Biological Control

Agents of Weeds
Introduction:
Biological control of
weeds is the deliberate use of
natural enemies to reduce the
density of a particular weed
to a tolerable level.
Introduction:
The objective of biological
weed control is not eradication but
simply the reduction of the weed
population to an economically low
level.
Introduction:
In fact for biological control to
be continuously successful, small
numbers of the weed host must
always be present to assured the
survival of the natural enemy.
What is weed?
01 A weed is a plant which interferes
with human activity or welfare

02 It is also defined as plant growing in a place where it is

not desired at a particular point in time.

03 Any plant or vegetation that interferes with the

objectives of farming or forestry, such as growing
crops, grazing animals or cultivating forest plantations.
What is Biological Control?

Biological control uses one

living organism to control
another. The aim of a weed
biocon program is to
introduce natural enemies
that will reduce the density
of the weed to a level that is
manageable and will reduce
its impacts.
The Origin of Biological
Weed Control
 01
In ancient times, the Chinese discovered
that increasing ant populations in their citrus
groves helped decrease destructive populations of
large beetles and caterpillars. The use of a natural
enemy to control a pest marked the birth of
biological control.
02
Some biological control agents attach to
roots and thereby stunt plant growth. Some bacteria
live on root surfaces and release toxins that stunt
root growth. Many fungi infect roots and disrupt
water transport system, which reduces leaf growth
03 Beneficial insects and nematodes feed
directly on weed roots causing injury which allows
bacteria and fungi to penetrate. Plant leaves capture
energy from the sun and store is as sugar. Insects
that feed on leaves reduce the leaf surface available
for energy capture. Fungi and bacteria that infect
leaves reduce the ability of the leaf to make sugars.
04
In either case, there is less energy
available for weed growth. Whether through
damage on roots or leaves, severe infestations
of biological control agents can actually kill
weeds, reducing their adverse effects on
desirable plants.
 05
Some bacteria and fungi applied as biological
control agents do not survive from year to year.
These organisms must be applied on an annual
basis. This technique is called the “bio herbicide”
strategy
 06
With this tactic, biological agents are used in
a manner similar to chemical herbicides. Weeds
introduced from foreign countries often require a
different strategy. Insect agents often require a
number of years to become fully effective.

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Points of Biological Weed Control

Bioagent like insects, pathogens and

01 other animals are used to control weeds.

Insect and pathogens infest weeds and

02 they either reduce growth or kill weeds.

Biological control method can reduce weeds

03 but it is not possible to eradicate weeds.
 How are biological control agents
selected?
• Biological control agents are selected very carefully. A study carried out
overseas to identify all the organisms found attacking a weed.

• Some of these species will be chosen for further testing. Any

agent imported for biological control of a weed must be host
specific which it only attacks the target weed.

• Stringent testing is carried out on close relatives of the weed including

native, ornamental and crop plants.
Procedures of Biological Control
Biological weed control program is to determine the sustainability of the weed for this
approach. Not all weeds are suitable and those with the following characteristics are
generally least suited for biological control.

• Weed species which are valued in other situations are not good candidates for this
approach. As the biocontrol agent cannot be limited in area like chemical and
mechanical treatments that are of values in other situations are not suitable targets for
biocontrol.
• Weeds that are closely related to economic crops are not good candidates for this
method. The closer the relationship the less possibility that a biotic agent could
distinguish between the weed and the crop.
• Native weed species are not generally amenable to this approach. However, the native
range of an introduced alien weed provides a source from which a parasite can be
introduced.
Procedures of Biological Control

• Weeds of cropland under intensive cultivation are generally not suited to this
approach. Since the biological control agent is specific only to one weed species.
Biocontrol is particularly suited to rangeland situations were a single and dominate
weed species is troublesome.
• Minor weed problems are not generally suited to this approach. The target weed
should infest large areas.
• If eradication of the weed is desired like using of poisonous weeds, the method is
generally not applicable
 Methods used in bio control of Weeds
The classical approach to biological control of weeds involves the
introduction of host - specific natural enemies of alien weeds.
Recently the approaches utilized in bio control programs have been
expanded to include two other methods:

01 Augmentation of
02 Application of
natural enemy biological
population herbicides
Augmentation of natural enemy populations

Augmentation includes the periodic release and/or

distribution of natural enemies. Biological control of
weeds has conventionally been applied against alien
weeds by introducing one or more of their natural
enemies.
Application of biological herbicides

A new approach to biocontrol of weeds has recently

been pioneered in Arkansas with the application of a
spore suspension of an endemic fungus. When the
fungus was applied early in the seedling stage, it will
destroy the weed easily.
Application of biological herbicides

An attractive feature of this method is that it does not

involve the introduction of any new organism into our
environment but merely the use of host-specific
pathogens at a time when they are the most effective.
Examples of Weed Biocontrol
Bio - agent Weeds

INSECT
Leaf Beetle
(Octotoma scabripennis)
Lanatana camara
Leaf – mining chrysomelids
(Uroplata giraldi)
Scale insect Prickly – pear weed
(Dactylopius tomentosus)
Flea beetle Alligator Weed
(Agasicles hygrophyla) (Alternanthera philoxeroides)
Examples of Weed Biocontrol
Bio – agent Weeds
Fish
Common Carp Aquatic Weeds
(Cyprimus carpio)

Mammals
Manetee or sea - cow Water hyacinth

Fungi
Rhizoctinia blight Hyacinth
Examples of Weed Biocontrol
Bio – agent Weeds

Snails
Marisa sp. and other fresh water snails Submerged weeds like coontail and
algae

Mites
Tetranychus sp Prickly pear

Plants
Cow pea as intercrop in sorghum Effectively reduces the growth of
weeds in sorghum
 Considerations for species in introducing
biocontrol to weeds
1. Specific to one plant species
2. Has negative impact to host plant individuals and its population
3. Biocon must be prolific
4. Can spread in all habitats that occupied by weeds
5. Good colonizer
6. Less expensive
7. Does not require high level of technology
8. Less disruptive ecologically and natural biodiversity is
maintained
Advantages of biological weed control agents
• Biological control can be cost effective in the long run
• A high degree of specificity of target weed
• No effect on non-target and beneficial plants or man
• Absence of residue build-up in the environment
• Effectiveness for managing herbicide-resistant (HR) weed populations
Limitations of biological weed control agents
• The weed must be highly specialized
• Other agents cant establish their population in new environment
• A lot of planning and money in order to develop successful system
• It’s a slow process. It takes a lot of time and patience for the biological
agents to work and spread.
Thank You