Top 20 environmental weeds for classical biological control in Europe: a review of opportunities, regulations and other barriers to adoption

Classical biological control remains the only tool available for permanent ecological and economic management of invasive alien species that flourish through absence of their co‐evolved natural enemies. As such, this approach is recognized as a key tool for alien species management by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) and the European Strategy on Invasive Alien Species (ESIAS). Successful classical biological control programmes abound around the world, despite disproportionate attention being given to occasional and predictable non‐target impacts. Despite more than 130 case histories in Europe against insect pests, no exotic classical biological control agent has been released in the EU against an alien invasive weed. This dearth has occurred in the face of increasing numbers of exotic invasive plants being imported and taking over National Parks, forests and amenity areas in this region, as well as a global increase in the use of classical biological control around the world. This paper reviews potential European weed targets for classical biological control from ecological and socioeconomic perspectives using the criteria of historical biological control success, taxonomic isolation from European native flora, likely availability of biological control agents, invasiveness outside Europe and value to primary industry and horticulture (potential for conflicts of interest). We also review why classical biological control of European exotic plants remains untested, considering problems of funding and public perception. Finally, we consider the regulatory framework that surrounds such biological control activities within constituent countries of the EU to suggest how this approach may be adopted in the future for managing invasive exotic weeds in Europe.     

Citric acid extraction—An underestimated method in forest nutrition?

Since recent studies reveal citric acid to be favorable for estimating plant‐available P in soils, we investigated if it can also be used for assessing other nutrients. According to our results, it provides stronger correlations with the tree nutrition for Mg (beech, spruce), Ca+K (beech) and Fe (spruce) than the standard methods for determining exchangeable cations. Thus, when estimating plant‐available P by citric acid‐extraction, these cations should be additionally measured in ICP analysis.     

牦牛粪便对高寒草甸群落多样性及生产力的影响

研究了4个不同施牦牛粪便的处理对高寒草句植物群落多样性和生产力的短期影响。结果表明,（1）处理S1,S2和s3的植物群落盖度显著高于对照（SO）（P〈0．05）,各处理的植物群落高度与对照（SO）相比都呈上升趋势,且S3与S0差异显著（P〈0．05）;（2）处理S1、S2和S3的Pielou均匀度指数与sO相比逐渐下降,且S2与sO有显著差异（P〈0．05）。处理S1、s2和S3的Shannon—Wiener物种多样性指数与S0相比逐渐下降,且S2与S0差异极显著（P〈0．01）。而Simpson物种多样性指数的变化则表现为无规律性。（3）施牦牛粪便后植物群落的地上总生物量出现增加趋势,且S2,S3与s0间达到差异显著（P〈0．05）。     

荒漠植物红砂(Reaumuria soongorica)的保育效应及其对群落物种多样性的影响

红砂(Reaumuria soongorica)是我国北方温带荒漠的主要先锋植物,也是一种潜力巨大的水土保持和荒山绿化物种,但是该乡土物种是否具有保育植物的特征,目前尚未有这方面的研究。文中通过研究生长于半干旱区的荒漠植物红砂群落不同分布格局和群落特征,分析红砂盖度变化对群落多样性的影响,探究保育效应的发生条件及其对群落物种多样性影响机理。研究结果表明:群落的植物物种多样性随着红砂植被盖度和地上生物量增大而逐渐增大,然而,当红砂总盖度超过48.73%(地上生物量为35.62g/m2)时,虽植被盖度和地上生物量继续增大,目标物种碱蓬(Suaeda glauca),蓍状亚菊(Ajania achilleoides)多度明显增加,但植物物种多样性并没有显著的变化。这些说明在干旱区,当红砂的盖度增加到一定程度之后,才能通过冠层遮阴产生保育效应。因此,在植被稀疏、物种多样性较低的干旱地区,可以充分利用红砂物种的保育效应,促进和加快植被自然恢复进程,调控物种多样性和群落结构。     

荒漠草地物种多样性的水分特征研究

通过在伊犁河谷山前倾斜平原荒漠草地开展的不同灌溉量草地恢复试验,对测试的试验地内草地植物物种多样性指数和灌溉水量之间的关系进行了初步的研究。结果显示:在荒漠草地,水分是影响草地植物长势的重要限制因子,随着水分条件的转好,植被盖度和蒿类的分盖度均有显著的提高,草地植物的生物量和群丛高度均显著增加;随着灌溉量的增加,S im pson指数、Shannon-W iener指数、P ie lou指数和M arga lef指数均出现递增的趋势,其中每增加1 kg/d水量,S im pson指数将增加0.021,表明在温性荒漠草原生物多样性指数对水量变化的灵敏度较高。     

植物根围促生细菌菌剂增强玉米干旱耐受性研究

选用植物根围促生细菌(PGPR)菌剂BBS处理玉米幼苗,研究干旱胁迫下玉米幼苗叶片相关生理特性及基因表达差异。结果表明,干旱胁迫15 d后,BBS处理组玉米幼苗的萎蔫程度显著低于对照组;处理组植株叶片MDA含量仅为对照组的74.35%,叶片脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量分别是对照组的3.39倍和1.07倍;处理组植株叶片ZmP5CS1的表达水平及SOD活性均显著高于对照组;BBS处理组植株叶片在干旱胁迫过程中一直保持较低的H_2O_2含量。研究得出,BBS处理能够有效减缓干旱胁迫对玉米幼苗造成的伤害,进而加速正常浇水后的恢复。处理组植株叶片NCED1和ZmDREB2.7的高水平表达也表明干旱胁迫下玉米幼苗与BBS的互作过程可能有依赖ABA信号途径及不依赖ABA信号途径的共同参与。     

苹果根系构型及其调控研究进展

 根系是果树栽培管理的基础和中心。重点介绍了苹果根系研究试材的选择、苹果根系构型的类型以及环境营养、土壤条件、栽培容器和生长调节剂等对苹果根系形态构型的影响和调控等方面的研究进展,并提出了进一步研究的内容。     

蜡蚧轮枝菌防治植物病虫害研究进展

蜡蚧轮枝菌在蔬菜病虫害防治中有很大开发潜力。就蜡蚧轮枝菌的致病性、环境条件对其生长的影响、储藏期存活率及在生产中应用的概况的研究进展进行了综述。研究进展表明,该种真菌既可以防治粉虱、蚜虫、蓟马等蔬菜害虫,又可以防治蔬菜的白粉病、锈病等。     

云南棕榈科观赏野生植物资源利用研究

本文介绍云南棕榈科野生植物资源的分布情况,对具有园林用途的棕榈观赏野生植物资源进行了分析,并提出棕榈野生植物在园林绿化中开发应用的相关建议及发展趋向。