Rapid differentiation of the sexes of adult Mecinus janthinus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) based on external leg morphology

2004 ◽  
Vol 136 (6) ◽  
pp. 835-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.A. Carney ◽  
J. Rau ◽  
S.M. Little ◽  
R.A. De Clerck-Floate
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Linaria Dalmatica ◽  
Noxious Weeds ◽  
Yellow Toadflax ◽  
Mecinus Janthinus ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Dalmatian Toadflax ◽  
Successful Control ◽  
Leg Morphology

The stem-boring weevil, Mecinus janthinus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), was introduced from Europe to Canada in 1991 to control the noxious weeds Dalmatian toadflax, Linaria dalmatica (L.) P. Mill., and yellow toadflax, Linaria vulgaris P. Mill. (Scrophulariaceae) (De Clerck-Floate and Harris 2002; McClay and De Clerck-Floate 2002). Since its release, M. janthinus has established well on Dalmatian toadflax in British Columbia (BC) and, to a lesser extent, southern Alberta (De Clerck-Floate and Miller 2002), and it is beginning to show promise as a successful control agent against this weed (De Clerck-Floate and Harris 2002). However, it appears that M. janthinus has not thrived on yellow toadflax in Alberta (McClay and De Clerck-Floate 2002).

External rostral characters for differentiation of sexes in the biological control agent Mecinus janthinus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

2007 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
pp. 354-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjolein Schat ◽  
Sharlene E. Sing ◽  
Robert K.D. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Sex Differentiation ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Invasive Weed ◽  
Linaria Dalmatica ◽  
Mecinus Janthinus ◽  
Exotic Invasive ◽  
Dalmatian Toadflax

AbstractThe stem-boring weevil, Mecinus janthinus (Germar), is a promising, well established classical biological control agent for the exotic invasive weed Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica (L.) Mill.) (Scrophulariaceae). In this paper we present readily apparent rostral characters that can be used for sex differentiation of live stem-boring weevils at low magnification. These characters can be used by workers with little training to accurately sex weevils and can be used to rapidly determine sex ratios of field populations to improve timing of collection for redistribution.

Hybridization between Invasive Populations of Dalmatian Toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) and Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 369-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah M. Ward ◽  
Caren E. Fleischmann ◽  
Marie F. Turner ◽  
Sharlene E. Sing
Keyword(s):  
First Generation ◽  
Seed Morphology ◽  
Width Ratio ◽  
Putative Hybrid ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Parent Species ◽  
Linaria Dalmatica ◽  
Yellow Toadflax ◽  
Hybrid Plants ◽  
Dalmatian Toadflax

AbstractAlthough there is evidence that interspecific hybridization can initiate invasion by nonnative plants, there are few documented examples of novel hybridization events between introduced plant species already exhibiting invasive behavior. We conducted morphometric and molecular analyses of toadflax plants with intermediate morphology found at two sites in Montana, which were co-invaded by yellow toadflax and Dalmatian toadflax. Field-collected putative hybrid plants had intermediate morphometric scores (mean 0.47, on a scale of 0.0 = indistinguishable from Dalmatian toadflax to 1.0 = indistinguishable from yellow toadflax) for a suite of phenotypic traits that differentiate the parent species (leaf length : width ratio, growth form, seed morphology, inflorescence type, and ventral petal shape). Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analysis of a subset of these putative hybrids revealed combinations of species-diagnostic bands, confirming the presence of DNA from both parent species. Controlled interspecific hand-pollinations generated viable first generation (F1) hybrid plants that also had intermediate morphometric scores (mean 0.46) and a mix of species-diagnostic ISSR bands from both parents. The hand-generated F1hybrids crossed readily with both parent species to produce viable first generation backcrossed (BC1) plants. Our results confirm that hybridization is occurring between invasive populations of yellow toadflax and Dalmatian toadflax, and that the hybrid progeny are viable and fertile. This example of hybridization between alien congeners is of concern as the parent taxa are already known to be highly invasive. Further research is needed to assess the invasive potential of hybrid toadflax populations, and the likelihood of introgressive trait transfer between the parent species.

Regional-scale impact of the weed biocontrol agent Mecinus janthinus on Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica)

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian H. Van Hezewijk ◽  
Robert S. Bourchier ◽  
Rosemarie A. De Clerck-Floate
Keyword(s):  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Weed Biocontrol ◽  
Linaria Dalmatica ◽  
Mecinus Janthinus ◽  
Dalmatian Toadflax

scholarly journals Erratum: External rostral characters for differentiation of sexes in the biological control agent Mecinus janthinus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

2007 ◽  
Vol 139 (5) ◽  
pp. 756-756
Author(s):  
Marjolein Schat ◽  
Sharlene E. Sing ◽  
Robert K.D. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Lutte Biologique ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Linaria Dalmatica ◽  
Mecinus Janthinus ◽  
Lutte Biologique Classique

RésuméLe charançon perceur de tiges, Mecinus janthinus (Germar), est un agent de lutte biologique classique bien établi et prometteur pour le contrôle d'une mauvaise herbe exotique invasive, la linaire à feuilles larges (Linaria dalmatica (L.) Mill.) (Scrophulariaceae). Dans cet article, nous présentons des caractéristiques du rostre faciles à identifier, permettant la différenciation, à faible grossissement, des sexes de charançons perceurs de tiges vivants. Ces caractéristiques peuvent être utilisées par des travailleurs possédant une formation minimale afin d'identifier correctement le sexe des charançons. Ceci permettra donc une détermination rapide de la proportion des sexes des populations sur le terrain, améliorant ainsi les délais de capture, puis de lâchers.

Impact of cultivars and herbicides on weed management in alfalfa

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 875-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Moyer ◽  
S. N. Acharya
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Downy Brome ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Standard Type ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Medicago Sativa L

Weeds, especially dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber in F.H. Wigg.), tend to infest a forage alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stand 2 to 4 yr after establishment. To develop better weed management systems, experiments were conducted at Lethbridge, Alberta, from 1995 to 2002 and Creston, British Columbia, from 1998 to 2001, which included the alfalfa cultivars Beaver (standard type) and AC Blue J (Flemish type) and annual applications of metribuzin and hexazinone. These herbicides are registered for weed control in irrigated alfalfa in Alberta and alfalfa grown for seed. In addition, two sulfonylurea herbicides, metsulfuron and sulfosulfuron, and glyphosate were included. All of the herbicides except glyphosate controlled or suppressed dandelion and mustard family weeds. Metsulfuron at 5 g a.i. ha-1 almost completely controlled dandelion at both locations. However, after metsulfuron application at Lethbridge, dandelion was replaced with an infestation of downy brome, which is unpalatable for cattle. None of the herbicides increased total forage (alfalfa + weed) yield, and in some instances herbicides reduced forage quality by causing a shift from a palatable to an unpalatable weed species. However, it was observed that AC Blue J consistently yielded more than Beaver, and weed biomass was consistently less in the higher-yielding cultivar. AC Blue J was developed primarily for the irrigated area in southern Alberta and for southern British Columbia. Therefore, additional experiments should be conducted to determine which alfalfa cultivars have the greatest ability to compete with weeds in other regions of western Canada. Key words: Alfalfa yield, dandelion, forage quality, weed control

Detection of genetic diversity in rough fescue (Festuca campestris Rydb) populations of southern Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, using RAPD markers

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-312
Author(s):  
Zhao Mengli ◽  
Han Bing ◽  
Walter D Willms
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
British Columbia ◽  
Genetic Distance ◽  
Random Amplified Polymorphic Dna ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Genetic Distances ◽  
Gene Frequencies ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Potential Adaptation ◽  
Rough Fescue

Mountain rough fescue (Festuca campestris Rydb.) is a tufted native grass in southern Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, and has attracted interest for use in reclamation. However, its seed is often available from only a few localized sources and may not be adapted for areas removed from the collection site. We conducted a study to determine the genetic variability among rough fescue populations to assess its potential adaptation. Thirty plants were collected from each of six populations and analyzed using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). One population (Kamloops, BC) was separated by several mountain ranges from the five easterly Alberta populations.The Kamloops population was also separated from the Alberta populations by genetic distance in two clusters. Of the total genetic variation present in the data, 21% was found among populations while the remaining (79%) was found within populations. Nei’s genetic distances among populations were related to their geographical distances. Genetic differences among populations appeared to be caused primarily by differences in gene frequencies rather than rare genes. Also, genetic diversity appeared to increase from west to east suggesting that the more easterly populations had greater adaptation potential. We speculate that the more easterly populations are less likely to share genes since the prevailing winds are from the west. Germplasm from the more easterly populations may be used with suitable precautions within Alberta and possibly around Kamloops. Key words: Genetic distance, geographic distance, reclamation, potential adaptation

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