College student develops innovative solution to fight major invasive species wreaking havoc on the Midwest:

[Judi Lynn]

'There are few miracle fixes in the world'

Susan Elizabeth Turek
August 4, 2024·3 min read

Michigan Tech student Abe Stone's concoction may start out as odd-looking gelatinous blobs, but those orbs may hold the key to fighting an invasive species wreaking havoc in the Midwest.

In March, the university's research blog detailed how Stone is using the lab-nicknamed "SuperPurp" — a nod to the animated show Adventure Time — to battle two species of buckthorn trees that are throwing native ecosystems out of balance.

The undergraduate student, who is studying ecology and evolutionary biology, developed the sprayable "mushroom soup" after discovering a more efficient way to propagate chondrostereum purpureum — the fungus that causes silverleaf disease in trees.

His method results in the orb-like growth that is easier to turn into a chemical-free alternative to control buckthorn. Ultimately, Stone hopes that his research will become a proven method of removing the invasive trees without contaminating nearby species with toxins.

More:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/college-student-develops-innovative-solution-000000016.html

[msongs]

1. watch out for unintended cconsequences nt

[Hermit-The-Prog]

3. From the article...

"Typically, it causes an infection that slowly affects the tree, causing a silvering color on the leaves, eventual death of some branches and often the entire tree," Stone said in the blog. "It is very much a part of the forest ecosystem and has been around for thousands of years. In its natural state, it only infects trees with significant wounds and wouldn't wipe out an entire forest."

[Figarosmom]

2. Darn

I was hoping it was something for creeping Charlie

[hatrack]

5. Saw "Midwest" and hoped it would be about Amur honeysuckle . . .

Alas, no. Back to the loppers and Tordon.

[evemac]

4. Mesquite Trees

We need something like this to eradicate invasive mesquite. Ranchers use diesel and herbicides to kill these trees. Mesquite trees impact the water table, and the only way to get rid of them presently without using poison is to grub them out with a bulldozer.