INVESTIGADORES
SOSA alejandro JoaquÍn
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Waterhyacinth and its bio-controls: South America produced the problem and the solution
Autor/es:
MARÍA CRISTINA HERNÁNDEZ; A.J. SOSA; CABRERA WALSH GUILLERMO
Reunión:
Simposio; 4th International Sympoium on Environmental Weeds and Invasive Plants; 2014
Resumen:
Waterhyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, is one of the world's worst weeds because it has characteristics that gives it rapid vegetative growing, competing succesfully for light, rapid leaf changes mediated by environmental conditions, resprout from the rhizome after winter frosts, and a high seed production with a long viability. Waterhyacinth is a South American species, so this is where the highest diversity o natural enemies is found. The Foundation for the studies of invasive species (FuEDEI, formely USADA-ARS-SABCL)studies biocontrol agents and exports them from Argentina. The most efective are:Neochetina eichhorniae and Neochetina bruchi (Col., Curcullionidae); Orthogalumna terebrantis (Acari: Galumnidae); Niphograpta albigutallis and Xubida infusella (Lep., Crambidae); Megamelus scutellaris (Hemip., Delphacidae). Two additional specific candidates are still available: a mining fly, Thrypticus truncatus (Diptera, Dolichopodidae), wich facilitates the entrance of pathogens in the leaf petiols; and a planthopper, Taosa longula (Hemiptera, Dictyopharidae) which produces yelowing and decay of plants. These natural enmemies in combination attack the rhyzomes, the petiols and laminae, affecting the energy budget and health of the plants.