GREETINGS! Last year I started some biological control trials at the Dutch polder of Flevoland. Flevoland is a brand new Dutch province of The Netherlands. It was reclaimed from a former inward sea as early as a half a century ago. In the early period of reclamation, reed has been sown by governmental workers. Most of the land is used for agriculture. Besides some forest trees were planted. Nowadays, even mature poplar forests have been developed which are being cut for timber production. Clear cutting poses a problem because of sprouting and tillering of the remaining poplar stubs and trunks. This is often controlled by using a chemical herbicide (glyphosate). However, chemical control is highly unwanted in this region. Accordingly, I'm investigating biological control of stump sprouting of poplars by using a fungus. This has been called the 'mycoherbicide' approach. In order to endeavour this biological 'weed' control, I have inoculated stumps of just cut poplar trees by a suitable fungus species. I'm also trying to control stumps of other deciduous trees in order to manage the vegeatation in another direction. I am being assisted by some foresters and students. The mycoherbicide is manufactured by a Dutch company specialized in biological control. I'm expecting to get preliminary results at the end of next summer. If the mycoherbicide turns out to be an effective control agent of stump sprouting of poplars and other deciduous trees, then current chemical control could (and should!) be replaced by biological control. This might cause a small revolution in sustainable forestry and management of roadside trees. Hope at the end of the summer of 1994 the first symptoms will appear. I would be happy to show you my trials if you happen to be in Holland. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Sincerely Yours, dr Meindert D. de Jong I'm on hire!!! E-mail: Vlinders@RCL.WAU.NL ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Voice: (+31) 8370 21937 FAX: (+31) 8370 23110 Photo's of research & researchers and c.v.: de Jong et al. 1990. Risk Analysis for Biological Control: A Dutch Case Study in Biocontrol of Prunus serotina by the Fungus Chondrostereum purpureum. Plant Disease 12:189-194. Send requests for reprint to: CentreAgrobiologicalResearch P.O. Box 14, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
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