MANAGEMENT OF CAT’S CLAW VINE

(DOLICHANDRA UNGUIS-CATI) IN FLORIDA

Leah Aidif*, Greg MacDonald, and Candice Prince

Agenda• History

• Need for Research

• Identification

• Current Recommendations

• Ground Cover Herbicide Treatments

• Climbing Stem Herbicide Treatments

• Future Research Plans

History

• Native to the West Indies and Central and South America

• Introduced as an ornamental

• First record in Florida was in Miami-Dade County, 1957

Need for Research

• FLEPPC Category I• Altering native plant

communities

• Considered a high risk invader by IFAS Assessment

• Populations documented in multiple counties around Florida

https://www.eddmaps.org/distribution/usstate.cfm?sub=3048

https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/dolichandra-unguis-cati/

Identification Characteristics

• Woody vine

• 3-forked tendrils

• Dark green leaf color

https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/dolichandra-unguis-cati/, https://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds/cats-claw-creeper, https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/bignonia-capreolata/

Seedlings and mature plants have different characteristics

Cat’s claw vine Cross-vinehttps://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/dolichandra-unguis-cati/, https://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds/cats-claw-creeper, https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/bignonia-capreolata/

Similar appearance to native cross-vine (Bignonia capreolata)

Identification Characteristics

• Tubers and stolons can form at each node, along the soil surface

• Flowering on climbing vines

• Long fruit pods carrying winged seeds

https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/dolichandra-unguis-cati/, https://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds/cats-claw-creeper

Chemical Management – Foliar

• Foliar spray over seedlings, re-sprouts, and small vines

• Recommendation to apply between July and October

• Triclopyr (1-2% solution) or Glyphosate (2-3% solution) with surfactant at 0.25% v/v

Chemical Management –Cut Stump

• 100% solution of glyphosate or triclopyr

• Cut stem horizontally near ground level

• Cover the entire cut stem (marker dye is helpful)

Chemical Management – Basal

• Triclopyr solution applied with basal oil

• Apply 12 to 15 inches above the ground on climbing vine

• Wet thoroughly for adequate control

Mechanical Management

• Hand pulling seedlings, include all roots and tubers attached

• Cut vine down to ground level

• Mowing is effective but must be repeated

Biological Management

• Currently no known biological control agents for cat’s claw vine in Florida

• In South Africa, research is being conducted on a leaf-tying moth (Hypocosmia pyrochroma) (King, Williams, and Madire2011)

• In Brazil, research is being conducted for fungal pathogens as potential agents (de Silva, Barreto, ad Pereira 2012)

• Evaluate effectiveness of different herbicide treatments for control of mature vines in the field

Objective - Experiment 1

Materials and Methods

• 5ft by 10ft plot size

• Treatments applied using backpack sprayer (20 gal per acre)

• 0.25% v/v nonionic surfactant

• 3 repetitions per treatment

• Randomized complete block design

https://shop.turfmate.com.au/products/backpack-chapin-pro-with-boom

Treatment Trade Name Mode of Action lb ai a-1

glyphosate Powermax Amino acid synthesis inhibitor (EPSP)

3.0

imazapic Plateau Amino acid synthase inhibitor (ALS)

0.25

imazapyr Arsenal Amino acid synthase inhibitor (ALS)

0.125

metsulfuron-methyl MSM Amino acid synthase inhibitor (ALS)

0.075

triclopyr amine Garlon 3A Growth regulator 2.0

triclopyr ester Remedy Ultra Growth regulator 1.5

aminopyralid Milestone Growth regulator 0.11

aminocyclopyrachlor Method Growth regulator 0.18

2,4-D amine Weedar 64 Growth regulator 2.0

untreated N/A N/A 0

Materials and Methods

• Evaluation of initial cover of the cat’s claw vine

• Visual evaluation of cat’s claw vine cover (0-100%) at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment (MAT)

• Average % reduction in cover from initial rating calculated

• Data analyzed using ANOVA and Fisher’s LSD in RStudio

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

Imazapyr Tric_amine Aminocyc Aminopyr Msm Imazapic Gly Tric_ester 2,4-D Untreated

% R

edu

ctio

n in

Co

ver

Results – 3 MAT

CC

C

CC

B

B

AB

AB

A

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

Imazapyr Tric_amine Aminocyc Aminopyr Msm Imazapic Gly Tric_ester 2,4-D Untreated

% R

edu

ctio

n in

Co

ver

Results – 6 MAT No Significance

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Imazapyr Tric_amine Aminocyc Aminopyr Msm Imazapic Gly Tric_ester 2,4-D Untreated

% R

edu

ctio

n in

Co

ver

Results – 12 MAT

AAA

ABC

BCD

CD

CD

CD

D

D

2,4-D (Weedar 64) Metsulfuron-methyl (MSM)

Untreated

12 MAT

Imazapyr (Arsenal) Imazapic (Plateau)

12 MAT

Glyphosate (Powermax)

Triclopyr-ester (Remedy-Ultra)

Triclopyr-amine (Garlon 3A)

12 MAT

Aminocyclopyrachlor(Method)

Aminopyralid(Milestone)

12 MAT

Results & Discussion

• Aminocyclophyrachlor, glyphosate, aminopyralid, imazapic, and triclopyr(both formulations) provided some control

• Imazapyr showed minimal control, possibly due to low rates used

• MSM and 2,4-D were not successful

Objective – Experiment 2

• Evaluate two different application methods to treat climbing cat’s claw vines in a field setting

Materials and Methods

• Apply using hand wand OR paint roller

• 2 herbicides• aminocyclopyrachlor 5% (Method)• triclopyr 20% (Remedy-Ultra)

• All using basal oil

• 5 trees per treatment

https://www.google.com/search?q=basal+bark+application&client=firefox-b-1-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiO0pCqn4DiAhVPDq0KHQYIDkwQ_AUIDygC&biw=1442&bih=787#imgrc=iHHdnciO6Np0uM:

Why these methods?

• Amount of herbicide used • Method paint roller – 14.96 ml per tree• Remedy-Ultra paint roller – 17 ml per tree

• Method basal – 50 ml per tree• Remedy-Ultra basal – 62 ml per tree

• Helps stay within labeled use rates

• Paint roller more precise

Future Research

• Repeat herbicide trial

• Seed and tuber biology

• Combining mechanical and chemical control

• Focus on application timing

• Repeated applications

Acknowledgements

• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

• Chinsegut Manor County Park, Hernando County, and Mike Singer

• UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

• Michael Durham

Work Cited

da Silva, M., R. W. Barreto, and O. L. Pereira. 2012. “Fungal pathogens of ‘cat’s claws’ from Brazil for biocontrol of Macfadyena unguis-cati.” Mycotaxon no. 119 (Journal Article):181–195.

Langeland, K.A. and K. Craddock Burks. 1998. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville. 165 pp.

King, A. M., H. E. Williams, and L. G. Madire. 2011. “Biological control of cat’s claw creeper, Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) AHGentry (Bignoniaceae), in South Africa.” African Entomology no. 19 (2):366–377.

Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER). Plant Threats to Pacific Ecosystems: http://www.hear.org/pier/threats.htm

The Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group. Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas: http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/index.htm

Questions?

Thank youlaidif13@ufl.edu