Ortiz-Rivera, Dianne I.

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    Catastro y patogenicidad de hongos para el control biológico del jacinto de agua Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms y su interacción con Neochetina eichhorniae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
    (2008) Ortiz-Rivera, Dianne I.; Semidey-Laracuente, Nelson; College of Agricultural Sciences; Rivera Vargas, Lydia I.; Pérez Bolívar, Juan G.; Department of Crops and Agro-Environmental Sciences; Kolterman, Duane A.
    Fungal pathogens and insects have been used for years as a successful strategy in the control of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). A survey was conducted to identify and evaluate fungal isolates as potential biological control agents of water hyacinth in Puerto Rico during 2002 to 2003. One hundred fifty four fungal isolates were identified from water hyacinth leaves; some species such as Alternaria sp. and Myrothecium roridum have been previously reported as pathogens. Pathogenicity tests conducted in vitro with Alternaria sp., M. roridum and Glomerella cingulata (teleomorph of Colletotrichum gloesporioides) isolates confirmed their pathogenicity to water hyacinth leaves showing significant tissue damage. Disease incidence and severity were evidenced by leaf necrosis caused by all pathogens evaluated. To evaluate insect (weevil) Neochetina eichhorniae potential to disseminate fungal diseases, combinations of each fungal isolate were tested on whole plants during two experiments under greenhouse conditions. Greenhouse tests confirmed that all three isolates can be disseminated by N. eichhorniae. Higher fungal disease incidence and severity was obtained with individual pathogens rather than pathogen and insects combinations. The Alternaria sp. isolate, evaluated during this study, was found to be the best candidate for biological control of water hyacinth, both in vitro and under greenhouse conditions. Combined weevil and fungal pathogen could be a good control for water hyacinth weed. Future studies focused on the assessment of the pathogenicity of fungal pathogens of water hyacinth and their relationship with N. eichhorniae are needed.