In: NeoBiota, 2020, vol. 55, p. 117–146
One of the biggest challenges in classical biological control of invasive weeds is predicting the likelihood of success. Ambrosia artemisiifolia, a North American plant species that has become invasive in Europe, causes economic losses due to health problems resulting from its huge amount of highly allergenic pollen and as a weed to agricultural crops resulting from high seed densities. Here...
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In: Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2019, vol. 157, p. 232–238
Maps of cropping practice, including the level of weed infestation, are useful planning tools e.g. for the assessment of the environmental impact of the crops, and Northern Italy is an important example due to the large and diverse agricultural production and the high weed infestation. Sentinel-2A is a new satellite with a high spatial and temporal resolution which potentially allows the...
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In: Basic and Applied Ecology, 2018, vol. 33, p. 1–13
Both weed science and plant invasion science deal with noxious plants. Yet, they have historically developed as two distinct research areas in Europe, with different target species, approaches and management aims, as well as with diverging institutions and researchers involved. We argue that the strengths of these two disciplines can be highly complementary in implementing management...
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In: NeoBiota, 2018, vol. 39, p. 53–78
Roadsides are an important habitat for invasive common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., by facilitating seed dispersal. Reducing the size of roadside populations is therefore essential for confining this highly allergenic species. Here, we aim to determine the cost-effectiveness of mowing regimes varying in frequency and timing, by analysing population-level effects and underlying...
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In: Biological Invasions, 2017, p. 1–17
To better manage invasive populations, it is vital to understand the environmental drivers underlying spatial variation in demographic performance of invasive individuals and populations. The invasive common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, has severe adverse effects on agriculture and human health, due to its vast production of seeds and allergenic pollen. Here, we identify the scale and...
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In: Journal of Pesticide Science, 2018, vol. 43, no. 1, p. 36-40
Experimentally applying pesticides is an important method to assess the efficacy of weed biocontrol agents, but potential direct effects of the chemicals on plant performance are controversial or unknown. We assessed how three broad-spectrum insecticides applied in combination affect the performance of the widely invasive, crop-yield reducing, allergenic common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia...
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In: Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 2017, vol. 151, no. 6, p. 1094–1100
Ragweed allergy is one of the primary causes of seasonal allergies in Europe and its prevalence is expected to rise. The leaf beetle Ophraella communa, recently and accidentally established in N-Italy and S-Switzerland, represents a promising approach to control ragweed, but negative side effects should be excluded before its use. Since biotic and abiotic stresses are known to influence the...
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In: Ecosphere, 2017, vol. 8, no. 4, p. -
Biological control using natural antagonists has been a most successful management tool against alien invasive plants that threaten biodiversity. The selection of candidate agents remains a critical step in a biocontrol program before more elaborate and time- consuming experiments are conducted. Here, we propose a biogeographic approach to identify candidates and combinations of candidates to...
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In: Aerobiologia, 2016, vol. 32, no. 2, p. 371–374
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In: Aerobiologia, 2015, vol. 31, no. 4, p. 499–513
This study aims to determine whether a significant decrease in airborne concentrations of Ambrosia pollen witnessed in the north-west of the Province of Milan in Northern Italy could be explained by environmental factors such as meteorology, or whether there is evidence to support the hypothesis that the decrease was related to the presence of large numbers of the oligophagous Ophraella communa...
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