<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I messed up on the examples I gave regarding
grasses that this fungus infects...CHEATGRASS - native!?!!?! See below!
Thanks, -Patricia</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.<br>
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority<br>
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group<br>
US Fish & Wildlife Service<br>
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110<br>
Arlington, VA 22203<br>
703-358-1708 x1753<br>
FAX: 703-358-2276<br>
<br>
Promoting sustainable use and conservation of our native medicinal plants.<br>
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal><br>
</font>
<br><font size=1 color=#800080 face="sans-serif">----- Forwarded by Patricia
De Angelis/ARL/R9/FWS/DOI on 06/08/2010 09:09 AM -----</font>
<br>
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<td width=40%><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>"Juanita Ladyman"
<juanita_ladyman@hotmail.com></b> </font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">06/07/2010 06:30 PM</font>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">To</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><Patricia_DeAngelis@fws.gov></font>
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<td>
<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">cc</font></div>
<td>
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<td>
<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Subject</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">RE: [APWG] Fw: [MPWG] Japanese stiltgrass
disease update June 2 2010</font></table>
<br>
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<td>
<td></table>
<br></table>
<br>
<br>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">As an FYI – Bromus tectorum,
commonly known as cheatgrass, is not a native. It’s native to southwestern
Asia/southern Europe. </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial"> </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">Also one can argue that natives
by definition are growing in their native habitat and therefore are not
invasive but merely filling the niche that they have evolved to occupy.</font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial"> </font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">Juanita Ladyman</font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial">Centennial, CO</font>
<br><font size=2 color=#000080 face="Arial"> </font>
<div align=center>
<br>
<hr></div>
<br><font size=2 face="Tahoma"><b>From:</b> apwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org
[mailto:apwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Patricia_DeAngelis@fws.gov<b><br>
Sent:</b> Thursday, June 03, 2010 7:41 AM<b><br>
To:</b> apwg@lists.plantconservation.org; mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org<b><br>
Subject:</b> [APWG] Fw: [MPWG] Japanese stiltgrass disease update June
2 2010</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><br>
I am responding to Russ Richardson's post and forwarding this message to
APWG since it involves an invasive plant (<i>Microstegium vimineum, </i>Japanese
stiltgrass; see the APWG fact sheet at: <http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/mivi1.htm>)
that is being attacked by a fungus (apparently a <i>Bipolaris </i>species;
see: <http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/turf/publications/Bipolaris.html>)!!!!
<br>
<br>
The fungus is as tenacious as the invasive plant (i.e., both can overwinter)
and is taking a toll on the stiltgrass, by reducing its presence. The fungus
also attacks other non-native warm season grasses (such as bentgrass) and
native invasives (such as cheatgrass). Too soon to tell what may
come of this development. Will the fungus keep stiltgrass from coming back
into previously infected areas? What effect will this fungus have on the
other understory species, the natives (many of which are medicinal or otherwise
harvest for their non-timber forest products)? I'm pretty sure I
have seen it on black cohosh at the MPWG field sites in George Washington
Jefferson National Forest - started seeing it maybe two years ago. <br>
<br>
Sounds like that is just what Luke Flory, of Indiana University, is looking
at. Russ mentions an article in press (perhaps this one: </font><font size=3 color=#111111 face="Times New Roman">Kleczewski,
N. and <b>S.L. Flory</b>. 2010. Leaf blight disease on the invasive grass
<i>Microstegium vimineum</i> (Japanese stiltgrass) caused by a <i>Bipolaris
</i>sp. Plant Disease. <i>In press. </i></font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">).
According to the abstract (at: <http://www.lukeflory.com/publications>),
"Disease reduced seed head production by 40% compared to controls."
<br>
<br>
-Patricia <br>
<br>
Note: I removed Russ's pictures because the email was so large. I'm sure
he'd be happy to send them to you if you contact him directly. <br>
</font><font size=2 face="sans-serif"><br>
Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.<br>
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority<br>
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group<br>
US Fish & Wildlife Service<br>
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110<br>
Arlington, VA 22203<br>
703-358-1708 x1753<br>
FAX: 703-358-2276<br>
<br>
Promoting sustainable use and conservation of our native medicinal plants.<br>
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal></font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><br>
</font><font size=1 color=#800080 face="sans-serif"><br>
----- Forwarded by Patricia De Angelis/ARL/R9/FWS/DOI on 06/03/2010 09:19
AM -----</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
<p>
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<td width=45%><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>ForestRuss@aol.com</b>
<br>
Sent by: mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
</font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">06/02/2010 11:39 PM</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
</font>
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<br>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">To</font></div>
<td width=88%><font size=1 face="sans-serif">MPWG@lists.plantconservation.org</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
</font>
<tr valign=top>
<td>
<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">cc</font></div>
<td><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
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<td>
<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Subject</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">[MPWG] Japanese stiltgrass disease update
June 2 2010</font></table>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font>
<p>
<br>
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<br>
</font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
MPWG:</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
The disease that was discovered to be killing Japanese stiltgrass, Microstegium
vimineum, in Calhoun County, West Virginia during 2008 and 2009 has spread
to new sites. The first signs of disease this year was in scattered locations
starting about May 7. </font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
</font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
In areas where the disease was active last fall there was limited germination
of stiltgrass this spring and many plants that have developed in those
areas now show disease signs. </font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
</font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> <br>
</font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
Two years ago this road was completely dominated by stiltgrass that grew
so tall and thick that all the water bars on the road were obscured. This
area was hit by the disease last fall as the seed was starting to set.
The dominant greenery in this photo is black Cohosh and white aster.
Nearly all stiltgrass present at the site is diseased. Within
100 feet of this photo there is healthy stiltgrass that is almost 18"
tall. </font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><br>
</font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
PICTURE REMOVED</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
The following three photos were taken in an abandoned field area that had
become a stiltgrass savannah. The site has scattered apple
trees and deer had helped to spread the stiltgrass across the hillside.
This savannah covers more than fifteen acres and showed no signs
of disease in 2009.</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
PICTURE REMOVED</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> <br>
</font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
The trail in the foreground has a heavy cover of sickly stiltgrass. For
several hundred feet of this trail nearly 100% of the stiltgrass plants
are covered with lesions.</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
PICTURE REMOVED</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
In some areas the thatch from last year is still easy to find because there
is very little new growth for 2010.</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
</font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
PICTURE REMOVED</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> <br>
</font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
There are areas with no living stiltgrass plants and the natives are taking
off.</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
PICTURE REMOVED</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> <br>
</font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
It appears that the fungus killing stiltgrass can survive a forest fire.
In early April a forest fire burned over 20 acres of Crummies Creek
including areas where I had photographed the disease last year. Some
Japanese stiltgrass seed survived the fire and germinated in early May
but now nearly all plants are showing disease signs.</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
</font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
At this time no one has determined the vectors for spread of the disease
but a paper on some of the specifics of the "Bipolaris" disease
has recently been published by Luke Flory of Indiana University.</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
</font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
Sincerely,</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
Russ Richardson, Certified Forester</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">
</font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
Crummies Creek Tree Farm</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
PO Box 207</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
Arnoldsburg, WV 25234</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
</font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"> </font><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
</font><font size=2 face="Courier New"><br>
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</font>