Successful Biological Control of Tropical Soda Apple (Solanales: Solanaceae) in Florida: A Review of Key Program Components
Keywords:
Chrysomelidae, exotic weed, Gratiana boliviana, insect herbivore, pastures, Solanum viarumAbstract
Tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum Dunal) (Solanaceae) is a small shrub native to South America that is invasive in pastures and conservation areas across Florida. Dense patches of tropical soda apple not only reduce cattle stocking rates and limit their movement, but also serve as reservoirs for pests of solanaceous crops. A classical biological control program was initiated in 1994 with exploration for natural enemies of tropical soda apple in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Host specificity tests conducted under laboratory and field conditions demonstrated that the leaf feeding beetle Gratiana boliviana Dunal (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) was a specialist herbivore that completes development only on the target weed. After obtaining appropriate permits, field releases of G. boliviana were initiated in Florida in May of 2003. Larvae and adults of G. boliviana feed on tropical soda apple leaves and may completely defoliate their host plants, resulting in reduced growth and fruit production. Mass rearing facilities for the beetle were established in northern, central and southern Florida, and adults were either hand-carried or transported to release sites by overnight courier. From 2003 to 2011, a total of 250,723 beetles were released and they became established throughout Florida, however, their impact is more noticeable in regions below latitude 29 °N. Reductions of tropical soda apple densities caused by damage by the beetle were visible 2-3 yr after initial release, or in some cases, within a few months. Various methods of technology transfer were used to inform the public, land owners, funding agencies and scientists about the biological control program, including articles in trade magazines, extension publications, websites, videos, field days and scientific publications. The project was successful because of the coordinated efforts of personnel from federal, state and county agencies.
Tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum Dunal) (Solanaceae) es un arbusto pequeño nativo de Sur América el cual es invasivo en pastizales y áreas de conservación en Florida. Las aglomeraciones de tropical soda apple no solo limitan la densidad y movimiento de ganado, sino además sirven como reservorio de plagas de cultivos solanáceos. Un programa de control biológico clásico fue iniciado en 1994 con exploraciones de enemigos naturales de tropical soda apple en Argentina, Brasil, y Paraguay. Ensayos de especificidad realizados bajo condiciones de laboratorio y campo demostraron que Gratiana boliviana Dunal (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) fue un herbívoro especialista el cual completó su desarrollo solo en la maleza objetivo. Luego de obtener los permisos respectivos, liberaciones de campo de G. boliviana fueron iniciadas en Florida en Mayo del 2003. Larvas y adultos comen hojas de tropical soda apple y pueden defoliar completamente las plantas, resultando en un crecimiento reducido y baja producción de frutas. Laboratorios de crianza masiva de G. boliviana fueron establecidos en el norte, centro y sur de Florida, y los adultos fueron llevados al sitio de liberación por entrega directa o por correo rápido. Entre los años 2003 y 2011, un total de 250,723 adultos fueron liberados y se establecieron a través de Florida, no obstante, su impacto es más notorio en regiones por debajo de la latitud 29 °N. Reducciones en la densidad de tropical soda apple debido al daño de G. boliviana fueron visibles luego de 2 a 3 años de su liberación, o en algunos casos, luego de unos pocos meses. Varios métodos de transferencia de tecnología fueron usados para informar al público, dueños de propiedades, agencias estatales y científicos acerca del programa de control biológico, incluyendo artículos en revistas, publicaciones de extensión, páginas de internet, videos, días de campo y publicaciones científicas. El éxito del proyecto se puede atribuir al esfuerzo coordinado de personal de agencias federales, estatales y de condados.
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