The allelopathic effect of three Amaranthus spp. (pigweeds) on wheat (Triticum durum)

The allelopathic effect of Amaranthus retroflexus L., Amaranthus blitoides S. Wats, and Amaranthus gracilis Desf. on wheat Triticum durum L. was investigated under laboratory, glasshouse and field conditions. Laboratory experiments showed that fresh shoot or root extract of the three weed species reduced germination, coleoptile length, root length and root dry weight of wheat seedlings. The inhibitory effects were rate dependent, with low concentrations of shoot extract promoting shoot growth of wheat. Fresh plant extracts were more phytotoxic than dried plant extracts and shoot extracts had higher detrimental effects than root extracts. In pot experiments, dried shoot extract of A. gracilis increased shoot and root dry weights of wheat seedlings. For A retroflexus and A. blitoides the extracts of these and dried shoots (8 g kg^?1), which had been added to soil mixtures significantly reduced ger-mination and growth of wheat seedlings. Addition of up to 16 g kg^?1 of A. gracilis residues promoted shoot growth of wheat and had no significant harmful effect on root growth. Roots appeared more sensitive to allelopathic effect than shoots. Under field conditions, incorporation of A. retroflexus or A. blitoides residues in the soil reduced height, grain and straw yield of wheat, whereas A. gracilis residues stimulated plant height and increased yield.     

A TECHNIQUE FOR STUDYING THE RATE OF ROOT GROWTH OF INTACT SEEDLINGS IN A HERBICIDE MEDIUM

Summary. Time-lapse cine photography was used to record intact seedling root growth of pea and barley during separate exposure of root, shoot + seed, or entire needling to herbicides. The shoot + seed and the root zones were isolated in two square Petri dishes fixed edge to edge, and separately treated with moistened herbicide-treated sand. The seated dishes were placed at an angle of 30° in a photographic chamber. Photographs of roots were automatically recorded at 10-min intervals on 16 mm high speed reversal film over 72 h. Root length images on film were measured using an ocular micrometer. Root growth of pea and barley seedlings was normal when the shoot + seed zone was treated with 2,4-D at 1 and 10 ppm, respectively. In similar treatment of roots growth inhibition occurred after approximately 20 h in both plants, and root growth ceased alter 32 h in peas, and 57 h in barley. These results indicate the inherent tolerance of barley roots to 2,4-D.
Technique pour l'étude du taux de croissance des racines intactes de plantules dans un milieu herbicide     

Optimal root system strategies for desert phreatophytic seedlings in the search for groundwater

Desert phreatophytes are greatly dependent on groundwater, but how their root systems adapt to different groundwater depths is poorly understood. In the present study, shoot and root growths of Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. seedlings were studied across a gradient of groundwater depths. Leaves, stems and roots of different orders were measured after 120 days of different groundwater treatments. Results indicated that the depth of soil wetting front and the vertical distribution of soil water contents were highly controlled by groundwater depths. The shoot growth and biomass of A. sparsifolia decreased, but the root growth and rooting depth increased under deeper groundwater conditions. The higher ratios of root biomass, root/shoot and root length/leaf area under deeper groundwater conditions implied that seedlings of A. sparsifolia economized carbon cost on their shoot growths. The roots of A. sparsifolia distributed evenly around the soil wetting fronts under deeper groundwater conditions. Root diameters and root lengths of all orders were correlated with soil water availabilities both within and among treatments. Seedlings of A. sparsifolia produced finer first- and second-order roots but larger third- and fourth-order roots in dry soils. The results demonstrated that the root systems of desert phreatophytes can be optimized to acquire groundwater resources and maximize seedling growth by balancing the costs of carbon gain.     

Allelopathic effect of Salvia syriaca L. (Syrian sage) in wheat

The allelopathic effect of Salvia syriaca L. (Syrian sage) was examined against wheat in glasshouse and laboratory experiments. The germination of wheat grains was delayed, and the development of wheat seedlings was decreased in laboratory experiments by both shoot and rhizome extract. The inhibitory effect of both extracts was most pronounced at 20°C compared with 10 or 15°C. Shoot extracts had more drastic effects than the rhizome extract on germination percentage, shoot and root lengths. In glasshouse experiments fresh and dried shoot of S. syriaca added to soil drastically decreased germination and development of wheat.     

Association of induction of protease and chitinase in chickpea roots with resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri

To improve the breeding of chickpea varieties with resistance to Fusarium wilt, an attempt was made to analyse the biochemical basis of disease resistance by measuring levels of chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, protease and proteinase inhibitor activities in dry and soaked seeds and in root and shoot tissues of wilt-resistant and wilt-susceptible cultivars. Marginal variation was observed in the levels of the candidate proteins in dry or soaked seeds. Chitinase activity was higher in roots than in shoots or cotyledons. No proteinase inhibitor activity was detected in root and shoot tissue of any of the cultivars. When the levels of these proteins were analysed in resistant (Vijay) and susceptible (JG-62) cultivars during development of wilt by growing plants in soil infested with F. oxysporum f.sp. ciceri , race 1, both cultivars showed induction of chitinase activity in the roots. However, the induced activity in JG-62 (3.82 U g⁻¹) was equivalent to the constitutive level in Vijay (3.90 U g⁻¹) and much lower than that induced in Vijay (5.18 U g⁻¹). Induction of protease activity was observed only in root extracts of Vijay when challenged by the pathogen. The root extract of Vijay showed in vitro antifungal activity in a plate assay. Simultaneous induction of proteolytic and chitinolytic activities specifically in the resistant cultivar was correlated with antifungal properties of root extracts effective in conferring resistance.     

Uptake and phytotoxicity of chlorsulfuron in Zea mays L. in the presence of 1,8-naphthalic anhydride

The sites of uptake of chlorsulfuron in maize (Zea mays L.) were investigated at three different growth stages. Exposure of seedling roots, or shoots separately, to herbicide-treated sand over 4 days resulted in inhibition of both roots and shoots. Exposure of seedling roots to chlorsulfuron-treated soil over 21 days severely inhibited both roots and foliage, while separate shoot exposure also reduced both foliage and root growth. After plant emergence, exposure of the crown root node, growing point and lower stem to treated soil reduced foliage and root growth, but exposure of the shoot above the growing point caused only slight inhibition of foliage and had no effect on roots. The herbicide safener 1,8-naphthalic anhydride (NA) applied as a dust (10 g kg^?1 seed weight), or as a 50 mg 1^?1 suspension in water to maize seeds, reduced the root inhibition by chlorsulfuron in 4-day-old seedlings. NA completely prevented both foliage and root injury when chlorsulfuron was placed in soil in the shoot zone before emergence, or in the shoot zone below the soil surface after plant emergence. NA slightly decreased injury to foliage, but not to roots when chlorsulfuron was placed in soil in the root zone before emergence. NA seed treatment protected both roots and foliage against injury from foliarly applied chlorsulfuron. Plants were also protected when a suspension of NA in water was sprayed on the foliage seven days before chlorsulfuron. When a mixture of NA and chlorsulfuron was applied to foliage, root injury was reduced more than foliage injury.     

A comparison of the dynamics of root growth and biomass partitioning in wild oat (Avena fatua L.) and spring wheat

The dynamics of early root growth and dry matter partitioning were compared in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and wild oat (Avena fatua L.) grown in solution culture. Total root length was greater in wheat than wild oat throughout the experiment; a result of a greater number of seminal axes and greater production of lateral root length per axis. The final number of adventitious roots was greater in wheat than in wild oat, but their length was similar. Relative growth rates were also similar as was shoot:root dry weight ratio and rate of root respiration. However, wheat used the dry matter partitioned to its roots more efficiently, producing a greater specific root length (SRL, length per unit weight). Caution must be exercised when relating these results to plants growing and compet-ing in the field, but three general points are raised. First, the initial number of seminal axes can have a profound effect on the rate of early root development; second, the adventitious root system of wild oat is not inherently more vigorous than that of wheat; and third, future studies should compare SRL of wheat and wild oat in the field. If differences similar to those in the present study are found they may contribute to the greater competitive ability of wheat.     

Wild onion (Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav.) interference in lentil and chickpea crops and its management through competitive cropping

The interference of wild onion with various densities of lentil and chickpea and its management through competitive cropping were studied under field conditions from 2001–2002 and 2002–2003 at Jabalpur, India. The observed yield loss and predicted yield loss related to wild onion indicated that wild onion was less competitive with chickpea than with lentil. As a result of intraspecies competition, the dry weight and number of seeds per plant for wild onion were reduced with increasing density. The suppressing effect of different crops on the seed rain of wild onion was in the order of pea > mustard > wheat > chickpea > linseed > lentil > French bean. Wheat, pea, and mustard were the most competitive crops against wild onion. The high shading ability of these crops was thought to contribute to the suppression of wild onion. French bean offered the least suppression while chickpea, linseed, and lentil showed moderate weed suppression.     

Litter-mediated allelopathic effects of kudzu (Pueraria montana) on Bidens pilosa and Lolium perenne and its persistence in soil

This study investigated the allelopathic effects of kudzu litter on the seed germination and early growth of Bidens pilosa and Lolium perenne . The bioassays, with various concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 g L⁻¹) of aqueous kudzu litter leachate, significantly affected the germination percentages and radicle growth of both species. These parameters decreased progressively when the seedlings were exposed to increasing concentrations of leachate. The root and shoot length, dry weight, and chlorophyll concentration of the B. pilosa and L. perenne seedlings also were significantly affected when they were grown in leachate-amended soil. However, the chlorophyll fluorescence values of the seedlings subjected to different concentrations of aqueous kudzu litter leachate indicated that the mere presence of leachate in the soil was not stressful for the plants. The seedlings of both species were under stressful conditions only when they were grown in the soil that was treated with higher concentrations of leachate (30, 40, or 50 g L⁻¹). A 6 week decomposition study of the kudzu litter in soil was conducted to observe the retention of phenolic content in the soil. The results showed that, although the concentration of dissolved organic carbon decreased with increasing decomposition, the phenolic concentration was not significantly affected when the observation period ended. This suggests that the phytotoxic properties of kudzu litter remain stable in soil systems for a considerable amount of time after incorporation into the soil.     

黄瓜品种资源芽苗期和幼苗期耐盐性及其评价指标研究

采用NaCl水溶液人工模拟盐胁迫,以多项指标的盐害系数为依据,比较了18个黄瓜品种资源在芽苗期和幼苗期的耐盐性及其两个时期耐盐性的相关性,并对两个时期各品种资源的耐盐性通过聚类分析进行了分类。结果表明:芽苗期的总盐害系数与发芽势、发芽率、发芽指数、下胚轴长、根长、地上部鲜重、根鲜重、活力指数的盐害系数的相关性达极显著水平;幼苗期与总盐害系数相关性达极显著水平的有地上部鲜重、地下部鲜重、地下部干重、壮苗指数、根/冠,达显著相关水平的有地上部干重,叶绿素a/b和叶绿素(a b)/类胡萝卜素的盐害系数与总盐害系数相关性不显著。从两个时期的聚类分析图来看,它们的耐盐性并不相同。黄瓜品种资源耐盐性的强弱在芽苗期和幼苗期表现明显不同。在进行黄瓜芽苗期耐盐性筛选时可以将发芽势、发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数、下胚轴长、地上鲜重、根鲜重综合起来作为评价指标。在对黄瓜幼苗期耐盐性鉴定时可以用地上部和地下部鲜重、地上部和地下部干重、壮苗指标、根/冠来衡量黄瓜材料在幼苗期耐盐性的强弱。     

VARIATION IN GROWTH OF SEEDLINGS AND CLONES OF AGROPYRON REPENS (L) BEAUV.

Summary. The growth of Agropyron repens seedlings, or of clones derived from them, raised from seeds collected from different areas was compared; the growth of seedlings raised from seeds from single spikes and from seeds of a cross of two clones was also compared.
The number and length of shoots and the amount of rhizome produced differed between seedlings from different areas. Seedlings with a large weight of rhizomes often had a small weight of shoots. Many of the differences found between seedlings from different areas were confirmed by comparing clones established from some of them. Comparisons of both seedlings and clones showed that the percentage of shoots that developed spikes differed between genotypes; clones with the least weight of rhizome tended to have most weight of spikes. Large variations also occurred between clones established from seedlings from a given area, particularly in the way their dry weight was partitioned between primary and secondary shoots and in the time the spikes emerged.
The amount of rhizome per seedling varied greatly between seedlings from seeds from single spikes and from seeds from a cross of two clones. There was some evidence of a negative correlation between per cent shoot and per cent rhizome dry weight with seedlings from single spikes and between number of shoots and number of rhizomes per seedling with seedlings from a cross of two clones.
Variation en croissance de plantules issues de semences et de clones d' Agropyron repens (L) Beauv.     

影响丰花草种子萌发和幼苗生长的主要环境因子

运用培养皿滤纸法和盆栽法,分别研究温度、光照和水分条件对热带常见杂草丰花草种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明:丰花草种子萌发温度范围广泛(5~40℃),随温度升高,丰花草幼苗的鲜质量和生长长度均呈现先升高后降低的趋势;恒温下30℃为其种子萌发的最适温度,其发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数均相对较高,而平均发芽时间最短;25℃时生长的幼苗最健壮,其芽长、根长和芽鲜质量、根鲜质量均显著高于其他温度时的对应值。而变温条件更有利于丰花草种子萌发,12 h D/12 h L、5℃/15℃时发芽率达55.63%,15℃/25℃时发芽率90%,25℃/35℃时的种子萌发率、幼苗长度、幼苗鲜质量均最大。光照不是影响丰花草种子萌发的关键因子,但光照可能有利于促进丰花草幼苗生物量向根部分配,光暗交替(12 h D/12 h L)条件下丰花草幼苗生长情况相对最好(长度根冠比为1.05∶1;鲜质量根冠比为0.51∶1)。水分是决定丰花草种子能否萌发的关键因素,25℃、12 h D/12 h L条件下,在土壤最大持水量60%时丰花草种子萌发和幼苗生长状况均最佳。     

Allelopathic activity of Mexican sunflower [Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray] in soil under natural field conditions and different moisture conditions

The allelopathic activity of Mexican sunflower [ Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray] in soil under natural field conditions and the effect of water stress on the growth and allelopathic activity of this plant were investigated. Seed germination, shoot growth and root growth of tested plant species in soil collected from a field where Mexican sunflower had been grown for 5 years were less than those in soil from an area without the plant. Growth of young leaves, mature leaves, senescent leaves, stem and roots of Mexican sunflower was reduced with decrease in soil moisture level. The allelopathic activity of water extracts (per dry weight of starting material) from each part of the plants grown at low soil moisture levels was greater than that of the water extracts from the same part of the plants grown at high soil moisture levels. The allelopathic activity was found in the soil from the pots previously planted with Mexican sunflower to a similar extent (per plant) at different soil moisture levels. These results suggested that, in the field, under water stress conditions, the growth of Mexican sunflower was reduced but the plants contained a greater amount of allelopathic substance(s) per dry weight than in the absence of water stress. It was considered that allelopathic activity of Mexican sunflower in soil was maintained to a similar extent under various soil moisture conditions in natural fields.     

Influence of temperature on plant–rhizobacteria interactions related to biocontrol potential for suppression of fusarium wilt of chickpea

Seed and soil treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens RGAF 19, P. fluorescens RG 26, Bacillus megaterium RGAF 51 and Paenibacillus macerans RGAF 101 can suppress fusarium wilt of chickpea ( Cicer arietinum ), but the extent of disease suppression by these rhizobacteria is modulated by soil temperature. In this work, the effect of temperature on plant–rhizobacteria interactions was assessed in relation to biocontrol potential for suppression of fusarium wilt of chickpea. Seed and soil treatment with those rhizobacteria delayed seedling emergence compared with nontreated controls, and either increased or had no deleterious effect on chickpea growth. Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates significantly increased chickpea shoot dry weight at 20°C and root dry weight at 25 and 30°C. All bacterial isolates colonized the chickpea rhizosphere and internal stem tissues at 20, 25 and 30°C, and there was a positive linear trend between bacterial population size in the rhizosphere and temperature increase. The maximum inhibition of mycelial growth and conidial germination of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris race 5 in vitro occurred at a temperature range optimal for bacterial growth and production of inhibitory metabolites. These results demonstrate the need to understand the effects of environmental factors on the biological activities of introduced rhizobacteria of significant importance for plant disease suppression.     

水稻种质资源萌发期抗旱性综合鉴定

为完成水稻种质资源萌发期的抗旱性评价并筛选出抗旱性评价指标,利用PEG-6000高渗溶液模拟干旱条件,对33份水稻材料在胁迫条件下的发芽势、发芽率、最大胚根长、胚芽长、胚芽鞘长、根冠比、物质转运速率等11个萌发性状指标进行测定。结果表明,部分性状指标间的相关性达到显著水平,其中物质转运速率与根干重间的相关性最高,相关系数为0.83,根冠比与胚芽干重和胚芽长存在极显著负相关,相关系数分别为-0.51和-0.47;主成分分析将11个生长指标归类为4大因子,各因子中负荷量最大的指标为胚芽干重、发芽率、胚芽鞘长和根冠比,相关系数分别为0.4876、0.5266、0.6661、0.5988,可作为水稻抗旱性鉴定的主要指标;以各指标的隶属函数值进行模糊聚类分析,根据抗旱性强弱分为4大类,其中XS-13-12和XS-13-9为高度抗旱品种(系),XS-13-2、A218、XS-13-11等11份水稻材料为抗旱品种(系),稻花香、SN1204、XS-13-13、XS-13-3等14份水稻材料为中等抗旱品种(系),1043、SN9903、XS-13-4等6份水稻材料为干旱敏感品种(系)。     

蒙古扁桃种子萌发和幼苗生长对渗透胁迫的响应

以天然生长于祁连山自然保护区隆畅河自然保护站的濒危植物蒙古扁桃(Prunus mongolica)去内果皮的种子为材料,以不同渗透势PEG-6000溶液模拟干旱条件,研究了种子萌发和幼苗生长对干旱胁迫的响应特征。结果表明,随着干旱胁迫程度的加剧,蒙古扁桃种子吸胀速率、萌发率、萌发指数、活力指数、苗高和根长、组织饱和含水量等指标均表现出明显降低的趋势,而幼苗初生芽干重、根干重和根冠比均呈先升后降的趋势。蒙古扁桃种子对水势变化既敏感又抗旱,种子能够萌发的最低渗透势阈值为-0.65 MPa。干旱胁迫未能萌发的种子复水后萌发率较高。分析认为,蒙古扁桃种子萌发和幼苗生长对干旱胁迫的响应特征对种的延续具有重要意义,但在人工栽培时保证 土壤墒情应是保障建植成功的关键措施。     

Characterization of reactive oxygen species-involved oxidative damage in Hapalosiphon species crude extract-treated wheat and onion roots

Crude extract-induced oxidative damage using the cyanobacterium, Hapalosiphon sp., was investigated in wheat seedlings ( Triticum aestivum L. cv. Norin 61) and onion seedlings ( Allium cepa L. cv. Raputa II). The analysis of root cell viability or cell death using Evans blue uptake showed that the root-tip cells of wheat and onion lost viability after 24 h and 48 h treatment with 3 g dry weight (DW) L⁻¹ of the crude extract, respectively. Lipid peroxidation was induced in the roots of both species and the shoots of onion, whereas no increase in lipid peroxide formation was observed in the wheat shoots. In onion, the degree of random DNA fragmentation increased with the increasing concentration of the extract and laddering of the DNA was observed with 6 g DW L⁻¹ of the extract, but no apparent DNA ladder formation occurred in the wheat. Pretreatment for 1 h with the NADPH oxidase inhibitors, diphenyleneidonium or imidazole, reduced the crude extract-induced root cell death in both species. From the results, we suggest that the Hapalosiphon sp. crude extract might enhance reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which causes membrane lipid damage and fragmentation of the DNA of plant cells, resulting in cell death and growth inhibition. The crude extract-mediated phytotoxic damage might be caused by ROS, triggered by NADPH oxidase.     

Glyphosate effects on Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) roots, root buds, and shoots

Glyphosate ? ? Mention of irademark or proprietary product does not constitute a gtiarantee or warranty oC the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and does nut imply its approval to the exclusion of other products thai may also be suitable.
was sprayed at 0009–1·12 kg a.i. ha^?1 on the foliage of large potted glasshouse-grown Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.], which had extensive, well-developed roots. Increasing the glyphosate rate progressively reduced the total number of visible adventitious root buds plus emerged secondary shoots per plant proportionately more than root biomass, 10 days after treatment. Cortical tissue of thickened propagative roots became soft, water-soaked, darkened, and some regions decomposed, exposing strands of vascular tissue. Lateral roots completely decomposed. When thickened roots were segmented to stimulate secondary shoot emergence from root buds 10 days after foliar treatment, Fewer secondary shoots emerged than expected from the number of visible adventitious root buds present on both control and herbicide-treated plants. Increasing the rate of glyphosate also reduced the regrowth potential of root buds proportionately more than root biomass. Regrowth potential was measured as the number of emerged secondary shoots 35 days after segmenting unearthed roots from plants that had been sprayed 10 days earlier. When foliar-applied at 0·28 kg ha^?1, glyphosate decreased the regrowth potential of root buds to zero in 2 and 3 days, as measured by secondary shoot dry weight and number, respectively, even though root fresh weight was unchanged 3 days after foliar treatment. These dose-response and time-course experiments demonstrate that glyphosate did not reduce root biomass as much as it decreased root bud numbers and secondary shoot regrowth potential from root buds.     

大麦发芽期耐盐性种质鉴定及其生理响应特征分析

为了解大麦发芽期耐盐性差异和生理响应特征,对126份大麦材料进行200 mmol·L~(-1)NaCl胁迫下的种子发芽及生长实验,并对极端耐盐性材料和盐敏感性材料进行盐胁迫处理水培实验。结果表明:盐胁迫下大麦发芽期各指标测量值较对照相比均下降,且处理与对照相比变异系数增大,发芽势、发芽率、株高、根长和根数的变异系数值分别为73.81%、58.00%、47.22%、39.39%和31.79%,说明不同材料盐胁迫处理具有较大差异;并且除株高和发芽率、根长之间无相关性之外,其它各指标之间均存在显著或极显著正相关。采用聚类分析将材料分为4个耐盐等级,其中ZDM655等33个品种为高度耐盐性,MAVRIIP等28个品种为中度耐盐性,GN241等16个品种为中度盐敏感性,莆田17号等49个品种为盐敏感性。在盐胁迫水培条件下,大麦主要通过调节根表面积和根体积表型特征来适应盐胁迫,高度耐盐性材料ZDM655地上部和根系中Na~+含量分别为对照的3.63倍和2.55倍,而盐敏感性材料ZDM222地上部和根系中Na~+含量分别为对照的8.95倍和2.92倍;同时,ZDM655较对照相比地上部K~+含量显著提高,地下部K~+含量显著下降,而ZDM222地上部K~+含量显著下降,地下部较对照无显著差异,表明高度耐盐性材料具有更好适应盐胁迫的表型特征和生理响应功能。种子发芽期耐盐性强弱是在盐渍地生长的关键,发芽势、发芽率、株高、根长、根数可以作为大麦发芽期耐盐性评价的合理指标。     

Selection for resistance to the herbicide imazethapyr in somaclones of soyabean

Cultivars of soyabean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] resistant to the herbicide imazethapyr were identified by suspending the roots of 5-day-old seedlings in nutrient culture containing 2.5 mg a.i. L^–1 imazethapyr and then comparing the inhibitory effect on root length and shoot dry weight. The four most resistant cultivars were subsequently screened as regenerating tissue cultures in a medium containing 2.0 mg a.i. L^–l imazethapyr to select somaclonal cells with increased resistance. Surviving portions of cultures were regenerated to give shoots, the plants isolated, allowed to flower and seed. These progeny were then used for further seed multiplication and seedlings from this latter generation were exposed to imazethapyr in vivo and callus and cell suspension cultures derived from these seedlings were exposed to imazethapyr in vitro . A reduction in the inhibitory effect of the imazethapyr was noted in the somaclone seedlings and tissue cultures. However, measurement of acetolactate synthase (ALS) activity showed no differences among the parent cultivars and in the selected somaclones in this trait.