Preliminary studies on Ramularia crupinae sp nov as a potential biologicalcontrol agent for common crupina (Crupina vulgaris) in the USA

Common crupina, Crupina vulgaris (Asteraceae), is an alien weed of pastures and disturbed noncrop lands in the western USA. Research is underway in Eu rope to search for the natural enemies to control the weed. Among various n atural enemies attacking C. vulgaris, a new fungal species, Ramularia crupi nae, has been found to cause serious damage to the weed. The fungus has bee n grown on various media and a modified V8 juice agar has proved to be suit able for both growth and sporulation. Greenhouse and field studies have sho wn that R. crupinae can kill infected leaves, thus reducing the plant growt h, and in severe cases can kill the young plants. During preliminary host-r ange tests using various members of the Asteraceae, including artichoke and safflower, the fungus attacked only C. vulgaris.