Solanum elaeagnifolium found in a vineyard in France
Solanum elaeagnifolium (Solanaceae, EPPO A2 List) is an invasive species in several Mediterranean countries such as Algeria, Greece, Morocco, Tunisia.
In France, the species was first recorded as naturalized in Montpellier in 1967 and since then has been observed in about 10 localities, mainly located in the Hérault department (Béziers, Fabrègues, Montpellier, Montpeyroux, Vic-la-Gardiole) but also in the Bouches-du-Rhône department (Marignane, Châteauneuf-les-Martigues where it has been eradicated) and in the Pyrénées-Orientales department (Banyuls-sur-Mer). The species had always been found in disturbed environments such as fallow lands and road sides. In October 2010, the species was found for the first time in a vineyard in Montpeyroux in the Hérault department (Frédéric Andrieux, CBNMed). It is unknown how the species was introduced in this vineyard. Genetic analyses will be undertaken on this new population and compared to other populations in France, Greece and in the native area of the species in South America (Marie-Claude Bon, USDA-EBCL), in order to learn more about possible introduction pathways.
Considering the major economic impacts that the species causes and the fact that its distribution is still limited in France, an eradication programme could be successfully undertaken.
Sources
Guillaume Fried, Laboratoire français de la santé des végétaux / French Plant Health Laboratory, E-mail;: guillaume.fried@anses.fr
Fried G (2011) Note d’alerte initiale sur Solanum elaeagnifolium. Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail. Laboratoire de la santé des végétaux. Unité Expertise Risques Biologiques. LSV_MO_2011_026. 3 pp.
CBNMED (2011) SILENE : Système d'Information et de Localisation des Espèces Natives et Envahissantes.http://silene.cbnmed.fr
Tela Botanica (2011) Carnet en ligne. http://www.telabotanica.org/eflore/BDNFF/4.02/nn/64880