Abstract
Ascochyta caulina (P. Karst) v.d. Aa and v. Kest is aplant pathogenic fungus which is specific to Chenopodium albumL. It has been suggested as a potential mycoherbicide to this weed,which is important and wide spread in arable crops throughout Europe. Toinvestigate its potential as a biocontrol agent, the fungus has beentested in glasshouse and field experiments. Formulations containingdifferent combinations of A. caulina conidia, the phytotoxinsfrom the fungus and low doses of herbicides have been tested.Significant improvement in the efficacy of the fungus was achieved inglasshouse trials with an aqueous formulation containing PVA(0.1% v/v), Psyllium (0.4% w/v), Sylgard 309(0.1% v/v), nutrients and conidia (5 ×106/ml). The extracellular, hydrophilic phytotoxinsproduced by A. caulina were purified and their structuresdetermined. The main toxin, named ascaulitoxin, was characterised as theN2-β-D-glucopyranoside of the unusual bis-aminoacid2,4,7-triamino-5-hydroxyoctandioic acid. Two other toxins proved to betrans-4-amino-D-proline and the aglycone of ascaulitoxin. Thesetoxins have shown promising herbicidal properties. Field trials haveinvestigated the performance of A. caulina conidia applied atdifferent developmental stages of C. album either as a singletreatment or combined with sub-lethal doses of herbicides or with thefungal phytotoxins. With the available formulation, favourable weatherconditions are needed to obtain infection in the field. The efficacy ofthe strain of A. caulina used so far has proved to beinadequate to justify its development as a bioherbicide. This isprobably due to its low virulence.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allard, R., 1965. Genetic systems associated with colonizing ability in predominately selfpollinated species. In: H. Baker and G. Stebbins (eds), The Genetics of Colonizing Species: Academic Press, New York. p. 49.
Baldwin, M., 1999. Formulation development of Ascochyta caulina as a biological control agent for Chenopodium album. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Bath. p. 94.
Bottalico, A., R. Capasso, A. Evidente, G. Randazzo and M. Vurro, 1990. Cytochalasins: Structure-activity relationships. Phytochemistry 29: 93–96.
Connick, W. J., W.R. Nickle Jr. and B.T. Vineyard, 1993. 'Pesta': New granular formulations for Steinernema carpocapsae. J. Nematol. 25: 198–203.
Cooper, S.L., G.I. Wingfield, R. Lawley and M.P. Greaves, 1978. Miniaturised methods for testing the toxicity of pesticides to microorganisms. Weed Research 18: 105–107.
Evidente, A., R. Capasso, A. Cutignano, O. Taglialatela-Scafati, M. Vurro, M.C. Zonno and A. Motta, 1998. Ascaulitoxin, a phytotoxic bis-aminoacid N-glucoside from Ascochyta caulina. Phytochemistry 48: 1131–1137.
Evidente, A., A. Andolfi, M. Vurro, M.C. Zonno and A. Motta, 2000. trans-4-aminoproline, a phytotoxic metabolite with herbicidal activity produced by Ascochyta caulina. Phytochemistry 53: 231–237.
Greaves, M.P., P.J. Holloway and B. A. Auld, 1998. Formulation of microbial herbicides. In: D. Burgess (ed), Formulation of Microbial Herbicides, Beneficial Organisms and Nematodes. Chapman and Hall, New York.
Henderson C.F. and W. Tilton, 1955. Tests with acaricides against the brown wheat spider mite. J. Econ. Entomol. Baltimore 48(1): 157–161.
Holm, L.G., D.J. Pluckett, J.V. Pancho and J.P. Herberger, 1977. The world's worst weeds (distribution and biology). University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu. pp. 84–91.
Jackson, M.A., M.R. McGuire, L.A. Lacey and S.P. Wraight, 1997. Liquid culture production of desiccation tolerant blastospores of the bioinsecticidal fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus. Mycol. Res. 101(1): 35–41.
Kempenaar, C., 1995. Studies on biological control of Chenopodium album by Ascochyta caulina. PhD thesis, Agricultural University of Wageningen. p. 126.
Kempenaar, C., P.J.F.M. Horsten and P.C. Scheepens, 1995. Effect of application of Ascochyta caulina to flowering Chenopodium album plants on propagation of the weed. Proceedings of the IX Symposium of the European Weed Research Society Challenges of weed science in a changing Europe, 10–12 July 1995, Budapest, Hungary. pp. 535–542.
Kempenaar, C., P.J.F.M Horsten and P.C. Scheepens, 1996a. Spore germination and disease development of Chenopodium album after application of Ascochyta caulina as a mycoherbicide. Europ. J. Plant Path. 102: 143–153.
Kempenaar, C., P.J.F.M. Horsten and P.C. Scheepens, 1996b. Effects of Ascochyta caulina on leaf photosynthesis of Chenopodium album. New Phytol. 132: 453–457.
Kempenaar, C., R. Wanningen and P.C. Scheepens, 1996c. Control of Chenopodium album by soil application of Ascochyta caulina under greenhouse conditions. Ann. Appl. Biol. 129: 343–354.
Kempenaar C., P.J.F.M. Horsten and P.C. Scheepens, 1996d. Growth and competitiveness of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) after foliar application of Ascochyta caulina as a mycoherbicide. Weed Science 44: 609–614.
Kempenaar, C and P.C. Scheepens, 1996. Biological control of Chenopodium album L. with Ascochyta caulina van der AA and van Kesteren. Zeitschrift f. Pflanzenkrankheiten u. Pflanzenschutz, Sonderheft XV. pp. 379–383.
Ketel D.H. and P.J.J. Pikaar, 1996. Adjusting metribuzin dose to weed development by using the herbicide efficiency parameter. Proc. Intern. Symp. on Weed and Crop Resistance, Cordoba (Spain), 3–6 April 1995, pp. 245–248.
Pinkerton, F. and G.A. Strobel, 1976. Serinol as an activator of toxin production in attenuated cultures of Helminthosporium sacchari. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 73: 4007–4011.
SAS Institute, Inc., 1988. SAS/STAT user's guide. Release 6.03 Edition., Cary, NC.
Saunders, R., 1998. Environmental stochasticity and the establishment of fungal bio-control agents, M.Sc., Thesis, University of Bristol. p. 105.
Scheepens, P.C., 1979. Bestrijding van onkruiden met microorganismen. Gewasbescherming 10: 113–117.
Scheepens P.C., C. Kempenaar, C. Andreasen, Th. Eggers, J. Netland and M. Vurro, 1997. Control of the annual weed Chenopodium album by application of Ascochyta caulina as a microbial herbicide. Integr. Pest Management Rev. 2: 71–76.
Schroeder, D., Müller-Schärer, H. and C.A.S. Stinson, 1993. A European survey in 10 major crop systems to identify targets for biological control. Weed Research 33: 449–458.
Strange, R.N., 1997. Phytotoxins associated with Ascochyta species. In: R.K. Upadhyay and K.G. Mukerji (eds), Toxins in Plant Disease Development and Evolving Biotechnology, Oxford and IBH Publishing Co., New Delhi. pp. 167–181.
Strobel, G.A., D. Kenfield, G. Bunkers, F. Sugawara and J. Clardy, 1991. Phytotoxins as potential herbicides. Experientia 47: 819–826.
Zonno M.C., W. Van Der Zweerde, P. Scheepens and M. Vurro, 1998. Potential use of phytotoxic culture filtrates of Ascochyta caulina in integrated control of Chenopodium album. VI International Mycological Congress, Jerusalem. 22–27 August 1998, p. 161.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Netland, J., Dutton, L., Greaves, M. et al. Biological control of Chenopodium album L. in Europe. BioControl 46, 175–196 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011425826359
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011425826359