Mistletoe Eradicator - A Novel Tool for Simultaneous Mechanical and Chemical Control of Mistletoe

Some species of mistletoes, an aerial plant hemiparasites, play a Janus-like role in ecosystems by being rich biodiversity hotspots due to their trophic and topic associations with various organisms and at the same time acting as biological pirates, exhausting the host trees by stealing water and nutrients via the haustorium. Many crop and timber trees are attacked by mistletoes, for example, dwarf mistletoes parasitize conifers, representatives of genus Tapinanthus target guava, and Phoradendron mistletoe target pecans. Recently, an increasing infestation of the European mistletoe (Viscum album subsp. album L.) in monoculture stands of common walnuts (Juglans regia L.) was recorded for the first time during 2018 in different regions of Kashmir Valley, India. The common chemical approach based on the spraying of mistletoe exophytes with the growth regulators, ethephon and glyphosate, was not efficient since V. album resprouted in the next vegetation season. Hand pruning of mistletoe was time-consuming, and a polyethylene covering resulted in the localized rotting of host tissues. The most efficient approach to eradicate mistletoe was the use of a novel tool called Mistletoe Eradicator, which allows to use mechanical and chemical means of mistletoe control simultaneously. It consists of a manipulating pole with the terminal pruning saw having a container filled with the growth regulator, from which the liquid slowly drops onto the saw blade through the nozzle. It allows working both from the ground and in the tree canopy. After the targeted application of 5%-10% ethephon or glyphosate to the base of the just pruned V. album stems (stubs), exophyte resprouting was significantly reduced 9 months after the pruning as compared to the only pruned or sprayed exophytes. An alternative variant of Mistletoe Eradicator was constructed in Ukraine filled just with a food color additive to track the liquid dropping and was successfully tested.