Abstract – Biological control technology of invasive plant Alternanthera philoxeroides in China

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Abstract

Since 2004, the IEDA,CAAS has conducted a series of studies on the biology and ecology of terrestrial and mid-high latitude A. philoxeroides, as well as the low-temperature adaptability of A. philoxeroides leaf beetles to help protect agricultural production and its ecological environment. Innovative applications of landscape ecology and species conservation theory have been made. Based on the ecological climate and agricultural production characteristics of the middle and lower Yangtze River region, a technical model for controlling terrestrial A. philoxeroides has been adopted. This model incorporates chemical control as the main, and biological control as the auxiliary control method. For aquatic A. philoxeroides, chemical control is used as the auxiliary method, with winter breeding and early spring releases of natural enemies as the primary method. After more than 10 years of practice, the control area has exceeded 400,000 hectares over multiple provinces, forming a series of biological control technology solutions and industry technical standards that can be widely applied to different habitats. This technology has high economic value and ecological benefits. The use of biological control can produce sustained, effective prevention and control, with lower average costs compared to traditional manual and chemical methods alone. Food production in the control zone has increased as a consequence of the implemented technical control model.

Keywords 

Alternanthera philoxeroides

Biocontrol

Technical Model

Highlights 

A. philoxeroides chemical control, supplemented with biological control, on land

A. philoxeroides biological control, supplemented with chemical control, in water

This control model has high economic value and ecological benefits