Tuesday, 8 November 2005
4

Performance of Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia Capillaries) for the Biological Control of Cogongrass (Imperata Cylindrica L).

Lissa D. Reid1, Ogenekome Onokpise1, Hamilton Dueberry1, and L. Norcini2. (1) Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, 303 S Perry Paige, Tallahassee, FL 32307, (2) North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Quincy, FL 32351

Cogongrass remains one of the most serious invasive species in Florida and other Gulf Coast states. It constitutes a major problem on forested lands, natural habitats, rights –of- way interstate highways and phosphate mind lads. The loss of these ecosystems to invasive cogongrass in Florida alone is estimated at 20 million dollars. Utilizing muhly grass to manage the spread of cogongrass provide a strategy for the biological control of invasive species by native species by native plants species that are beneficial to the ecosystems of Florida Gulf Coast states. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of muhly grass when grown with cogongrass in potted plants experiments. Genets and ramets of cogongrass and muhly grass were transplanted to pots arranged in a randomized complete block experiment in three replication. Plants were evaluated for shoot and root dry weight as well as total biomass at 6, 10 and 14 weeks after transplanting (WATP) respectively. Results are inconclusive as to the impact of muhly grass on the growth and performance of cogongrass grass. This paper also reports on the root: root interaction between muhly grass and cogongrass.

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