Biological control of weeds in crops: a coordinated European research programme (COST-816)

Abstract

For dominant weed species that are difficult to control by traditional means, the development of new, selective, control methods that can be implemented in integrated pest management (IPM) is essential. Here, biological control can be the appropriate means of control due to its high degree of selectivity and environmental safety (direct control value). The biocontrol strategy is based on a detailed analysis of the crop environment and, thus, provides a fundamental tool for developing sustainable agroecosystems (indirect, heuristic value). The successful application of biological weed control will lead to substantial reductions in pesticide use and, thus, will also contribute to the conservation, augmentation and utilization of biodiversity in agroecosystems, an explicit objective of IPM. Only cooperative and concerted efforts, such as those envisaged by COST, will allow the effective completion of weed biocontrol projects within a reasonable period of time. At present, over 25 institutions from 14 countries are participating in this COST action. The following six objectives have been defined for COST-816: to bring together European institutions, to promote a programme for scientific research and exchange, to draw up a general protocol for biological weed control in Europe, to integrate biological control into general weed management strategies, to establish a protocol to resolve potential conflicts of interest and to establish a list of agricultural weed species in Europe for biological control. Three principal methods of biological weed control are used in COST-816: the inoculative or ’classical‘ approach, the system management approach and the inundative or microbial herbicide approach. Initially, Amaranthus spp., Convolvulus arvensis/Calystegia sepium, Chenopodium album and Senecio vulgaris were chosen as target weeds, each being the subject of a working group. A fifth working group on the control of Orobanche spp. control is in preparation. This concentration on a few target weed species has greatly stimulated cooperation and facilitated technology transfer between the research groups