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If seeds are needed to replant a plantation, a seed orchard can be specially protected against the biocontrol agents in the same way as other crops are protected against insect pests. For instance, trees are normally grown for their wood, but the seeds are seldom utilised. These reduce the reproductive potential of the plants, curb their dispersal and reduce the follow-up work needed after clearing, while still allowing for the continued utilisation of the plant.
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This conflict is usually resolved by avoiding biocontrol agents that have the ability of causing damage to the useful part of the plant, and instead using only seed-reducing agents. However, if the target plant is useful in certain situations but becomes a pest when uncontrolled, conflict of interests arises regarding biological control. In such projects, scientists may use agents that affect the vegetative parts of the plant as well as agents that reduce seed production. If the aim is to get rid of the invasive plant species, scientists select the types of biocontrol agents causing the most damage that are available. The choice of biocontrol agents depends on the aim of the control project. Biocontrol agents target specific plant organs, such as the vegetative parts of the plant (its leaves, stems or roots) or the reproductive parts (flowers, fruits or seeds).
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In the control of invasive plants, the biocontrol agents used most frequently are insects, mites and pathogens (disease-causing organisms such as fungi). Natural enemies that are used for biological control are called biocontrol agents. Integrating biological control into weed managementīiological control is an attempt to introduce the plant’s natural enemies to its new habitat, with the assumption that these natural enemies will remove the plant’s competitive advantage until its vigour is reduced to a level comparable to that of the natural vegetation.