Over-winter predation of Abutilon theophrasti and Setaria faberi seeds in arable land

To improve understanding of over-winter weed seed predation in arable fields, we used data from winter exclosure trials to determine the amount of predation and the influence of crop habitats on predation of Abutilon theophrasti and Setaria faberi seed in 2-year (maize/soyabean) and 4-year (maize/soyabean/small grain+lucerne/lucerne) crop rotation systems between 2005 and 2008. Crop habitat influenced seed predation, and had similar impacts on the two weed species. Mean A. theophrasti predation ranged from 31% in the 2-year soyabean habitat to 99% in the 4-year lucerne habitat. Mean S. faberi predation ranged from 31% in the 2-year soyabean habitat to 97% in the 4-year lucerne habitat. Results suggest that a combination or interaction of cover and substrate may have affected crop habitat preference by seed predators. Future research should further examine the influence of physical habitat on seed predation to determine characteristics of cropping systems that encourage predation, particularly during over-winter periods, so as to routinely incorporate seed predators into long-term weed management strategies.     

藜、铁苋菜和苘麻对草甘膦的耐受性及其与莽草酸含量的关系

采用整株生物测定法研究了藜、铁苋菜和苘麻对草甘膦的耐受性,药后14 d测定结果表明,草甘膦对上述3种杂草的ED50分别为215.27、954.34、1 522.54 g a.i./hm~2。通过比较杂草植株地上部莽草酸积累量的变化发现,草甘膦1 230 g a.i./hm~2处理后,藜、铁苋菜和苘麻莽草酸积累量最大值分别为1 400.65、1247.19、581.28μg/g,莽草酸积累量越少的杂草对草甘膦耐受性也越强。药后5 d,对杂草不同部位莽草酸积累量的比较显示,3种杂草顶部叶片莽草酸积累量明显大于根部,敏感种和耐受种相比,顶部叶片莽草酸积累量的差异更为明显,该部位可以准确地评价杂草对草甘膦的耐受程度。     

锦葵科4种植物上棉大卷叶螟幼虫种群发生动态

2013年9月初的调查发现,棉大卷叶螟幼虫在锦葵科的蜀葵、黄秋葵和陆地棉上的种群数量具有显著差异。2014年,对锦葵科4种植物上棉大卷叶螟幼虫的种群消长动态进行了系统的调查研究。结果表明,苘麻、蜀葵和黄秋葵上棉大卷叶螟幼虫的种群密度显著高于陆地棉上,上述4种锦葵科植物上棉大卷叶螟幼虫的种群密度依次为（6.26·1.16）、（7.95·0.52）、（5.42·0.54）和（0.10·0.10）头/m²。说明锦葵科的苘麻、蜀葵和黄秋葵是棉大卷叶螟幼虫的喜食寄主植物,有望开发成为棉田棉大卷叶螟成虫的诱集植物。     

木尔坦棉花曲叶病毒在新疆的发生分布及烟粉虱带毒检测

为了明确木尔坦棉花曲叶病毒cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMuV)在新疆的发生分布,对采自新疆13个地(州)的1 166份蜀葵、苘麻、棉花疑似病株进行CLCuMuV分子鉴定和带毒检测,并对3种寄主上同期采集的1 588头烟粉虱进行隐种鉴定和带毒检测。结果显示,CLCuMuV DNA-A组分及其伴随的DNAβ卫星分子均可侵染蜀葵、苘麻、棉花;基于DNA-A及DNAβ组分的进化分析表明,新疆3种寄主上发生的CLCuMuV与国内已报道的CLCuMuV进化关系一致;蜀葵、苘麻、棉花上CLCuMuV带毒率存在差异,分别为27.87%、33.33%和14.95%;MEAM1和MED隐种为新疆烟粉虱主要种群,分别占26.70%和66.44%,带毒率分别为21.46%和17.63%,说明MED隐种为新疆烟粉虱优势种群,2个隐种均可携带CLCuMuV且带毒率相近;MEAM1隐种在蜀葵、苘麻、棉花上带毒率分别为21.39%、0和28.21%,MED隐种分别为19.61%,8.47%和11.18%,表明2个隐种在不同寄主上的带毒率存在差异。本研究明确了新疆地区侵染蜀葵、...     

Demography of Abutilon theoprasti and Setaria faberi in three crop rotation systems

Field experiments were conducted to characterize the demography of Abutilon theophrasti and Setaria faberi in a conventionally managed 2‐year (maize/soya bean) rotation, and in 3‐year (maize/soya bean/triticale + red clover) and 4‐year (maize/soya bean/triticale + lucerne/lucerne) rotations managed with 72% and 79% lower herbicide inputs respectively. Rates of weed seedling recruitment, seedling survival and adult plant fecundity were determined for populations in each phase of each rotation and used to calculate annual rates of weed population change, Δ. In both years of the study, Δ for A. theophrasti populations declined or remained stable in all three rotation systems. Despite greater rates of seedling survival and fecundity in maize and soya bean in the 3‐ and 4‐year rotations, increases in Δ for A. theophrasti populations were prevented in these systems because of low fecundity in triticale and low seedling survival and fecundity in lucerne. For Setaria faberi populations, Δ remained stable in the 2‐year rotation, increased in the 3‐year rotation in both years, and increased in the 4‐year rotation in 1 year. The results of this study indicate that when herbicide use is reduced, rotations that include triticale and lucerne can facilitate the suppression of A. theophrasti. Rotations that include lucerne can contribute to restraining S. faberi population growth, given adequate levels of seedling mortality in this crop.     

The role ofPseudomonas spp. and competition for carbon,nitrogen and iron in the enhancement of appressorium formation byColletotrichum coccodes on velvetleaf

Colletotrichum coccodes is currently being investigated as a mycoherbicide against the weed velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti). Two isolates ofPseudomonas spp. (Ps2 and Ps5) reduced the percentage of germ tubes and increased appressorial formation ofC. coccodes on detached leaves of velvetleaf. A study was conducted to see whether this effect could be attributed to competition for nutrients or iron betweenC. coccodes andPseudomonas spp. Ps2 and Ps5 had no effect on early spore germination, but reduced the percentage of germ tubes at 24 and 30 h, compared to the nontreated control. This reduction was diminished by the addition of nutrients but not Fe³⁺. Ps2 and Ps5 stimulated the formation of dark-coloured appressoria without germ tubes (AWGT), but this stimulation was diminished by the addition of nutrients or Fe³⁺. Germ tube branching at 30 h was also inhibited by the bacteria, but was not diminished by the addition of nutrients or iron. EDTA stimulated conidial germination at 10 h, which was reduced by the addition of Fe³⁺. However, EDTA did not stimulate the formation of appressoria (AWGT). These results suggest that the reduction in the percentage of germ tubes and the increase in the percentage of appressoria induced by the bacteria may be due to the competition for carbon or nitrogen. Iron competition may also be involved in the stimulation of appressorial formation, but not in the reduction in germ tube percentage and branching. Phylloplane bacteria may compete for carbon, nitrogen and iron, limiting the saprophytic phase of the pathogen on the phylloplane and accelerating the development of the parasitic phase. This may enhance the field efficacy ofC. coccodes as a biocontrol agent against velvetleaf.     

UV-B radiation increases paraquat tolerance of two broad-leaved and two grass weeds in relation to changes in herbicide absorption and photosynthesis

Depletion of the protective ozone layer in the atmosphere leads to increasing UV‐B radiation on the earth's surface with potential effects on the response of plants to different stresses. Abutilon theophrasti, Amaranthus retroflexus, Digitaria sanguinalis and Chloris virgata are common weeds encountered in most arable fields in China. The effectiveness of herbicides used in controlling these weeds needs to be evaluated with increased UV‐B radiation. Seedlings of these four weeds were therefore grown under ambient and elevated UV‐B radiation to compare the efficacy of paraquat, a commonly used contact herbicide. Irrespective of species sensitivity to radiation, the elevated UV‐B radiation decreased the effectiveness of paraquat. Net photosynthesis rate was adversely affected except for D. sanguinalis, while the chlorophyll content was significantly reduced in A. retroflexus and C. virgata. UV‐B treatment increased the leaf surface wax and decreased the absorption of ¹⁴C‐paraquat in A. theophrasti, D. sanguinalis and C. virgata. These results suggest that the response of weeds to paraquat or the use of the herbicide may be affected by increased UV‐B radiation, to the extent that larger doses may be required to achieve desired effects. This may have damaging consequences for the environment.     

Does soil nitrogen affect early competitive traits of annual weeds in comparison with maize?

Soil nitrogen (N) is considered an important driver of crop‐weed interactions, yet the mechanisms involved have been only partially explored, especially with respect to early‐season growth, when competitive hierarchies are formed. This study characterises the effects of different N levels on biomass accumulation and plant morphology for maize (Zea mays), and four important weed species (Amaranthus retroflexus, Abutilon theophrasti, Setaria faberi, and Chenopodium album). Under glasshouse conditions, plants were grown in separate pots and irrigated with nutrient solution at four N concentrations (0.2, 0.5, 2, 5 μm L⁻¹) until 57 days after emergence. Except for S. faberi, which was unresponsive to N, the relative biomass growth rates (RGR) of maize and the broad‐leaved weeds were positively and similarly affected by increasing nitrogen. At all N levels, maize had a height advantage by virtue of its larger seed size, which conferred early growth benefits independent of RGR. At low N, biomass growth was instrumental to S. faberi’s improved competitive position, whereas height development per unit biomass improved the competitive position of A. theophrasti, C. album and A. retroflexus. The approach presented could be applied to other crop‐weed systems to evaluate environmental impacts on competitive outcomes.     

Observations on the potential of microwaves for weed control

Field tests of a prototype microwave‐based weed killer machine were conducted on Abutilon theophrasti, Panicum miliaceum, lucerne and oilseed rape pure stands. The approach can be considered a thermal weed control method, the microwave radiation causing dielectric heating of plant tissue water that eventually kills the plant. The method could overcome the limitations of other thermal methods, such as fire risk with flaming or the heavy loads required for hot water treatments. Species were effectively controlled by microwave irradiation, but their sensitivity and the evolution of damage symptoms over time differed. Lucerne showed no sigmoidal response and was the least affected by the treatment, while a log‐logistic curve expressed the dose–response relationships of the other species quite well. The estimated microwave dose for a 90% dry weight reduction ranged from 1015 kJ m^?2 in A. theophrasti to 3433 kJ m^?2 in P. miliaceum. Energy cost evaluation indicated that increased efficiency is required for this technique to compete with other thermal methods. Microwave efficiency could be increased by a flux configuration that minimizes soil penetration and maximizes absorption by plants, which, in turn, depends on plant growth form.