apsley rebbeck mipn - bugwoodcloud conference/t… · and mark schall have done extensive research...

Biology & Control of Ailanthus

Eric BoydaAppalachian Ohio Weed Partnership

Joanne RebbeckUSFS Northern Research Station

Dave ApsleyOhio State University Extension

Ailanthus altissima Tree-of-Heaven

ODNR

Why care about Ailanthus?

USDA Plants Database

• Urban sites• Transportation corridors• Parks, woodlands & forests • River and stream banks• Strip mines and gravel pits

Thrives in Diversity of Habitats

• Grows rapidly 3-16 ft/yr (1-5 m) • Heavy seed producer (300,000 seeds/year)• Seeds persist throughout winter• Wind and water dispersed seeds• Prolific sprouter (shoots and root segments)• Ability to form dense thickets• Out-competes native species• Allelopathic (inhibits seed germination of

other species)

WHY IS AILANTHUS A PROBLEM?

AILANTHUS ID

• Large compound leaf (~2 ft long)• Native look-alikes: sumac & walnut (toothed

edges) • Phenology – late to emerge in spring• Very odoriferous

Spring Summer

BARK

• Fairly smooth light gray

• Checkered appearance

• Large trees - ridges and furrows

FEMALE MALE

FLOWERS ON DIOECIOUS TREES

Klips OSU 2008

ODNR

PROLIFIC & PERSISTENT SEEDER

USDA Plants Database

Seed-bearing female trees during dormant season

Photo credit:Tom Shuman 2011

SEED DISPERSAL

Kowarik & Saumel (2007) Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 8:207-237

SEEDLING ID

Cotyledons

GERMINATION AND EARLY GROWTH

• High viability • Seed bank longevity?• Stratification not needed• Tolerant of flooding• High light requirement• Herbaceous competition

ODNR

PROLIFIC SHOOT AND ROOT SPROUTER

Potential Sprout Sources

Root collar

Roots

Stem fragments

Axils of new shoots

Cut surface/stump

Kowarik & Saumel (2007)

Can quickly invade and establish within forest gaps

• Clonal stems can grow 100 ft from parent tree

• Dense thickets exclude other species

• Roots – shallow but extensive. Can hold water for extended periods of drought

• Clones attached to parent trees can persist in low light conditions for 20 years

AILANTHUS IN FOREST GAPS

Management of Ailanthus

• Prevention

• Early Detection & Rapid Response

• Control of Existing Populations

Prevention• Eliminate or reduce nearby seed sources

especially prior to planned disturbances

• Inspect and know the source of materials transported on site• Seed• Soil• Mulch

• Gravel

• Clean equipment

• Revegetate following disturbance

Example from Washington StateUSDOT-Federal Highway AdministrationAre We Winning or Losing the War on Weeds? Mary Ann Rondinella and Bonnie L. Harper-Lore

Consider Developing BMPs

Early Detection & Rapid Response

• Next best thing to prevention

• Some species will be introduced no matter how hard we try

• Key to economical control of invasive species

• Why?

Invade

r  abun

dance

Time

Carrying capacity

Quarantine priority stage

Control priority stage

High input control required for effective treatment

Eradication priority stage

(Hobbs and Humphries 1995)

IntroductionDetection

Public awareness

Early Detection & Rapid Response

• Scout and monitor frequently

• Especially after recent canopy and soil disturbance

• Inspect ROWs frequently

• Treat immediatelyIf not sooner!

Control of Existing Ailanthus Populations

• Mechanical

• Chemical

• Biological

Trees, >4” dbh

Post-treatment Mortality of Ailanthus 3 yrs post-herbicide, 2 yrs post-fire

Live

Dead

Dead w/sprouts

Live w/sprouts

Large Saplings, 1-4” dbh

N=49 N=182 N=84 N=155

N=75 N=62 N=69 N=85

•Foliar

•Basal Bark

•Hack and SquirtBreak and Spray smaller dbh

•Cut Stump

Chemical Treatment Options

• Limited to small seedlings and sprouts

• Non-target damages can be a problem

• Narrower window for treatment• Leaf-on

Foliar Treatment Method

• Glyphosate (e.g. Accord &Roundup)

• Triclopyr(e.g. Garlon 3A &

Garlon 4 Ultra)Diluted with water.Do not use basal spray mixtures and rates for foliar!

Some Foliar Treatment Options

• Employs oil carrier • Kerosene, Diesel,

etc.• Methylated Seed Oil

(e.g. ArborchemBasal Oil, AX-ITTM)

• Low Volume Method • Spray to wet• Not to runoff

• Applied to lower portion of trunk 12 to 18 inches

Basal Bark Treatment Method

• Works best on trees up to about 6-8 inches d.b.h.

• Non-target damages (overspray) can be a problem with small diameter stems

• Wider treatment window

Basal Bark Treatment Method

• Triclopyr(e.g Garlon 4 Ultra)Pay attention to per acre maximums 6 qt. A/year

• Imazapyr

(e.g. Stalker/Chopper)Non-target damage

Walnuts particularly susceptible

Basal Bark Treatment Method

Primary basal bark treatment for Ailanthus control on

Ohio Woodlands Job Corps projects

Mix of:

AX-IT Low Volume Basal Oil

20% Garlon 4 Ultra - (triclopyr)

3% Stalker - (imazapyr)

Blue Dye

AGS 203

Pre-mixed herbicide

Eliminates mixing and filling in the field

Ensures correct herbicide concentration

Birchmeier Closed System

• Typically use hatchet and spray bottle

• One hack per inch in diameter on most labels

• Typically used for larger trees

Hack and Squirt Treatment Method

Some water soluble herbicides

• Imazapyr(e.g. Arsenal AC or Polaris)Effective consistent results

• Picloram(e.g. Tordon RTU or Pathway)Somewhat effectiveInconsistent results

• Triclopyr(e.g. Garlon 3A)EffectiveConcern: label DANGER eyes

• Glyphosate Not recommended; sprouting

Hack and Squirt Treatment Method

• Usually not recommendedSprouting is amplified!

• Basal oil or water basedoptions

• Water-based herbicides need to be appliedimmediately after cutting

Cut Stump Herbicide Treatments

Some Final Thoughts onHerbicide Treatments

• Be systematic when treating large areas to minimize missed trees (paint, flag or blaze)

• Mentholated Seed Oil vs. petroleum based carriers

•The label is the law

• Pay particular attention to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Per acre maximum rates

• Application concentrations and rates

• Roundup vs. glyphosate

•Late summer treatments are usually most effective at reducing sprouting

•Count on retreating & consider yourself lucky if it is not needed

•For Ailanthus early fall treatments followed by spring evaluation and retreatment's seem to work best

•If a gadget advertised to control invasives seems too good to be true……

• Ailanthus wilt found in PA in 2002

• Don Davis & Mark Schall, Penn State

• Verticillium nonalfalfae• soil-borne fungal pathogen

• High specificity to Ailanthus & native

• FOUND IN OHIO IN 2012

POTENTIAL BIOHERBICIDE: AILANTHUS WILT

VERTICILLIUM WILT CAUSED BY VERTICILLIUM NONALFALFAEWAS DETECTED ON AILANTHUS ALTISSIMA IN PENNSYLVANIA IN 2002. IT IS CAUSED BY A SOIL‐FUNGUS THAT INFECTS  THE VASCULAR TISSUES OF  AILANTHUS TREES.  INFECTED TREES DIE RAPIDLY, TYPICALLY WITHIN A GROWING SEASON.  DONALD DAVIS AND MARK SCHALL HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH DEMONSTRATING ITS SPECIFICITY AND VIRULENCE TO AILANTHUS.  IT SHOWS PROMISE AS A POTENTIAL 

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT OF AILANTHUS. HOWEVER, BEFORE IT CAN BE TESTED FOR BIOCONTROL USE IN OHIO, IT MUST FIRST BE FOUND IN OHIO.   PHOTOS COURTESY OF DR. DONALD DAVIS, THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY.

IF YOU SEE THESE SYMPTOMS, CONTACT: JOANNE REBBECK, USFS, NORTHERN RESEARCH STATION, DELAWARE, OH AT JREBBECK@FS.FED.US  OR 740‐368‐0054

Wilting AilanthusHealthy Ailanthus

Wilting

Initial Severe

Vascular Discoloration

Ailanthus Verticillium Wilt Photoguide – Help Find It in Ohio

Development of alternative methods of controlAilanthus wilt, Verticillium nonalfalfae

• Testing common woody species for susceptibility

• Initiate inoculation field trials of Ailanthus in 2014

• Monitor progression of natural spread of wilt

• Study “aftermath” regeneration within inoculated stands

Eric BoydaAppalachian Ohio Weed Partnership

appalachianohioweeds@gmail.com

Joanne RebbeckUSFS Northern Research Station

rebbeck@fs.fed.us

Dave ApsleyOhio State University Extension

apsley.1@osu.edu