Submitted to: Journal of Aquatic Plant Management Publication
Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: March
22, 2012 Publication Date: N/A Interpretive Summary:
Waterhyacinth is a non-native floating aquatic plant that was
introduced to the U.S. from South America over 100 years ago for
its pretty flowers and odd, bulb-like leaves, but it is now one
of the most widespread and damaging aquatic weeds in the
southern U.S., invading over 50 lakes in Texas alone. Along the
Rio Grande in deep south Texas and other warm areas, floating
mats of waterhyacinth can block river flows and water intake
pumps that supply cities and farms. The USDA-ARS released two
weevils from the plant’s native territory into North America to
control waterhyacinth biologically in the 1970s, and several
fungi native to the U.S infect waterhyacinth leaves and make
black spots. However, chemical herbicides are still often needed
to control waterhyacinth. This study examined the ability of the
herbicide known as penoxsulam to