Research Keyword: endemic pathogens

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

Hill raspberry is a highly invasive plant that has taken over approximately 30,000 hectares of the Galapagos Islands, threatening native plant species. Traditional control methods like manual removal and herbicide spraying are expensive and ineffective. Researchers identified five species of fungal pathogens that naturally occur on infected Hill raspberry plants and can cause disease on healthy plants, offering promise as biological control agents to suppress this invasive species.

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

Scientists in the Galapagos Islands are working to control an invasive raspberry plant (Rubus niveus) that has taken over about 30,000 hectares and is damaging native species. Rather than using costly manual removal or herbicides, researchers isolated and tested five different fungi found naturally on diseased raspberry plants to see if they could be used as biological control agents. These five fungi—including species like Colletotrichum and Fusarium—showed promise by causing leaf damage to the raspberry plant, offering hope for a more sustainable pest management solution.

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