4.What were the most significant accomplishments this past year?
This report serves to document research conducted under a specific cooperative agreement between EBCL-USDA-ARS and the Biotechnology and Biological Control Agency (Rome, Italy). This project is subordinate to the parent CRIS 4012-22000-020-00D. Field explorations, collections and surveys in support of ongoing research on natural enemies of yellow starthistle and other invasive organisms were conducted in Turkey, Greece and Sicily. Two weevils, one leaf beetle, one tip galling moth, two stem boring long-horn beetles, large eriophid populations were discovered during these travels on YST and will be considered for future screening after taxonomic identification. Emphasis was placed on the root bore weevil Ceratapion basicorne and the stem borer flea beetle Psylliodes sp. nr. chalcomera using a classic approach and molecular genetic evaluation. Preliminary data from the host range bioassays (for the weevil in open field host range test and for the flea beetle in no-choice and choice field cage and laboratory conditions) confirmed the great level of restricted host suitability, with adult feeding on few Carduine and complete larval devlopment only on the target weed (both control and US biotypes). For C. basicorne, an open field insecticide exclusion test was conducted to evaluate the direct impact of the larval feeding on the biomass and the fitness of yellow starthistle. All the work on C. basicorne was in cooperation with a team the Ataturk University of Erzurum, coordinated by Dr. Rustem Hayat, and with EBCL. For P. chalcomera, the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg, cooperated in the field work and host range test. The University of Rome was involved for the genetic analysis. In addition, effort was spent to search for new organisms on Lepidium draba. Organisms found on L. draba such as the flea beetle, Psylliodes sp., a stem galling weevil, sap beetles, and additional specimens of the rust were collected.