Leicester, United Kingdom
July 30, 2009
Researchers at the
University of Leicester have
paved the way for the first ever use in Europe of an insect
(biocontrol) to combat an invasive plant species in Britain.
University of Leicester biologists established that the Japanese
Knotweed in Britain was one the biggest females in the world- a
clone of cuttings brought into Britain in the 1850s. Costs of
controlling it in Britain have been put at £1.5 billion.
Defra's Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) has now
launched a public consultation exercise into plans to control
the Japanese Knotweed using a highly specialist sap-sucking
insect –or psyllid- called Aphalara itadori.
This follows a rigorous testing regime undertaken by the
not-for-profit research organisation CABI at their quarantine
laboratories, the purpose of which is to be as sure as possible
that potential biocontrol organisms are restricted to Japanese
Knotweed and cannot be tempted to stray onto related British
plants or economically important species.
Lead scientist Dick Shaw said: “Using information compiled by
scientists at the University of Leicester, Biocontrol experts at
CABI were able to focus their collecting efforts on the precise
region of Japan where the European clone of Japanese Knotweed
originated.
“A number of Japanese invertebrates and micro organisms have
been subjected to a rigorous testing regime. The aim of
biological control is not to eradicate the target organism, but
to weaken it so as to restrict spread and increase the
effectiveness of other control measures (i.e less herbicide
use).”
The psyllid doesn’t actually eat the plant, but sucks the sap
like an aphid, and also produces vast numbers of offspring on
Japanese Knotweed plants, which severely affect the morphology
and vigour of the plant.
Dr Shaw added: “Since there has never been a release of a
biocontrol agent for a plant species in Europe, extreme caution
is being exercised by all concerned”. The proposed organism has
now satisfied the scientific community that the proposed release
under licence would be both safe and beneficial to the
environment. On July 23 2009 the government inaugurated a public
consultation on the release, subject to the satisfactory
conclusion of this process, approval should be granted for the
first releases in April 2010.
“Early releases would be made only under licence, and would be
closely monitored, with appropriate contingency plans in place.
At the point that the organism is declared to be ordinarily
resident, anybody may move it between knotweed sites. Given the
fact that our Japanese knotweed is a single clone I feel we have
excellent prospects for the specific and effective control of
Japanese Knotweed in Britain. “
Anyone wishing to take part in the consultation exercise should
go to:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/japanese-knotweed/index.htm |
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