BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF THE WEED SPECIES CIRSIUM ARVENSE (L.) SCOP. USING FUNGAL AGENTS – AN OVERVIEW

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52846/aamc.v54i2.1576

Abstract

In Romania, the field weed species Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. is native. In the last decade, the creeping thistle has become increasingly difficult to control due to agricultural systems based on monoculture and minimal or no tillage. The invasive nature of the species and its resistance to current herbicides make it increasingly difficult to control, especially in organic farms. Therefore, there is currently great interest in controlling the species with the help of biological agents. This review is based on extensive documentation on the use of fungal biological agents in the control of the creeping thistle. The studies reviewed show that there is interest in biological control, particularly in organic farming. Ten fungal biological agents with the potential to initiate infections in the creeping thistle are currently being investigated. The fungi tested are Puccinia punctiformis, Phomopsis cirsii, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Alternaria cirsinoxia, Phoma destructiva, Phoma exiqua, Stagonospora cirsii, Septoria cirsii, Phyllosticta cirsii and Fusarium sp. Of these, only Puccinia punctiformis, Phomopsis cirsii and Septoria cirsii have high and very high specificity for creeping thistle. The fungus Puccinia punctiformis stands out by the highest specificity and can be successfully used in the biological control of Cirsium arvense. However, the mass production of spores is tricky because there are no methods to cultivate this biotrophic fungus. Studies published between 2013 and 2024 show the high potential of Puccinia punctiformis to initiate infections that destroy or reduce the density of the creeping thistle in agricultural crops.

Published

2025-01-06

Issue

Section

Working Group 3: Fundamentally Disciplines and Environment and Plant Management