Abstract
Solanum mauritianum Scop. (Solanaceae), colloquially referred to as bugweed in South Africa, remains a widespread invasive tree of global significance. Although biological control (biocontrol) efforts were undertaken from 1984 -2003 in South Africa, the programme eventually only released two agents, the sap-sucking lace bug Gargaphia decoris Drake (Hemiptera: Tingidae) and flowerbud-feeding weevil Anthonomus santacruzi Hustache (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). To date, these agents have been relatively ineffective in controlling S. mauritianum, largely due to low establishment success due to climatic incompatibility in relation to the widespread distribution of S. mauritianum. This has prompted the revival of S. mauritianum biocontrol research in 2018, with the programme focused largely on sourcing additional agents from climatically suitable regions in the plant's native range in South America. Climate matching between cooler regions of South Africa and known S. mauritianum sites in South America identified Uruguay as a promising source of new agents. Field collections in Uruguay focused mainly on Anthonomus spp. but included stem-boring and shoot-galling weevils. Low incidence in the field and difficulties in culturing candidate species temporarily precluded research into stem-boring and shoot-galling candidates, but the rearing and assessment of the flowerbud-feeding weevil Anthonomus morticinus Clark (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is ongoing. Host-specificity testing of A. morticinus has thus far confirmed a narrow host range, suggesting it has potential as a new agent.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
The two released agents have been relatively ineffective against Solanum mauritianum.
- Taxon
- Solanum mauritianum
Solanum mauritianumt0 - Outcome
- ineffective in controlling S. mauritianume0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“these agents have been relatively ineffective in controlling S. mauritianum”
t0“Solanum mauritianum”
Claim · model-written summary
Low establishment linked to climate incompatibility limits control by the released agents.
- Taxon
- Solanum mauritianumSolanum mauritianumt0
- Outcome
- low establishment successe0
- Qualifier
- climatic incompatibilitye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“largely due to low establishment success due to climatic incompatibility in relation to the widespread distribution of S. mauritianum”
t0“Solanum mauritianum”
Claim · model-written summary
Climate matching identified Uruguay as a promising source of agents.
- Taxon
- Solanum mauritianumSolanum mauritianumt0
- Outcome
- promising source of new agentse0
- Value
- Uruguaye0
- Setting
- Uruguaye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Climate matching between cooler regions of South Africa and known S. mauritianum sites in South America identified Uruguay as a promising source of new agents.”
t0“Solanum mauritianum”
Claim · model-written summary
Low field incidence and culturing difficulty temporarily blocked study of stem-boring and shoot-galling candidates.
- Taxon
- Solanum mauritianumSolanum mauritianumt0
- Outcome
- temporarily precluded research into stem-boring and shoot-galling candidatese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Low incidence in the field and difficulties in culturing candidate species temporarily precluded research into stem-boring and shoot-galling candidates”
t0“Solanum mauritianum”
Claim · model-written summary
Host-specificity tests indicate Anthonomus morticinus has a narrow host range.
- Taxon
- Solanum mauritianumSolanum mauritianumt0
- Interactor
- A. morticinuse0biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- narrow host rangee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Host-specificity testing of A. morticinus has thus far confirmed a narrow host range”
e1“Anthonomus morticinus Clark”
t0“Solanum mauritianum”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors consider Anthonomus morticinus a potential new control agent.
- Taxon
- Solanum mauritianumSolanum mauritianumt0
- Interactor
- A. morticinuse1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- potential as a new agente0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“suggesting it has potential as a new agent”
e1“Host-specificity testing of A. morticinus has thus far confirmed a narrow host range, suggesting it has potential as a new agent.”
t0“Solanum mauritianum”