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DODDER, Cuscuta spp. -- Convolvulaceae

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Two species of the parasitic plant, dodder, Cuscuta australis R. Brown & C. chinensis Lamarck, has been targeted for biological control in the Peoples' Republic of China (Wang 1986, Goeden & Andrés 1999). These plants are serious pests of oilseed, potato, soybean and peanuts in Shandong, Anhui, Jilin, Hubei, Helongjiang and Liaoning Provinces and in the Xinjiang autonomous Region, P.R.C. A pathogenic fungus, Colleotrichum gloeosporioides, was isolated from dodder in soybeans in Jinan, Shandong Province in 1963. Studies on biology and mass culture were performed in 1963-66, leading to the development of a mycoherbicide named "Lubao No. 1." Application of this mycoherbicide grew from an initial use in soybean in five provinces in 1966 to ca. 670,000 ha of soybeans treated in 30 provinces in the 1970's. Eighty-five percent control of dodder was reported in all fields and soybean losses were reduced 30-50% (Wang 1986). Production of Lubao No. 1 was curtailed during 11 years of the "Cultural Revolution." An improved strain with a longer shelf-life and lower RH infection threshold is currently in use.

REFERENCES: [Additional references may be found at: MELVYL Library ]

Goeden, R. D. & L. A. Andrés. 1999. Biological control of weeds in terrestrial and aquatic environments. In: Bellows, T. S. & T. W. Fisher (eds.), Handbook of Biological Control: Principles and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, New York. 1046 p

Wang, R. 1986. Current status and perspectives of biological weed control in China. Chinese J. Biol. Contr. 1: 173-77.