The importance of intertrophic interactions in biological weed control
2011
Caesar, Anthony J.
The earliest research leading to successful weed biocontrol included observations and some analysis that the strict “gate-keeping” by peer reviewers, editors and publishers does not often allow today. Within these pioneering studies was a valid picture of the biology of weed biocontrol that is applicable today. Two major studies pointed to successful weed biocontrol of perennials as an outcome of intertrophic interactions. Later work indicated that there was a consistent association of certain fungal species with insect damage. In recent years, ecological studies have provided evidence of the effect of the soil microbiota in combination with root herbivory on plant community structure and on invasiveness. This accretion of evidence and the authors own findings have led to the conclusion that in selecting agents for biocontrol of exotic perennial invasive plants, the capacity of the agent to synergistically interact with other agents should be included in the criteria. If the hypothesis that insect/pathogen interactions underlie successful biocontrol of herbaceous perennial invasive plant species, then efforts to restore native plants would be affected by the biotic legacy of the interactions. Findings from a post-biocontrol native plant restoration have provided such evidence. The existence of insect/pathogen interactions provides a unique position for plant pathogens as being an important factor prior to, during and after biocontrol.
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