Verticillium Species as an Ecofriendly Alternative to Manage the Invasive Tree Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle

Abstract

Environmental pollution, unintended harm to beneficial organisms, and the development of herbicide resistance among weeds are the main consequences of the massive and consistent use of chemical herbicides in recent decades. The growing need for alternative solutions has been reinforced by restrictive policies, leading to a search for natural herbicidal candidates. Mycoherbicides, formulations containing plant pathogenic fungi, are viewed as promising substitutes for chemical herbicides. In the case of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, one of the worst invasive alien tree species in the world, Verticillium-based mycoherbicides offer a viable method for control, inducing a lethal wilt disease and leading plants to death within a few years. The demonstrated significant effectiveness enables addressing challenges posed by other—conventional—approaches. The current analysis matches key internal (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities and threats) of Verticillium Nees isolates as environmentally-friendly control agents against the invasive A. altissima, by listing each singularly and then crossing them among the categories, drawing from the collaborative efforts of American, Austrian, and Italian research teams.