1 Pheromone Report Special Volume XXXI, Number 3/4, March/April 2009 Giant Knotweed, Plant Disease Protection, and Immortality By William Quarles Photo courtesy California Department of Food and Agriculture lants can be rich sources of drugs and pesticides. PBotanical pesticides such as neem extracts are made from renewable resources and can be used in organic agriculture (see IPMP 27(5/6):1-11; IPMP 28(3/4):1- 12). They biodegrade quickly and often have multiple modes of action that make pest resistance less likely (Quarles 2006; Schmitt and Seddon 2005). Starting about 20 years ago, research activity focused on the giant knotweed, Polygonum sachali- nense. This is a wildly successful plant that produces many defensive chemicals. These help protect it against insects, diseases, and even other plants. Knotweed defensive chemicals also can have profound effects on other plants and animals, causing beneficial changes in Giant knotweed, Polygonum sachalinense, contains many biologically metabolism. Extracts from the giant active molecules. Extracts applied to plants can protect them against dis- knotweed, for instance, can protect ease. Giant knotweed pharmaceuticals can extend the lifetime of animals. plants against pathogens that cause powdery mildew, gray mold, and many other diseases. Substantial lower blood cholesterol, protect Biology of Giant Knotweed against diabetes, and improve car- yield increases are often seen Giant knotweed is called Poly- because the treated plants remain diovascular health. Though giant gonum sachalinense by American free of disease, and their lifetime is knotweed may not be the key to botanists (Zika and Jacobson extended. Knotweed extracts have immortality, one of the extract com- 2003). Europeans prefer Reynoutria low toxicity to mammals and pro- ponents, resveratrol, has extended or Fallopia sachalinensis. Giant vide protection by boosting the average lifetimes of mice, yeast, immune system of the plant nematodes, and fish up to 58%. (Pommer et al. 1989; Herger and Resveratrol is a plant phytoalexin In This Issue Klingauf 1990; Quarles 2002; (see below) that also occurs in Schmitt and Seddon 2005; grape skins, and may be responsi- Vrchotova and Sera 2008). GiantKnotweed 1 ble for the “French paradox” that Animal tests have also shown IPM News 7 that extracts and pharmaceuticals moderate wine consumption has isolated from giant knotweed or its beneficial effects on health PheromoneReport 9 (Wikipedia 2009; Higdon et al. relative, Japanese knotweed, Calendar 13 Polygonum cuspidatum, protect 2009; Howitz et al. 2003; Wood et against cancer, are antiflammatory, al. 2004) (see Box A). 2 Update knotweed and its close relative, BASF screened hundreds of plants The IPM Practitioner is published six times Japanese knotweed, P. cuspidatum for efficacy, but an extract of giant per year by the Bio-Integral Resource (also called Reynoutria or Fallopia knotweed gave the best results. Center (BIRC), a non-profit corporation undertaking research and education in inte- japonica) are natives of Japan. They “Highly effective disease control was grated pest management. were introduced into Europe as ani- achieved against powdery mildew in Managing Editor William Quarles mal fodder, and were imported into cucumber, tomato, pepper, apple, Contributing Editors Sheila Daar the U.S. in the 1800s as garden begonia, and cereals.” Gray mold Tanya Drlik ornamentals. These knotweeds can caused by Botrytis sp. was con- Laurie Swiadon become invasive along river banks, trolled in begonia, cucumbers, Editor-at-Large Joel Grossman roadsides, railroads, in wet mead- ornamentals, pepper and tomato. Business Manager Jennifer Bates ows, vacant lots and disturbed Extracts had moderate efficacy on Artist Diane Kuhn areas. They are noxious weeds in bean and carnation rust. The several states. Where both occur ethanolic extract was commercial- For media kits or other advertising informa- together, a hybrid, P. bohemicum or ized under the brandname tion, contact Bill Quarles at 510/524-2567, [email protected]. Reynoutria bohemica is formed Milsana® (Schmitt and Seddon (Zika and Jacobson 2003). 2005). Advisory Board A similar formulation called George Bird, Michigan State Univ.; Sterling Giant knotweed is a member of Bunnell, M.D., Berkeley, CA ; Momei Chen, the buckwheat family and is an Regalia® has now been registered in Jepson Herbarium, Univ. Calif., Berkeley; herbaceous perennial that can grow the U.S. by Marrone Bio Inno- Sharon Collman, Coop Extn., Wash. State more than twelve feet (3.7 m) tall. vations (see Resources). Regalia Univ.; Sheila Daar, Daar & Associates, Berkeley, CA; Walter Ebeling, UCLA, Emer.; Erect hollow stems give it the meets the standards of the National Steve Frantz, Global Environmental Options, appearance of bamboo. It can grow Organic Program and can be used Longmeadow, MA; Linda Gilkeson, Canadian more than four inches (10 cm) a in organic production. Regalia sup- Ministry of Envir., Victoria, BC; Joseph presses a number of pathogens, Hancock, Univ. Calif, Berkeley; Helga day. It has large, heart-shaped Olkowski, William Olkowski, Birc Founders; leaves, and numerous small green- including those that cause bacterial George Poinar, Oregon State University, ish-white flowers. It reproduces spot and speck, powdery mildew, Corvallis, OR; Ramesh Chandra Saxena, gray mold, late blight, and early ICIPE, Nairobi, Kenya; Ruth Troetschler, PTF mainly by sprouting from rhizomes Press, Los Altos, CA; J.C. van Lenteren, and cloning from vegetative parts blight. It is registered for use on Agricultural University Wageningen, The (Rhoads and Block 2002; USDA tomatoes, peppers, grapes, cucur- Netherlands. 2006; Zika and Jacobson 2003). bits, strawberries, walnuts, and cit- Manuscripts The holy grail of ecological pest rus (Marrone 2009). The IPMP welcomes accounts of IPM for any pest situation. Write for details on format for management is turning a pest into manuscripts or email us, [email protected]. a beneficial. In the case of giant Field Tests of Milsana Citations knotweed, organic farmers and gar- Much of the early published work The material here is protected by copyright, deners can harvest wild plants and used the commercial formulation and may not be reproduced in any form, easily produce aqueous extracts to either written, electronic or otherwise without Milsana. Similar results should be written permission from BIRC. Contact protect crops. Most producers, how- expected from the registered U.S. William Quarles at 510/524-2567 for proper ever, will probably buy commercial- product Regalia. Milsana was publication credits and acknowledgement. ly available extracts that have been extremely effective for powdery Subscriptions/Memberships registered with the EPA (see mildew of cucumbers, especially for A subscription to the IPMP is one of the bene- Resources). greenhouse crops grown under high fits of membership in BIRC. We also answer pest management questions for our members disease pressure. Efficacy reached and help them search for information. Plant Disease Protection 90% and was comparable to chemi- Memberships are $60/yr (institutions/ libraries/businesses); $35/yr (individuals). Powdery mildew and a number of cal fungicides. The number of Canadian subscribers add $15 postage. All other common diseases cause bil- cucumbers per plant showed other foreign subscribers add $25 airmail increases of 18-49%, and weight of postage. A Dual membership, which includes lions of dollars of damage to crops a combined subscription to both the IPMP every year. Chemical fungicides are each cucumber increased by an and the Common Sense Pest Control often applied, but diseases are average 30% (Konstantinidou and Quarterly, costs $85/yr (institutions); $55/yr Schmitt 1998). In Germany and (individuals). Government purchase orders becoming resistant. Synthetic accepted. Donations to BIRC are tax- chemical fungicides can cause envi- Greece, efficacy was 86-98%, and deductible. yield increases were 22-25%. Yield FEI# 94-2554036. ronmental problems, and these fungicides are not allowed on crops increases in the Netherlands were Change of Address raised by organic production meth- 30% (Dik and van der Staay 1995; When writing to request a change of address, Schmitt and Sedon 2005). please send a copy of a recent address label. ods (Schmitt and Seddon 2005; © 2009 BIRC, PO Box 7414, Berkeley, CA Petsikos et al. 1992) 94707; (510) 524-2567; FAX (510) 524-1758. Plant protectants based on giant Tomatoes All rights reserved. ISSN #0738-968X knotweed were developed in A number of induced resistance Europe, and many of the early treatments including Serenade®, experiments were conducted there. Elexa®, Messenger®, Milsana® and IPM Practitioner, XXXI(3/4) March/April 2009 2 Box 7414, Berkeley, CA 94707 3 Update others were tested for effectiveness Podosphaera xanthii (Heibert- The hydrolytic enzymes attack against powdery mildew of tomato shausen et al. 2004). chitin in the cell walls of fungi. The caused by Leveillula taurica. The Regalia label suggests protec- oxidative enzymes protect plant Milsana was the most effective for- tion against powdery mildew, gray cells through increased lignification, mulation tested (Laethauwer et al. mold, and rust on ornamentals forming barriers against pathogen 2006). In another test, efficacy of such as begonias, lisianthus, penetration. The antimicrobial 42-64% was seen for powdery salvias, crape myrtle, petunias, hydrogen peroxide also accumu- mildew of tomato. Milsana directly snapdragons, freesias, poinsettias,