Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Eriobotrya japonica


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Evaluate, score: 1


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

Eriobotrya japonica; loquat

Answer

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

y

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

y

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

1

2.02

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

1

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

y

3.05

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

n=0

n

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

n

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

n

4.1

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

y=1, n=0

y

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

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

4

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

n

8.02

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

y=1, n=-1

n

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

y

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:

1

Supporting data:

Source

Notes

1.01

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

It is said to have been cultivated in Japan for over 1, 000 years. The loquat has been the subject of much horticultural improvement, increasing the size and quality of the fruit. There are said to be over 800 varieties in the Orient.

1.02

Morton, J. F. (1976) Pestiferous spread of many ornamental and fruit species in South Florida. Proceedings Florida State Horticultural Society, 1976, Vol.89, pp.348-353, 11 ref.

AB: The massive invasion of large tracts of South Florida by Melaleuca quinquenervia and Casuarina equisetifolia from Australia and Schinus terebinthifolius from Brazil is an environmental problem now receiving serious attention. There are dozens of other introduced ornamental plants and fruit trees which have been multiplying spontaneously in the area for many years or have recently become conspicuous as weeds on private and public properties - some because of seed distribution by exotic birds new to the fauna. Outstanding examples are Cestrum diurnum, Bischofia javanica, Washingtonia robusta, Ptychosperma elegans, Murraya paniculata, Eriobotrya japonica, Pouteria campechiana and Pithecellobium dulce. The planting of some undesirable species should be discouraged and warning given of the need to control the spread of others, in order to reduce the maintenance load of cultivated grounds and the threat to undeveloped areas which are being overrun by vigorous alien vegetation.

1.03

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

In India and many other areas, the tree has become naturalized, as it volunteers readily from seed.

2.01

CAB International, (2000) Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

Natural latitude range: Approximate limits north to south: 33°N to 18°N
List of countries with natural populations
Asia: [China] Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizhang, Yunnan, Zhejiang
[Japan] Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku
List of countries where planted
Europe: France, Corsica, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom

2.02

2.03

(1)CAB International, (2000) Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. (2)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_ST237 (3)http://www.floridata.com/ref/E/eriobot.cfm

(1)Climate descriptors
- Altitude range: 50 - 2000 m
- Mean annual rainfall: 800 - 1200 mm
- Rainfall regime: summer; uniform
- Dry season duration: 0 - 5 months
- Mean annual temperature: 15 - 25ºC
- Mean maximum temperature of hottest month: 25 - 32ºC
- Mean minimum temperature of coldest month: 12 - 15ºC
- Absolute minimum temperature: > -10ºC (2)USDA hardiness zones 8b through 11 (3)USDA zones 7-10 

2.04

Morton, J. F. (1976) Pestiferous spread of many ornamental and fruit species in South Florida. Proceedings Florida State Horticultural Society, 1976, Vol.89, pp.348-353, 11 ref.

AB: The massive invasion of large tracts of South Florida by Melaleuca quinquenervia and Casuarina equisetifolia from Australia and Schinus terebinthifolius from Brazil is an environmental problem now receiving serious attention. There are dozens of other introduced ornamental plants and fruit trees which have been multiplying spontaneously in the area for many years or have recently become conspicuous as weeds on private and public properties - some because of seed distribution by exotic birds new to the fauna. Outstanding examples are Cestrum diurnum, Bischofia javanica, Washingtonia robusta, Ptychosperma elegans, Murraya paniculata, Eriobotrya japonica, Pouteria campechiana and Pithecellobium dulce. The planting of some undesirable species should be discouraged and warning given of the need to control the spread of others, in order to reduce the maintenance load of cultivated grounds and the threat to undeveloped areas which are being overrun by vigorous alien vegetation.

2.05

CAB International, (2000) Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

It is planted for commercial use in the Mediterranean, Australia, South Africa, South America, USA and India (Verheij EWM, Coronel RE, eds, 1991. Plant Resources of South-East Asia. No. 2. Edible fruits and nuts. Wageningen, Netherlands: Pudoc.).

3.01

Morton, J. F. (1976) Pestiferous spread of many ornamental and fruit species in South Florida. Proceedings Florida State Horticultural Society, 1976, Vol.89, pp.348-353, 11 ref.

AB: The massive invasion of large tracts of South Florida by Melaleuca quinquenervia and Casuarina equisetifolia from Australia and Schinus terebinthifolius from Brazil is an environmental problem now receiving serious attention. There are dozens of other introduced ornamental plants and fruit trees which have been multiplying spontaneously in the area for many years or have recently become conspicuous as weeds on private and public properties - some because of seed distribution by exotic birds new to the fauna. Outstanding examples are Cestrum diurnum, Bischofia javanica, Washingtonia robusta, Ptychosperma elegans, Murraya paniculata, Eriobotrya japonica, Pouteria campechiana and Pithecellobium dulce. The planting of some undesirable species should be discouraged and warning given of the need to control the spread of others, in order to reduce the maintenance load of cultivated grounds and the threat to undeveloped areas which are being overrun by vigorous alien vegetation.

3.02

no evidence

3.03

Morton, J. F. (1976) Pestiferous spread of many ornamental and fruit species in South Florida. Proceedings Florida State Horticultural Society, 1976, Vol.89, pp.348-353, 11 ref.

AB: The massive invasion of large tracts of South Florida by Melaleuca quinquenervia and Casuarina equisetifolia from Australia and Schinus terebinthifolius from Brazil is an environmental problem now receiving serious attention. There are dozens of other introduced ornamental plants and fruit trees which have been multiplying spontaneously in the area for many years or have recently become conspicuous as weeds on private and public properties - some because of seed distribution by exotic birds new to the fauna. Outstanding examples are Cestrum diurnum, Bischofia javanica, Washingtonia robusta, Ptychosperma elegans, Murraya paniculata, Eriobotrya japonica, Pouteria campechiana and Pithecellobium dulce. The planting of some undesirable species should be discouraged and warning given of the need to control the spread of others, in order to reduce the maintenance load of cultivated grounds and the threat to undeveloped areas which are being overrun by vigorous alien vegetation.

3.04

(1)Randall, R. 2001. Garden thugs, a national list of invasive and potentially invasive garden plants. - Plant Protection Quarterly 16: 138-171. (2)http://www.igrin.co.nz/trisha/Breamhead.html

(1)environmental weed of unknown importance in Queensland and NSW Australia (2)Ecological weeds on conservation land in New Zealand (3)Category 3 invader in South Africa (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) [lowest category]

3.05

no evidence

4.01

smooth tree

4.02

no evidence

4.03

no evidence

4.04

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

Animal feed: The young branches have been lopped for fodder.

4.05

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

Animal feed: The young branches have been lopped for fodder.

4.06

(1) Cheikh, M.; Howell, J. F.; Harris, E. J.; Salah, H. Ben; Soria, F. (1975) Suppression of the Mediterranean fruit fly in Tunisia with released sterile insects. Journal of Economic Entomology, 1975, Vol.68, No.2, pp.237-243, 22 ref.
(2) Enukidze, N. E. (1981) The biology of the oriental fruit moth in Abkhazia. Zashchita Rastenii, 1981, No.6, p.38 (3)http://www.floridata.com/ref/E/eriobot.cfm

(1) <http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/pubs/fsmedfly.html>
In the United States, the Medfly could attack peaches, pears, plums, apples, apricots, avocados, citrus, cherries, figs, grapes, guavas, kumquats, loquats, nectarines, peppers, persimmons, tomatoes, and several nuts. If the Medfly were to become established, consumer prices would go up and produce would become less available. In addition, backyard gardens, as well as commercial production areas, would require increased use of pesticides on a routine basis. In 1993, APHIS estimated that annual losses attributable to the Medfly in the continental United States would be about $1.5 billion annually if this exotic pest were to become established. These losses would come in the form of export sanctions, lost markets, treatment costs, reduced crop yields, deformities, and premature fruit drop.
(2) <http://www.ento.vt.edu/Fruitfiles/OFM.html> Introduction: Oriental fruit moth (OFM), introduced in the U.S. on nursery stock from Japan between 1913 and 1916, is

4.07

no evidence

4.08

no evidence

4.09

(1)Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. P.521 (2)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_ST237 (3)http://www.nju.edu.cn/foode/bei/b47.htm

(1)culture: full sun (2)full sun, partial sun or partial shade, Providing best fruit and form when grown in full sun, Loquat can tolerate partial shade (3)It's suitable for loquat to grow in the shade.

4.1

Verheij, E.W.M., and R.E. Coronel (eds.) 1991. Plant Resources of South East Asia. No. 2 : Edible fruits and nuts. Pudoc-DLO, Wageningen. 447pp.

p.163 "Loquats grow well in a variety of soils, prefring acid over alkaline soils."

4.11

CAB International, (2000) Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

"an evergreen shrub"

4.12

no evidence

5.01

terrestrial

5.02

tree; Rosaceae

5.03

no evidence

5.04

CAB International, (2000) Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

"an evergreen shrub"

6.01

no evidence

6.02

Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. P.521

"propagation: seeds, cuttings, graftage of cultivars"

6.03

no evidence

6.04

Kan, B. M.; Shahid, M.; Chaudhry, M. I. (1986) Effect of honey bee pollination on the fruit setting and yield of loquat. Pakistan Journal of Forestry, 1986, Vol.36, No.2, pp.73-77 (2)http://www.echonet.org/eln&herbs/fruittrees.htm

AB: In experiments carried out in Peshawar, Pakistan, fruit production was compared for panicles of Eriobotrya japonica (A ) pollinated by honeybees, (B ) pollinated by other bees in an orchard without honeybees, and (C ) self-pollinated (bagged to exclude insects). Fruit set was 83%, 46% and 4% in A, B and C, respectively; the numbers of ripe fruits were 59, 28 and 2, and the weights of fruit/panicle 708, 252 and 21 g, respectively. It is recommended that honeybee colonies should be introduced to loquat orchards for pollination. [shows that it requires pollinators, but does not demonstrate self incompatibility] (2)Trees are usually self-fruitful

6.05

Kan, B. M.; Shahid, M.; Chaudhry, M. I. (1986) Effect of honey bee pollination on the fruit setting and yield of loquat. Pakistan Journal of Forestry, 1986, Vol.36, No.2, pp.73-77

AB: In experiments carried out in Peshawar, Pakistan, fruit production was compared for panicles of Eriobotrya japonica (A ) pollinated by honeybees, (B ) pollinated by other bees in an orchard without honeybees, and (C ) self-pollinated (bagged to exclude insects). Fruit set was 83%, 46% and 4% in A, B and C, respectively; the numbers of ripe fruits were 59, 28 and 2, and the weights of fruit/panicle 708, 252 and 21 g, respectively. It is recommended that honeybee colonies should be introduced to loquat orchards for pollination.

6.06

no evidence

6.07

(1)Verheij, E.W.M., and R.E. Coronel (eds.) 1991. Plant Resources of South East Asia. No. 2 : Edible fruits and nuts. Pudoc-DLO, Wageningen. 447pp. (2)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/loquat.html (3)http://www.echonet.org/eln&herbs/fruittrees.htm

p. 162 "when grown from seedthe trees take 6-8 years to bear fruit, but requent flushing may halve this period in the tropics. " (2)in southern Florida it has borne 100 lbs (45 kg) per tree at 5 years of age; 300 lbs (136 kg) when 15 to 20 years old. (3)A tree grown from seed may take 4-6 years to bear fruit. [Florida]

7.01

no evidence

7.02

CAB International, (2000) Forestry Compendium Global Module. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.

It is planted for commercial use in the Mediterranean, Australia, South Africa, South America, USA and India (Verheij EWM, Coronel RE, eds, 1991. Plant Resources of South-East Asia. No. 2. Edible fruits and nuts. Wageningen, Netherlands: Pudoc.).

7.03

no evidence

7.04

no evidence

7.05

no evidence

7.06

fleshy fruit

7.07

no evidence

7.08

bird-dispersed

8.01

(1)Dehgan, B. (1998) Landscape Plants for Subtropical Climates. University Press of Florida., Gainesville, FL. 638pp. P.521 (2)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/loquat.html

(1)"Fruit a pome to 2 inches long, yellowish tp orange, several seeded, edible" [large fruit with few seeds] (2)There may be 1 to 10 seeds, though, ordinarily, only 3 to 5, dark-brown or light-brown, angular -ellipsoid, about 5/8 in (1.5 cm) long and 5/16 in (8 mm) thick.

8.02

(1)Polat, A. A. (1997) Determination of germination rate coefficients of loquat seeds and their embryos stratified in various media for different durations. [FT: Farkli ortamlarda, deisik sürelerle katlanan yenidünya tohumlari ve bunlarin embriyolarinin cimlenme hiz katsayilarinin belirlenmesi.] Turkish Journal of Agriculture & Forestry, 1997, Vol.21, No.3, pp.219-224, 9 ref. (2)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/loquat.html

AB: Seeds of the loquat cultivars Gold Nugget and Tanaka were stratified at 4 deg C or kept at room temperature for 15 or 30 days before germination. Stratified seeds and embryos from them germinated more rapidly than unstratified seeds and embryos. The germination rate coefficient of seeds kept at room temperature was higher than that of seeds stratified at 4 deg , while embryos of stratified seeds had a higher germination coefficient than those kept at room temperature. Seeds stored for 30 days, whether at low temperature or not, and the embryos obtained from them germinated more rapidly than those stored for 15 days. (2)Loquat seeds remain viable for 6 months if stored in partly sealed glass jars under high humidity at room temperature, but the best temperature for storage is 40º F (5º C). 

8.03

(1)Weatherspoon, D. M.; Currey, W. L. (1978) Herbicide phytotoxicity evaluations for woody ornamentals. HortScience, 1978, Vol.13, No.3, Section 2, p.357 (2)http://www.igrin.co.nz/trisha/Breamhead.html (3)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_WG209

(1)"Herbicides were evaluated on several woody ornamental species from 1974 to '78. The best results with container-grown plants were achieved by oxadiazon and trifluralin with butralin, oxyfluorfen and prodiamine showing promise."; " Excessive phytotoxicity resulted from perfluidone on dogwood, loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) and ivy," (2)Escort, Tordon. Can paint stumps with solution of Tordon. (3)Tree can be cut-stump treated with 50% Garlon 3A or Garlon 4 or with a basal bark application of 10% Garlon 4.

8.04

no evidence

8.05

no evidence


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