Feasibility of Using Mycoherbicides for Controlling Illicit Drug Crops
Committee on Mycoherbicides for Eradicating Illicit Drug Crops; Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources; National Research Council
NAS Press | 2011 | ISBN: 0309221714 9780309221719 | 187 pages | PDF | 2 MB
This report is about the potential use of the proposed mycoherbicides: their effectiveness in eradicating their target plants; the feasibility of their large-scale industrial manufacture and delivery; their potential spread and persistence in the environment; their pathogenicity and toxicity to nontarget organisms, including other plants, fungi, animals, and humans; their potential for mutation and resulting effects on target plants and nontarget organisms; and research and development needs.
The report concludes that the available data are insufficient to determine the effectiveness of the specific fungi proposed as mycoherbicides to combat illicit-drug crops or to determine their potential effects on nontarget plants, microorganisms, animals, humans, or the environment.
Mycoherbicides, which are developed from plant pathogenic fungi that infect specific host plants, have been proposed as a targeted means of preventing or reducing the cultivation of illicit drug crops. This study focused on mycoherbicides intended to target illicit plantings of cannabis, coca, and opium poppy.
Key Findings
• The degree of control that might be provided by the proposed mycoherbicides and the mechanisms by which they cause disease have not been established.
• Large-scale production of the proposed mycoherbicides appears to be possible, but rough estimates suggest that producing the amount of mycoherbicides required for global control efforts may not be feasible due to cost or technical limitations.
• It is likely that the mycoherbicide strains would persist at some level once introduced into the environment, but no data are available on whether they could persist indefinitely at densities that provide continuous control.
• There are insufficient data to draw conclusions about whether the proposed mycoherbicides would pose a risk to nontarget plants, other microorganisms, animals, or humans.
• Additional research is needed to assess the efficacy and safety of the proposed strains of mycoherbicides.
• Some impediments to the development and use of mycoherbicides include the need for international approval and cooperation, and the development of countermeasures.
Contents
SUMMARY
1 INTRODUCTION
Fungal Terminology
Statement of Task
Committee’s Interpretation of its Task
Committee’s Approach
Organization of the Report
2 BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF UNDESIRABLE PLANTS
Background
Key Attributes of Effective Mycoherbicides in Use
Challenges to and Constraints in the Development and Large-Scale Use of Mycoherbicides
Pesticide Regulation in the United States
Considerations for International Testing and Use of Mycoherbicides
Risk to Nontarget Plants and Organisms
3 TARGET ILLICIT CROPS
Cannabis: Cannabis Sativa
Coca: Erythroxylum Species
Opium Poppy: Papaver Somniferum
4 FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM FORMAE SPECIALES AS CANDIDATE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS FOR CANNABIS AND COCA.
Background on the Specific Fungi
Efficacy and Implementation
Inoculum Production and Delivery
Persistence in the Environment
Effects on Nontarget Organisms
Mutation
What We Can Learn From A Natural Epidemic of fusarium oxysporum f.sp. erythroxyli Wilt of Coca in Peru
5 CRIVELLIA PAPAVERACEA AND BRACHYCLADIUM PAPAVERIS AS CANDIDATE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS AGAINST OPIUM POPPY.
Efficacy and Implementation
Inoculum Production and Delivery
Persistence in the Environment
Effects on Nontarget Organisms
Mutation
A Presumptive Disease Epidemic in Opium Poppy in Afghanistan
6 ANSWERS TO CHARGE QUESTIONS
Effectiveness
Feasibility of Large-Scale Manufacture and Delivery
Persistence in the Environment
Toxicity to Nontarget Organisms
Potential for Mutation and Resulting Toxicity to Target and Nontarget Organisms
Research and Development Needs
REFERENCES.
APPENDIXES
A BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON THE COMMITTEE ON MYCOHERBICIDES FOR ERADICATING ILLICIT DRUG CROPS
B EPA REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES UNDER 40 CFR 158, SUBPART V
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