Showing papers in "Weed Research in 2002"

Weed management in organic agriculture: are we addressing the right issues?

Abstract: Summary Despite the serious threat which weeds offer to organic crop production, relatively little attention has so far been paid to research on weed management in organic agriculture, an issue that is often approached from a reductionist perspective. This paper aims to outline why and how this problem should instead be tackled from a system perspective. Compared with conventional agriculture, in organic agriculture the effects of cultural practices (e.g. fertilization and direct weed control) on crop:weed interactions usually manifest themselves more slowly. It follows that weed management should be tackled in an extended time domain and needs deep integration with the other cultural practices, aiming to optimize the whole cropping system rather than weed control per se. In this respect, cover crop management is an important issue because of its implications for soil, nutrient, pest and weed management. It is stressed that direct (physical) weed control can only be successful where preventive and cultural weed management is applied to reduce weed emergence (e.g. through appropriate choice of crop sequence, tillage, smother/cover crops) and improve crop competitive ability (e.g. through appropriate choice of crop genotype, sowing/planting pattern and fertilization strategy). Two examples of system-oriented weed management systems designed for organic agriculture are illustrated as well as future perspectives and problems.

Effect of tillage, cover crop and crop rotation on the composition of weed flora in a sandy soil

Abstract: The development of integrated weed management strategies requires knowledge of mechanisms that influence compositional changes in weed flora. A 9-year study was initiated in 1988 at Delhi, Canada, on a loamy sand soil to evaluate the effect of tillage systems [conventional (CT) and no-till (NT)] and cover crops (only in NT) on weed density, species composition and associations, and crop yield in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/bean/winter wheat rotation. Three bean types: soyabean (Glycine max L. Merr.), white bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and kidney bean (P. vulgaris L.) were included. The NT system included variations: rye (Secale cereale L.) or maize (Zea mays L.) cover crop, volunteer wheat disked after harvest and wheat stubble. Data were collected in 1994, 1995 and 1996. Tillage systems, cover crops and crop type had differential effects on weed densities, species composition and associations. Weed densities were not affected by tillage or cover crops in wheat but, in the beans, densities were greater in the CT than in the NT systems. Various associations of weed species with tillage system, cover crop and crop type were observed. Crop yields were not affected by tillage type or cover crop, except that soyabean yields were highest in plots with cover crops.

Variation in the development of secondary dormancy in oilseed rape genotypes under conditions of stress

Abstract: Summary A substantial amount of seed is left in the fields before and during harvest of oilseed rape. Although this crop exhibits little or no primary dormancy, the absence of certain environmental cues that promote germination of imbibed seeds induces secondary dormancy. The work reported investigated the extent to which environmental stress conditions, including osmotic stress, low oxygen stress and anaerobiosis, induce secondary dormancy in oilseed rape, and examined the variation in development of secondary dormancy between and within genotypes. Osmotic stress was most effective in inducing dormancy. Anaerobic treatment produced very few dormant seeds, as did an atmosphere low in oxygen and high in nitrogen. The development of secondary dormancy under osmotic stress varied considerably between and within genotypes. Dormancy ranged from almost zero to about 60% for winter genotypes and about 85% for spring types. Within genotypes, variations occurred between seed lots and years of harvest. Temperature variations affected the percentage of dormant seeds. More dormant seeds were likely to be produced with incubation under water stress at 20 °C than at 12 °C. In winter genotypes, fewer dormant seeds were produced when incubation temperature and germination test temperatures differed. Thus, incubating at 20 °C and 12 °C, followed by germination tests at 20 °C and 12 °C, respectively, produced most dormant seeds. Also, in the winter genotypes, the potential development of secondary dormancy was positively correlated with the pattern and speed of germination of untreated seeds.

Effects of winter wheat cultivars and seed rate on the biological characteristics of naturally occurring weed flora

Abstract: Summary Differential competitive ability of six winter wheat cultivars and traits that confer such attributes were investigated for a range of seed rates in the presence or absence of weeds for a naturally occurring weed flora in two successive years in split-plot field experiments. Crop height and tillering capacity were considered suitable attributes for weed suppression, although competitiveness is a relative rather than an absolute characteristic. Maris Huntsman and Maris Widgeon were the most competitive cultivars whereas Fresco was the least competitive. Manipulation of seed rate was a more reliable factor than cultivar selection for enhancement of weed suppression, although competitiveness of cultivars Buster, Riband and Maris Widgeon was not enhanced by increased seed rate. Crop densities ranging between 125 and 270 plants m−2 were found to offer adequate weed suppression. Linear relationships were observed between individual and total weed species dry weight and reproductive structures per unit area.

The persistence of seeds of 16 weed species over six years in two arable fields

Abstract: Summary Two experiments have investigated the persistence of 16 arable, annual broad-leaved weed species over 6 years in a silty loam and a clay soil. Small plastic beads were included as an ‘inert’ comparison. Seeds were broadcast in October on to plots at the start of the experiment, and these were either tine cultivated or ploughed annually thereafter. Plots were sown with either spring or winter wheat. As far as possible, weed seeding was prevented each year. For some species, the seed decline appeared to be slower on the ploughed plots than on the tined plots and in the winter wheat compared with the spring wheat. Seed decline also tended to be slower on the clay soil at Rothamsted than on the silty loam at Long Ashton. Some species declined rapidly (e.g. Brassica napus, Chrysanthemum segetum, Galium aparine, Galeopsis tetrahit), with annual decline rates in excess of 58%, whereas others declined very little (e.g. Papaver rhoeas decline rate 9%). Most of the other species had decline rates between 20% and 40%. The results are discussed in relation to the development of population dynamics models to predict long-term consequences of alternative weed management strategies.

Implications of delayed Echinochloa spp. germination and duration of competition for integrated weed management in water‐seeded rice

Abstract: Summary Co-ordinating herbicide applications with the suppressive ability of the crop has the potential to improve weed control and optimize herbicide use in water-seeded rice. However, the successful integration of herbicide applications and crop development depends on the timing and duration of competition between rice and weeds. The critical period of competition between rice and Echinochloa species was examined in field and glasshouse experiments from 1996 to 2000. In 1999 and 2000, Echinochloa species seeded 30 days after rice in field experiments did not survive and rice yields were not reduced when plots were kept weed-free for 30 days or longer. In a basin experiment conducted in 1998, E. phyllopogon seeded with the crop was unaffected by light competition alone but the relative importance of shading by the crop increased when E. phyllopogon was seeded after rice. Management strategies that delay the germination or growth of Echinochloa species might confer a competitive advantage to rice and reduce the need for herbicide applications. However, yields in the field experiments were reduced by at least 18% after only 30 days of competition in both years, suggesting that it may be difficult to integrate currently available herbicides with crop growth in water-seeded rice.

Spatial correlation between weed species densities and soil properties.

Abstract: The spatial cross-correlation between weed species densities and six soil properties within fields was analysed using cross-semivariograms. The survey was carried out in three successive years in two fields. The most consistent relationship between weed species density (numbers m -2 ) and soil properties was negative cross-correlation between the density of Viola arvensis Murray and clay content. This correlation was found in both fields; however, the range of spatial dependence varied between fields. In one of the fields, the density of Lamium purpureum L. was positively cross-correlated with the phosphorus content in the soil in all years. The density of Veronica spp. and Poa annua L. was negatively cross-correlated with pH in all three years. Other spatial cross-correlations that were found in this study were inconsistent over time or field site. The densities of some of the weed species were spatially cross-correlated with more than one soil property. The results showed that the range of spatial dependence varied not only between fields, but also between weed species and soil properties, as well as between years. This study indicates that the weed pattern is field-specific and that the spatial variation in soil properties within a field is one of several factors affecting weed patchiness.

Improved management of Avena ludoviciana and Phalaris paradoxa with more densely sown wheat and less herbicide

Abstract: The effectiveness of crop competition for better weed control and reducing herbicide rates was determined for Avena ludoviciana and Phalaris paradoxa. Four experiments, previously broadcast with seeds of the two weeds in separate plots, were sown with three wheat densities, and emerged weeds were treated with four herbicide doses (0-100% of recommended rate). The measured crop and weed traits were first analysed across experiments for treatment effects. Grain yield and weed seed production data were then analysed using cubic smoothing splines to model the response surfaces. Although herbicide rate for both weeds and crop density for P. paradoxa had significant linear effects on yield, there was a significant non-linearity of the response surface. Similarly, herbicide rate and crop density had significant linear effects on weed seed production, and there was significant non-linearity of the response surface that differed for the weed species. Maximum crop yield and reduction in seed production of P. paradoxa was achieved with approximately 80 wheat plants m-2 and weeds treated with 100% herbicide rate. For A. ludoviciana, this was 130 wheat plants m-2 applied with 75% herbicide rate. Alternatively, these benefits were achieved by increasing crop density to 150 plants m-2 applied with 50% herbicide rate. At high crop density, application of the 100% herbicide rate tended to reduce yield, particularly with the A. ludoviciana herbicide, and this impacted adversely on the suppression of weed seed production. Thus, more competitive wheat crops have the potential for improving weed control and reducing herbicide rates.

Possible involvement of gibberellins and ethylene in Orobanche ramosa germination

Abstract: Six inhibitors acting at different stages of gibberellin biosynthesis, applied during conditioning of Orobanche ramosa seeds, reduced subsequent germination in the presence of GR 24 (a strigol analogue). Ethylene seems to be involved in the induction of germination of conditioned seeds by GR 24 , as inhibitors of its synthesis or action, applied to conditioned seeds, also strongly reduced induction of germination by GR 24 . Exogenous ethylene did not induce germination of conditioned seeds, but 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid was able to do so. When inhibitors of gibberellin biosynthesis were applied to conditioned seeds in the presence of GR 24 , they inhibited germination. These same inhibitors also strongly inhibited germination of conditioned Striga hermonthica seeds in response to GR 24 ; this inhibitory effect was reversed by the addition of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid. The effect of these inhibitors on S. hermonthica, in which ethylene is a necessary mediator of germination induction by GR 24 , strongly suggests that ethylene synthesis is also required for the induction of O. ramosa seed germination by GR 24 . These growth regulators, which inhibit the two steps of germination in O. ramosa, could be useful for the development of methods for early season control of this parasite.

Effect of environmental conditions on Alopecurus myosuroides germination. I. Effect of temperature and light

Abstract: Summary Control of Alopecurus myosuroides with a minimum amount of herbicide may be improved by models describing the impact of cropping system effects on the weed's demography. In order to develop the submodel relating the weed seedbank to the emerged seedlings, a series of laboratory experiments was set up to analyse and quangify the effects on A. myosuroides germination of temperature, storage location, seed age and light incidence for various seed populations. The minimum temperature requirement for germination was estimated at 0 °C, and it did not depend on seed population or weight. In the subsequent experiments, a four-parameter non-linear equation depending on accumulated day-degrees was fitted to the observed germination data, resulting in the estimation of parameters quangifying germination proportion and rate. Storage location had little influence on germination. Germination proportion and rate increased with seed age and were higher in light than in darkness. The later the germinating seeds were submitted to light, the less was their germination stimulated. These observations were synthesized by a series of equations quangifying the relative variation in germination parameters as a function of storage and light conditions, independent of seed population.

Influence of developmental stage and time of assessment on hot water weed control

Abstract: Summary The influence of plant developmental stage in hot water weed control was studied on the test weed Sinapis alba in field experiments. The dose was measured as thermal energy in the hot water (kJ m−2) and the response as reduction in plant weight. The energy dose for a 90% reduction in plant weight was 340 kJ m−2 at the two-leaf stage, which is one-third of the energy required for the same reduction at the six-leaf stage. Treatment at an early stage saves energy, increases the driving speed and lowers the costs. Hard surface areas with naturally developed weeds were used to study the required treatment interval and the influence of time of assessment on the reduction in weed cover. The required treatment interval was 25 d on average, which is similar to that of flame weeding. A longer lasting effect requires a higher energy dose. A 50% higher energy dose was needed to obtain a 90% reduction in weed cover that lasted for 15 d instead of 7 d. After 3–4 weeks, hardly any reduction could be recorded because of regrowth of perennial weeds. However, hot water weed control has a potential on urban hard surfaces and railroad embankments, especially where the use of herbicides is restricted.

Modelling herbicide dose and weed density effects on crop:weed competition

Abstract: The effects of a range of herbicide doses on crop:weed competition were investigated by measuring crop yield and weed seed production. Weed competitivity of wheat was greater in cv. Spark than in cv. Avalon, and decreased with increasing herbicide dose, being well described by the standard dose-response curve. A combined model was then developed by incorporating the standard dose-response curve into the rectangular hyperbola competition model to describe the effects of plant density of a model weed, Brassica napus L., and a herbicide, metsulfuron-methyl, on crop yield and weed seed production. The model developed in this study was used to describe crop yield and weed seed production, and to estimate the herbicide dose required to restrict crop yield loss caused by weeds and weed seed production to an acceptable level. At the acceptable yield loss of 5% and the weed density of 200 B. napus plants m -2 , the model recommends 0.9 g a.i. metsulfuron-methyl ha -1 in Avalon and 2.0 g a.i. in Spark.

Non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of the weedy facultative winter annual Papaver rhoeas

Abstract: Non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of the weedy facultative winter annual Papaver rhoeas

Critical period of weed control in transplanted chilli pepper

Abstract: Summary Field experiments were conducted from 1991 to 1993 to determine the critical period of weed control in chilli pepper. The maximum weed-infested period ranged between 0.7 and 3.2 weeks after transplanting (WAT) at a 5% yield loss level. To prevent losses in total and marketable yields, weeds should be removed 2.1 or 0.9 WAT respectively. The end of the critical period decreased as the predetermined yield loss level increased from 2.5% to 10%. The minimum weed-free period ranged between 6.7 and 15.3 WAT at a 5% yield loss level depending on crop yield category. The chilli pepper crop required an average of 12.2 weeks of weed-free maintenance to avoid losses above 5%. Using a 5% yield loss level, the duration of the critical period of weed control was 14 weeks in 1991 and 11.2 weeks in 1993, but was shortened to 5.1 weeks in 1992. The results suggest that weeds must be controlled during the first half of the crop's growing season in order to prevent yield losses.

Long‐term modelling of weed control strategies: analysis of threshold‐based options for weed species with contrasted competitive abilities

Abstract: A simple life-cycle-based demography model was adapted for two contrasting weed species (Alopecurus myosuroides and Poa annual. This model included a seed production function that accounted for population self-regulation through weed:weed interactions. The A. myosuroides version of the model was tested with field data. Long-term simulations of population demography were then performed to investigate the relationship between weed control strategies based on density thresholds and both the frequency of herbicide use and the long-term economic profitability. This study confirms that threshold-based weed management strategies are more cost-effective than spraying every year and may allow important reductions in herbicide use. However, after the first transient years of either systematically spraying or withholding herbicide, the long-term spraying frequency was insensitive to threshold values between 0.01 and 100 plants m -2 . The highest long-term profitability was obtained for the lowest threshold tested, and the profitability decreased rapidly when the threshold was raised above 4-6 and 10-20 plants m -2 for A. myosuroides and P. annua respectively. The study thus indicates that the exact threshold value is of little importance for the long-term reliance of the system on herbicide, provided that it is reasonably low. For species with low competitive ability, high thresholds may be used in some cropping systems to reduce the spraying frequency for environmental considerations, but those options would also reduce the profitability if no compensatory measures were taken.

Do maize cultivars demonstrate tolerance to the parasitic weed Striga asiatica

Abstract: Three cultivars of maize (TMV-1, Katumani and Staha) were grown in the absence and presence of the root hemiparasite Striga asiatica in the field in eastern Tanzania. Infested Katumani and TMV-1 plants yielded 22% and 25% less grain than uninfested plants; however, the grain yield of Staha was similar in both infested and uninfested plants. Measurements of gas exchange and the quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII) revealed that photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were lower in infested plants of TMV-1 and Katumani than in control plants, but were not as severely affected in S. asiatica-infested plants of the cultivar Staha. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements, particularly the F v /F m ratio, showed that S. asiatica predisposed TMV-1 to greater photoinhibition than control plants after exposure to irradiances of 2000 μmol quanta m -2 s -1 in the field during the day. The lowering of the F v /F m ratio resulted from a decrease in F m rather than in F o . In contrast to TMV-1, infested Staha plants were not more photoinhibited than control plants by mid-afternoon. We suggest that the ability of Staha to yield well in the presence of S. asiatica may result, in part, from the ability of this cultivar to maintain high rates of photosynthesis in the field, thus limiting the extent of photoinhibition.

Spatial variability in the degradation rates of isoproturon and chlorotoluron in a clay soil

Abstract: Thirty separate soil samples were taken from different locations at the Brimstone farm experimental site, Oxfordshire, UK, Incubations of isoproturon under standard conditions (15 degreesC; -33 kPa soil water potential) indicated considerable variation in degradation rate in the soil, with the time to 50% loss (DT50) varying from 6 to 30 days. These differences were confirmed in a second comparative experiment in which degradation rates were assessed in 11 samples of the same soil in two separate laboratories using an identical protocol. There was a significant negative linear relationship (r(2) = 0.746) between the DT50 values and soil pH in this group of soils. In a third experiment, degradation rates of the related compound chlorotoluron were compared with those of isoproturon in 12 separate soil samples, six of which had been stored for several months, and six of which were freshly collected from the field. Degradation of both herbicides occurred more slowly in the stored samples than in the fresh samples but, in all of them, chlorotoluron degraded more slowly than isoproturon, and there was a highly significant linear relationship (r(2) = 0.916) between the respective DT50 values.

Estimation of seed production by Stellaria media, Sinapis arvensis and Tripleurospermum inodorum in arable crops

Abstract: Summary Seed production by Sinapis arvensis, Tripleurospermum inodorum and Stellaria media growing alone or in crops of spring wheat, spring field beans and spring linseed was studied in 11 experiments. Seed numbers for S. arvensis and T. inodorum were measured directly from samples harvested in late summer but for S. media were estimated from measurements of flower number and seeds/flower. Seed numbers were regressed against plant dry matter. In general, a linear log/log plot (y = mx + c) fitted the data for each species quite well (R2 = 0.75, 0.89, 0.89 for S. arvensis, T. inodorum and S. media respectively), but there were small differences between crops and years in the individual regression lines, especially the intercept values. Estimated seed production for a ‘mean’ 10-g plant (dry matter) in the three crops for S. arvensis, T. inodorum and S. media was 590, 6300 and 8600, respectively. Seed production tended to be lower for the weeds in wheat than it was in field beans and linseed, or in the plants grown alone, primarily due to the differences in plant weight arising from the differing competition exerted by the crops involved.

Influence of liquid manure application method on weed control in spring cereals

Abstract: Injection of liquid manure (slurry)into the soil is an alternative to the traditional surface application. By the injection method,it is possible to place nutrients closer to the crop sown, thus offering the crop a competitive advantage over weeds. This study compares the response in crop yield, weed density and weed biomass to injection vs. surface application of liquid manure through three growing seasons in barley and oats. The manure applications were combined with treatments of weed harrowing or herbicide spraying or no treatment at all. The levels of weed control and crop yield obtained by harrowing and herbicides were larger when slurry was injected compared with surface application. Without any weed control treatments,the injection method decreased the final weed biomass in barley. The in fluence of nutrient injection on yield and weed control seemed to be modulated by the time of emergence and the early growth rate of the crop relative to weeds. Thus, because of its early root growth and development, barley responded more quickly to the injection treatment than oats. Consequently, barley became a more competitive crop.

Can wild relatives of sorghum provide new sources of resistance or tolerance against Striga species

Abstract: Summary The genus Striga contains some of the most noxious parasitic plants, which have a devastating impact on cereal production in Africa; of most importance are Striga hermonthica and Striga asiatica. Complete resistance to infection by Striga species does not exist in cultivated cereals. Of great interest is the possibility that wild relatives of cereals may provide a genetic basis for resistance or tolerance to infection and may be of enormous value for the development of resistant crops. A wild relative of cultivated sorghum, Sorghum arundinaceum, demonstrated tolerance to infection by S. asiatica, with little impact of S. asiatica on host growth or grain production compared with the detrimental impact of the parasite on cultivated sorghum. Infection by S.hermonthica, however, had a significant influence on host performance for both wild and cultivated sorghum. Differences in host:parasite responses may be explained by the timing of parasite attachment and differences in host specificity for these two Striga species.

The influence of nitrogen supply on the ability of wheat and potato to suppress Stellaria media growth and reproduction

Abstract: This paper tests the hypothesis that increased soil nitrogen supply reduces the growth of late-emerging weeds in wheat and potato by enhancing canopy leaf area development and thereby reducing the availability of light for weed growth. Two series of experiments were conducted: one in spring wheat (1997, 1999) with sown Stellaria media and one in potato (1998, 1999) with naturally emerged weeds, including S. media. For each crop, two cultivars were grown at three levels of nitrogen supply. In wheat, as in a monoculture of S. media, total dry weight and seed number of the weed increased with soil nitrogen supply, whereas in potato the opposite was found. Increased soil nitrogen supply increased the nitrogen uptake of S. media in wheat, despite the reduced light availability, indicating that S. media in wheat was limited by nitrogen. In potato, on the other hand, growth of S. media was limited by light availability, which decreased with increased soil nitrogen supply. We conclude that the differences in response of S. media in wheat and potato to additional nitrogen supply are attributable to the dual influence of soil nitrogen supply on light and nitrogen availability, which are mediated by the crops.

Germination characteristics and emergence time of annual Bromus species of differing weediness in Sweden

Abstract: The germination ecology of four annual Bromus species, which differ in weediness on arable land in southern Sweden, was investigated. The most problematic species is Bromus sterilis, while Bromus hordeaceus frequently occurs on arable land. In contrast, Bromus arvensis is a rare weed, and Bromus tectorum is found infrequently in fields despite being a widespread ruderal species. Five experiments were conducted to identify germination characteristics that could explain differences in habitat and abundance: (i) intraspecific variation in dormancy level; (ii) germination response to different light conditions; (iii) light and temperature interactions at germination; (iv) timing of seedling emergence; and (v) seed persistence in soil. Bromus sterilis and B. tectorum behaved similarly in all tests. For both these species, there were large differences in dormancy level among populations and strong inhibition of germination by light. In addition, emergence from seeds sown on the soil surface was both delayed and reduced compared with buried seeds. In contrast, B. hordeaceus and B. arvensis showed generally weak dormancy, and germination was only slightly inhibited by light. It was concluded that germination characteristics alone do not explain the differences in weediness between these four species.

Orobanche species and population discrimination using intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR).

Abstract: SummaryOrobanche species are commonly identified using morphological characteristics. In many cases, the distinction of closely related species is difficult, and a molecular tool is more suitable to differentiate them. In this study, genomic polymorphism between morphologically distinct species was investigated through amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) regions. Five primers were used to study genetic variation in the morphologically distinct species O. hederae and O. amethystea, as well as the closely related species O. cernua and O. cumana. For the first two species, all the primers detected genetic polymorphism. Anchored primers allowed the identification of more specific molecular markers than non-anchored tri- and tetranucleotide primers. Genetic polymorphism was investigated among three O. hederae populations using the two types of primer. One non-anchored and two anchored primers detected intraspecific variation, which was not correlated with the geographical location of those populations. The primer (GATA)4 detected polymorphism between five specimens each of O. cernua and O. cumana species collected from different countries, permitting these two closely related species to be clearly differentiated. This study demonstrated that ISSR markers can be highly reliable for precise identification of Orobanche species.

Modelling spatio-temporal dynamics of herbicide resistance

Abstract: A mathematical model has been developed for the risk assessment of the spread of genes conferring herbicide resistance in plant populations. The model combines an age-and-stage-structured population dynamic model, a population genetic model and a model of spatial spread. This is achieved by embedding a local matrix population model into a cellular automaton model with raster cells as spatial units. The dynamics of each cell is determined by both its local dynamics and the interaction with neighbouring cells. The model is applied to the evaluation of management strategies to delay or even to prevent long-term evolution of resistance in an annual grass weed. The results show that the appearance and spread of resistant genes is a highly non-linear process exhibiting threshold phenomena, which occur for a wide range of parameters. The properties of the seed survival curve constitute the `genetic memory' of the system and thus determine its long-term dynamics. It is possible to delay the evolution of resistance by suspension of treatment, reduction in herbicide application rate and introducing fallow periods. Spatial spread from an infested plot is inhibited by leaving untreated strips between adjacent fields.

The impact of cropping on weed species composition in rice after fallow across a hydrological gradient in west Africa

Abstract: In a 5-year experiment, weed species composition in rice was recorded at different positions along the toposequence, from the rain-fed upland to the irrigated valley bottom. A total of 107 species was recorded, 70 of which occurred in more than 1% of the total of 465 samples. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to explore the changes in weed flora over time in the different rice-growing environments. There were substantial differences in the composition of weed flora between the differing environments and years. On the upland sites, there was a pronounced shift from perennial grasses, including Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel and Pennisetum purpureum Schum., to annual grass weeds, such as Digitaria horizontalis Willd., Chloris pilosa Schum. and Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. The forbs Boerhavia spp. and Euphorbia heterophylla L. also increased in abundance, whereas others, such as Aspilia bussei Hoffm. & Muschl. and Laggera aurita (L.f.) Sch. Bip. ex C. B. Clarke, declined. The total number of species in the upland site declined from 30 to 11 between 1992 and 1996 compared with 11 to eight species in the same period in the irrigated lowlands. Although the numbers of species recorded in the lowlands were lower and more stable over time, there was an increase in problem grass weeds, such as Echinochloa crus-pavonis (Kunth.) Schult. in the irrigated lowlands and Leersia hexandra Sw. in the rain-fed lowlands.

Genetic diversity in Echinochloa spp. collected from different geographic origins and within rice fields in Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract: Summary Diversity studies of Echinochloa spp. are complicated by problems in taxonomy and species identification, caused by the existence of morphologically intergrading types. Six amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primer combinations and five microsatellites were used to assess variation in 24 samples morphologically identified as E. crus-galli, E. colona and E. crus-pavonis, from Bangladesh, India, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire and Philippines. Out of 909 AFLP bands generated, 775 were polymorphic. Genotype diversity for the microsatellites ranged from 0.28 to 0.72. Similarity matrices were calculated using Jaccard coefficient, and input into cluster and principal coordinates analyses. AFLP and microsatellite results were highly correlated. Echinochloa crus-pavonis and E. crus-galli were intermixed, consistent with the view that E. crus-galli occurs as numerous intergrading races in the four countries (Bangladesh, India, Cote d'Ivoire and Philippines). The E. colona samples clustered as a distinct group. In 15 samples of E. crus-pavonis collected from rice fields in a valley in Cote d'Ivoire (over a 2-km distance), four different genotypes were found in a 4 m × 4 m area. These results suggest that AFLPs and SSRs may be useful not only for discriminating genotypes and studying population structure but also for helping to resolve taxonomic relationships in Echinochloa spp.

Influence of soil pH-sorption interactions on the carry-over of fresh and aged soil residues of imazamox

Abstract: Long-term carry-over of some imidazolinone herbicides has been observed in soil that is below pH 6.5, resulting in significant damage to sugarbeet. In a field study in south-west Minnesota, imazamox concentration decreased rapidly in soil, regardless of pH. Despite similar amounts of aged soil residues of imazamox remaining at different pH levels, bioavailability differed with pH as a result of pH effects on sorption-desorption interactions. At low pH, more imazamox was sorbed than at high pH, but it was readily desorbed. At high pH, less imazamox was sorbed initially, but it did not readily desorb. Thus, after 3 months, the remaining imazamox in low-pH soil was desorbable and bioavailable, resulting in injury to oilseed rape and sugarbeet. In aged, low-pH soil, adding lime released bound imazamox, which was then degraded, resulting in less carry-over.

Mating system in Hirschfeldia incana and hybridization to oilseed rape

Abstract: Concerns have been raised about the possibility of sexual transfer of herbicide resistance genes from transgenic crops towards weedy relatives. The average rate of spontaneous hybridization between Hirschfeldia incana (L.) Lagreze-Fossat and oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) was 0.6 hybrids per plant over 3 years of field experiments using herbicide-resistant oilseed rape as a pollen donor. Self-incompatibility was shown to be the mating system of most individuals within a population of H. incana, although some plants had some ability to self-fertilize, which could mitigate gene flow. Back-crossing interspecific hybrids to H. incana over five generations showed that introgression was not successful in our experiment.

Effect of environmental conditions on Alopecurus myosuroides germination. II. Effect of moisture conditions and storage length

Abstract: Summary More effective control of Alopecurus myosuroides with a minimum amount of herbicide may be achievable by using models describing the impact of cropping system effects on the weed's demography. In order to develop the submodel relating the weed seedbank to the emerged seedlings, a series of laboratory experiments was set up to analyse and quangify the effects on A. myosuroides germination of length of seed storage in dry conditions, soil water potential and dryness during imbibition. The base soil water potential for germination was estimated at −1.5 MPa. A four-parameter non-linear equation depending on accumulated day–degrees was fitted to the observed germination data, resulting in the estimation of parameters illustrating germination proportion and rate. Germination proportion and rate increased with seed storage length, and were increased by short and decreased by long dry periods occurring after imbibition. These results showed that, in contrast to crop species, A. myosuroides germination cannot be expressed simply as a function of hydrothermal time, but also requires the determination of the proportion of non-dormant seeds as a function of seed age and environmental conditions.