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Potential for biological control of the weed Angled Onion (Allium triquetrum) by the fungus Stromatinia cepivora in Australia

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Abstract

The fungus Stromatinia cepivora (Berk.) Whetzel, which causes white rot of cultivated Allium species, was assessed as a biological control agent for Angled Onion (Allium triquetrum L.), a widespread noxious invasive environmental weed in southern Australia. A. triquetrum showed relatively little genetic diversity, suggesting it was a suitable target for biological control. Genetic analysis of plants from 23 sites in the three main infested Australian states by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis suggested biotypes of A. triquetrum in Australia grouped by state, except for samples from Westernport Bay and Ararat (Victoria). Pathogenicity and virulence of two S. cepivora isolates were assessed on up to 13 A. triquetrum provenances, 6 cultivated Allium species and 9 Australian endemic monocotyledons in test-tube and pot trials. In test-tubes, sclerotia killed plants from all provenances. In pot trials with sclerotia and mycelium, the more pathogenic isolate killed plants from all but one provenance. No A. triquetrum provenance was resistant to S. cepivora, nor were common cultivated Allium species, but common Australian endemic monocotyledons from habitats infested with A. triquetrum showed no disease symptoms 90 days post-inoculation. S. cepivora thus has potential as a biological control agent for A. triquetrum in native bushland in Australia where the risk of it spreading to horticulturally important Allium species is low and can be controlled.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr James Cunnington and Dr Oscar Villalta of the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Victoria for the strains of S. cepivora used in these trials, and Dr Janet Anthony and Dr Siegy Krauss, Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Western Australia, for providing A. triquetrum bulbs from there. The authors also wish to thank Ross Field and David Lane, DPI Frankston, for information from a small trial conducted there in the past.

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Author notes

  1. P. Tehranchian

    Present address: Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas, 1366 West Altheimer Drive, Fayetteville, AR, AR 72704, USA

  2. R. J. Adair

    Present address: Australis Biological Pty Ltd, PO Box 151, Bittern, Victoria, 3918, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora West Campus, PO Box 71, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia

    P. Tehranchian & A. C. Lawrie

  2. Department of Primary Industries, Frankston Centre, PO Box 48, Frankston, VIC, 3199, Australia

    R. J. Adair

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  1. P. Tehranchian
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Correspondence to A. C. Lawrie.

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Tehranchian, P., Adair, R.J. & Lawrie, A.C. Potential for biological control of the weed Angled Onion (Allium triquetrum) by the fungus Stromatinia cepivora in Australia. Australasian Plant Pathol. 43, 381–392 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13313-014-0279-6

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