Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is regarded as invasive within urban and natural areas worldwide. Efficient methods to control it are significantly needed if we are to limit its well-known environmental and economic impacts. Up to now the use of herbicides has proven necessary since following mechanical damage, Ailanthus vigorously resprouts. However, the seasonal response of Ailanthus stems, treated with herbicides, has never been assessed. We compared the control efficacy recorded in autumn, winter and summer in an abandoned suburban citrus grove in Sicily, under Mediterranean-climate conditions. Glyphosate was injected within drill holes made in knee-high cut trees. Tree mortality and the resprouting ability of treated stems were significantly affected by the application timing and by diameter class of stems. Mortality was significantly lower in winter treatments within the smaller diameter class. Within the larger diameter class, only autumn treatments showed a notably higher mortality rate and a significantly lower growth of sprouts. Hence, autumn interventions are strongly recommended to effectively treat Ailanthus. Mortality was notably higher in the smaller diameter class. Our results confirm the importance of early intervention to control Ailanthus, also showing that the choice of the season is crucial to obtaining satisfactory control of its resprouting ability.

Badalamenti, E., Barone, E., La Mantia, T. (2015). Seasonal effects on mortality rates and resprouting of stems treated with glyphosate in the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle). ARBORICULTURAL JOURNAL, 37(3), 180-195 [10.1080/03071375.2015.1112163].

Seasonal effects on mortality rates and resprouting of stems treated with glyphosate in the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle)

BADALAMENTI, Emilio;BARONE, Ettore;LA MANTIA, Tommaso
2015-01-01

Abstract

Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is regarded as invasive within urban and natural areas worldwide. Efficient methods to control it are significantly needed if we are to limit its well-known environmental and economic impacts. Up to now the use of herbicides has proven necessary since following mechanical damage, Ailanthus vigorously resprouts. However, the seasonal response of Ailanthus stems, treated with herbicides, has never been assessed. We compared the control efficacy recorded in autumn, winter and summer in an abandoned suburban citrus grove in Sicily, under Mediterranean-climate conditions. Glyphosate was injected within drill holes made in knee-high cut trees. Tree mortality and the resprouting ability of treated stems were significantly affected by the application timing and by diameter class of stems. Mortality was significantly lower in winter treatments within the smaller diameter class. Within the larger diameter class, only autumn treatments showed a notably higher mortality rate and a significantly lower growth of sprouts. Hence, autumn interventions are strongly recommended to effectively treat Ailanthus. Mortality was notably higher in the smaller diameter class. Our results confirm the importance of early intervention to control Ailanthus, also showing that the choice of the season is crucial to obtaining satisfactory control of its resprouting ability.
2015
Badalamenti, E., Barone, E., La Mantia, T. (2015). Seasonal effects on mortality rates and resprouting of stems treated with glyphosate in the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle). ARBORICULTURAL JOURNAL, 37(3), 180-195 [10.1080/03071375.2015.1112163].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Seasonal effects glyphosate Ailanthus control (2015).pdf

accesso aperto

Dimensione 507.6 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
507.6 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10447/178118
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 13
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact