%0 Journal Article
%T The Distribution and Problems of the Invasive Alien Plant, <i>Mimosa diplotricha</i> C. Wright ex Sauvalle (Mimosaceae) in Nigeria
%A Frank Ekhator
%A Osariyekemwen O. Uyi
%A Celestine E. Ikuenobe
%A Celestina O. Okeke
%J American Journal of Plant Sciences
%P 866-877
%@ 2158-2750
%D 2013
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ajps.2013.44107
%X <p class=\"MsoNormal\">
	<i><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">Mimosa diplotricha</span></i><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> is an invasive perennial,
scrambling, thorny, leguminous shrub of neotropical origin widely acknowledged
as a major economic, agricultural and ecological burden in its introduced
ranges. Although the plant is thought to have been present in Nigeria for well
over two decades, its mode and time of introduction is uncertain. In spite of
the continuing spread of, and the menace caused by </span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">M. diplotricha</span></i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> in Nigeria, no attempt has been made to map the
distribution of the plant countrywide. Therefore, we conducted a countrywide
survey between 2007 and 2009, sponsored by the Weed Science Society of Nigeria
(WSSN) to determine the spread and status of </span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">Mimosa diplotricha</span></i></span><i><span lang=\"EN-US\"> </span></i><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">in
Nigeria. A further objective of this paper was to review literatures on </span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">Mimosa diplotricha</span></i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> in Nigeria and
elsewhere to enable comparison. In this paper, we report on the spread,
distribution and problems of </span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">Mimosa
diplotricha</span></i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> in Nigeria based on the field monitoring surveys conducted. The
distribution of this invasive plant in Nigeria has been mapped and is presented
together with its ecology and problems being caused. Since the early 1990s, the
weed has started to spread and invade many parts of the country causing
significant damage to many natural and semi natural ecosystems. The different
control options used by farmers to control </span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">Mimosa
diplotricha</span></i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> in Nigeria are discussed. Based on the successful control of
this invasive plant using the biocontrol agent, </span><i><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">Heteropsylla</span></i></span><i><span lang=\"EN-US\"> </span><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">spinulosa</span></i><i><span lang=\"EN-US\"> </span></i><span lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-family:Verdana;\">in countries such as</span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><span style=\"font-family:Verdana;\"> Australia and Papua New Guinea
(PNG), we discussed the biological control prospects for the
%K &lt
%K i&gt
%K Mimosa diplotricha&lt
%K /i&gt
%K Invasive Weed
%K Problems
%K Spread
%K Control Prospects
%K Nigeria
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=30080