Bureau of Methods Development &
Biological Control
Bureau Chief: Dr. Trevor Smith, Trevor.Smith@freshfromflorida.com Tropical Soda Apple Biological ControlBiological Scientist: Ken Hibbard Kenneth.Hibbard@freshfromflorida.com Project
Staff |
 Potted Tropical Soda Apple |
The tropical soda apple (TSA), Solanum viarum Dunal (Solanaceae) is an invasive, perennial prickly weed native to South America. Though it can grow up to 2 meters tall, in Florida it is usually only about 1 meter in height. All above ground parts of the plant except for the flowers and fruit are spiny or thorny. Cattle and many species of wild animals eat the fruit and spread the seeds in their fecal droppings.
TSA was first discovered in Florida, in Glades County, in 1988. By 1992 approximately 150,000 acres of land had been infested by the weed and by 2002, an estimated one million acres had been infested. The plant invades many types of lands including hammocks, ditch banks, road sides, pastures and other agricultural areas. TSA has been reported from most states in the southeastern US as well as Puerto Rico. It was placed on the Florida Noxious Weed List in 1994 and the Federal Noxious Weed List in 1995.
While some chemicals have been effective in controlling the weed, use of herbicides is costly in both material and labor. Using biological agents, both pathogens and insects, to control the weed have been examined and tested with some success. One such agent is the South American leaf-eating beetle, Gratiana boliviana Spaeth (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). This beetle underwent testing to see if it was suitable for use in Florida and was approved in 2002. To date only limited releases of the beetle have occured.
 Adult Gratiana boliviana |
 G. boliviana life stages |
 G. boliviana damage |
 G. boliviana on fresh TSA |
 Shade houses for rearing |
 Tropical soda apple crop |
In 2005, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry (FDACS, DPI) received funds from the US Department of Agriculture to rear and release G. boliviana in large numbers to help control the TSA in Florida. Two 12 ft. by 18 ft. screen houses have been built at the Ft. Pierce Farmer’s Market. Interval planting of tropical soda apple plants, to be used as food for the leaf-eating beetle, began in the fall of 2005. G. boliviana rearing will begin in the spring of 2006. The goal of this project is to provide enough beetles, at no charge, for the agricultural community and those maintaining parks and natural areas for biological control of this noxious weed throughout Florida.
More information about Tropical Soda Apple
Photo credits: Lee Trester, Jeffrey Lotz, and Michelle Amaral, FDACS/DPI