Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Psidium guineense


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: High risk, score: 7


Australian/New Zealand Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Hawai‘i.

Research directed by C. Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service

Information on Risk Assessments
Original risk assessment

Psidium guineense (Psidium araca Psidium molle, Brazilian guava, araca)

Answer

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

n

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y=-1, n=-1

y

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=-1, n=-1

n

2.01

Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) – If island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute “wet tropical” for “tropical or subtropical”

See Append 2

2

2.02

Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2

2

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

y

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

y

2.05

Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2

?=-1, n=0

y

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

y

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

y

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

n

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

n

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

y

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

n

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

n

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

4.1

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

n

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

n

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

n

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

n

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

y=1, n=0

n

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

y

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

y

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

n

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

y

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

n

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

n

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

y

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

y

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y=1, n=-1

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

8.04

Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire

y=1, n=-1

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

7

Supporting data:

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence

1.02

At Agartala in Tripura, northeast India, this plant has become thoroughly naturalized and runs wild.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/brazilian_guava_ars.html#Description

1.03

No evidence

2.01

Native from Southern Mexico through Argentina. It is occasionally cultivated and feral populations are known to exist in parts of Asia. It will grow successfully in subtropical climates as well as arid zones as it is capable of withstanding some drought.

http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/brazilian_guava.htm

2.02

Introduced to French Polynesia, Guam and Hawaii.

http://www.hear.org/pier/psgui.htm

2.03

(1) "The most wide-ranging guava relative, P. guineense occurs naturally from northern Argentina and Peru to southern Mexico, and in Trinidad, Martinique, Jamaica and Cuba, at medium elevations. It is cultivated to a limited extent in Martinique, Guadeloupe, the Dominican Republic and southern California. Trials in Florida have not been encouraging. At Agartala in Tripura, northeast India, this plant has become thoroughly naturalized and runs wild."
(2) specimen records from 100-1500m altitude (3) Many specimens ranging from 100-1500 m, a few around 2000 m, most between 800 and 1500 m

(1) http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/brazilian_guava_ars.html

(2) htmlhttp://www.inbio.ac.cr/bims/k03/p13/c045/o0264/f01620/g008341/s025626.htm (3)http://mobot.mobot.org/cgi-bin/search_vast

2.04

Native from Southern Mexico through Argentina. It is occasionally cultivated and feral populations are known to exist in parts of Asia. It will grow successfully in subtropical climates as well as arid zones as it is capable of withstanding some drought.

http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/brazilian_guava.htm

2.05

Introduced to French Polynesia, Guam and Hawaii.

http://www.hear.org/pier/psgui.htm

3.01

At Agartala in Tripura, northeast India, this plant has become thoroughly naturalized and runs wild.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/brazilian_guava_ars.html#Description

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

Category 3 invader in South Africa [=localized spread] - Existing plants do not have to be removed unless they are within 30 meters of the 1:50 year flood line of a river, stream, spring, natural channel in which water flows regularly or intermittently, lake, dam or wetland.

http://www.weedwarriors.co.za/Pests6.html

3.05

P. guajava is a listed as a principal weed in Australia, Mexico, Indonesia and Tanzania.

Holm et al. 1997. An electronic atlas of weeds and invasive invasive species.

4.01

No evidence

http://www.hear.org/pier/psgui.htm

4.02

No evidence

Journal-of-Chemical-Ecology. Dec., 1998; 24 (12) 2131-2150.

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Don’t know

4.05

No evidence

4.06

(1) 'A survey of fruit flies infesting Psidium fruits was conducted in western Venezuela from June 1992 through December 1995. ...A. striata was the most common on P. guajava, P. guineense and P. friedrichsthalianum, with an infestation range of 96.1%-97.0%.' (2)In August 2001, the mistletoe Psittacanthus angustifolius , was observed parasitizing a wild guava tree, Psidium guineense . Only one plant was found on a single tree, and wild guava is apparently a rare host due to the absence of this host-parasite relationship in other areas where Psidium guineense occurs. This is thought to be the first report of Psittacanthus angustifolius on a plant other than Pinus spp. In November 2000, Psittacanthus angustifolius was observed to parasitize Pinus tecunumanii. Several pines were infected but no trees had more than 5 mistletoe infections. This is thought to be the first report of Psittacanthus angustifolius on Pinus tecunumanii in Honduras. (3)Carribean fruit fly

(1)Katiyar-Kamta-P {a}; Camacho-Molina-Jesus; Matheus-Ricardo {a}. 2000. Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) infesting fruits of the genus Psidium (Myrtaceae) and their altitudinal distribution in western Venezuela. Florida-Entomologist. 2000; 83 (4): 480-486. (2) Melgar, J.; Berrios, M.; Mathiasen, R.; Howell, B. 2001 First report of Psittacanthus angustifolius on Psidium guineense and Pinus tecunumanii in Honduras.
Plant Disease. Vol.85, No.10, p.1120, 2 ref. (3)http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/fruit/tropical/caribbean_fruit_fly.htm

4.07

No evidence

4.08

An evergreen tree to 15' with oblong, leathery leaves [probably low fire risk]

http://www.banana-tree.com/Seedsp2r.htm

4.09

(1)Sun Exposure: Full sun (2)great indoor potential [implies some significant shade tolerance] Full sun.[contradictory]

(1)http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Myrtaceae/Psidium_guineense.html (2)http://www.pctgardens.com/fruit.html

4.1

The plant will not develop satisfactorily on light sandy soil

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/brazilian_guava_ars.html

4.11

No evidence - not a vine.

http://www.hear.org/pier/psgui.htm

4.12

No evidence

5.01

Evergreen shrubs or small trees to 10 feet

http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Myrtaceae/Psidium_guineense.html

5.02

Myrtaceae

5.03

Myrtaceae

5.04

no evidence

6.01

Flowers, borne singly or in clusters of 3 in the leaf axils, are white and have 150 to 200 prominent stamens. The fruit, round or pear-shaped, is from 1/8 to 1 in (1-2.5 cm) wide,

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/brazilian_guava_ars.html#Description

6.02

'During a five year harvesting crops, the performance of 108 seedlings of Brazilian guava was evaluated under the environmental conditions of the coastal wood-forest region in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil.'

http://www.actahort.org/books/452/452_15.htm

6.03

'Population samples of Psidium guajava and P. guineense and apparent hybrids were collected from four localities: two in Mexico, one in Honduras, and one in Argentina.' 'Hybridization seems to be localized and may often be restricted to F1's.'

AU: Landrum-Leslie-R {a}; Clark-W-Dennis {a}; Sharp-William-P {a}; Brendecke-Jeff. 1995. Hybridization between Psidium guajava and P. guineense (Myrtaceae). Economic-Botany. 49 (2) 153-161.

6.04

No information

6.05

Open white flowers suggests bees or other insects

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://
www.acguanacaste.ac.cr/paginas_especie/plantae_online/
magnoliophyta/myrtaceae/psidium_%2520guineense/psidium_guineense
%252026%2520set98/p_guineense26set98.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3D
Psidium%2Bguineense%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN

6.06

Propagation: Seed.

http://www.hear.org/pier/psgui.htm

6.07

(1)The Brazilian guava is a relatively slow-growing shrub (2)Plants begin to fruit when about 18 inches tall.

(1)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/brazilian_guava_ars.html (2)http://www.pctgardens.com/fruit.html

7.01

no evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/brazilian_guava_ars.html#Description

7.02

(1) This guava is suitable for baking and preserving. It makes a distinctive jelly which some consider superior to common guava jelly.
(2) "It is cultivated to a limited extent in Martinique, Guadeloupe, the Dominican Republic and southern California. " 

(1) http://www.hear.org/pier/psgui.htm
(2) http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/brazilian_guava_ars.html

7.03

no evidence

AU: Landrum-Leslie-R {a}; Clark-W-Dennis {a}; Sharp-William-P {a}; Brendecke-Jeff. 1995. Hybridization between Psidium guajava and P. guineense (Myrtaceae). Economic-Botany. 49 (2) 153-161.

7.04

7.05

7.06

''Fruits globose to ellipsoidal, 1-3 cm long usually with yellow flesh; seeds 100- 250 per fruit, 3- 4 mm long.' [fleshy fruit - bird dispersal]

AU: Landrum-Leslie-R {a}; Clark-W-Dennis {a}; Sharp-William-P {a}; Brendecke-Jeff. 1995. Hybridization between Psidium guajava and P. guineense (Myrtaceae). Economic-Botany. 49 (2) 153-161.

7.07

Probably not - no evidence that the propagules have any means of attachment.

7.08

The fruit, round or pear-shaped, is from 1/8 to 1 in (1-2.5 cm) wide ... It contains numerous small, hard seeds and is quite firm even when fully ripe.

http://www.hear.org/pier/psgui.htm

8.01

Probably yes - ''Fruits globose to ellipsoidal, 1-3 cm long usually with yellow flesh; seeds 100- 250 per fruit, 3- 4 mm long.' [4-10 fruit to exceed 1000 seeds which is very likely]

8.02

Don’t know

8.03

NO evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

Don’t know

8.05

Don’t know


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This page updated 7 March 2005