1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? Why does it matter?
Weeds are major agricultural, environmental, and nuisance problems. Losses in agriculture due to weeds were estimated at $14 billion annually from lost production and costs of control efforts. A majority of the target weeds can dominate the local plant community, thus becoming the most abundant plant and displacing native species. This is particularily evident in rangelands, pastures, and recreational areas, which has led to an increase in vegetation management costs. Many of the weeds in the United States are of foreign origin introduced without any of the natural enemies that control them in their native habitats. Invasive weeds can replace natural plant stands changing the ecological balance and rendering some private and public lands unusable. The application of herbicides and manual labor are not often economically and environmentally practical to remove these weeds. The introduction of natural enemies is a potential solution. Active search and discovery of natural insects and pathogens, focused towards weeds of rangelands, is being conducted. The weeds emphasized in this project are Centaurea solstitialis, Dipsacus fullonum, Arundo donax, Cirsium arvense, and Isatis tinctoria. The weed control agents are then rigorously evaluated by assessing the damage to the weed, specificity to the target weed, environmental impact, and practicality of use. This work is not only relevant to the farmer, but also to ARS stateside researchers, APHIS-PPQ, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Reclamation, environmental groups, and other clientele. The potential benefits include suppression of weeds in a safe and environmentally sound manner and conservation of nonrenewable resources. This project is part of National Program 304, titled "Crop Protection and Quarantine." As a component of this National Program, the agency is emphasizing biologically-based integrated pest management systems of invasive weeds and biological control constitutes a major component of this national program. Collaborations with scientists and scientific organizations in France, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey, Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Canada have been established. Laboratories in the U.S., including other USDA/ARS labs (e.g. Sidney, MT; Albany, CA; etc.), Federal agencies (e.g. Bureau of Land Management; APHIS-PPQ; etc.), and universities (Montana St.; California-Davis; etc.) are cooperating and receiving biological control agents for further testing from EBCL.

2.List by year the currently approved milestones (indicators of research progress)
Milestones for 2006 were: 1) Continue foreign exploration for target weeds. 2) Continue collections for Tricophysa sp. on Cirsium arvense. 3) Continue field studies to observe the impact under natural conditions on Phoma exigua and Synchytrium solstitiale on yellow starthistle. 4) Conduct biological studies of insects on common teasel. 5) Continue internal exploration searching for new agents and identifying discovered agents. 6) Continue field studies on the impact of Ceutorhynchus rusticus on Isatis tinctoria. 7) Send Synchytrium sp. to Ft. Detrick for further work. 8) Continue host specificity tests for the agent Tricophysa sp. and Agromyza dipsici on teasels. 9) Begin genetic studies on A. donax. 10) Begin host specificity studies with Nigrospora oryzae and other new agents on A. donax. 11) Collect and ship insects and pathogens as desired by cooperators in the U.S. 12) Publications by Widmer, Rector, Kirk, Campobasso, Sforza, Kashefi, and Bon on research conducted on the new biological control agents.

Milestones for 2007 are: 1) Foreign exploration for target weeds. 2) Initiate new studies on pathogens of yellow starthistle. 3) Continue previous and begin new studies of pathogens and insects against Arundo donax. 4) Conclude studies on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; initiate new studies with new pathogens on teasel. 5) Initiate studies on new agents of yellow starthistle. 6) Continue studies of Tricophysa sp. on C. arvense. 7) Continue study of life cycle of Agromyza dipsaci on teasel. 8) Host specificity tests will be initiated for Nigrospora oryzae on A. donax, P. exigua on common teasel and Botabophila turcica on yellow starthistle. 10) Continue studies on Tricophysa sp. on Canada thistle, insects on common teasel, and C. rusticus on dyers woad. 11) Send Phoma sp. to U.S. lab for further evaluation. 12) Initiate formulation studies on S. sclerotiorum against common teasel. 13) Begin mass rearing and collecting of biological agents. 14) Collect and ship insects and pathogens as desired by cooperators in the U.S. 15) Publications by Widmer, Rector, Kirk, Campobasso, Sforza, Kashefi, Bon, and newly hired scientist on research conducted on the new biological control agents.

Milestones for 2008 are: 1) Foreign exploration for target weeds. 2) Initiate studies on newly discovered agents discovered for yellow starthistle, giant reed, and common teasel. 3) Finish field and laboratory studies on biology of Tricophysa sp. on Canada thistle. 4) Continue field studies and epidemiology of selected agents. 5) Commence host testing on TAG list for giant reed. 6) Continue studies on C. peyerimhoffi on dyer's woad. 7) Finish host specificity tests for Nigrospora oryzae on A. donax, P. exigua, and on common teasel, and B. turcica on yellow starthistle. 9) Continue host specificity tests for S. sclerotiorum on common teasel and other newly discovered agents. 10) Continue study of the genetic variability of populations of A. donax. 11) Commence host testing on TAG list for agents attacking teasel. 12) Collect and ship insects and pathogens as desired by cooperators in the U.S. 13) Publications by Rector, Kirk, Campobasso, Sforza, Kashefi, Bon, and newly hired scientist on research conducted on the new biological control agents.

Milestones for 2009 are: 1) Foreign exploration for target weeds. 2) Initiate biological studies on new pathogens discovered for yellow starthistle, giant reed, and common teasel. 3) Finish behavioral studies on C. peyerimhoffi on dyer's woad. 4) Finish behavioral and epidemiological studies of Cryptonevra sp. and other insect species against giant reed. 5) Host specificity tests will be continued for insects on giant reed and finished for C. peyerimhoffi on Dyers woad. 6) Continue formulation studies on selected pathogens against target weeds. 7) Send C. peyerimhoffi to cooperators at the Bureau of Land Management and collect and ship insects and pathogens as desired by cooperators in the U.S. 8) Petition for studies of insects on giant reed to be conducted in the U.S. 9) Publications by Rector, Kirk, Campobasso, Sforza, Kashefi, Bon, and newly hired scientist on research conducted on the new biological control agents.

4a.List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006.
The first shipments of 2 potential biological control agents of giant reed were made to the U.S. This accomplishment addresses the foreign exploration and discovery of new biological control agents of invasive weeds. Collections of the gall wasp, Tetrameza sp., and an unknown scale insect were collected in France and successfully colonized for non-target testing in quarantine in Texas in cooperation with the USDA-ARS Beneficial Insects Research Unit, Weslaco, TX. If proven host specific, release and establishment could greatly reduce the environmental and economic damage to waterways throughout the southwestern and western U.S.

4b.List other significant research accomplishment(s), if any.
"Biocontrol agent for yellow star thistle probably unacceptable" (NP304). Following 3 years of host specificity assessment of the lace bug, Tingis grisea, adding choice and no-choice oviposition trials on 16 plant species,preliminary analyses of the results suggest that the insect probably has too wide a host range, although limited to the genus Centaurea, to be suitable for introduction in the USA for YST biocontrol. This work was accomplished in collaboration with the Biotechnology and Biological Control Agency, Rome, Italy.

"Foreign exploration." (NP304). This accomplishment addresses the milestone for foreign exploration of target weeds. This investigates the problem of discovering new agents for potential biological control of weeds. Foreign exploration was carried out in 8 different countries for agents against yellow starthistle, giant reed, common teasel, euphorbia, dyer's woad, Canada thistle, and swallow-worts. These explorations were conducted in cooperation with Zoological Institute of St. Petersburg, Russia; BBCA, Rome, Italy; Agriculture University, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; and Institut National d'Horticultur, Angers, France. Several new plant pathogens and insects have been discovered attacking the target weed that could lead to new biological control agents. Sites in Bulgaria were discovered where teasel was infected by Peronospora dipsaci, a fungus that is likely to have high specificity and damage potential; host-specificity testing underway. Extensive collections of plant samples of swallow-worts and Canada thistle were made across Europe for future DNA assessments.

"Potential biocontrol agent for teasel is eliminated" (NP304). Non-target testing eliminated the larval stage of the moth, Euphydryas aurinia, as a high-priority candidate of teasel through host-specificity testing, E. aurinia had previously shown some promise and had been among the top five candidates.

"Biocontrol candidate deemed unexeptable" (NP304). Collected the candidate biocontrol agent Anthypurinus biimpressus in Tunisia for testing on Russian thistle (Salsola sp.). Conducted no-choice introductory trials on several Salsola spp. and other commercial Chenopodiaceae. Results showed that the insects were able to oviposit and larvae to grow only on S. kali, S. tragus and S. soda. Reared out F1 but we couldn't set up a permanent lab colony. During the trials we also used the insect diet mentioned above with positive results. This work was accomplished in collaboration with the Biotechnology and Biological Control Agency, Rome, Italy.

4c.List significant activities that support special target populations.
None.

4d.Progress report.
See documentation of 4012-22000-020-01S, 4012-22000-020-03S, and 4012-22000-020-08S for further information of the subordinate projects under 4012-22000-020-00D.

5.Describe the major accomplishments to date and their predicted or actual impact.
This project is in the second year of a 5-year cycle. Over the life of this project numerous new insect and pathogen agents have been discovered associated with the weeds emphasized in this project including Centaurea spp., Taeniatherum caput-medusae, Euphorbia esula, Cirsium arvense, and Chondrilla juncea. Many of these agents have gone through rigorous host range testing and have either been eliminated based upon this criteria or pursued further by more testing or studying basic biology and impact. Permits have been requested and approved for field release of the insect Bradyrrhoa gilveollela on Chondrilla juncea. Several agents have been sent from Europe to the U.S. to conduct further host range and impact studies in quarantine facilities on the American weed populations. The predicted impact of this work is that the released biocontrol agents will reduce the spread of these weeds and return the area to a more native habitat in a more natural and sustainable manner. This work is important in that it provides sound scientific knowledge to assure the safety in the release of approved biocontrol agents for the management of these invasive weeds. Many publications have resulted from these studies.

6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products?
None

7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below).
During FY 2005, knowledge and skills have been transferred by training several students from France in the area of biological control of weeds. Presentations regarding the accomplished work of the lab has been in the forms of articles and presentations. Active reimbursable cooperative agreements were established with U.S. federal and state government agencies and foreign scientists. Staff in this CRIS contributed the following articles, meeting proceedings and presentations during FY 2006: Meeting Proceedings and Presentations:

Sforza, R., and Jones, W. A. 2006. Potential for Classical Biological Control of Silverleaf Nightshade in Mediterranean Europe. Proceedings of EPPO/FAO Workshop - How to manage Invasive Alien Plants? A case study of Solanum elaeagnifolium, Sousse, Tunisia, 29-31 May 2006.

Sforza, R., Jones, W. A., Bon, M. C., Volkovitch, M. and Milbrath, L. R. 2006. Prospects for biocontrol of Swallow-worts (Vincetoxicum spp). International Symposium on Intractable Weeds and Plant Invaders, 17-21 July 2006, Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal.

Sforza R., Kirk, A., and Jones, W. A. 2005. Results of foreign exploration for natural enemies of Planococcus ficus, a new invasive mealybug in Californian vineyards. 7ème Conférence Internationale sur Les Ravageurs en Agriculture, Montpellier, France 26-27 October 2005.

Scientific Publications:

Rector, B. G., Harizanova, V., Sforza, R, Widmer T. L., and Widedenmann, R. N. 2006. Prospects for biological control of teasels, Dipsacus spp., a new target in the United States. Biological Control (36): 1-14. Sheppard, A. W., Shaw, R. H., and Sforza, R. 2006. Top 20 environmental weeds for classical biological control in Europe: a review of opportunities, regulations and other barriers to adoption. Weed Research 46: 1–25.