Early detection, herbicide resistance screening, and integrated management of invasive plant species: a review

Abstract

Invasive plant species (IPS) are often considered weeds that cause high yield losses in crops, negatively affect the environment, and disrupt certain ecosystem services. The negative impact of IPS on biodiversity is increasing and disturbing native vegetation. The management of plant invasions can be divided in two phases (before and after invasion). Prior to introduction it is crucial to develop the knowledge base (biology, ecology, distribution, impact, management) on IPS, prevention measures and risk assessment. After introduction if eradication fails, the monitoring and the integrated management of IPS are imperative to prevent the naturalization and further dispersal. This review uses two major invasive weed species (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats. and Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav.) as case studies to propose a framework for early detection, rapid herbicide resistance screening, and integrated management. The holistic framework that is presented exploits recent: (i) novel detection tools, (ii) rapid tests and assays for herbicide resistance, and (iii) biology, ecology, distribution traits, and management tools for the IPS. Farmers, advisors, researchers, and policymakers need briefing on IPS growth dynamics, adaptability rates, and response to conventional and novel treatments to prevent new invasions, eradicate isolated stands, and mitigate the impact of invasive weed species in the long term.

Comparative Analysis of Tolerance to Salt Stress and Water Deficit in Two Invasive Weeds of the Genus Erigeron (Asteraceae)

“…Thus, knowledge of the ecology and germination of invasive plant species is essential for the development of effective weed management systems both economically and environmentally. Information on the ecology of invasive weed species, their dynamics, rates of adaptation and response to environmental factors is needed to prevent potential new invasions and mitigate the long-term impacts of invasive weed species [ 52 , 53 , 54 ].…”

Confirmation and detection of novel acetolactate synthase- and protoporphyrinogen oxidase–inhibiting herbicide-resistant redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) populations in North Carolina

“…By extension, many A. retroflexus plants putatively possessing this mutation could be genotyped rapidly at low cost, thus facilitating timely implementation of effective control to slow the spread of these isolated biotypes into other regions. This assay could be beneficial for high-throughput diagnostics for samples collected and submitted by County Extension agents during the growing season for other weed species and genes conferring herbicide resistance (Laforest et al 2022;Squires et al 2021;Tataridas et al 2022). More optimization of the crude DNA assay wild-type primers may be needed to ensure no false positives are being reported (Délye et al 2002;Tian and Darmency 2006).…”

Agroecology and invasive alien plants: A winner-take-all game

“…IAP of agroecological interest are found in agricultural and forestry systems, grasslands, riparian and lakeside areas, rural and abandoned fields, where systems may be adjacent to or within each other and require cross-border and cross-property management (McKiernan and Gill, 2022), while these agroecosystems need to be shielded against new invasions (Batish et al, 2022). The challenge is even greater when IAP are noxious, rapidly colonize, and instantly display their negative impact (Tataridas et al, 2022a).…”