Feasibility of Using Mycoherbicides for Controlling Illicit Drug Crops
2011

Consensus

You must be logged in to download this publication.

Select Book Type

Paperback - $36.00
Ebook - $29.69

See project
Request an exam or desk copy

The control of illicit-drug trafficking and drug use is a difficult and complex process that involves a variety of prevention, control, treatment, and law enforcement strategies. Eradication strategies for controlling illicit-drug crops are used to target the beginning of the drug-supply chain by preventing or reducing crop yields. Mycoherbicides have been proposed as an eradication tool to supplement the current methods of herbicide spraying, mechanical removal, and manual destruction of illicit-drug crops. Some people regard them as preferable to chemical herbicides for controlling illicit-drug crops because of their purported specificity to only one plant species or a few closely related species. As living microorganisms, they have the potential to provide long-term control if they can persist in the environment and affect later plantings. Research on mycoherbicides against illicit-drug crops has focused on three pathogens: Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cannabis for cannabis (Cannabis sativa), F. oxysporum f.sp. erythroxyli for coca (Erythroxylum coca and E. novogranatense), and Crivellia papaveracea or Brachycladium papaveris (formerly known as Pleospora papaveracea and Dendryphion penicillatum, respectively) for opium poppy (Papaver somniferum).

Feasibility of Using Mycoherbicides for Controlling Illicit Drug Crops addresses issues about the potential use of the proposed mycoherbicides: their effectiveness in eradicating their target plants; the feasibility of their large-scale industrial manufacture and delivery; their potential spread and persistence in the environment; their pathogenicity and toxicity to nontarget organisms, including other plants, fungi, animals, and humans; their potential for mutation and resulting effects on target plants and nontarget organisms; and research and development needs.

On the basis of its review, the report concludes that the available data are insufficient to determine the effectiveness of the specific fungi proposed as mycoherbicides to combat illicit-drug crops or to determine their potential effects on nontarget plants, microorganisms, animals, humans, or the environment. However, the committee offers an assessment of what can and cannot be determined at the present time regarding each of the issues raised in the statement of task.

Additional materials

Press Release
Presentation

Publication information

186 pages · 6 x 9 · paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-22171-4
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-22172-2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/13278

Suggested citation

National Research Council. 2011. Feasibility of Using Mycoherbicides for Controlling Illicit Drug Crops. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

Import this citation to:

Bibtext
EndNote
Reference manager

First Name
Last Name
Email (required)
I agree to receive emails from the National Academies (required)

We respect your privacy and will never share your information.

Search this publication

Front Matter i-xvi
Feasibility of Using Mycoherbicides for Controlling Illicit Drug Crops 1-2
Summary 3-11
1 Introduction 12-26
2 Biological Control of Undesirable Plants 27-46
3 Target Illicit Crops 47-60
4 Fusarium oxysporum formae speciales as Candidate Biological Control Agents for Cannabis and Coca 61-100
5 Crivellia papaveracea and Brachycladium papaveris as Candidate Biological Control Agents against Opium Poppy 101-120
6 Answers to Charge Questions 121-131
References 132-152
Appendix A: Biographic Information on the Committee on Mycoherbicides for Eradicating Illicit Drug Crops 153-157
Appendix B: EPA Requirements and Guidelines under 40 CFR 158, Subpart V 158-170

Log In

Former MyNAP users: You'll need to reset your password on your first login to MyAcademies. Click "Forgot password" below to receive a reset link via email. Having trouble? Visit our FAQ page to contact support.

Members of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, or National Academy of Medicine should log in through their respective Academy portals.

Email (required)
Password (required)

Don't have an account?

Register

Email (required)
New password (required)
Retype password (required) Password must be at least 8 characters
I accept the terms of use
terms of use

Thank You

Thank you for creating a MyAcademies account!

Enjoy free access to thousands of National Academies' publications, a 10% discount off every purchase, and build your personal library.

Forgot Password

Enter the email address for your MyAcademies (formerly MyNAP) account to receive password reset instructions.

Email (required)

Reset Requested

We sent password reset instructions to your email . Follow the link in that email to create a new password. Didn't receive it? Check your spam folder or contact us for assistance.

Reset Password

New password (required)
Retype password (required) Password must be at least 8 characters

Reset Password

Your password has been reset.

Verify email

Verify Your Email Address

We sent a verification link to your email. Please check your inbox (and spam folder) and follow the link to verify your email address. If you did not receive the email, you can request a new verification link below

Feasibility of Using Mycoherbicides for Controlling Illicit Drug Crops (2011)

Chapter: Feasibility of Using Mycoherbicides for Controlling Illicit Drug Crops

Additional materials

Publication information

Suggested citation

My Academies

Feasibility of Using Mycoherbicides for Controlling Illicit Drug Crops (2011)

Chapter: Feasibility of Using Mycoherbicides for Controlling Illicit Drug Crops