAANCanada thistle, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. ♯ CIRARcommon ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. ♯ AMBELJerusalem artichoke, Helianthus tuberosus L. ♯ HELTUsunflower, Helianthus annuus L. ♯ HELANbermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. ♯ CYNDABioherbicidebiological controlPseudomonas syringae pv. tagetisXanthomonas campestris pv. poannuaorganosilicone
Type
Symposium
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , September 1996 , pp. 621 - 624
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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