Introduction

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is one of the most widespread invasive plants in the western U.S. Because cheatgrass can form large infestations of hundreds to thousands of acres, often in remote and inaccessible locations, biological control is an attractive option. Various strains of the soil bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens (e.g. D7, ACK55, MB906) were proposed as bioherbicides because they were shown to inhibit cheatgrass growth in Petri-plate and growth chamber environments as well as some wheat fields in eastern Washington. The bioherbicide was to be applied during cold, wet weather in fall or winter, and it would colonize cheatgrass roots resulting in decreased seedling vigor, tillers, and seeds. Over two to three years, desired vegetation would outcompete cheatgrass. Replicated field trials testing efficacy of P. fluorescens bioherbicides were limited until now. The results of one such field trial are presented here.    

Methods

In November-December 2014, P. fluorescens ACK55 was applied at 7 sites (6 in Montana, 1 in WY) to rangeland infested with cheatgrass or a combination of cheatgrass and Japanese brome (B. japonicus). Application methods followed guidelines for using P. flourescens as a bioherbicide. Plots were 5 by 5-meters, and each plot was paired with a non-treated control of the same size. Treatments were replicated 4 (2 sites) or 8 (5 sites) times. For four years following application (2015-2018), cover of cheatgrass and Japanese brome was recorded at each site.

Results

There was no evidence that P. fluorescens ACK55 reduced cheatgrass at the 7 sites. At one of the sites in eastern Montana, treated plots had less cheatgrass than the non-treated control the first (2015) and second (2016) year after treatment, however the effect did not persist in 2017 and 2018, suggesting observed differences in 2015 and 2016 were short-term or due to pre-treatment differences between plots. Read the entire paper at Reinhart et al. (2020).

Graph Summary

Cheatgrass cover in treated versus non-treated control from 2015 to 2018. Line for treated plots follows line for non-treated plot, showing that cheatgrass cover was similar in both treatments over the course of the study.

Seven paneled line graph, with one panel for each site, text explanation provided in the graph summary.

Cheatgrass cover (%) across 7 sites (A-D in western or southwestern MT; E-F in eastern MT; G in northeastern WY) in plots treated with Pseudomonas fluorescens ACK55 (shaded circles) or left non-treated (open circles). From 2015 through 2018, there was no difference between treated and non-treated except for one site (panel E) in 2015 and 2016.

 

Results from additional studies

Results from 4 additional field trials are now available in Rangeland Ecology and Management. In summary, those trials tested different strains of P. fluorescens at different application rates and methods and with/without herbicide. Study sites occurred in Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming. None of the studies found P. fluorescens to reduce cheatgrass abundance. Collectively, these studies suggest P. fluorescens is unlikely to be an effective bioherbicide for cheatgrass, at least as it is currently available.

Further Information

For more information on this month's Weed Post, contact Extension Invasive Plants specialist Jane Mangold.  Past posts are available in the Monthly Weed Post directory.

The Printable PDF (518KB) version of this post includes a crossword puzzle.

 

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