• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.175-190
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• 2006

The term mycoherbicide started in 1970, but its interest heightened due to increase costs of chemical herbicides. A classical biocontrol agent is expected to become a permanent part of its new environment and do no harm to it. Contemporary biological control agent(BCA) must be produced by artificial culture and could be applied like chemical herbicides over weeds. BCA is different from the classical approach in that it released through natural spread. To date 26 species of fungi are used as classical BCA against 26 species of weeds in seven countries. There are a number of examples of pathogens attacking non-target plants. But through risk assessments which include understanding the taxonomy, biology and ecology, the target and non-target species, it will be safe to introduce of exotic pathogens to control weeds. But pathogens have not been successfully used in practice. Many mycoherbicides show potential in laboratories, but are ineffective in the field and not consistent from year to year or field to field. There is also a lack of understanding humidity, dew formation and temperature and their effects on suppression of weeds by plant pathogens. Potential pathogen must be selected as a BCA. Previous studies suggest that these pathogens must (1) produce abundant and durable inoculum in artifical culture, (2) be genetically stable and weed specific and (3) kill weeds in control. A granular preparation of mycoherbicide into sodium alginate is lighter than liquids and less bulky than organic matter. Gel forms have also been used.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.222-228
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• 2020

Background: Parthenium hysterophorus is a noxious invasive weed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including Nepal. Among 11 species of biological control agents released to control P. hysterophorus in Ausrtalia, winter rust Puccina abrupta var. partheniicola arrived fortuitously and has established in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, nearly a decade back. However, the prevalence and effectiveness of this rust as a biological control agent in Kathmandu remain unknown. To address this knowledge gap, a roadside survey was done at an interval of 2 ± 0.25 km in Kathmandu Valley to assess the P. abrupta var. partheniicola incidence and its impacts on P. hysterophorus. Infested individuals of P. hysterophorus were further divided into four severity classes (very low, low, medium, and high), and rust incidence was calculated. The impact of the winter rust on the growth of P. hysterophorus was assessed by comparing biomass and seed output of infested and non-infested individuals. Results: Among 81 locations where P. hysterophorus was present in the Kathmandu Valley, winter rust infestation was observed at 98% locations. At some locations within Kathmandu Valley such as Tinkune, Kirtipur, Chabahil, Buddha Chowk, and Dhobighat, the impacts of the rust on P. hysterophorus were medium to high. Aboveground biomass and seed output of P. hysterophorus were reduced by 47% and 73%, respectively, due to winter rust infestation. The study indicates that winter rust incidence is widespread in Kathmandu Valley with very low to high levels of damages to P. hysterophorus depending on the localities. Conclusion: The rust has, therefore, a potential to reduce the growth performance of P. hysterophorus, and it can be used as a component of integrated management of P. hysterophorus by introducing to other suitable areas in Nepal.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.180-187
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• 2012

Panicum maximum, Panicum repens, Imperata cylindrica, Pennisetum polystachion and Cyperus rotundus are five rhizomatous grass weeds that exist and are problematic in the coconut lands of Sri Lanka. Rhizomatous weeds are the most difficult to control because of their vegetative reproduction by underground propagules. Therefore chemical and biological techniques have failed to control these weeds to acceptable levels. Experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of depth of burial, duration of sun drying or duration of air drying rhizomes of the selected weed species on germination. Depth of burial reduced germination of all species. Burying rhizomes at depths less than 10 cm inhibited germination of P. maximum and P. polystachion. Burying depths below 30~40 cm inhibited germination of all species. Sun drying or air drying rhizomes for durations less than 5 days inhibited germination of P. maximum and P. polystachion. Germinations of all species were inhibited by sun drying rhizomes for 15 days or air drying rhizomes for 20 days. Sun drying of rhizomes of all species for five days reduced the moisture content to a greater extent than air drying. The results indicated that burying rhizomes at the depthsbelow 30~40 cm, sun drying rhizomes for durations beyond 15 days or air drying rhizomes for durations beyond 20 days would be effective in controlling germination of these species. The investigations of the experiments also suggest that keeping rhizomes on the soil surface without burying, sun drying rhizomes or air drying rhizomes for durations of 5~15 days would produce weak plants.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.308-312
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• 2011

A new paddy field herbicide, metazosulfuron granule is an herbicide for controlling annual and perennial weeds occurring in machinery transplanting paddy field. It is recommended to apply $30kg\;ha^{-1}$ 15 days after transplanting. As a result of preliminary tests, it could control seven annual species such as Echinochloa crus-galli, Bidens tripartita, Ludwigia prostrata, Monochoria vaginalis var. plantaginea, etc. and four perennial species including Cyperus serotinus, Sagittaria trifolia, Eleocharis kuroguwai, and Scirpus juncoides. Monochoria vaginalis var. plantaginea, S. trifolia and S. juncoides resistant to sulfonylurea- herbicides were also controlled. Because application timing of the herbicide is wide, it is very efficient to control the spraying timing by users. Phytotoxicity of rice cultivars was not observed, and the impact on the environment is very limited.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

Many irrigated and drainage canals, reservoirs, lakes, and rivers are choked by the explosive growth of aquatic weeds, resulting in enormous direct loss in Korea. Distribution of aquatic weeds and exotic invasive plant species in irrigation and drainage waterways, and riparian wetlands was reviewed to provide basic information for management of aquatic weeds and invasive plant species in wetlands. Dominant emergent weeds in canals, reservoirs and lakes were Phragmites communis, Leersia japonica, Zizania latifolia, Conyza canadensis, C. annuus, Rumex crispus, Panicum dichotomiflorum, Bidens frondosa, and Oenothera odorata. Dominant emergent weeds in wetlands of rivers include Digitaria sanguinalis, P. communis, R. crispus, Artemisia princeps, Humulus japonicus, Echinochloa crusgalli, B. frondosa, and Persicaria thunbergii. In irrigation and drainage canals and lakes, dominant submersed weeds were Hydrilla verticillata, Najas minor, Potamogeton malaianus, P. crispus, Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum verticillatum, Salvinia natans, and Trapa natans. Dominant exotic weeds in wetlands include Trifolium repens, O. odorata, C. annuus, B. frondosa, Avena fatua, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, X. strumarium, and P. dichotomiflorum. Approaches to aquatic weed control were mechanical, chemical and biological control techniques. Periodic monitoring of aquatic weeds and exotic weeds, and their integrated management studies are needed in waterways and riparian wetlands in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.453-458
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• 2012

The golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata, is a freshwater snail native to tropical and subtropical South America. The species was introduced into Korea as a human food source in 1983 and was first applied as a weed control agent for the paddy fields in 1992. As the snail is well known as an environmentally friendly biological control agent for weeds, the area of cultivation in which the golden apple snail is used for biological control has been enlarged substantially each year. Currently, the species is observed in open water courses. It is possible that the snail may overwinter in these open water courses and may become a serious pest, as is already the case in many Asian countries. In this study, we determined the status of the overwintering golden apple snail based on a literature survey and investigated the potential distribution area of the snail, as a result from global warming in Korea. The potential distribution area of the overwintering golden apple snail would be enlarged under the influence of global warming; ranging from 45.5% of South Korea's land area in the 2020s to 88.4% in the 2080s.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2015

The black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) is a major insect pest of economic crops including turfgrasses on golf courses. The entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae GSN1 strain (ScG), a Korean isolate, is an effective biological control agent for soil dwelling and greenhouse insect pests in Korea. In addition, ScG is commercially produced in Korea. We conducted laboratory, greenhouse, and field trials to evaluate efficacy of ScG against black cutworms in turfgrasses. A rate of 63 infective juveniles (Ijs) per larva killed >90% of $3^{rd}$ instars feeding in cups of artificial diet within 3 days. In greenhouse trials against cutworms feeding in pots of turfgrass, efficacy of ScG was higher against $4^{th}$ instars than against $2^{nd}$ instars (90.0 vs 81.2% mortality, respectively, at $2,000Ijs\;pot^{-1}$) in perennial ryegrass, and higher against $3^{rd}$ instars in creeping bentgrass, Agrostis palustris than in zoysiagrass, Zoysia japonica (96.7 vs 52.5% mortality at $100,000Ijs\;m^{-2}$) in pot. The corrected mortality of $4^{th}$ instar was 79.9% at the rate of $100,000Ijs\;m^{-2}$ in the creeping bentgrass in the field. So ScG could be used as biological control agent against black cutworm in turfgrass of golf courses.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2016

Earthworm cast is a harmful factor which reduces the uniformity of management of turfgrass and play quality in golf courses and playground. This research was conducted to carry out the efficacy of some pesticide (bifenthrin GR + clothianidin GR, ethoprophos GR, imidacloprid SC, picoxystrobin WG, thiophanate-methyl WP) and tee tree (Camellia oliefera) extracts against reducing earthworm cast in golf courses. All tested materials were acted reducing earthworm cast, thiophanate-methyl among them showed the highest effect reducing earthworm casts in golf courses. Tea tree extracts was occurred similar efficacy among tested chemical pesticides. However, pellet type byproduct of tea seed extract and liquid formulation of tea tree extract were better than granule formulation of them. Byproduct of tea seed and tea tree extract can be used for alternative biological management material for reducing earthworm cast in heavily casting occurrence area.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.383-389
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• 2005

The effect of different mulching materials on mungbean production was studied. The general objective was to assess the ecological effects of mulching materials in sustainable mungbean production. Specifically, the study aimed to determine the effects of different mulching materials on the chemical, physical and biological soil properties, on weed control and yield, and to identify mulching materials that are environmentally friendly in mungbean production. The experiment was conducted at the Fruit and Vegetables Seeds Center, Science City of $Mu/tilde{n}oz$, Nueva Ecija, Philippines from May to July 2004. The initial soil chemical properties were: pH of 6.4, 2.0 percent organic matter content, 0.10 percent total nitrogen, 22 ppm phosphorus, and 370 ppm available potassium. The soil microbial loads were $8\times10^4\;CFU\;g^{-1}$ for bacteria and $14\times10^4\;CFU\;g^{-1}$ for fungi. Mushroom spent mulch increased soil organic matter with an average of 3.13 percent, nitrogen with an average of 0.16 percent and the highest number of bacterial count with $3.4\times10^8\;CFU\;g^{-1}$. Use of mulch, except rice straw mulch, generally increased mungbean yield. The best mulching material for high yield production of mungbean was black polyethylene plastic film, although environmentally unfriendly.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.141-151
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• 2002

The success of sericulture industry in India is mainly attributed to the well-planned annual sericultural activity and the systematic implementation of pest preventive and control measures. The insect spectrum of silkworm and its food plants is complex and plays a major role in limiting the production of silk. Insects cause extensive damage to plant whereas predators and parasites either kill the silkworm larvae or force them to spin flimsy cocoons. Unilateral control measure against this pest is mainly based on the use of synthetic organic insecticides. Though these approaches initially paid rich dividends, the undesirable consequences soon surfaced. Insecticide induced resurgence of gall midges, leafhopper, leaf roller, secondary pest out breaks and development of pest biotypes has led to realization of Integrated Pest Management in sericulture. Various components of IPM, viz. Host plant resistance, cultural practices, biological control, chemical control and integrating them at various technological levels have been studied. Sources of host plant resistance have been identified for some of the major insect pests. High yielding mulberry variety has been propagated and their resistances towards major pests have been recorded. Cultural practices like pruning, pollarding, judicious use of nitrogen, optimum spacing and weed management have preyed to be the powerful tools in containing pests. Natural control over the pest population build- up exerted by the wide range of parasitoids, predators and pathogens has been well documented with identification of natural enemies and studies on their potential. Augmentation, through inoculation or inundative releases of parasitic arthropods, is the most direct way of increasing the numbers of these beneficials in sericulture.