Weed or not a weed? Density, perceptions and management of Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae) in West Africa: Voices from Ghana

Abstract

The term 'natural' in our biological world is considered becoming obsolete due to human influences (McNeely, 2001). Under the influence of humans in this epoch, organisms are becoming transported at an unprecedented rate between regions faster and further (Ricciardi, 2007; Ricciardi and Cohen, 2007) and have caused substantial changes to recipient ecosystems (Asner and Vitousek, 2005; Simberloff, 2011; Kenis et al., 2017). In some cases, the introduction of these species may result in economic benefits and/or the addition to indigenous nutrition (McNeely, 2001). For example, substantial amounts of human dietary needs worldwide are provided by species that have been introduced from elsewhere (Hoyt, 1992). In this context, therefore, species introduction is required and crucial for sustainable human welfare. In contrast, there is a myriad of introduced species that arrive in new environments with devastating consequences (Blackburn et al., 2014). The impacts of these deleterious introduced species, albeit ecologically serious, are not limited to ecosystems structure and function alone but may also affect human health and livelihoods in novel environments (Shackleton et al., 2019). The acclimatisation of such devastating new species in novel ranges-termed 'biological

Diversity of Tephritidae and Agromyzidae (Diptera: Brachycera) in Flower Heads of Asteraceae in the Chaco

“…A species of this same genus, Cecidochares connexa (Tephritinae) has been successful employed for the biological control of an exotic Asteraceae in Ghana, West Africa (Chromolaena odorata). This plant species was introduced on Africa by decade of 1930 and to humid regions of tropical Asia, with negative impacts on agriculture and regional biodiversity [4].…”

“…The most significant biological control programs for such plants with florivorous flies are underway in Australia, Canada, USA, New Zealand and South Africa [3], and West Africa, where the stem-gall tephritid Cecidocares connexa (Macquart 1848) have been upplied on the biological supperession, against the invasive Asteraceae Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King & H. Rob. [4] Chaco is an international biome, distributed by four South American countries: Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil. The total area of this biome is spread over the four above countries: Paraguay (230,000 km 2 ), Bolivia (90,000 km 2 ), Argentina (520,000 km 2 ), and Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul = MS, with around 9,000 km 2 ), in the center of South America.…”

Ecological insights and environmental threats of invasive alien plantChromolaena odorata: Prospects for sustainable management

“…In ethnomedicinal prospect, Omokhua et al (2016) stated that the wide range of ethnopharmacological uses of C. odorata is ascribed to the presence of flavonoids, essential oils, phenolics, tannins, and saponins. Among several ethnopharmacological uses, the leaf extracts of C. odorata is traditionally used as a first‐aid treatment for wound healing (Aigbedion‐Atalor, 2020). Extract of C. odorata leaves in organic solvents (i.e., n‐Hexane and ethyl acetate) demonstrated anti‐adipogenic effects especially on 3T3‐L1 adipocytes due to rich flavonoids, thereby showed strong implications to treat obesity by cutting lipids like triglycerides (Kumkarnjana et al, 2018).…”

“…Siam weed is widely used as fallow plant in restoration of agroecosystems by modulating the soil nutrient and microbial dynamics (Aigbedion‐Atalor, 2020; Kouadio et al, 2023). Socio‐economic studies on C. odorata through interviewing local people revealed its use as fallow shrub for soil nutrient replenishment and other local farming tools in agriculture systems of Ghana (Aigbedion‐Atalor, 2020). The benefits of C. odorata as fallow shrub is widely identified in nutrient recovery of agriculture systems and crop protection (Mugwedi, 2020).…”

“…Several investigations on assessment of socio‐economic impacts of invasive alien plants noted C. odorata to be deleterious to ecosystem services, livelihood, biodiversity, and agriculture (Aigbedion‐Atalor, 2020; Shackleton et al, 2019); however, the state of art knowledge on their invasion ecology and management was not systematically synthesized. Moreover, IOBC affiliated Working Group was specifically confined to invasion ecology and containment research of C. odorata through awareness workshops in developing countries where it was found to be more problematic while other infested landscapes received less attention (Muniappan et al, 2005).…”