Biology & Control of Ailanthus

Transcription

1 Biology & Control of Ailanthus Eric Boyda Appalachian Ohio Weed Partnership Joanne Rebbeck USFS Northern Research Station Dave Apsley Ohio State University Extension

2 Why care about Ailanthus? Ailanthus altissima Tree-of-Heaven ODNR

3 USDA Plants Database

4 Thrives in Diversity of Habitats Urban sites Transportation corridors Parks, woodlands & forests River and stream banks Strip mines and gravel pits

5 WHY IS AILANTHUS A PROBLEM? Grows rapidly 3-16 ft/yr (1-5 m) Heavy seed producer (300,000 seeds/year) Seeds persist throughout winter Wind and water dispersed seeds Prolific sprouter (shoots and root segments) Ability to form dense thickets Out-competes native species Allelopathic (inhibits seed germination of other species)

6 AILANTHUS ID Spring Summer Large compound leaf (~2 ft long) Native look-alikes: sumac & walnut (toothed edges) Phenology late to emerge in spring Very odoriferous

7 BARK Fairly smooth light gray Checkered appearance Large trees - ridges and furrows

8 FLOWERS ON DIOECIOUS TREES FEMALE MALE

9 PROLIFIC & PERSISTENT SEEDER USDA Plants Database ODNR Klips OSU 2008

10 SEED DISPERSAL Seed-bearing female trees during dormant season Photo credit:tom Shuman 2011

11 Kowarik & Saumel (2007) Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 8:

12 SEEDLING ID Cotyledons

13 GERMINATION AND EARLY GROWTH High viability Seed bank longevity? Stratification not needed Tolerant of flooding High light requirement Herbaceous competition

14 PROLIFIC SHOOT AND ROOT SPROUTER ODNR

15 Potential Sprout Sources Cut surface/stump Root collar Stem fragments Roots Axils of new shoots Kowarik & Saumel (2007)

16 Can quickly invade and establish Clonal stems can grow 100 ft from parent tree Dense thickets exclude other species Roots shallow but extensive. Can hold water for extended periods of drought Clones attached to parent trees can persist in low light conditions for 20 years within forest gaps

17 AILANTHUS IN FOREST GAPS

18 Management of Ailanthus Prevention Early Detection & Rapid Response Control of Existing Populations

19 Prevention Eliminate or reduce nearby seed sources especially prior to planned disturbances Inspect and know the source of materials transported on site Seed Soil Mulch Gravel Clean equipment Revegetate following disturbance

20 Consider Developing BMPs Example from Washington State USDOT-Federal Highway Administration Are We Winning or Losing the War on Weeds? Mary Ann Rondinella and Bonnie L. Harper-Lore

21 Early Detection & Rapid Response Next best thing to prevention Some species will be introduced no matter how hard we try Key to economical control of invasive species Why?

22 Carrying capacity Invader abundance Quarantine priority stage Eradication priority stage Control priority stage High input control required for effective treatment Public awareness Introduction Detection Time (Hobbs and Humphries 1995)

23 Early Detection & Rapid Response Scout and monitor frequently Especially after recent canopy and soil disturbance Inspect ROWs frequently Treat immediately If not sooner!

24 Control of Existing Ailanthus Populations Mechanical Chemical Biological

25 Post-treatment Mortality of Ailanthus 3 yrs post-herbicide, 2 yrs post-fire Large Saplings, 1-4 dbh Live Dead Dead w/sprouts Live w/sprouts Trees, >4 dbh N=49 N=182 N=84 N=155 N=75 N=62 N=69 N=85

26 Chemical Treatment Options Foliar Basal Bark Hack and Squirt Break and Spray smaller dbh Cut Stump

27 Foliar Treatment Method Limited to small seedlings and sprouts Non-target damages can be a problem Narrower window for treatment Leaf-on

28 Some Foliar Treatment Options Glyphosate (e.g. Accord & Roundup) Triclopyr (e.g. Garlon 3A & Garlon 4 Ultra) Diluted with water. Do not use basal spray mixtures and rates for foliar!

29 Basal Bark Treatment Method Employs oil carrier Kerosene, Diesel, etc. Methylated Seed Oil (e.g. Arborchem Basal Oil, AX-IT TM ) Low Volume Method Spray to wet Not to runoff Applied to lower portion of trunk 12 to 18 inches

30 Basal Bark Treatment Method Works best on trees up to about 6-8 inches d.b.h. Non-target damages (overspray) can be a problem with small diameter stems Wider treatment window

31 Basal Bark Treatment Method Triclopyr (e.g Garlon 4 Ultra) Pay attention to per acre maximums 6 qt. A/year Imazapyr (e.g. Stalker/Chopper) Non-target damage Walnuts particularly susceptible

32 AGS 203 Primary basal bark treatment for Ailanthus control on Ohio Woodlands Job Corps projects Mix of: AX-IT Low Volume Basal Oil 20% Garlon 4 Ultra - (triclopyr) 3% Stalker - (imazapyr) Blue Dye

33 Birchmeier Closed System Pre-mixed herbicide Eliminates mixing and filling in the field Ensures correct herbicide concentration

34 Hack and Squirt Treatment Method Typically use hatchet and spray bottle One hack per inch in diameter on most labels Typically used for larger trees

35 Hack and Squirt Treatment Method Some water soluble herbicides Imazapyr (e.g. Arsenal AC or Polaris) Effective consistent results Picloram (e.g. Tordon RTU or Pathway) Somewhat effective Inconsistent results Triclopyr (e.g. Garlon 3A) Effective Concern: label DANGER eyes Glyphosate Not recommended; sprouting

36 Cut Stump Herbicide Treatments Usually not recommended Sprouting is amplified! Basal oil or water based options Water-based herbicides need to be applied immediately after cutting

37 Some Final Thoughts on Herbicide Treatments Late summer treatments are usually most effective at reducing sprouting Count on retreating & consider yourself lucky if it is not needed For Ailanthus early fall treatments followed by spring evaluation and retreatment's seem to work best If a gadget advertised to control invasives seems too good to be true Be systematic when treating large areas to minimize missed trees (paint, flag or blaze) Mentholated Seed Oil vs. petroleum based carriers The label is the law Pay particular attention to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Per acre maximum rates Application concentrations and rates Roundup vs. glyphosate

38 POTENTIAL BIOHERBICIDE: AILANTHUS WILT Ailanthus wilt found in PA in 2002 Don Davis & Mark Schall, Penn State Verticillium nonalfalfae soil-borne fungal pathogen High specificity to Ailanthus & native FOUND IN OHIO IN 2012

39 Ailanthus Verticillium Wilt Photoguide Help Find It in Ohio VERTICILLIUM WILT CAUSED BY VERTICILLIUM NONALFALFAE WAS DETECTED ON AILANTHUS ALTISSIMA IN PENNSYLVANIA IN IT IS CAUSED BY A SOIL FUNGUS THAT INFECTS THE VASCULAR TISSUES OF AILANTHUS TREES. INFECTED TREES DIE RAPIDLY, TYPICALLY WITHIN A GROWING SEASON. DONALD DAVIS AND MARK SCHALL HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH DEMONSTRATING ITS SPECIFICITY AND VIRULENCE TO AILANTHUS. IT SHOWS PROMISE AS A POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT OF AILANTHUS. HOWEVER, BEFORE IT CAN BE TESTED FOR BIOCONTROL USE IN OHIO, IT MUST FIRST BE FOUND IN OHIO. PHOTOS COURTESY OF DR. DONALD DAVIS, THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY. IF YOU SEE THESE SYMPTOMS, CONTACT: JOANNE REBBECK, USFS, NORTHERN RESEARCH STATION, DELAWARE, OH AT JREBBECK@FS.FED.US OR Wilting Initial Severe Vascular Discoloration Healthy Ailanthus Wilting Ailanthus

40 Development of alternative methods of control Ailanthus wilt, Verticillium nonalfalfae Testing common woody species for susceptibility Initiate inoculation field trials of Ailanthus in 2014 Monitor progression of natural spread of wilt Study aftermath regeneration within inoculated stands

41 Eric Boyda Appalachian Ohio Weed Partnership Joanne Rebbeck USFS Northern Research Station Dave Apsley Ohio State University Extension