College student develops innovative solution to fight major invasive species wreaking havoc on the Midwest:

'There are few miracle fixes in the world'

Susan Elizabeth Turek
August 4, 2024·3 min read

Michigan Tech student Abe Stone's concoction may start out as odd-looking gelatinous blobs, but those orbs may hold the key to fighting an invasive species wreaking havoc in the Midwest.

In March, the university's research blog detailed how Stone is using the lab-nicknamed "SuperPurp" — a nod to the animated show Adventure Time — to battle two species of buckthorn trees that are throwing native ecosystems out of balance.

The undergraduate student, who is studying ecology and evolutionary biology, developed the sprayable "mushroom soup" after discovering a more efficient way to propagate chondrostereum purpureum — the fungus that causes silverleaf disease in trees.

His method results in the orb-like growth that is easier to turn into a chemical-free alternative to control buckthorn. Ultimately, Stone hopes that his research will become a proven method of removing the invasive trees without contaminating nearby species with toxins.

More:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/college-student-develops-innovative-solution-000000016.html