Ecology, genetics and the potential for biological control of lippia, Phyla canescens

M.H. JULIEN; R.D. VAN KLINKEN; C. XU; A.J. SOSA; M.G. TRAVERSA; R. DELHEY; M. FATEMI; C. GOSS; E. GREIZERSTEIN

Narrabri

Conferencia; 15th Biennial New South Wales Weeds Conference; 2009

Studies of the ecology, genetics and natural enemies of lippia, Phyla canescens, began three years ago with the aim of improving knowledge for management and of developing biological control. Phyla species have been intensively surveyed in their native range in South America to determine their distributions and their natural enemies. The natural enemies of Phyla species have been collected over three growing seasons. Of those two leaf beetles and two plant pathogens are being studied more intensively in Argentina as potential biocontrol agents. Greater genetic variation occurs within than between populations of lippia in Australia, and also in its native range, northern Argentina. Multiple introductions to Australia have ensured high genetic diversity in populations there. Lippia has unusually high levels of calcium and leaves have lithocysts of calcium carbonate crystals that may provide defenses against herbivores. Lippia obtains important competitive growth support from older connected ramets, significantly dries the soil where it grows and, when growing in Australia, produces more flowers.