The purpose of this study are to investigate the role of a particular saprophyte fungi which may produce toxic metabolites against weeds like Cyperus rotundus

Dearest friend Dr. Jawad (Azizi Abu Mohammad) : my philosophy in nominating/selecting fungi as potential biocontrol agents against weeds is as follow:

1. Discovery phase: at this stage, I would look into priority of targeted weeds (i.e., which weeds are causing economic damage to your field crops?

2. Once you selected your target weed (s), then do a survey on mycobiota associated with your target weeds.

3. Screening phase: conduct controlled experiments under greenhouse conditions by inoculating selected weeds with your recovered fungi. Once you have identified your lead isolate (s), then move to next phase (Formulation phase)

4. Formulation and delivery technology is very important in assessing your candidate fungus/fungi under small field trials. There are many formulations that you can test (available when you do library search). It is crucial phase to make sure that you provide your candidate fungus with adequate micro-environmental conditions/food base  for the fungus to establish and cause major damage on your target weed.

I wish you good luck in your research. I would be happy to discuss this brief information further with you.

Best wishes and regards..

Simon  (Abu Martin) 

Please take a look at this useful RG link.

Article Fungi for Biological Control of Weedy Cyperaceae, With Empha...

Many fungi could be used to control weeds and are called mycoherbicides. A high level of specificity is discernible among them. Fungi select the kind of weeds that they could control. I could very readily nominate the following fungi for weed control. (i). Phytopthora palmivora for the control of Morrenia odorata, as is available as De VINE. (ii). Puccinia chondrillina for the control of Chondrilla juncea. (iii). Cercospora rodmanii to control Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth), and is available in the market as ABG5003. (iv). Alternaria cassia could be used to control the weed Cassis obtusifolia and available is CASST. (v). Colletotrichum coccoides for the control of Abutilon theophassti and is available as VELGO. vi. Spore preparation of Colletotrichum gloeosporoides f.sp. malvae is used to control Malva pusilla and is available in the market as BioMal. vii. Colletotrichum gloeosporoides f.sp. aeschynomene is used to control Aeschynomene virginica and goes by the brand name COLLEGO.

Any fungi can effect on the weeds and have no effect on the economic crops can be used as biological agents against the selected harmful weeds. I nominate the fungi: Pytophthora palmivora and some species of Puccinia.

Relatively the weed Cyperus, there are some fungi associated with this weed can be used as bioagent factors against it such as:

Alternaria, Ascochyta, Phytophthora, Cercospora, Septoria, Curvularia, Macrophomina, Claviceps, Sclerotinia, Cochliobulus, Pythium, Dreshclera, Fusarium and Puccinia.

Best wishes...