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<OL> <LI> Understand the biological characteristics of locoweed including growth & development, whole plant physiology, seedbank ecology, pop. dynamics, & competitive interactions; <LI> Develop biologically sound strategies for minimizing locoweed impacts & suppress germination; <LI> Increase the predictability & effectiveness of locoweed control techniques; <LI> Evaluate the toxicology & physiological effects on livestock; <LI> Develop integrated management approaches for locoweed growing on rangeland.
Locoweed causes significant economic losses in the plains, prairie & desert areas of the central & southwestern U.S. Locoweed management has the potential to yield positive social returns by alleviating water scarcity while increasing land productivity & environmental quality. <P> Proposed research for 2001-02 is as follows: a) Gather data concerning the effects of swainsonine on nutrient digestion & flow from cannulated sheep to identify potential swainsonine/nutrient interactions; b) Other animal studies include an examination of graded levels of locoweed on serum protein & glycoprotein patterns in beef steers & effects of locoweed consumption on body wieght gain & forage intake by beef steers grazing locoweed infested rangelands; c) Field collections of insects associated with locoweed will continue & studies transferring eggs from the biological agent will be made to expedite colonization on locoweed; d) conduct experiments treating Astragulus mollisimus seed w/ several fungicides to produce endophyte-free plants; e) conduct herbicide control studies for mortality.