Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia Invasive Plant Control Update

Dobbins Air Reserve Base,
Georgia Invasive Plant Control Update

Management of invasive plant species has been a core part of the natural resources program at Dobbins ARB since the original Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) was established in 1996. Dobbins ARB has been treating nonnative and invasive species regularly since 1997. A total of 24 acres remain in the kudzu eradication program and roughly 20 to 40 acres of privet and wisteria are being treated annually.

Thirteen invasive plant species have been found on Dobbins ARB. Of these, 12 were identified as Category 1 and one as Category 2 (or watch list). In addition, none are identified as federal or state noxious weeds.

Summary of Nonnative and Invasive Species on Dobbins ARB

Invasive Plant Species		Priority	Current Status
Common Name	Scientific Name
Tree of heaven	Ailanthus altissima	Low
Mimosa	Albizia julibrissin	Medium
Autumn olive	Elaeagnus umbellata	High	Eradicated
English ivy	Hedera helix	Medium
Cogon grass	Imperata cylindrica	High	Not present
Sericea lespedeza	Lespedeza cuneata	Medium
Japanese privet	Ligustrum japonicum	High	May not be present
Chinese privet	Ligustrum sinensis	High	Widespread
Japanese honeysuckle	Lonicera japonica	High	Widespread
Japanese stiltgrass	Microstegium vimineum	High
Princess tree	Paulownia tomentosa	Low
Kudzu	Pueraria lobata	High	Mostly eradicated
Multiflora rose	Rosa multiflora	Medium
Chinese wisteria	Wisteria sinensis	High	Present, ongoing treatment
Bamboo	Phyllostachys aurea?	High	Mostly eradicated

Until the recent implementation of a base-wide eradication program, kudzu was considered the priority invasive plant species at Dobbins ARB. Kudzu control efforts have been successful, and this plant was not widely observed since 2004. Continued monitoring and treatment has been implemented for the long-term control of this species, particularly along the NW boundary, where it is still appears. Autumn olive was also targeted for treatment and has now been eradicated from Dobbins ARB. Several additional species have been targeted for treatment as well, with Chinese privet the most persistent and difficult to control.

Due to the widespread occurrence, either on-base or off-base, of many of these exotic, invasive plant species, total eradication would be extremely difficult on Dobbins ARB. Therefore, invasive plant management at Dobbins ARB focuses on control efforts to eliminate invasive plants occurring in ecologically significant areas and preventing their spread to new areas. Most of this management is completed by the USACE as part of the forestry management program.

In 2017 Dobbins ARB completed a 20 acre privet foliar treatment and 40 acres of spot treatment for wisteria, mimosa and kudzu. This is part of an annual invasive plant species control treatment program. Similar acreage is treated each year. This past and current control is having a positive impact on forest stand health at Dobbins ARB.

Request for Ash Samaras for Embryogenic Cultures

Request for Ash Samaras for Embryogenic Cultures

Drs. Scott Merkle and Kamal Gandhi, University of Georgia

Our research team would like to greatly expand our collection of embryogenic cultures from seeds collected from surviving ash trees that have remained alive for at least five years since emerald ash borer (EAB)-induced dieback has been documented in an area.  Below are collection and shipping instructions for cooperators who have identified putatively EAB-tolerant female ash trees from which samaras can be collected.

We would like to get about 50-100 immature samaras per ash tree.  They need to be collected from the tree while they are still immature.  In Athens, Georgia, the stage of green ash seed (not fruit with wing) development that worked best was when seeds were 4-8 mm long and the zygotic embryos inside were 1-3 mm long.  Below are some photos showing the stages of seed and embryo development we tested some years ago.  In the seed photo, the best stages for culture initiation are in the middle of the distribution.  In the embryo photo, the shorter embryos were the best.  The best date for getting those stages here in northeastern Georgia was the third week of August.  The best collection date for white ash seeds in Michigan was the first few weeks of August.  You could dissect some of the samaras to check if the seeds and embryos are near these stages.  Samaras should be stored in zip-lock bags, with the name or code for the tree written on the bag in Sharpie.  Please try to get them into a cooler on cold packs as soon as possible after they are collected and store them in a refrigerator until shipped.  They can be shipped in a cooler on cold packs (cheap Styrofoam cooler in a cardboard box or insulated bag is fine).  FedX or UPS next day delivery would be best (can arrive anytime the next day—it does not need to be here by 10 AM).  We can supply our UPS account number, if needed.  They should be shipped to:

Dr. Scott Merkle

Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

180 E. Green Street

University of Georgia

Athens, GA 30602

When you ship, please email the tracking number to smerkle@uga.edu.  We have had some problems with UPS, and we don’t want the samaras to sit in some broiling warehouse for a day.  Also, please include information about the collection date(s), tree locations, and time since EAB detection/first report of dieback in the area.  Photographs of the crown of the surviving ash trees will be appreciated.

Green ash seed (left) and zygotic embryo (right) developmental stages.  Bar in each photo is 1 mm.