Phoma macrostoma is a fungus that shows potential as a bioherbicide for controlling broadleaf weeds like Canada thistle. Researchers discovered it naturally occurring on infected thistle plants. Greenhouse and field tests showed it can effectively control several weed species when applied to soil, but does not harm monocot plants or grasses. Further research is being conducted to optimize application rates and methods, understand its behavior and persistence in various environments, and ensure its safe development as a commercial product through partnerships between government and industry.
Phoma macrostoma is a fungus that shows potential as a bioherbicide for controlling broadleaf weeds like Canada thistle. Researchers discovered it naturally occurring on infected thistle plants. Greenhouse and field tests showed it can effectively control several weed species when applied to soil, but does not harm monocot plants or grasses. Further research is being conducted to optimize application rates and methods, understand its behavior and persistence in various environments, and ensure its safe development as a commercial product through partnerships between government and industry.
Phoma macrostoma is a fungus that shows potential as a bioherbicide for controlling broadleaf weeds like Canada thistle. Researchers discovered it naturally occurring on infected thistle plants. Greenhouse and field tests showed it can effectively control several weed species when applied to soil, but does not harm monocot plants or grasses. Further research is being conducted to optimize application rates and methods, understand its behavior and persistence in various environments, and ensure its safe development as a commercial product through partnerships between government and industry.
Phoma macrostoma is a fungus that shows potential as a bioherbicide for controlling broadleaf weeds like Canada thistle. Researchers discovered it naturally occurring on infected thistle plants. Greenhouse and field tests showed it can effectively control several weed species when applied to soil, but does not harm monocot plants or grasses. Further research is being conducted to optimize application rates and methods, understand its behavior and persistence in various environments, and ensure its safe development as a commercial product through partnerships between government and industry.
K.L. BAILEY (AGRICULTURE & AGRI-FOOD CANADA, SASKATOON) AND S. FALK & S. LOMBARDO (THE SCOTTS COMPANY, MARYSVILLE, OH)
A 2009 OTS Highlight Article. A good stand of turfgrass provides numerous benefits that contribute to our quality of life. When weeds invade our lawns, parks and golf courses, they disrupt the vigour, uniformity and aesthetics of established grass. Weeds are also a major source of pollen, which contributes to allergies and other irritations. Integrated weed management systems emphasize prevention of weed problems by maintaining vigorously-growing lawns with a combina- tion of biological, chemical, cultural, manual and mechanical methods. However, pesticide bans in some municipalities and provinces across Canada have reduced the options available for weed control.
B ioherbicides are an alternative more biological control projects to frui- less chamomile, white clover and chick- weed control option to traditional tion, such as the project between Agricul- weed emerged white and died when the herbicides that are permitted to be ture & Agri-Food Canada and The Scotts fungus was pre-emergently placed in the used where herbicide bans are in Company to develop the naturally-occur- soil. However, there was no bleaching or effect. Bioherbicides, often made ring fungus Phoma macrostoma for mortality on weeds like green foxtail or from naturally-occurring fungi or bacte- broadleaved weed control in turfgrass. wild oats. Among the non-target plant spe- ria found on plants or in soil, can suppress Government scientists discovered cies, broadleaf plants such as canola or weed growth and development, or result Phoma macrostoma on Canada thistle lentil were affected, but monocot plants in weed mortality. There are opportuni- plants growing in Alberta, Saskatchewan, like wheat, barley, oat, millet, canaryseed ties for commercial applicators, farmers Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and grasses were unaffected. and homeowners to use microorganisms (Figure 1). The fungus only caused small, To test whether biological control for biological weed control in agriculture, insignificant lesions when sprayed onto would work in the field, methods were forestry and turfgrass situations. leaves, but when added to soil, emerging developed to grow Phoma macrostoma in Presently, the number of bioherbicides Canada thistle plants came up white. Host the laboratory and formulate it as a gran- commercially available in Canada is fairly range studies were conducted to determine ule or powder for broadcasting to the soil limited. But innovative research by pub- which weed and non-target plant species surface. Conceptually, the granules would lic institutions and industry partnerships were susceptible to the fungus. Weeds either be applied together with grass seed for new product development will bring such as Canada thistle, dandelion, scent- to establish a weed-free lawn (Figure 2)
www.sportsturfassociation.com | SUMMER 2009 11
or be broadcast over turfgrass and soil to prevent new weed emergence and kill pre- viously established weeds. Field tests were conducted at several sites and over sev- eral years to determine efficacy and ap- plication parameters such as the lowest effective dose (Table 1), number of appli- cations needed, timing of the application during the growing season, and weather conditions affecting efficacy. It was also important to monitor the behaviour of the fungus in the environ- ment to provide information on persist- ence, dispersion and survival for the assessment of environmental risk. Using
FIGURE 2A: UNTREATED
The bioherbicide has limited soil mobility. Research showed that its presence declined with time such that it was not detectable after one year.
genetic markers specific to the fungus, it
was shown that Phoma macrostoma had limited mobility in the soil and its pres- ence declined with time such that it was not detectable after one year. There were no persistent effects on susceptible crops such as peas the year following the first application. As the research continues, it becomes more apparent why R&D partnerships are FIGURE 2B:TREATED necessary for achieving success in biologi- cal control. There are five major catego- ries for which sufficient information must TABLE 1. DANDELION CONTROL (%) AT 28, 56 AND 84 DAYS AFTER be acquired in order to determine if an organism has potential to be an effective APPLICATION (DAA) OF PHOMA MACROSTOMA, GUELPH, ON and safe bioherbicide. These categories are concerned with the characterization and Rate % Dandelion % Dandelion % Dandelion biology of the organism, the interaction Control at 28 DAA Control at 56 DAA Control at 84 DAA of the organism in the environment and associated environmental risks, the com- mercialization aspects of production and 1x 83 ab 92 a 92 a formulation, the toxicological safety to- wards human and animals, and the regu- 1/2 x 76 abc 72 ab 76 abc lations that govern the research process 1/4 x 51 cde 52 bc 52 bcd and final product registration. The partnership between Agriculture & 1/8 x 48 de 26 cd 41 d Agri-Food Canada and The Scotts Com- pany has addressed the biological, environ- 0x 0f 0d 0e mental and toxicological aspects with Phoma macrostoma for use in turfgrass, and are currently working on the final de- There are no significant differences among treatments followed by the same letter within a column. velopment and commercialization stages to (P=0.05, Duncan’s multiple range test) bring this innovation to the marketplace. ♦
Effect of Core Cultivation Fertility and Plant Growth Regulators On Recovery of Voided Creeping Bentgrass Greens Canopies Following Annual Bluegrass Control Via Methiozolin
