Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Master Student
Definition of a Weed
The definition of weeds is predicated on human perception , desire and needs. A weed is a plant which interferes with human activity or welfare. It is also defined as plant growing in a place where it is not desired at a particular point in time.
Biological weed management refers to the use of living organisms such as insects, nematodes, bacteria, or fungi, to reduce weed populations. It involves the control or suppression of weeds through the action of one or more organisms by natural means, or by manipulation of the weeds, organism or environment.
Deleterious rhizo bacteria (DRB) live on the surface of weed roots release chemicals that reduce weed growth. (Photo provided by Bob Kremer, University ofMissouri)
The Knapweed Root Weevil-Cyphocleonus achate. Lays eggs at the base of knapweed plant , egg hatches to larvae which mine the central root and damaging weeds vascular and tissue cause root gall formation
Cont,,,
2. Action on the leaves of the weeds Insects that feed on leaves reduce the leaf surface available for energy capture. Fungi and bacteria that infect leaves reduce the ability of the leaf to make sugars. In either case, there is less energy available for weed growth.
The leafy spurge flea beetle is one of a number of agents introduced to control this rangeland pest.
Living organisms used in biological weed control are specific feed on the target weed plant, leaving non- targeted undisturbed. Compared to other control methods, biological method require little human effort that the agents can sustain themselves and spread on their own. Animals and plants as well as people in an area where biological control is being used are unaffected by this method of control.
Biological control agents usually only affect their target organism, but there is a chance that they may feed on a beneficial organism. Biological control programs is expensive and cost time for scientists in researching biological control agents, how they work and how they will affect the environment. Not all weeds can be controlled by biological agents, or weeds may be so similar to the beneficial plant that is risk of introducing the control agent.