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Investigating Plant Phenotype, Salinity, and Infestation by the Roseau Cane Scale as Factors in the Die-Back of Phragmites australis in the Mississippi River Delta, USA

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Abstract

Die-back of Phragmites australis in the Mississippi River Delta (MRD), Louisiana, USA, is associated with large populations of nonnative Roseau Cane Scale (RCS), Nipponaclerda biwakoensis. Initial observations suggested different P. australis phenotypes displayed different susceptibilities to scale infestation and die-back, but the role of scale infestation on die-back was unknown. To understand the effect of RCS on P. australis, paired stands of Delta and European phenotypes in the MRD were monitored for stem heights, densities, and scale infestation over two years. A mesocosm experiment was conducted to assess whether RCS abundance and P. australis growth were dependent on water salinity and phenotype. Three Phragmites australis phenotypes were grown in small pools under fresh or mesohaline conditions, and RCS infestated or non-infested treatments. Scale densities were up to 7 times greater on the Delta compared to the European phenotype. Scale infestation resulted in 22%–39% reductions in the proportion of stems with green leaf tissue for all phenotypes, and 12% reduction in stem heights for Delta-type. Salinity was detrimental to all phenotypes, reducing stem heights by 20% compared to freshwater. Our results provide evidence that the RCS can result in die-back symptoms similar to what is observed in the MRD.

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Acknowledgements

This project was funded in part by the Louisiana State University AgCenter, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act and NSF grant DMS-1516833 (to J.T.C.). This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number LAB94095. We thank Todd Baker, Vaughan McDonald, Trebor Victoriano and other LDWF personnel for technical and logistical support. We also thank Jeremy Rodriguez and Joey Breaux (LADAF) for support during field collections. Lastly we recognize the contributions of the graduate and undergraduate students of the Cronin, Diaz, and Wilson labs at Louisiana State University for assistance in processing of samples. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University, 402 Biological Sciences Bldg, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Ian A. Knight, Madeline Gill, Blake E. Wilson & Rodrigo Diaz

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    James T. Cronin

  3. School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    John A. Nyman

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  1. Ian A. Knight
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  2. James T. Cronin
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Correspondence to Ian A. Knight.

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Knight, I.A., Cronin, J.T., Gill, M. et al. Investigating Plant Phenotype, Salinity, and Infestation by the Roseau Cane Scale as Factors in the Die-Back of Phragmites australis in the Mississippi River Delta, USA. Wetlands 40, 1327–1337 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-020-01307-3

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