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Rubus fruticocus L. aggregate - European blackberry
Citation
Morin, L and Evans, KJ, Rubus fruticocus L. aggregate - European blackberry, Biological Control of Weeds in Australia, CSIRO Publishing, M Julien, R McFayden and J Cullen (ed), Canberra, ACT, pp. 499-509. ISBN 978-0643099-93-7 (2012) [Research Book Chapter]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2012 CSIRO
Official URL: http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6509.htm
Abstract
European blackberry, a group of closely related species
belonging to the Rubus fruticosus aggregate (Rosaceae), is
an introduced invasive shrub of agriculture, forestry and
natural ecosystems in Australia. This chapter describes
the various Australian biological control projects targeting
European blackberry carried out over the years and
summarises similar efforts undertaken in other countries.
Surveys in Europe in the 1970s identified three
potential agents for European blackberry, the stem-boring
sawfly Hartigia albomaculata, purple blotch fungus Septocyta
ruborum and leaf-rust fungus Phragmidium violaceum.
The purple blotch fungus was not investigated at
the time and preliminary host-specificity tests with the
sawfly showed that larvae were able to feed on a number
of cultivated blackberry and rose varieties. In 1984, while
efforts were underway in Europe to select isolates of the
leaf-rust fungus, it was found in Australia after an unauthorised
introduction. Nonetheless, one of the selected
and tested isolates (Fl5) was officially released in Australia
in the early 1990s. Subsequent research addressed
knowledge gaps considered critical to the biological control
success of European blackberry, including a taxonomic
revision of the R. fruticosus aggregate in Australia,
climate modelling to predict impact of the rust fungus,
and studies of pathogenicity and population genetics of
the fungus to explain variation in disease intensity across
the landscape. In 2000, eight additional and genetically
diverse isolates of the rust fungus were sourced using a
trap garden established in Europe that comprised blackberry
clones from Australia. Following demonstration of
host-specificity and approval for release in 2004, a large scale
release program, including re-release of F15, was
established and the fate of the additional isolates monitored
using molecular markers. Concurrently, surveys for
other potential candidate agents were performed in
Europe and as a result the purple blotch fungus is being
investigated in more detail.
Item Details
Item Type: | Research Book Chapter |
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Keywords: | Rubus systematics, leaf-rust fungus, Phragmidium violaceum, sawfly, Hartigia albomaculata, purple blotch fungus, Septocyta ruborum |
Research Division: | Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences |
Research Group: | Crop and pasture production |
Research Field: | Crop and pasture protection (incl. pests, diseases and weeds) |
Objective Division: | Plant Production and Plant Primary Products |
Objective Group: | Forestry |
Objective Field: | Forestry not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Evans, KJ (Associate Professor Katherine Evans) |
ID Code: | 63146 |
Year Published: | 2012 |
Deposited By: | Agricultural Science |
Deposited On: | 2010-04-15 |
Last Modified: | 2017-04-20 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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