Vegetation Management of Woody Deciduous Species with the Biological Herbicide Chondrostereum purpureum

摘要

In recent years, biological control products have been considered to be a useful addition to anintegrated pesticide management plan, especially when chemical pesticide use is increasinglyconstrained. The management of woody deciduous species is a challenge in industrial rights-of-way. These tree species grow rapidly and have the ability to re-sprout from cut stumps whenchemical herbicides are not applied. In riparian zones and in management areas where chemicalherbicide use is no longer permitted, there are limited choices for the control of these species. Asa solution to these management constraints, we have been developing the fungus Chondrostereumpurpureum as a viable alternative to chemical herbicide application for the control of deciduousspecies. This biological herbicide has shown efficacy against red alder, Sitka alder and aspenin field trials that is comparable to chemical methods of deciduous brush control. Concurrentstudies that evaluated the environmental fate and the non-target effects of this fungus have de-termined that it is a safe alternative to chemical methods of weed control. This biocontrol agentcould be an important component of an integrated vegetation management strategy, especiallyin rights-of-way that traverse wetlands and environmentally sensitive habitats. A formulationof this bioherbicide has been registered for use in both Canada and the United States. Productefficacy against a wider range of target tree species will be evaluated in future field trials.