Wednesday, November 7, 2007 - 4:00 PM
244-10

Evaluation of Native and Non-Native Plant Species for the Control of Cogongrass.

Lissa Reid and Oghenekome Onokpise. Florida A&M Univ., Florida A&M University, Room 303S Perry-Paige, Tallahassee, FL 32307

Cogongrass is one of the most invasive species in Florida and other Gulf Coast States. Cogongrass pose a major problem on forested lands, natural habitats, rights-of-way interstate highways. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of cogongrass when grown in extracts of muhly grass. Genets and ramets of cogongrass were transplanted into magenta vessels containing 10% solution of root and shoot extracts of muhly grass, and placing magenta vessels in a growth chamber maintained at 28oC, at a 16/8hour photoperiod and a relative humidity of 55 %. The genets and ramets of cogongrass were evaluated for shoot and root growth, as well as rhizome extension at 7 days interval after transplanting. Preliminary results show that the extracts of muhly grass reduced shoot growth and rhizome extension of cogongrass. The muhly grass shoot extracts were the most effective in reducing the performance of cogongrass compared to muhly grass root extracts. Root: shoot ratios of cogongrass also decreased by 50-70%. Thus, muhly grass extracts may contain some allelochemicals that could impact the invasiveness of cogongrass.

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