远缘背景下玉米主要性状的QTLs分析

通过远缘杂交导入大刍草基因,创造玉米新种质,并对相关重要性状进行QTL定位,明确其QTL数目、位置和基因效应。以玉米自交系K169×1147构建的202个F2:3家系为作图群体,构建具有132对SSR标记的玉米遗传图谱,覆盖整个基因组1 979.6 cM,平均图距15.0 cM。利用完美区间作图法进行QTL定位分析,共检测到14个主要农艺和经济性状中的68个QTLs。其中,控制株高、穗位高和叶面积的有14个QTLs,单个性状的QTL为1～7个,每个QTL的作用可解释表型变异的1.71%～12.98%;影响雄穗性状的有11个QTLs,单个性状的QTL为3～8个,每个QTL的作用可解释表型变异的3.61%～14.87%;影响穗长等经济性状的有43个QTLs,单个性状的QTL为1～7个,每个QTL可解释的表型变异为3.87%～20.09%。     

大穗材料高麦1号/ 密小穗F2群体穗长性状的QTL初步定

为了解小麦穗长性状的遗传特性,并将其应用于分子标记辅助育种,以大穗材料高麦1号/密小穗的292个植株的F2群体为材料,利用SSR标记对穗长进行了QTL定位分析.结果表明,选用500对SSR引物对高麦1号和密小穗两个亲本进行多态性检测,共获得180对在双亲问有多态性的引物,多态性引物检出率为36.0％.利用这180对引物进一步进行F2群体筛选,有96对引物在群体中表现出多态性,占多态性标记的53.3％.利用QTL_IciMapping软件构建出小麦染色体组的8个连锁群图谱,并将96对SSR引物定位到遗传连锁图谱上.图谱全长1 383.29 cM,标记间的平均遗传距离15.37 cM.平均每个连锁群有11.25个标记,含有标记最多的是4A和6B染色体,各有17个标记,其次是3A和7B染色体,含有9～14个标记,1B和5D染色体含有的标记最少,只有5～7个.共检测出7个与穗长相关的QTL位点,包括6个加性QTL和1个加性+显性QTL.7个QTL的加性效应值均为正值,单个QTL的贡献率为2.04％～15.26％.其中3A染色体上的QTL位点距离其最近标记只有0.58 cM,为连锁最紧密的一个位点,并且其加性效应值最大,可解释表型变异的15.26％.因此,3A染色体上存在控制穗长的主效基因.     

大穗材料高麦1号/密小穗F_2群体穗长性状的QTL初步定位

为了解小麦穗长性状的遗传特性,并将其应用于分子标记辅助育种,以大穗材料高麦1号/密小穗的292个植株的F2群体为材料,利用SSR标记对穗长进行了QTL定位分析。结果表明,选用500对SSR引物对高麦1号和密小穗两个亲本进行多态性检测,共获得180对在双亲间有多态性的引物,多态性引物检出率为36.0%。利用这180对引物进一步进行F2群体筛选,有96对引物在群体中表现出多态性,占多态性标记的53.3%。利用QTL_IciMapping软件构建出小麦染色体组的8个连锁群图谱,并将96对SSR引物定位到遗传连锁图谱上。图谱全长1 383.29cM,标记间的平均遗传距离15.37cM。平均每个连锁群有11.25个标记,含有标记最多的是4A和6B染色体,各有17个标记,其次是3A和7B染色体,含有9~14个标记,1B和5D染色体含有的标记最少,只有5~7个。共检测出7个与穗长相关的QTL位点,包括6个加性QTL和1个加性+显性QTL。7个QTL的加性效应值均为正值,单个QTL的贡献率为2.04%~15.26%。其中3A染色体上的QTL位点距离其最近标记只有0.58cM,为连锁最紧密的一个位点,并且其加性效应值最大,可解释表型变异的15.26%。因此,3A染色体上存在控制穗长的主效基因。     

普通小麦穗部性状QTL分析

为给小麦穗部性状标记辅助选择提供可供选择的分子标记,并进一步对小麦穗部相关性状QTL进行精细定位及相关基因克隆,利用普通小麦Heyne×Lakin杂交F2代单粒传获得的145个F6代重组自交系(recombinant inbred line,RIL)群体,构建了含有2 210个标记(2 068个SNP标记和142个SSR标记)的总长度为2 139.35cM的遗传连锁图谱,并利用该图谱对小麦穗部性状(穗长、小穗数、穗密度)进行了QTL分析。结果表明,共检测出16个加性QTL,其中,与穗长相关的QTL有6个,分布在2A、2D、3B、4D、5A和7D染色体上,可解释表型变异7.58%~15.94%;与小穗数相关的QTL有4个,分布在1A、4A和7D染色体上,可解释表型变异7.28%~14.78%;与穗密度相关的QTL有6个,位于4D、5A和6B染色体上,可解释表型变异5.60%~20.06%。     

利用三倍体胚乳遗传模型定位爆裂玉米子粒蛋白含量QTL

在两种环境条件下种植以普通玉米自交系丹232和爆裂玉米自交系N04为亲本构建的259个F23∶家系群体,采用SSR标记构建了包含183个标记的爆裂玉米遗传连锁图谱,覆盖玉米基因组1762.2cM,标记间平均距离为9.6cM。利用三倍体胚乳遗传模型和区间作图方法对子粒蛋白含量进行了QTL定位和效应分析。在春、夏播条件下均检测到6个QTL,分别位于第1、3、4、6、7和第8染色体上,其中春、夏播条件下都检测到的QTL有3个,可解释的表型总变异分别为42.85%和53.19%,单个QTL可解释的表型变异为4.50%～17.70%。表现为加性、部分显性、显性和超显性的QTL数目分别为2、2、2和6。3个QTL的增效基因均来自丹232,其余QTL的增效基因均来自N04。     

小麦分蘖数和单株穗数QTL定位及上位性分析

为了明确小麦分蘖性状和单株穗数的遗传基础,以中国春（母本）和兰考大粒（父本）杂交获得的F₂群体为作图群体,构建了含169个分子标记的遗传连锁图谱。将F_2:3家系分别种植于陕西乾县、岐山和杨凌三地,利用完备区间作图方法对小麦冬前分蘖、春季分蘖和单株穗数进行多环境联合QTL分析,共检测到21个相关的加性QTL位点。其中,6个冬前分蘖QTL位于2A、2D、5D和7A染色体上,单个QTL可解释1.38%～6.73%的表型变异;7个春季分蘖QTL位于1A、2D、4B、5D、7A和7D染色体上,单个QTL可解释1.97%～32.60%的表型变异;8个单株穗数QTL位于1A、2B、2D和4B染色体上,单个QTL可解释2.29%～41.21%的表型变异。共检测到30对加性×加性上位性QTL。其中,控制冬前分蘖的为1对,可解释21%的表型变异;控制春季分蘖的为20对,可解释0.59%～48.7%的表型变异;控制单株穗数的为9对,可解释0.08%～22.18%的表型变异。控制冬前分蘖、春季分蘖和单株穗数的加性QTL存在差异,同一QTL在不同性状中的遗传贡献率也不同;基因间上位性效应以春季分蘖最大,单株穗数次之,冬前分蘖最小,且不同性状涉及的QTL位点具有差异。小麦分蘖遗传主要受加性效应控制,本研究初步定位到的一些重要QTL可为进一步精细定位、基因挖掘和高产育种的分子标记辅助选择提供依据。     

大豆对斜纹夜蛾抗生性基因的微卫星标记(SSR)的研究

以皖82-178(抗)×通山薄皮黄豆甲(感)组合衍生的重组近交系群体为材料,以幼虫重为抗性鉴定指标,对大豆抗斜纹夜蛾的基因(QTL)进行SSR分子标记研究.从大豆公共连锁图谱(Cregan et al.,1999)7个与抗虫性可能有关的连锁群上选取了103对SSR引物,鉴定亲本和RIL家系DNA,其中18对引物在RIL家系间表现出多态性.应用t测验和方差分析法分析SSR标记与性状的连锁,并以R2表示标记对性状变异的解释率.结果在D2、C2、H连锁群上分别找到一个与大豆对斜纹夜蛾抗性有关的SSR标记,即Satt135、Satt363、Satt442,单个标记对抗性变异的解释率分别为5.57%、2.89%、8.7%.     

大麦品种扬农啤5号的黄花叶病抗性QTL定位

为分析大麦黄花叶病抗性基因的位置和效应,以高抗大麦品种扬农啤5号和感病大麦品种日引3号构建的253个RIL群体及亲本为材料,利用在双亲间具有多态性的108对SSR分子标记构建遗传群体连锁图谱,结合大麦黄花叶病抗性表型数据,采用QTL IciMapping 4.0软件进行大麦黄花叶病抗性QTL分析。结果表明,在大麦染色体1H、2H、5H和7H共检测到6个与大麦黄花叶病抗性相关的QTL,这6个QTL对大麦黄花叶病抗性的贡献率为4.39%～14.92%。其中,位于2H染色体的QTL qRYM-2Hb在3年9个时期均能检测到,介于标记区间GBM1309～EBmac0415,可解释5.70%～14.92%的表型变异,与已定位的 Rym16~(Hb)的位置相近,可能是 Rym16~(Hb)的等位基因;位于2H染色体的QTL qRYM-2Ha在2年3个时期均能检测到,介于标记区间EBmac0640～Bmag0744,可解释5.00%～10.88%的表型变异,可能是1个新的抗性位点;其他4个抗性QTL均仅在1年1个时期检测到,是否真实存在尚需进一步验证。同时,所有QTL的加性效应均为负值,表明定位的6个大麦黄花叶病抗性基因均来自母本扬农啤5号。     

波兰小麦×普通小麦品系“中13”RIL群体籽粒特性的QTL定位

小麦籽粒特性与籽粒产量和品质密切相关。本研究以波兰小麦(Tiriticum polonicum L.)×普通小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)品系"中13"杂交组合衍生的99个F8重组自交系(Recombinant inbred lines,RIL)群体为材料,利用SSR分子标记构建连锁遗传图谱。根据两年实验数据,利用复合区间作图法对粒重、粒长和粒宽3个籽粒特性相关性状进行了QTL定位分析,共检测到12个与籽粒特性相关的加性QTL位点。其中,3个粒重QTL,1个位于1A染色体上,另外2个都在2A染色体上,单个QTL可解释表型变异的13.35%～20.04%;5个粒长QTL,其中2个位于2A染色体上,其余3个分别位于3A、5A和2B染色体上,单个QTL可解释表型变异的8.53%～21.03%;4个粒宽QTL,分别位于1A、2A、3B和5B染色体上,单个QTL可解释表型变异的9.76%～40.79%。在2A染色体上共检测到5个籽粒特性相关性状的QTL,表明2A染色体与籽粒特性关系密切。     

大豆蛋白质含量的QTL定位

以高蛋白的大豆品种齐黄26和低蛋白的滑皮豆为亲本,杂交获得含170个单株的F2代分离群体,采用SSR分子标记技术,构建了一张包括18个连锁群的分子连锁图谱,覆盖大豆基因组长度1 035.6 cM,标记间平均距离为16.44 cM。利用复合区间作图法,对在济南和冠县衍生出的F2∶3群体的蛋白质含量的进行QTL分析。结果表明:济南试验点定位到3个与蛋白质含量有关的QTL,分布于D2、E和K连锁群上,分别可解释14%、11%和2%的变异;冠县试验点定位到1个与蛋白质含量有关的QTL,位于E连锁群上,可解释3%的变异。通过遗传作图找到3个与所定位的QTL相连锁的SSR标记,这些标记可为大豆分子标记辅助育种提供参考。     

In vitro reproduction in the annual pasture legumes subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and French serradella (Ornithopus sativus Brot.)

Pasture legumes are important components of both mixed farming rotations and permanent pastures in temperate climates. Breeding of two widely sown pasture legumes, subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and French serradella (Ornithopus sativus Brot.), is constrained by the long generation cycle, typically enabling only one generation per year. We hypothesized manipulation of culture medium and conditions would enable the development of a laboratory‐based protocol for in vitro reproduction in subterranean clover and French serradella. In vitro flowering and viable seed set was induced from both species. For subterranean clover, the most effective treatment was culturing on modified MS medium with 1 μm kinetin and 0·1 m sucrose under a 100 μmol m^?2 s^?1 light intensity and continuous photoperiod. For French serradella, culture on a hormone‐free B5 medium with 5 mm NH₄Cl and 0·1 m sucrose under a 100 μmol m^?2 s^?1 light intensity and 20 h photoperiod was optimum. It is expected this technique will have application in accelerating generation turnover within breeding programs, for the study of factors influencing flowering in pasture legumes, and for the propagation of valuable yet enfeebled plants such as embryo‐rescued hybrids.     

Pharmacokinetics of Marine-Derived Drugs

Marine organisms represent an excellent source of innovative compounds that have the potential for the development of new drugs. The pharmacokinetics of marine drugs has attracted increasing interest in recent decades due to its effective and potential contribution to the selection of rational dosage recommendations and the optimal use of the therapeutic arsenal. In general, pharmacokinetics studies how drugs change after administration via the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). This review provides a summary of the pharmacokinetics studies of marine-derived active compounds, with a particular focus on their ADME. The pharmacokinetics of compounds derived from algae, crustaceans, sea cucumber, fungus, sea urchins, sponges, mollusks, tunicate, and bryozoan is discussed, and the pharmacokinetics data in human experiments are analyzed. In-depth characterization using pharmacokinetics is useful for obtaining information for understanding the molecular basis of pharmacological activity, for correct doses and treatment schemes selection, and for more effective drug application. Thus, an increase in pharmacokinetic research on marine-derived compounds is expected in the near future.     

Estimation of lucerne yield stability for enabling effective cultivar selection under rainfed conditions

Evaluation of crop and forage yield stability is of increasing relevance in the context of current and recent environmental changes but, in contrast to other field crops, there are no published systematic analyses among forage crops in Europe. A study of stability performance was conducted with 13 Czech cultivars of lucerne at four locations over a 2‐year period with the following aims: (a) to evaluate yield stability of varieties across different environments and (b) to calculate measurable benefits of variety selection in relation to the specific environment. The cultivar Vlasta was identified as the highest yielding cultivar (annual yield 16.0 t DM/ha), whereas the lowest yielding cv. Magda, Tereza and Oslava averaged around 14.9 t DM/ha. Effect of genotype × environment interaction (G × E) was two times higher than for genotype alone. Additive main effects and the multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model showed that the highest yielding cultivars may not be stable across environments. This study demonstrated further that significant yield improvement could be detected, even among a relatively homogenous group of domestic cultivars, and this was driven mainly by site productivity: the improvement was +10% in low‐yielding sites, compared with +3% in high‐yielding sites. Results highlight that advanced agronomy should also consider stability parameters such as AMMI stability value or superiority measures for forage crops in response to the challenges associated with climate change.     

La pourriture fongique des tubercules de pomme de terre en atmosphère contrôlée

Résumé Fusarium culmorum et, dans une moindre mesure,F. avenaceum, F. sambucinum, Colletotrichum coccodes etCylindrocarpon sp. ont été isolés de tubercules entreposés en atmosphère contr?lée (AC) et atteints de pourriture grave. Des expériences d'inoculation de tubercules avec 10 espèces ou variétés fongiques et conservation en AC à 8 et 10°C ont montré que: 1) les champignons non pathogènes en atmosphère normale (ex.:Cylindrocarpon sp.) le devenaient en AC, 2) ceux qui étaient faiblement pathogènes en atmosphère normale étaient nettement plus virulents en AC (ex.:F. culmorum), 3) les espèces ou variétés virulentes en conditions d'air normales (Fusarium sulphureum etPhoma exigua var.foveata) ne provoquaient pas de pourriture plus grave en AC et leur activité pouvait même être légérement freinée.

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Summary The extensive rotting of tubers which occurred during storage trials in controlled atmospheres has led to a mycological and pathological study of the rots. The most frequently isolated species wasFusarium culmorum althoughF. avenaceum, F. Sambucinum, Coletotrichum coccodes and aCylindrocarpon sp. were also present. Tubers of cvs Bintje and Ulla were inoculated with 19 isolates of 10 fungal species or varieties associated with rotting of stored tubers (Table 1). The tubers were incubated at 8 or 10°C in normal or controlled (2% O₂:1% CO₂, 2% O₂:6% CO₂, 2% O₂:12% CO₂, 6% O₂:6% CO₂) atmospheres and the extent of rotting was determined a month later (Tables 2 and 3 and Fig. 2). Species which were weakly virulent in a normal atmosphere (variousFusarium spp. andPhoma exigua var.exigua) were clearly more aggressive in the controlled atmosphere and this was especially evident in the case ofF. culmorum. Species ot pathogenic in a normal atmosphere under experimental conditions (Colletotrichum coccodes, Cylindrocarpon sp.,Phoma eupyrena) caused rotting in the controlled atmosphere. The two species which were virulent in a normal atmosphere (F. sulphureum andP. exigua var.foveata) were also virulent in the controlled atmosphere and in some cases the extent of rotting was even less. As a general rule, rotting caused by weakly virulent fungi was greater in both cultivars in the controlled than in a normal atmosphere.

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Zusammenfassung Eine starke F?ulnis von in Kontrotrollierter Atmosph?re gelagerten Kartoffelknollen veranlasste eine mykologische und pathologische Untersuchung. Der am h?ufigsten isolierte Pilz warFusarium culmorum. F. avenaceum, F. sambucinum, Colletotrichum coccodes undCylindrocarpon sp. wurden ebenfalls bestimmt. Neunzehn St?mme von 10 Pilzsorten oder-Arten welche bei Lagerf?ulnis vorkommen (Tab. 1) wurden auf Knollen der Sorten Bintje und Ulla inokuliert. Die Lagerung wurde bei 8 oder 10°C under Normalbedingungen oder kontrollierter Atmosph?re durchgeführt (2% O₂:1% CO₂, 2% O₂:6% CO₂, 2% O₂:12% CO₂, 6% O₂:6% CO₂). Der F?ulnisgrad (Abb. 1) wurde nach einem Monat bonitiert. Die Ergebnisse sind in den Tabellen 2 und 3 dargestellt und in der Abb. 2 illustriert. Unter in Normalbedingungen nur schwach virulente Arten (verschiedeneFusarien undPhoma exigua var. exigua) waren deutlich aktiver in kontrollierter Atmosph?re. Dies was besonders der Fall fürF. culmorum. Pilze, die im Versuch unter Normalbedingungen nicht pathogen waren (Colletotrichum coccodes, Cylindrocarpon sp., Phoma eupyrena), haben unter kontrollierter Atmosph?re Sch?den verursacht. Hingegen werden die beiden unter Normalbedingungen sehr pathogenen Arten (F. sulphureum undP., exigua var.foveata), durch kontrollierte Atmosph?re wenig beeinflusst. Es wurde sogar in einigen F?llen eine gewisse Verringerung des F?ulnisbefalls beobachtet. Ganz allgemein haben die getesteten kontrollierten Bedingungen die Entwicklung der Pilzf?ulnis an beiden Kartoffelsorten gef?rdert, speziell durch Pilzarten, welche unter Normal-bedingungen wenig Sch?den verursachen.

     

Marine Pharmacology in 2016–2017: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial,Antidiabetic, Antifungal,Anti-Inflammatory,Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems,and Other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action

The review of the 2016–2017 marine pharmacology literature was prepared in a manner similar as the 10 prior reviews of this series. Preclinical marine pharmacology research during 2016–2017 assessed 313 marine compounds with novel pharmacology reported by a growing number of investigators from 54 countries. The peer-reviewed literature reported antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral activities for 123 marine natural products, 111 marine compounds with antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities as well as affecting the immune and nervous system, while in contrast 79 marine compounds displayed miscellaneous mechanisms of action which upon further investigation may contribute to several pharmacological classes. Therefore, in 2016–2017, the preclinical marine natural product pharmacology pipeline generated both novel pharmacology as well as potentially new lead compounds for the growing clinical marine pharmaceutical pipeline, and thus sustained with its contributions the global research for novel and effective therapeutic strategies for multiple disease categories.     

Effects of Micronutrient Deficiencies on Human Health: Its Status in South Asia

SUMMARY

Vitamin A, iodine, and iron deficiencies affect large numbers of people worldwide. A deficiency of one or more of these micronutrients adversely affects the physical and mental abilities of humans. South Asia contains a high percentage of these individuals, not just because of its large population, but also the prevalence of deficiency is higher there than in many other parts of the world. The reasons for the high rates of deficiency in South Asia are many, but they include inadequate availability of micronutrient-rich foods, sub-optimal dietary habits, and high rates of infection. Across the region, national plans vary from (a) increasing availability of appropriate foods, (b) introducing new dietary behaviors, (c) improving health status, and (d) directly addressing deficiency through intervention programs. The extent to which each of the countries is making progress toward the goals of these plans can help in understanding the priorities for future efforts to address micronutrient malnutrition. This article discusses the adverse effects of micronutrient deficiencies in humans with special reference to South Asia.     

稻文化的再思考3:稻与社稷——印度、泰国等东南亚、南亚主要国家

东南亚、南亚地区是世界上重要的稻米产区,稻米在民众饮食生活和国家社会政治中占有重要地位,民众生活中也保存了非常悠久和丰富的稻作文化习俗及稻谷起源神话传说。本文分析了水稻在东南亚、南亚主要国家印度、印度尼西亚、泰国、越南、菲律宾、孟加拉国、缅甸的作用、地位、生产、消费、文化等情况,并指出了印度、印度尼西亚稻文化的主要标志。     

Irrigation but not N fertilization enhances seedhead density in plains rough fescue ( F estuca hallii)

Plains rough fescue ( F estuca hallii) is an important forage grass species in western Canada. Seed for use in pastures and ecological restoration is in high demand but supply is limited because F. hallii is an erratic seed producer. Seed producers require an understanding of the factors that influence flowering and seed set in this species. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization on the flowering and growth of F. hallii in a native rough fescue prairie in Alberta, Canada. Irrigation had a strong positive effect on seedhead density, whereas fertilization had limited effects on growth and reproduction of F. hallii. These results demonstrate that under field conditions, available moisture is likely to be a key factor driving flowering and seed production in F. hallii.     

Management of Soil Micronutrient Deficiencies in the Rice-Wheat Cropping System

Summary

Within the last three decades, the rice-wheat cropping system has triggered, and with time, aggravated soil micronutrient deficiencies in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). This has largely been due to the shift from an earlier rice and wheat monoculture with low yielding, long duration indigenous varieties, to an intensive rice-wheat rotation cropping system with short duration modern high yielding varieties on the same piece of land. The problems related to micronutrient deficiency in the IGP are more due to the size of its available pools in the soil rather than its total contents and are greatly influenced by crop management, or rather its mismanagement. Deficiency of zinc is widespread in the IGP, but with the extensive use of zinc sulfate, zinc deficiency has reduced in some areas of the region. Meanwhile, the deficiency of Fe, Mn and B has increased in the IGP. Deficiency of Cu and Mo is location specific and can limit rice and wheat yields. The adoption and spread of the rice-wheat system in permeable coarse textured soils, particularly in the western IGP, not only caused iron deficiency in rice but also resulted in the emergence of manganese deficiency in wheat. In highly calcareous and acidic soils, boron is the next limiting micronutrient in crop production after zinc. Bumper rice and wheat harvests in the past decade, the declining use of organic manures in the region and except for the widespread use of zinc sulfate, a general lack of awareness amongst farmers on micronutrient deficiency problems has contributed to micronutrients limiting rice and wheat yields in the IGP. Approaches to alleviating micronutrient deficiencies include matching the crop removals of the micronutrients with its replenishments through their respective external carriers, supplementation through organic sources and mobilization/utilization through cultivation of micronutrient efficient crop cultivars. Identification of efficient micronutrient carriers and finding the optimum rate, mode and time of its application is important in ameliorating the micronutrient deficiencies. This article reviews the extent of micronutrient deficiency and discusses various management options available to reduce micronutrient deficiency induced crop yield reduction for rice and wheat in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.     

Model of wheat yield response to application of diclofop-methyl to control ryegrass (Lolium rigidum)

A general model of crop yield response to herbicide application is proposed. The model includes three components: the effect of herbicide dosage on weed density, the effect of surviving weed density on crop yield and the effect of herbicide directly on the crop. The model is used to estimate the response of wheat yield to application of diclofop-methyl to control ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) in Australia. It is found that the competitiveness of ryegrass plants surviving treatment is reduced by the treatment and that the proportion of yield loss at a given ryegrass density is not independent of the absolute weed-free yield. The response function is used to calculate economic thresholds and optimal herbicide dosages.