A gall-forming biological control agent suppresses vegetative growth of an invasive tree |
| |
| Authors: | Philip W Tipping Melissa R Martin Lyn A Gettys |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Invasive Plant Research Lab, USDA-ARS, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA;2. Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA |
| |
| Abstract: | Attack by the gall-forming biological control agent Lophodiplosis trifida Gagné (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), reduced Melaleuca quinquenervia sapling height by 10.1%, leaf biomass by 42%, woody biomass by 42.7%, and root biomass by 30.3%. This provided the first quantitative evidence of the potential of L. trifida to suppress pre-reproductive M. quinquenervia. |
| |
| Keywords: | Biological control of weeds Melaleuca quinquenervia Lophodiplosis trifida plant galls |
|
|
