Investigations on the occurrence of pathogenic fungi, insects and weeds in hemp (Cannabis sativa) in Austria

Im Jahr 2020 wurde ein Monitoring zum Auftreten von pilzlichen Schaderregern, Schadinsekten und Unkräutern im österreichischen Hanfanbau (Cannabis sativa) durchgeführt. Es wurden 37 Hanffelder auf das Vorkommen von Schädlingen und pilzlichen Schaderregern beprobt. Die Bestimmungsarbeiten erfolgten anhand morphologischer Merkmale im Labor mittels Routinemethoden der Lichtmikroskopie. Die Erhebung der Unkrautflora wurde auf insgesamt 42 Standorten durchgeführt. In den untersuchten Hanffeldern wurden insgesamt 20 Pilzarten aus 17 unterschiedlichen Gattungen, 65 Arthropodenarten aus 27 Familien und 71 Unkrautarten aus 23 Pflanzenfamilien festgestellt. Unter den diagnostizierten pilzlichen Schaderregern zählen Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium spp., Pseudoperonospora cannabina und Sclerotinia sclerotiorum zu den bedeutendsten Arten. Die größte Bedeutung der nachgewiesenen Schadinsekten kommt Grapholita delineana, Helicoverpa armigera und Ostrinia nubilalis zu. Chenopodium album, Amaranthus spp., Echinochloa crus-galli und Cirsium arvense wurden als die dominanten Unkrautarten identifiziert.In 2020, a monitoring of pathogenic fungi, insects and weeds in hemp (Cannabis sativa) has been performed in the main cultivation areas of Austria. Thirty-seven hemp fields were sampled for the presence of pests and fungal pathogens. The identification work was carried out on the basis of morphological characteristics in the laboratory using routine methods of light microscopy. The survey of weed flora was conducted at a total of 42 hemp fields. Overall, 20 pathogenic fungal species belonging to 17 different genera, 65 arthropod species belonging to 27 families and 71 weed species belonging to 23 families were detected. Among these, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium spp., Pseudoperonospora cannabina and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum represent the most important fungal species. Grapholita delineana, Helicoverpa armigera and Ostrinia nubilalis are the most harmful insect species and Chenopodium album, Amaranthus spp., Echinochloa crus-galli and Cirsium arvense were identified as the major weed species

AgriWeedClim database: A repository of vegetation plot data from Central European arable habitats over 100 years

Aims: Arable habitats (i.e. fields, orchards, vineyards, and their fallows) were cre- ated by humans and have been essential elements in Central European landscapes for several millennia. In recent decades, these habitats have been drastically altered by changes in land use as well as agricultural practices and, more recently, by climate change. These changes have precipitated substantial changes in vegetation and their spatial and temporal trajectories have not yet been exhaustively studied. Here, we present the AgriWeedClim database —­ a new resource of vegetation plot (relevé) data of arable habitats in Central Europe. Location: Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Hungary, Northern Italy, Slovenia, Croatia. Methods: Vegetation plot data were obtained from large repositories (e.g. European Vegetation Archive), specialized regional databases, colleagues and the literature. Data were then checked for completeness and standardized (e.g. taxonomy, nomenclature, crop types). Species were assigned native, archaeophyte (i.e. alien species introduced before c. 1492 CE) or neophyte (i.e. alien species introduced after c. 1492 CE) status. Results: The AgriWeedClim database version 1.0 contains georeferenced data from 32,889 vegetation plots sampled from 1916 to 2019. Conclusions: We provide an overview of this new resource and present example analyses to show its content and possible applications. We outline potential research questions including analysis of patterns and causes of vegetation changes in arable habitats from the early 20th century to the present

Biological flora of Central Europe: Cyperus esculentus L

This paper presents information on all aspects of the biology of Cyperus esculentus L. (yellow nutsedge) and deals with its taxonomy, morphology, genetic diversity, distribution, habitat requirements, ecology and life cycle, with special emphasis on uses and cultivation, history of introduction, impact and management in Europe. C. esculentus is a tuber geophyte and most likely originates from the Mediterranean and Southwest Asia. It is a variable plant and four wild-type varieties are presently recognized, in addition to a cultivated form. C. esculentus reproduces primarily by its underground tubers, although abundant seeds are produced. In temperate climates, tubers usually sprout in late spring and the plant withers at the beginning of the winter. C. esculentus is only cultivated in the València region in Spain. Invasion foci emerged across Europe at the beginning of the 1980s and at present, C. esculentus is most abundant on arable land and in ruderal habitats, followed by riverine vegetation. In heavily infested regions of Europe, C. esculentus causes substantial yield losses in field crops and although different management strategies are available, C. esculentus remains difficult to control.Follak, S.; Belz, R.; Bohren, C.; Castro, OD.; Guacchio, ED.; Pascual-Seva, N.; Schwarz, M.... (2016). Biological flora of Central Europe: Cyperus esculentus L. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 23:33-51. doi:10.1016/j.ppees.2016.09.003S33512

Austrian farmers perception of new weeds

Abstract The composition of weed floras in Central European fields has shifted creating a novel management issue: new weeds, that is, species that are currently spreading and increasing in impact. In their role as primary decision makers on the ground, farmers' perception of these new weeds plays a pivotal role in collecting information on their occurrence and control. We conducted an online survey to determine if Austrian farmers recognized 15 selected new weed taxa (12 species and 3 genera) from their farm. The 181 surveyed farmers also estimated the required management effort for these species and elicited their current management practices. Additional questions were posed to understand farmers' general perception of changes in the weed flora. We used a generalized linear mixed model to estimate differences in management effort and identify new weeds that merit monitoring and management programs. Two weed genera (Fallopia spp. and Panicum spp.) showed significantly higher than average management effort. The most commonly used management measures were manual removal, herbicide use and crop rotation. A majority of farmers reported changes in the weed flora; over two thirds reported new species and over one third reported new weeds that were difficult to control. In summary, our results suggest that respondents were aware of the challenges posed by new weeds but required more information on management and prevention strategies

Alien Species and Human Health: Austrian Stakeholder Perspective on Challenges and Solutions

No saturation in the introduction, acceleration of spread and the increasing impacts of alien species are a characteristic feature of the Anthropocene. Concomitantly, alien species affecting human health are supposed to increase, mainly due to increasing global trade and climate change. In this study, we assess challenges and solutions posed by such species to the public health sector in Austria over the next few decades. We did so using an online questionnaire circulated to 131 experts and stakeholders working on human health and biological invasions, supplemented by in-depth interviews with eleven selected experts. Results from the online survey and in-depth interviews largely support and complement each other. Experts and stakeholders suggest that (i) the allergenic Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed), the photodermatoxic Heracleum mantegazzianum (giant hogweed), and vectors of diseases such as Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) are considered the alien species posing the most severe challenges; (ii) challenges are expected to increase in the next few decades and awareness in the public health sector is not sufficient; (iii) effective and efficient solutions are mainly related to prevention. Specific solutions include pathway management of introduction and spread by monitoring and controlling established populations of ragweed, hogweed and mosquitos

Is terrestrial plant import from East Asia into countries in the EPPO region a potential pathway for new emerging invasive alien plants

Pathway analysis represents an effective means of identifying emerging invasive alien species. For plants, a significant number of invasions have been caused by plant species originally voluntary introduced as ornamentals. The pathway analysis for terrestrial ornamental plants imported from East Asia has been undertaken to provide information on the imports and to identify emerging terrestrial invasive alien plants. Data for terrestrial ornamental plants imported from East Asia into Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey was assembled at the genus level. Thousands of species of plants for planting are imported from East Asia in very large volumes. However, despite the fact that the data could only been analyzed at the genus level, it is considered that only a very limited number of taxa would become invasive. The potentially invasive alien species are already widely available in European nurseries and are principally produced within the European Union

MOESM2 of Effectiveness of management interventions for control of invasive Common ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia: a systematic review protocol

Additional file 2. Search comprehensiveness assessment

Monographs on invasive plants in Europe N° 5: Ambrosia trifida L.

Ambrosia trifida L. (giant ragweed, Asteraceae) is native to the North American continent and was introduced into Europe and Asia at the end of the 19th century. In its native range, this tall annual species is common in riparian and ruderal habitats and is also a major weed in annual cropping systems. For nearly a century, A. trifida has also been of great concern in the U.S. for its highly allergenic pollen, necessitating targeted control measures to reduce its impact on human populations. Based on the distribution of A. trifida in North America and in its introduced range, riparian systems in the rest of the world may be particularly at risk to invasion, with potential negative consequences for their biodiversity. Currently, A. trifida has invaded Asia more widely than Europe, likely due to the more favourable local conditions in Asia. Throughout its introduced range, A. trifida is host to a limited number of invertebrates and pathogens and only a few biological agents are available for its control. The main impacts of A. trifida at a global level are on crop yield and human health, resulting in significant socio-economic impacts. The success of A. trifida invasion in areas in which it has been introduced is still unclear, but climate change may increase climate suitability, increasing the potential for A. trifida to spread. While effective management in cultivated fields seems potentially possible, the development and control of A. trifida in natural riparian habitats is of great concern due to the difficulty of management in these areas