Abstract
Ours differs from many previous articles in the Annual Review of Phyto pathology for it heralds a topic new to our field rather than re-examines an old one. We concur with Wilson (86) who chose the term commencement to summarize his treatise on a similar topic. Plant pathologists are tradition ally hired to confront and subdue microbes that would impair the productiv ity of our crop plants. However, we have largely overlooked those microbes that would be our allies in controlling noxious weed species. In our preoccu pation with crop species, virtually all of which are terrestrial, we have also overlooked the many plants that exist in aqueous habitats. Our neglect is a matter of record. Not a single disease is listed in the Index of Plant Diseases (32) for our three most notorious waterweeds, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), and hydriIla (Hydrilla verticillala), currently pests of considerable economic significance. Thus, we have chosen to write a perspective rather than a review. It is our intention to: (a) explain the problems created by infestations of waterweeds, (b) enumerate the causes of these problems, and (c) consider the relation ship and potential of plant pathology to the control of waterweeds.
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