Susceptibility of Musk Thistle and Related Composites toPuccinia carduorum

Predictability of pathogen host range in classical biological control of weeds: an update

“…is native to Europe and Asia but became a major problem in pastures and rangelands in the USA where it competes with more desirable species (Baudoin et al 1993). The rust fungus Puccinia carduorum was selected as a potential classical biological control agent and it was applied to 63 non-target species in the Asteraceae family to test its host range (Politis et al 1984). Researchers found that the target weed was the only plant that suffered severe disease symptoms, however in the glasshouse some symptoms were also observed on 16 non-target species, including globe artichoke (which is grown commercially in the USA) and some thistles that are native to America.…”

“…Researchers found that the target weed was the only plant that suffered severe disease symptoms, however in the glasshouse some symptoms were also observed on 16 non-target species, including globe artichoke (which is grown commercially in the USA) and some thistles that are native to America. All the plants that developed disease symptoms were in the same tribe as the target weed (Politis et al 1984).…”

Potential of fungi for the biological control of some New Zealand weeds

“…(1981) listed the fungi associated with Carduus spp., there has been much work on using Puccinia spp. as biological control agents for these thistles in the United States (politis et al 1984;Politis & Bruckart 1986;Watson & Brunetti 1984;Bruckart et al 1985) and in Australia (01iveri 1984 Saville (1970), and regarded as typical of P. carduorumJacky.…”

“…In New Zealand, the Carduusrust has also been identified as P. carduorumby Saville (1970), but here it is found on both C. tenuiflorusand C. pycnocephalus. P. carduorum(sensu Saville) is considered to be confined to the subtribe Carduinae, Tribe Cynareae (politis et al 1984;Bruckart et al 1985). Some strains of P. carduorum are pathogenic to young Cynara scolymus L. (globe artichoke) plants in the glasshouse (Bruckart et al 1985).…”

Polymorphic restriction patterns of ribosomal internal transcribed spacers in the biocontrol fungus Puccinia carduorum correlate with weed host origin

“…P. carduorum from Carduus thoermeri appears to be a good candidate for biological control of the musk thistle. In greenhouse studies, the host range of P. carduorum from Carduus thoermeri was found to be limited to plants in the subtribe Carduinae, including artichoke plants (Cynara scolymus L.) and a few species of Cirsium thistle (3,17). A P. carduorum isolate from Turkey (isolate 78-03) was evaluated on Carduus thoermeri in a 3-year field trial from 1988 to 1990 in Virginia (1).…”