Project Number: 5325-22000-020-19
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 29, 2005
End Date: Jul 31, 2010

Objective:
Prioritize species based on key parameters; and discover potential biological control agents of yellow starthistle, Russian thistle and other weeds as approved by ARS National Program staff; conduct experiments to evaluate the host-specificity and potential efficacy of the more promising species.

Approach:
Explorations will be conducted at different seasons to regions where the target plants are known to occur to collect arthropods and pathogens likely to be host-specific. Specimens will be identified by qualified taxonomists, and phylogenetic analysis of DNA will be done when appropriate. Potential agents will be prioritized and tested in no-choice experiments to determine if they feed, oviposit, or develop on representative nontarget plants that are likely to be at risk of attack. Further tests under laboratory or field conditions will be conducted when appropriate. Populations of promising agents will be sent to quarantine laboratories in the U.S. to conduct further tests on the most promising agents. Documents SCA with Biotechnology and Biological Control Agency, Italy. Formerly 5325-22000-017-32S (6/05).