Characterization of host tolerance to Striga hermonthica

Summary One of the most promising control options against the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica is the use of crop varieties that combine resistance with high levels of tolerance. The aim of this study was to clarify the relation between Striga infestation level, Striga infection level and relative yield loss of sorghum and to use this insight for exploring the options for a proper screening procedure for tolerance. In three pot experiments, conducted in Mali (2003) and The Netherlands (2003, 2004), four sorghum genotypes were exposed to a range of Striga infestation levels, ranging from 0.0625 to 16 seeds cm⁻³. Observations included regular Striga emergence counts and sorghum grain yield at maturity. There were significant genotype, infestation and genotype × infestation effects on sorghum yield. The relation between infestation level and infection level was density dependent. Furthermore, the relation between Striga infection level and relative yield loss was non-linear, though for the most resistant genotype Framida only the linear part of the relation was obtained, as even at high infestation levels only moderate infection levels were achieved. The results suggest that for resistant genotypes, tolerance can best be quantified as a reduced relative yield loss per aboveground Striga plant, whereas for less resistant genotypes the maximum relative yield loss can best be used. Whether both expressions of tolerance are interrelated could not be resolved. Complications of screening for tolerance under field conditions are discussed.     

Low disturbance seeding suppresses weeds in no‐tillage soyabean

Germination is a key process in the dynamics of weed populations. In no‐tillage systems, crop seeding is often found to induce seed germination in the seeding strip. In this research, experiments to investigate options for reducing weed seedling establishment were conducted in no‐till soyabean fields located in two sites in south Brazil. A first experiment revealed that a reduction in emergence of some important weed species can be achieved by lowering seeding speed. Further experiments showed the ability of a modified seeder to contribute to an additional reduction in weed establishment. On the modified seeder, coulter discs were equipped with lateral blades, to diminish soil disturbance and to maintain a uniform soil cover by properly cutting the mulch layer. In a field with a high level of residues, the modified seeder, in contrast to the standard seeder, prevented the increase of soil exposure when seeding at high speed. The predominant weeds were annual species. Averaged over all seeding rates, the new equipment led to a 56% reduction in within‐row weed density, compared with the standard seeder. Regardless of seeder type, overall weed density increased with seeding speed, but with the modified seeder, this increase was only half that of the standard seeder. The modified seeder reduced weed biomass by 30% and increased soyabean grain yield by 42%. The research demonstrated that relatively simple changes, like a minor modification to a seeder and a lower seeding speed, can contribute to more diverse and sustainable alternatives to predominantly chemical‐oriented weed management strategies.     

How widespread is resistance to invermectin among gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep in The Netherlands?

In Autumn 2009, a faecal egg count reduction test (FERCT) was carried out on three sheep farms. Groups of 8-11 lambs were treated with ivermectin or moxidectin, with a 14-day interval between treatment and sampling. Ivermectin resistance was present on all three farms. Treatment with ivermectin resulted in a reduction in faecal egg numbers of 94.6%, 63%, and 59%. On two farms, 14 days after treatment pooled faecal samples yielded predominantly larvae of Hamonchus contortus (100% and 98%, respectively). On the third farm, H. contortus and (probably) Teladorsagia circumcincta were resistant to ivermectin (64% and 36% of the larvae, respectively). Treatment with moxidectin resulted in a 100% reduction in egg output in sheep on all three farms. More sensitive culture techniques failed to detect any larvae in samples taken from two farms, but a few Ostertagia-type larvae, probably of T. circumcincta, were detected in samples from the third farm. It can be concluded that gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep from these three farms were resistant to ivermectin, whereas resistance to moxidectin was not detected.     

Cultural control measures to diminish sorghum yield loss and parasite success under Striga hermonthica infestation

Prospects of reducing Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. parasitism by means of cultural control measures were assessed. In a pot experiment, deep planting, the use of transplants and shallow soil-tillage, strongly delayed and reduced Striga infection of a sensitive and a tolerant sorghum cultivar. Application of all three measures combined resulted in a four-week delay in first emergence of the parasite, a reduced number of emerged Striga plants and a decimation of Striga dry weight. With the sensitive cultivar CK-60B a yield loss of 92% was reduced to 26%, whereas with the tolerant cultivar Tiemarifing application of the cultural control measures completely cancelled out a yield loss of 28%. Evaluation of these cultural measures under field conditions in Mali resulted in a strong reduction in Striga-infection level (85%). At the same time, the measures did not result in delayed first emergence of the parasite and had no beneficial effect on crop yield. It was argued that the presence of a natural Striga soil seed bank, with seeds throughout the tilth, might be an important reason for the reduced effectiveness of the proposed cultural control measures under field conditions.     

Does resource complementarity or prevention of lodging contribute to the increased productivity of rice varietal mixtures in Yunnan,China?

We conducted an experiment in Gejiu, Yunnan Province of China during the wet season of 2002 to examine the importance of resource complementarity and prevention of lodging in the fast-spreading practice of growing rice varietal mixtures in China to suppress rice blast disease and its associated damage. The hybrid rice variety Shanyou 63 and the glutinous or sticky rice variety Huangkenuo were used to study intra- and inter-varietal competition in the rice intercropping system. The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design in four replications with pure stands and mixtures of both varieties at different total planting densities and mixing ratios. In half of the pure stand treatments of glutinous rice a metal frame was installed to prevent lodging. The results showed that resource complementarity between the two rice varieties, resulting from niche differentiation, was marginal and did not greatly enhance the productivity of the rice varietal mixtures. In contrast, prevention of lodging of glutinous rice was identified as an important additional advantage of growing these rice varieties in mixture.     

A comparative study on Striga hermonthica interaction with a sensitive and a tolerant sorghum cultivar

In this study, the effects of Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. on a sensitive and a tolerant sorghum genotype were investigated, and the underlying tolerance mechanisms were distinguished. The sensitive sorghum cv. CK60-B and the tolerant sorghum landrace Tiemarifing were grown in pots with and without seed infestation. Both sorghum genotypes responded to infection by the parasite, but it was evident that CK60-B was more strongly affected than Tiemarifing. Sorghum plant height, final leaf number, green leaf area, kernel yield, number of kernels and 1000-kernel weight were significantly reduced by infection, which also had a marked effect on the phenological development of CK60-B; the majority of the plants remained vegetative and, in the remaining plants, flowering was delayed by about 2 weeks. No effect on the phenological development of Tiemarifing was observed. The tolerant landrace showed significantly lower and delayed emergence of S. hermonthica than the sensitive cultivar, and this could be explained by a delay in the onset of attachment. Significantly higher numbers of reproductive parasitic plants were found in the pots with the sensitive sorghum plants. It is concluded that differences in root architecture and the resulting early infection and higher S. hermonthica numbers are partly responsible for the stronger effects of the parasite on the sensitive cultivar.     

Characterization of Growth, Nitrogen Accumulation and Competitive Ability of Six Tropical Legumes for Potential Use in Intercropping Systems

Legume cover crops can be successfully used as intercrop or relay crops in low-input farming systems. To select appropriate species for intercropping, experiments were conducted in the savannah zone of Côte d'Ivoire during the wet seasons of 1997 and 1998 to determine the growth and nitrogen (N) accumulation of six cover legumes as well as the characteristics indicative of competitive ability. The species included the erect growing Crotalaria juncea and Cajanus cajan , the creeping species Mucuna pruriens var. cochinchinensis and Calopogonium mucunoides and the bushy herbaceous species Aeschynomene histrix and Stylosanthes hamata . Marked differences in phenology were observed as S. hamata and C. juncea flowered around 45–55 days after sowing (DAS) and the other species around 80–95 DAS. C. juncea and C. cajan produced close to 9 ton dry matter ha^–1, whereas the other species produced less than half this amount. The average estimated amount of accumulated N, based on leaf material, was around 70 kg ha^–1 for all species except S. hamata and A. histrix , which only produced around 25 kg ha^–1. Based on morphological characteristics, C. juncea , C. cajan and the short-lived M. pruriens were identified as potentially most competitive, indicating that productivity and competitive ability are strongly linked. The implications of these findings for intercropping systems in upland rice production are discussed.     

Comparing methods to estimate perennial ryegrass biomass: canopy height and spectral vegetation indices

Precision Agriculture - Pasture management is highly dependent on accurate biomass estimation. Usually, such activity is neglected as current methods are time-consuming and frequently perceived as...     

CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-assimilation and chlorophyll fluorescence as indirect selection criteria for host tolerance against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Striga</Emphasis>

Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. is a parasitic weed on tropical cereals causing serious yield losses in Africa. The use of host crop varieties with improved resistance and tolerance against this parasite is a key component of an integrated control strategy. Breeding for tolerance is however seriously hampered by the absence of reliable and yet practical selection measures. The observation that the photosynthetic rate of tolerant genotypes is less sensitive to Striga infection was used as a starting point to search for suitable selection measures. In a greenhouse pot experiment the effect of Striga infection on the photosynthesis of four sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) genotypes, differing in Striga tolerance level, was measured at three moments in time (26, 48 and 75 days after sowing). Genotypes were CK60-B, E36-1, Framida and Tiémarifing. Measurements involved CO₂-assimilation (A) and three chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics (electron transport rate through photosystem II [ETR], photochemical [Pq] and non-photochemical quenching [NPq]). Striga infection negatively affected A, ETR and Pq. Based on A and Pq, genotypes with superior levels of tolerance (Tiémarifing) could be discriminated from genotypes with superior level of resistance (Framida). Both A and Pq showed high heritabilities and consequently clear and predictable differences between genotypes. Using discriminative ability, heritability and cost effectiveness as main criteria, photochemical quenching (Pq) was concluded to possess the highest potential to serve as indirect selection measure for host plant tolerance to Striga. Screening should preferably be conducted at relatively high Striga infestation levels, between Striga emergence and host plant flowering.     

Rhamphicarpa fistulosa,a widespread facultative hemi‐parasitic weed,threatening rice production in Africa

Rhamphicarpa fistulosa is a facultative hemi‐parasitic plant of the Orobanchaceae family, adapted to wet soils. Apart from tropical Australia, it is only found in sub‐Saharan Africa, where it is considered a minor weed in cereal crops such as rice. Due to this status, the species has received only sporadic attention. Recent field observations and encounters with rice farmers in several African countries showed that R. fistulosa is, however, a more serious and increasing production constraint than previously thought. Results from a systematic literature review and a global herbarium study support this. The species has a broad distribution over Africa (at least 35 countries from Madagascar to Senegal and from Sudan to South Africa) and a wide range in altitude (0–2150 m a.s.l.) and environment (waterlogged swamps to moist free‐draining uplands). Rhamphicarpa fistulosa is relatively independent and persistent because of the presumably wide host range, the facultative nature of its parasitism and its prolific seed (estimated 100 000 seeds m^?2 under moderate infestation levels). Finally, R. fistulosa causes severe yield losses (average 60%) and high regional annual economic losses (estimated US $175 million), while effective control options are scant and awareness of the species among important R&D stakeholders is almost absent. An integrated approach is advocated to assist the rice sector to reduce current R. fistulosa‐inflicted losses and to prevent further spread of the species into new areas.