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Agronomic Practices for Growing Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale) as a Crop for Mass-Producing a Weed Biocontrol Agent

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

James R. Moyer ,
Rosemarie A. DeClerck-Floate ,
Brian H. Van Hezewijk  and
Louis J. Molnar
James R. Moyer*
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sustainable Production Systems, Lethbridge Research Centre, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada
Rosemarie A. DeClerck-Floate
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sustainable Production Systems, Lethbridge Research Centre, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada
Brian H. Van Hezewijk
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sustainable Production Systems, Lethbridge Research Centre, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada
Louis J. Molnar
Affiliation:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sustainable Production Systems, Lethbridge Research Centre, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1, Canada
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: moyerj@agr.gc.ca
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Abstract

Houndstongue is a troublesome weed of pasture, rangeland, and open forest in British Columbia, Canada. Recently, a root-feeding weevil was released in Canada that successfully controls houndstongue patches, but it has been difficult to propagate this weevil in sufficient numbers for widespread release. The goal of the current study was to develop methods for growing houndstongue as a crop in a farm-field setting for weevil propagation. Field experiments were conducted to determine optimum seeding dates, depths, and rates for houndstongue. The effects of straw-residue cover and nitrogen-application rates were also examined. More than 90% of the seed used was viable, and about 50% of the planted seed emerged. The most consistent plant densities occurred when houndstongue was seeded in October and had a winter and early spring moist chilling period to break seed dormancy. For fall seeded houndstongue, plants emerged equally well from 2- and 5-cm depths. Houndstongue is moderately responsive to nitrogen fertilizer but usually did not benefit from additional straw cover on the soil before emergence. Houndstongue plants also survived in drought conditions. In conclusion, this weed can be consistently grown as a crop for the propagation of a root-feeding weevil for houndstongue control.

Keywords

Houndstongue, Cynoglossum officinale L. CYWOFroot-feeding weevil, Mogulones cruciger (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)Biological controlinsect propagationinsect rearingnitrogen fertilizerseed dormancyseeding method
Type
Special Topics
Information
Weed Science , Volume 55 , Issue 3 , June 2007 , pp. 273 - 280
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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