scholarly journals Releases, Distribution and Abundance ofGratiana boliviana(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a Biological Control Agent of Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum, Solanaceae) in Florida

2009 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 450-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. A. Overholt ◽  
R. Diaz ◽  
K. L. Hibbard ◽  
A. L. Roda ◽  
D. Amalin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Tropical Soda Apple ◽  
Solanum Viarum

Differential Performance of Tropical Soda Apple and Its Biological Control Agent Gratiana boliviana (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Open and Shaded Habitats

2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 1437-1447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Diaz ◽  
Carlos Aguirre ◽  
Gregory S. Wheeler ◽  
Stephen L. Lapointe ◽  
Erin Rosskopf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Differential Performance ◽  
Tropical Soda Apple

scholarly journals Classical Biological Control of Tropical Soda Apple with Gratiana boliviana

EDIS ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Diaz ◽  
Julio Medal ◽  
Kenneth Hibbard ◽  
Amy Roda ◽  
A. Fox ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Tropical Soda Apple ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Stocking Rates

Tropical soda apple is a prickly shrub native to South America. First reported in Glades Co., Florida in 1988, it later spread to Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It is a major problem in pastures and conservation areas. Negative impacts of tropical soda apple include reduction of cattle stocking rates, competition with native plants, and the costs associated with its control. Dense thickets of the weed also can disrupt the movement of wildlife. This 4-page fact sheet provides a summary of the major steps of the successful biological control program against tropical soda apple in Florida. The article covers the importance of the weed, identification and biology of the biological control agent, rearing and release efforts, establishment and impact, and efforts to communicate the outcomes of the program to stakeholders. Written by R. Diaz, J. Medal, K. Hibbard, A. Roda, A. Fox, S. Hight, P. Stansly, B. Sellers, J. Cuda and W. A. Overholt, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, November 2012. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in971

Genetic Variation in Native and Introduced Populations of Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum)

2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1120-1124
Author(s):  
Brian R. Kreiser ◽  
Charles T. Bryson ◽  
Shaharra J. Usnick
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Introduced Populations ◽  
Tropical Soda Apple ◽  
Chloroplast Haplotypes ◽  
Solanum Viarum ◽  
Single Primer

Tropical soda apple samples were collected from 31 populations across the southeastern United States and from four populations in a portion of its native range in Brazil. The genetic relationships among these populations were examined by single primer amplification reactions (SPAR) and by sequencing a portion of the chloroplast genome. SPAR revealed no variation among the 132 individuals and only two chloroplast haplotypes were detected in the 50 individuals sequenced. The most common haplotype was present in all samples from the United States and most of the Brazilian samples, whereas the second haplotype was only found in one of the Brazilian populations. Within the limitations of these data, we conclude that Brazil is the best location to seek a potential biological control agent for tropical soda apple, and that, if identified, this agent should prove useful for populations throughout the United States.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document