Euphorbia davidii exhibiting invasive characteristics in Serbia
Euphorbia davidii (Euphorbiaceae) is present within the EPPO region in Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Hungary, Moldova, Italy, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, and Ukraine. The first report from Europe was in Russia in 1968. Native to North America, this annual erect species can grow up to 50 cm tall. It is thought that the species entered Europe as a contaminant of seed shipments. E. davidii is most commonly found along railway lines and in agricultural fields where it can have negative impacts on yields. The species can also be a pest in vineyards. In Serbia, E. davidii was first found in 2007 and since this first record, studies have shown that the species is spreading within agricultural areas where it has been shown to have negative impacts on maize and sunflower production. In the Province of Vojvodina, E. davidii has spread from its initial distribution of 3 ha (observed in 2007) to 7 ha in 2013. Initial research tends to suggest that E. davidii is tolerant to many registered herbicides. Following herbicide application, visual assessments after one and four weeks did not suggest that herbicide application was effective. Further research is needed to evaluate the control methods for E. davidii in agricultural systems in the EPPO region.
Sources
Purger D, Vajgand D, Mićić N, Vajgand K (2015) Euphorbia davidii Subils (Euphorbiaceae), a new alien species in the flora of Serbia. Botanica Serbica 39, 49-52.
Vajgand DK, Mićić ND, Purger DI (2014) Euphorbia davidii- an invasive weed species in the fields of Serbia. Matica Srpska Journal National Science. 127, 57-64.
Barina Z, Shevera M, Sirbu C, Pinke G (2013) Current distribution and spreading of Euphorbia davidii (E. dentat agg.) in Europe. Central European Journal of Biology 8(1), 87-95.