Eight decades of invasion by Chromolaena odorata and its biological control in West Africa: the story so far

Mike Day and colleagues have published “Eight decades of invasion by Chromolaena odorata and its biological control in West Africa: the story so far” in Biocontrol Science and Technology. Their paper used historical records and field surveys to examine the invasion history, spread, impacts and management of chromolaena in West Africa and to make recommendations for its sustainable management. Chromolaena or Siam weed is a perennial weedy shrub of tropical American origin and a serious biotic threat in its invasive range. It is now across 12 countries of West Africa after its introduction into Nigeria in the late 1930s and locals have found several uses for it. Three biological control agents were released in West Africa between the 1970s and the early 2000s. Two of these established and contribute to the control of the weed in six countries. Limited research funding, the absence of post-release evaluations of the established agents and the ‘conflict of interest’ status of chromolaena (i.e. being beneficial for local use but damaging to ecosystem services and agriculture) are serious factors deterring the overall biological control effort.

Aigbedion-Atalor, P.O., Adom, M., Day, M.D., Uyi, O., Egbon, I.N., Idemudia, I., Igbinosa, I.B., Paterson, I.D., Braimah, H., Wilson, D.D. and Zachariades, C. 2019. Eight decades of invasion by Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae) and its biological control in West Africa: the story so far. Biocontrol Science and Technology 29(12): 1215-1233.