Hariet Hinz
Friday, October 17, 2008 - 9:00-9:30
A narrow host range is the principal prerequisite for field release of a biological control agent into the invaded range of a target weed. In order to determine the host range of a potential agent, host specificity tests are either conducted in the area of origin of the target weed, or under quarantine conditions in the invaded range. First records of host specificity tests date back about 80 years. Although the basic principles of host range screening have stayed more or less the same (and are generally adapted to the biology, life history and behavior of the potential biological control agent), methodologies were adapted and refined to include additional information such as insect behavior, chemical cues for host selection, and phylogenies to determine the taxonomic identity, position and relationships of the target weed, test plant species and potential agents. I will review the basic principles of host-specificity tests of weed biological control agents, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different test methodologies, evaluate the reliability of test results, and present potential future directions.
Keywords: BIOLOGICAL CONTROL, HOST RANGE, QUARANTINE, HOST SPECIFICITY