Managing invasions of Chromolaena odorata and other Eupatorieae: a retrospective on biological control efforts

Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae: Eupatorieae) is a perennial pioneering shrub that is native to the Americas (from southern USA to northern Argentina, including the Caribbean islands), but is now widespread in parts of Africa, Asia and Oceania, where it impacts negatively on agriculture, conservation of biodiversity, eco-tourism and livelihoods. Other members of the Eupatorieae tribe that are invasive in parts of Africa, Asia and Oceania include Mikania micrantha, Campuloclinium macrocephalum, Ageratina adenophora, Ageratina riparia, Austroeupatorium inulifolium, Ageratum conyzoides and Praxelis clematidea. Because the damage caused by many of these invasive Eupatorieae is too economically and ecologically significant to ignore, several countries have developed weed management strategies, with successful biological control as the panacea for the sustainable management of these invasive weeds. Biological control efforts make use of specialist insects and pathogens in the invasive range of these weeds. Since C. odorata (and some of the other species) is largely invasive in developing countries, the IOBC Biological Control and Management of Eupatorieae Weeds working group was formed to pool resources and disseminate information.

This Research Topic assembles both original and review papers covering various aspects of the biological control of C. odorata and other invasive Eupatorieae, including but not limited to pre-release studies, post-release evaluations, as well as the biology and ecology of biocontrol agents. Papers providing insights into the problems of C. odorata and other invasive Eupatorieae species are also welcome, providing that they are clearly linked to the biological control of C. odorata and/or other invasive Eupatorieae species.

Key areas of this collection are (but not limited to):
• 'Classical' biological control of C. odorata and other invasive Eupatorieae species
• Biology, physiology and behaviour of biocontrol agents and their interaction with hosts, thermal biology of the agent, climatic suitability modelling for both weed and agent.
• Weed and biocontrol agent population dynamics, and simulation modelling
• Mass-rearing methods (including quality control), distribution and release methods for biological control agents
• Host-range testing, both in the laboratory (quarantine in the introduced range) and the field (native range)
• Studies on the impact of the biocontrol agent on its host plant – both in the laboratory and in the field (field could be within native or introduced range). Within the introduced range, impact studies could also focus on knock-on effects on biodiversity, agriculture, etc.
• The role of biocontrol methods in integrated weed management
• Conservation and enhancement of biocontrol agent populations
• Effects of pesticides on biocontrol agents of C. odorata and other invasive Eupatorieae weeds
• Environmental impact studies (e.g. indirect effects such as increased parasitoid populations) on weed biological control agents
• The invasiveness of C. odorata and other invasive Eupatorieae species
• Biocontrol legislation and policy formulation and implementation towards the sustainable control of C. odorata and other invasive Eupatorieae species

This Research Topic explores past and current research on the invasiveness and management of C. odorata and other invasive Eupatorieae species, highlighting advances and collaboration opportunities across the invasive range of these weed species.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Chromolaena odorata, Invasion Biology, Biological control, Sustainable management

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.