Development of mycoherbicides and evaluation of potential risks (using Stagonospora as a model)

摘要

Several weeds such as the bindweeds Convolvulus arvensis and Calystegia septum, which belong to the economically most important weeds, are difficult to control with conventional physical and chemical methods Biological control with fungal biocontrol agents (FBCA) offers a promising alternative However, the employment of such FBCAs implies not only the identification of highly effective strains and the development of cheap formulation and production techniques, but also an extensive risk assessment including tracking of FBCAs and their toxic metabolites in the environment,, Stagonospora convolvuli strain LA39 effectively controls field and hedge bindweed in the field For this strain formulation and application techniques were developed and currently markers for environmental tracking of the fungus are being designed. A major metabolite produced by LA.39 is elsinochrome A (ELA). To assess the risk of ELA production by LA39, different methods, such as toxicity tests, stability tests and methods for environmental monitoring, were developed Our results revealed that ELA is toxic to a wide array of organisms, However, ELA was never detected in LA39 treated bindweed or crop plants, and the ELA content in the applied biocontrol product is far too low to result in a toxic concentration in the environment, Furthermore, ELA is quickly degraded by sunlight. In conclusion, LA39 is a promising candidate for the development of a successful biocontrol product against bindweed Harmful side effects of ELA production can be excluded.