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Exploring fungal pathogens to control the plant invasive Rubus niveus on Galapagos Island San Cristobal

Summary

Scientists in the Galapagos Islands are working to control an invasive raspberry plant that is damaging the unique ecosystem. They identified five types of fungi that naturally attack this invasive plant and could potentially be used as a biological control method. These fungi were isolated from diseased raspberry plants and tested in the laboratory, showing promise as a sustainable alternative to expensive manual removal and chemical herbicides.

Background

Rubus niveus (Hill raspberry) is an invasive plant species covering approximately 30,000 hectares across the Galapagos Islands, rapidly outcompeting native and endemic vegetation. Current control methods such as manual removal and herbicide application have proven ineffective and costly. The study aimed to identify endemic fungi pathogenic to R. niveus for potential biological control.

Objective

To identify endemic fungal pathogens isolated from diseased Rubus niveus tissues on San Cristobal Island that could serve as biocontrol agents to suppress invasive Hill raspberry populations. The research involved microbiome analysis of healthy versus diseased leaves and pathogenicity testing of isolated fungi.

Results

Microbiome analysis revealed significant differences in fungal communities between healthy and diseased leaves, with enrichment of pathogenic genera including Alternaria, Septoria, Fusarium, and Colletotrichum in diseased tissue. Five fungal isolates consistently caused lesions on healthy leaves and were identified as Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Colletotrichum gloesporioides, Fusarium concentricum, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and Penicillium rolfsii through morphological and DNA analysis.

Conclusion

Five fungal pathogens were successfully identified and characterized as potential biocontrol candidates for invasive Hill raspberry on the Galapagos Islands. These isolates demonstrate pathogenic potential though most require mechanical wounding for infection, suggesting they may act as opportunistic pathogens or endophytes. Future research will evaluate their suitability as biocontrol agents and assess host specificity to ensure safety for non-target species.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 40596352, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-08949-5
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