Project Number: 1907-22620-003-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Dec 05, 2007
End Date: Feb 28, 2011

Objective:
Develop a classical biological control program for exotic swallow-worts. Objectives are to 1) discover, identify and prioritize natural enemies collected on swallow-wort species that are invasive in North America, 2) conduct biological studies and host-specificity tests on high priority natural enemies to predict environmental safety and efficacy in a risk analysis context, and 3) conduct ecological studies to identify factors involved in regulating the targeted plant species, including genetics, demography, phenology, and/or antimicrobial/allelopathic aspects.

Approach:
Foreign exploration will identify damaging natural enemies of swallow-wort in its native range. The host range of promising natural enemies will be evaluated overseas and in quarantine and a comprehensive risk/benefit assessment will be prepared. Field-based plant demography studies will identify vulnerable life stage transitions of the weed that may be amenable for disruption by biological control. Genotypes of invasive swallow-wort populations will be identified and antimicrobial/allelopathic characteristics of the plants will be assessed to determine its potential role in promoting invasiveness. Comparative surveys of areas infested and uninfested by exotic swallow-worts will document their impact on the native ecosystem and provide a baseline for future documented changes in the abundance of the target weed and non-target organisms by approved biological control agents.