Seed morphological traits and genotypic diversity of weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea) populations found in the Thai Hom Mali rice fields of north-eastern Thailand

Weedy rice ( Oryza sativa f. spontanea ) is a problematic weed in the Thai Hom Mali rice production areas of Thung Kula Ronghai in north-eastern Thailand. There is a great need to initiate studies of weedy rice populations in order to perform basic studies to learn about the seed morphology and genetic diversity. The aims of this study were to determine the seed morphological traits and amylose content and to evaluate the genetic variation, based on the polymorphisms of nuclear and chloroplast DNA, of weedy rice. The seeds and flag leaves were collected from a total of 125 weedy rice plants at six rice fields in the region. For the samples, four morphological traits, the amylose content, and the chloroplast identity (ID) sequence and microsatellite genotypes at the waxy locus were determined. The weedy rice that was collected from the Thung Kula Ronghai region varied considerably in its amylose content and both the seed morphology and genotypes. Some of the weedy rice shared the common microsatellite alleles and chloroplast ID sequence with Thai Hom Mali and wild rice, Oryza rufipogon , indicating that the weedy rice in this region might originate from the introgression between cultivated rice and O. rufipogon , which often takes place in nature, mostly in a one-way process from cultivated rice to O. rufipogon.     

Pink‐awned weedy rice (Oryza sativa): a potential conduit for gene exchange in rice agro‐ecosystems

Hybridisation between genetically distinct lineages results in increases in overall genetic diversity and is a potential mechanism for the origin and spread of adaptive alleles. Weed and crop hybridisation may result in weedy ecotypes, which have, in addition to classic weedy traits such as seed shattering and long seed dormancy, crop traits that enhance weediness, such as adaptation to field cultivation and harvest strategies. Weedy rice (Oryza sativa) hybridises with cultivated rice and, in the process, may produce new (pink‐awned) weedy rice varieties. Pink‐awned (PA) weedy rice plants have been observed in rice fields in Arkansas. We explored the genetic relationships between PA weedy rice, crop rice, global rice accessions and other weedy rice ecotypes present in the southern United States. Gene sequencing of 48 sequence‐tagged sites (STS loci) revealed a pattern of hybridisation and gene flow between blackhull weedy rice and tropical japonica rice (O. sativa subsp. japonica) cultivars. Our data suggest that PA rice originates from hybridisation between blackhull weedy rice and tropical japonica rice. PA rice offspring segregate phenotypic traits associated with weediness in rice. This segregation could lead to adaptive allele combinations in PA rice, which could potentially move into other weedy rice types through subsequent hybridisation events.     

Weedy rice: An expanding problem in direct‐seeded rice in the Philippines

Weedy rice is morphologically similar to cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.). It has biological characteristics that identify it as a weed. Its important weedy characteristics, that is, early and heavy seed shattering, makes it very difficult to control. Weedy rice has not been reported to be an important weed problem in transplanted, flooded rice. However, the shift to direct‐seeded rice (DSR) due to water issues and high costs of labor has increased reports of weedy rice becoming an expanding important problem in Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Experts believe that the growing adoption of DSR in Asian countries will result in the rise of weedy rice as one of the top troublesome weeds in rice production. Early and recent surveys in the Philippines have indicated the urgent need to increase awareness of weedy rice among farmers to allow the implementation of a number of effective location‐specific weed management strategies. These surveys and other studies conducted since weedy rice was first reported in 1991 confirmed that weedy rice and grass weed species caused major problems in DSR areas. About 35% of the 4.56 M ha harvested area in the country is planted with DSR. As cultivated and weedy rice are close relatives, it would be very difficult to implement management options very early in crop growth. However, a deeper understanding of the underlying traits of weedy rice can help develop a holistic approach toward effective and economic weed management.     

Biology and management of barnyardgrass,red sprangletop and weedy rice

About 400 weed species of 73 families have been reported to occur in upland and lowland rice fields in Vietnam. Two important families are Poaceae and Cyperaceae having 42% of weed species with 21% each. The barnyardgrass, Echinochloa crus‐galli (L.) Beauv., is the most important weed in both transplanted and direct‐seeded rice in this country. The competi‐tion of 25 barnyardgrass plants/m² causes approximately 50% yield loss. Red sprangletop, Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees., is an emerging major weed in direct‐seeded rice. Weedy rice (Oryza sativa L.) was detected in 1994 and is now a new dangerous pest in rice fields. The main reasons are: herbicides which can kill weedy rice completely are not available in the market, non‐chemical methods are laborious and costly, and weedy rice can develop a new generation from contaminated seeds through rice sowing or emerging from soil seed bank. Research results on the Vietnamese situation of barnyardgrass, red sprangletop and weedy rice in terms of biology and management by chemical and non‐chemical methods have been reviewed in this paper.     

Gene flow from weedy red rice (Oryza sativa L.) to cultivated rice and fitness of hybrids

BACKGROUND: Gene transfer from weeds to crops could produce weedy individuals that might impact upon the evolutionary dynamics of weedy populations, the persistence of escaped genes in agroecosystems and approaches to weed management and containment of transgenic crops. The present aim was to quantify the gene flowrate from weedy red rice to cultivated rice, and evaluate the morphology, phenology and fecundity of resulting hybrids. Field experiments were conducted at Stuttgart and Rohwer, Arkansas, USA. Twelve red rice accessions and an imazethapyr‐resistant rice (Imi‐R; Clearfield^?) were used. RESULTS: Hybrids between Imi‐R rice × red rice were 138–150 cm tall and flowered 1–5 days later than the rice parent, regardless of the red rice parent. Hybrids produced 20–50% more seed than the rice parent, but had equivalent seed production to the majority of red rice parents. Seeds of all hybrids were red, pubescent and dehisced at maturity. For the majority of hybrids, seed germination was higher than that of the red rice parent. The gene flowrate from red rice to rice was 0.01–0.2% and differed by red rice biotype. The hybrids had higher fecundity and potential competitive ability than the rice parent, and in some cases also the red rice parent. CONCLUSIONS: Red rice plants are vectors of gene flow back to cultivated rice and other weedy populations. The progeny of red rice hybrids from cultivated rice mother plants have higher chances of persistence than those from red rice mother plants. Gene flow mitigation strategies should consider this scenario. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Susceptibility to imazamox in Italian weedy rice populations and Clearfield® rice varieties

The introduction of imidazolinone‐tolerant rice varieties has made selective Oryza sativa (weedy rice) control possible. We hypothesised that Italian weedy rice populations have variable degrees of susceptibility to imazamox prior to imidazolinone‐tolerant variety introduction. To this end, 149 Italian weedy rice populations collected from fields never before cultivated with imidazolinone‐tolerant varieties were tested in a glasshouse‐based, whole‐plant response screening study. Imazamox was applied to all populations post‐emergence at a rate of 70 g a.i. ha^?1, resulting in 70–90% shoot biomass reduction in the majority of cases. The results prompted a second study of the seedling dose response of four weedy rice populations from the initial study group. Three imidazolinone‐tolerant and one conventional rice variety were also included. The seedling roots were cut six days after germination and exposed to different concentrations of imazamox. The root regrowth associated with each concentration‐exposure was then measured. Imazamox concentrations to inhibit weedy rice root growth by 50% varied by about two orders of magnitude, or between 0.0018 and 0.12 mm . Even with this result, imidazolinone‐tolerant varieties were at least 31.8 times less susceptible than weedy rice populations, suggesting that Italian weedy rice populations were not tolerant to imazamox before introduction of these varieties.     

Weedy rice represents an emerging threat to transplanted rice production systems in Japan

Weedy rice is a conspecific weed of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) and is a primary weed of direct‐seeded rice production systems worldwide. The shift in the method of establishing rice, that is, from transplanting to direct seeding, is considered the main reason for the emergence of weedy rice in Asia and, more recently, Japan. Japan has increasingly adopted directly seeded rice, even though this practice remains limited. In this study, I confirmed the relationship between weedy red rice emergence and the adoption of direct‐seeded rice in Japan. Twenty‐seven areas from eight prefectures infested with weedy rice were selected to confirm the relationship between the rice planting method and the emergence of weedy rice. Fields that were severely infested with weedy rice were selected as survey fields for this study. I found no relationship between the method of planting rice and weedy rice emergence. Changes to herbicide application, duration of rice production and hand weeding also contribute to the emergence of weedy rice in transplanted rice fields in Japan. The results of this study indicate that weedy rice could become a serious problem in Japan, even in transplanted rice fields.     

A survey of weed seed contamination of rice paddy in Cambodia

Cambodia has experienced a rapid shift from transplanted to hand broadcast seeded rice, with a consequent increase in seeding rates from 25–30 to 100–200 kg ha^?1. To reduce costs, farmers keep their own seed for sowing with the risk of greater weed seed contamination of the sowing seed. A survey of weed seed contamination in harvested rice paddy was conducted in two provinces of Cambodia (Battambang and Takeo) at the end of the wet season in 2016. Farmers were interviewed about rice‐seeding practices, and a total of 110 farmers' fresh paddy samples were inspected for weed seed contamination from the two provinces. Sowing seed samples collected from 28 seed producer lots and 71 samples of farmer‐kept seed were also analysed for weed seed contamination. In both provinces, the majority of farmers kept their own seed or bought seed from a neighbour. Farm‐kept seed for sowing accounted for 88% of sown seed in Battambang and 89% in Takeo. Seeds of 41 different weed species from 13 plant families were found in the farmers' freshly harvested paddy samples. Overall, farmers managed to reduce the number of weed propagules by 60% and seed producers by 95%. There was no significant difference between farmer‐kept seed and seed producer/seed company seed for the total number of weed seeds present. When shown photos, farmers' rankings of the 10 most common weed species found in freshly harvested paddy did not closely correspond to the actual weed seed frequency in the paddy. When farmers were asked to rank the frequency of weeds in their fields without the option to choose from a list, they ranked the weeds differently. Farmers ranked Ischaemum rugosum, Echinochloa spp. and Fimbristylis miliacea as the three most frequent weed species in their fields. The most frequent weeds in harvested paddy, apart from weedy rice, were I. rugosum and Melochia corchorifolia. Farmers did not rank M. corchorifolia as a frequently occurring weed, and most farmers could not recognise M. corchorifolia from photographs. The priority for improved seed hygiene is to place the emphasis on assisting farmers to further improve their seed purification techniques and to caution them to inspect seed before purchasing from neighbours, seed producers and seed companies in the absence of the implementation of seed certification regulation.     

Impact of weedy rice populations on the growth and yield of direct-seeded and transplanted rice

To examine the impact of weedy rice ( Oryza sativa L. f. spontanea ) populations on the growth and yield of direct-seeded and transplanted rice ( Oryza sativa ), a field experiment with a random two-factor design that included cultivation methods (direct-seeding and transplanting) and the density of weedy rice (0, 5, 25, and 125 plants per m²) was conducted. The data from the experiment showed that weedy rice had a significantly poorer performance in the direct-seeded fields than in the transplanted fields in terms of its vegetative (plant height) and reproductive traits (panicle and seed production). In contrast, with the interference of weedy rice, cultivated rice showed an improved performance in the direct-seeded fields than in the transplanted fields, with a significantly higher tiller production and grain yield. The results suggest that cultivated rice can tolerate more successfully the infestation of weedy rice in direct-seeded fields because of its enhanced competitive ability compared to that in transplanted fields.     

Evaluation of Galium species and populations using morphological characters and molecular markers

Three Galium species are believed to be present across western Canada: Galium aparine, Galium spurium and Galium boreale. Galium spurium and G. aparine are very difficult to distinguish morphologically, which is problematic for crop consultants and weed surveyors, and could have implications for control measures. Molecular techniques could potentially make identification easier and more rapid than using chromosome counts, as is currently done. The objective of this study was to identify morphological traits and/or genetic polymorphisms capable of species differentiation. To this end, Galium seed of unknown speciation were collected from nine field populations across western Canada and, along with two reference samples of G. spurium and G. aparine, were characterised for both morphological traits and their ribosomal ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 genomic sequence. In addition, single nucleotide polymorphism variation within the highly conserved 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene was identified that could consistently differentiate Galium species. Sequence analysis of the ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 region of field collections from western Canada indicated that all samples were G. spurium and all were highly related to each other. These results were supported by a distinct lack of variation in morphological traits, as nearly all plant traits measured did not differ between populations. This suggests that all sampled populations, and perhaps most of the Galium populations across western Canada, are derived from a single species, G. spurium.     

The impact of management on weeds and aquatic plant communities in Hungarian rice crops

This study assessed the cultural and weed management factors influencing the weed communities of Hungarian rice fields. Hungary is situated at the northern limit of rice production with a history of about 300 years of rice culture. We surveyed the weed flora and 25 background variables in 100 active rice fields. Using a minimal adequate model containing 11 terms, 48.5% of the total variation in weed species data could be explained. The net effects of nine variables on species composition were significant. Crop cover was found to be the most important explanatory variable, which was followed by the herbicides penoxsulam and azimsulfuron, tillage depth, phosphorous and potassium fertilisers, years after last rotation, water depth in May, sowing type, pendimethalin and water conductivity. Filamentous algae, as the most abundant group of weeds, were positively associated with deep tillage, deep water and surface sowing. Echinochloa crus‐galli, one of the most troublesome grass weeds, was associated with low rice cover, shallow water and later years after crop rotation, while weedy rice favoured high crop cover, deep water and soil sowing. These findings can be used to design improved weed management strategies. The occurrence of red list species and charophytes in diverse micro‐mosaic patterns deserves attention from a conservation perspective, as well. The maintenance of these unique charophyte communities can be facilitated by shallow tillage without soil inversion.     

Toxicity and selective mechanism of imazamox by weedy rice and imidazolinone-resistant rice in China

Weedy rice (Oryza spp.) is a notorious weed in direct-seeding paddy fields. Because it has anatomical and physiological traits similar to those of cultivated rice, no selective herbicide is effective in controlling weedy rice growing among conventional rice cultivars. Imidazolinone (IMI)-resistant rice lines JD372 and JJ818 have been planted with imazamox to control weedy rice in Jiangsu and Shanghai, China. Whole-plant dose–response analysis showed that imazamox exhibited high efficacy against three populations of weedy rice. The ED₉₀ of weedy rice populations FN-5, GY-8, and HY-3 were 46.87, 61.43, and 52.17 g a.i. ha⁻¹, respectively, close to the recommended field dose (50 g a.i. ha⁻¹) of imazamox. Conversely, the ED₁₀ values of JD372 and JJ818 were slightly lower than 50 g a.i. ha⁻¹. These findings indicate that imazamox can control weedy rice production in JD372 and JJ818 fields. The acetolactate synthase (ALS) sensitivity of JD372 in vitro was 1714.89-fold lower to imazamox than was that of FN-5. ALS gene sequencing revealed a Ser653Asn point mutation—a common mutation that confers resistance to IMI herbicides in JD372. In addition, higher ALS expression levels in JD372 were found at 24 and 72 h after imazamox treatment. ALS overexpression might partially compensate for the ALS activity of JD372 that was suppressed by imazamox.     

Chemical control of weedy rice in precise hill‐direct‐seeded rice in South China

Precise hill‐direct‐seeded rice, which is both cost‐ and labor‐saving, is based on the direct seeding of rice by using a precision rice hill‐drop drilling machine. Weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea), also known as “red rice”, is a major weed in precise hill‐direct‐seeded rice, causing an ≤80% yield loss and a reduction in grain quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the control efficiency of weedy rice by pretilachlor (a pre‐emergence herbicide) and fenclorim (a safener) and their safety for precise hill‐direct‐seeded rice in two consecutive years. The amount of rice seed germination was accelerated by soaking the seeds in the safener at 0.67 g ai L^?1 for 1 h before sowing. The pre‐emergence pretilachlor treatments were applied 2 days after sowing cultured rice. The inhibition of the shoot fresh weight of the cultured rice was reduced by 3.3, 6.4 and 7.4% with 450, 900 and 1350 g ai ha^?1 of pretilachlor at 32 days after sowing (DAS) and that of the root fresh weight was reduced by 2.6, 4.9 and 8.1%, respectively. With fenclorim and pretilachlor in a precise hill‐direct‐seeded rice field in 2010 and 2011, the weedy rice control efficiency at 32 DAS was reduced by 100 and 98.0%, respectively. The pre‐emergence pretilachlor treatments that were applied at 2 DAS were much more efficient in the weedy rice control and less inhibitory to the cultured rice growth. The rice yield was increased by 26.1–26.7% in the mechanical precise hill‐direct‐seeded rice, relative to the manual‐seeding rice, with the application of fenclorim and pretilachlor.     

Agronomic performance of F1, F2 and F3 hybrids between weedy rice and transgenic glufosinate-resistant rice

BACKGROUND: Studies of hybrid fitness, of which agronomic performance may be an indicator, can help in evaluating the potential for introgression of a transgene from a transgenic crop to wild relatives. The objective of this study was to assess the agronomic performance of reciprocal hybrids between two transgenic glufosinate‐resistant rice lines, Y0003 and 99‐t, and two weedy rice accessions, WR1 and WR2, in the greenhouse. RESULTS: F₁ hybrids displayed heterosis in height, flag leaf area and number of spikelets per panicle. The agronomic performance of F1 between WR1 and Y0003 was not affected by crossing direction. The tiller and panicle numbers of F1 individuals were higher than their F2 counterparts. However, these traits did not change significantly from the F2 to the F3 generation or in hybrids with weedy rice as maternal or paternal plants. For all hybrids, the in vitro germination rates of fresh pollen were similar and significantly lower than those of their parents, seed sets were similar to or of lower value than those of weedy rice parents and seed shattering characteristics were partially suppressed, but the survival of hybrids over winter in the field was similar to that of weedy rice parents. All F1, F2 and F3 hybrids had similar composite agronomic performance to weedy rice parents. CONCLUSION: There was no significant decrease in the composite agronomic performance of any of the hybrids compared with weedy rice. This implies that gene flow from transgenic cultivated rice to weedy rice could occur under natural conditions. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparing rice germplasm groups for growth, grain yield and weed-suppressive ability under aerobic soil conditions

Germplasm and cultivars need to be selected as parents for breeding weed‐competitive aerobic rice in the tropics. Forty rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars belonging to the aus, indica and tropical japonica germplasm groups, or derived from crosses among them, were evaluated in adjacent weed‐free and weedy trials in aerobic soil conditions during the wet seasons of 2001–2003. The objectives of this study were to assess vegetative growth, grain yield under weed‐free (Y_F) and weedy (Y_W) conditions, and weed‐suppressive ability (WSA) of different germplasm groups. In the first 4 weeks after sowing, indica cultivars had faster growth in height, tillering and crop biomass than other groups. They also had high Y_F, Y_W and strong WSA. Aus cultivars were similar to the indica types in early growth and WSA, but were poor in Y_F. Tropical japonica groups and the group derived from indica/tropical japonica crosses were generally inferior to aus and indica groups in early growth and WSA. Both of their Y_F and Y_W were lower than that of the indica group. Therefore, indica germplasm seemed to be most suitable for breeding high‐yielding and weed‐suppressive aerobic rice for the tropics. The relationship of WSA with various traits within tropical japonica germplasm revealed that fast early growth, rather than plant erectness, is crucial to WSA.     

A strategy to provide long‐term control of weedy rice while mitigating herbicide resistance transgene flow,and its potential use for other crops with related weeds

Transgenic herbicide‐resistant rice is needed to control weeds that have evolved herbicide resistance, as well as for the weedy (feral, red) rice problem, which has been exacerbated by shifting to direct seeding throughout the world—firstly in Europe and the Americas, and now in Asia, as well as in parts of Africa. Transplanting had been the major method of weedy rice control. Experience with imidazolinone‐resistant rice shows that gene flow to weedy rice is rapid, negating the utility of the technology. Transgenic technologies are available that can contain herbicide resistance within the crop (cleistogamy, male sterility, targeting to chloroplast genome, etc.), but such technologies are leaky. Mitigation technologies tandemly couple (genetically link) the gene of choice (herbicide resistance) with mitigation genes that are neutral or good for the crop, but render hybrids with weedy rice and their offspring unfit to compete. Mitigation genes confer traits such as non‐shattering, dwarfism, no secondary dormancy and herbicide sensitivity. It is proposed to use glyphosate and glufosinate resistances separately as genes of choice, and glufosinate, glyphosate and bentazone susceptibilities as mitigating genes, with a six‐season rotation where each stage kills transgenic crop volunteers and transgenic crop × weed hybrids from the previous season. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Consequences of narrow crop row spacing and delayed Echinochloa colona and Trianthema portulacastrum emergence for weed growth and crop yield loss in maize

Echinochloa colona and Trianthema portulacastrum are weeds of maize that cause significant yield losses in the Indo‐Gangetic Plains. Field experiments were conducted in 2009 and 2010 to determine the influence of row spacing (15, 25 and 35 cm) and emergence time of E. colona and T. portulacastrum (0, 15, 25, 35, 45 and 55 days after maize emergence; DAME) on weed growth and productivity of maize. A season‐long weed‐free treatment and a weedy control were also used to estimate maize yield and weed seed production. Crop row spacing as well as weed emergence time had a significant influence on plant height, shoot biomass and seed production of both weed species and grain yield of maize in both years. Delay in emergence of weeds resulted in less plant height, shoot biomass and seed production. However, increase in productivity of maize was observed by delay in weed emergence. Likewise, growth of both weed species was less in narrow row spacing (15 cm) of maize, as compared with wider rows (25 and 35 cm). Maximum seed production of both weeds was observed in weedy control plots, where there was no competition with maize crop and weeds were in rows 35 cm apart. Nevertheless, maximum plant height, shoot biomass and seed production of both weed species were observed in 35 cm rows, when weeds emerged simultaneously with maize. Both weed species produced only 3–5 seeds per plant, when they were emerged at 55 DAME in crop rows spaced at 15 cm. Infestation of both weeds at every stage of crop led to significant crop yield loss in maize. Our results suggested that narrow row spacing and delay in weed emergence led to reduced weed growth and seed production and enhanced maize grain yield and therefore could be significant constituents of integrated weed management strategies in maize.     

Potential gene flow from transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L.) to different weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea) accessions based on reproductive compatibility

BACKGROUND: The possibility of gene flow from transgenic crops to wild relatives may be affected by reproductive capacity between them. The potential gene flow from two transgenic rice lines containing the bar gene to five accessions of weedy rice (WR1–WR5) was determined through examination of reproductive compatibility under controlled pollination. RESULTS: The pollen grain germination of two transgenic rice lines on the stigma of all weedy rice, rice pollen tube growth down the style and entry into the weedy rice ovary were similar to self‐pollination in weedy rice. However, delayed double fertilisation and embryo abortion in crosses between WR2 and Y0003 were observed. Seed sets between transgenic rice lines and weedy rice varied from 8 to 76%. Although repeated pollination increased seed set significantly, the rank of the seed set between the weedy rice accessions and rice lines was not changed. The germination rates of F₁ hybrids were similar or greater compared with respective females. All F₁ plants expressed glufosinate resistance in the presence of glufosinate selection pressure. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of gene flow between different weedy rice accessions and transgenic herbicide‐resistant rice may differ owing to different reproductive compatibility. This result suggests that, when wild relatives are selected as experimental materials for assessing the gene flow of transgenic rice, it is necessary to address the compatibility between transgenic rice and wild relatives. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Germination rates of weedy radish populations (Raphanus spp.) altered by crop‐wild hybridisation,not human‐mediated changes to soil moisture

Cultivated plants are known to readily hybridise with their wild relatives, sometimes forming populations with weedier life‐history strategies than their progenitors. Due to altered precipitation patterns from human‐induced global climate change, crop‐wild hybrid populations may have new and unpredictable environmental tolerances relative to parental populations, which would further challenge farming and land‐management weed control strategies. To recognise the role of seed dormancy variation in weed invasion, we compared seedbank dynamics of two cross‐type populations (wild radish, Raphanus raphanistrum, and crop‐wild hybrid radish, R. raphanistrum × R. sativus) across a soil moisture gradient. In a seed‐burial experiment, we assessed relative rates of seed germination, dormancy and seed mortality over two years across cross types (crop‐wild hybrid or wild) and watering treatments (where water was withheld, equal to annual rainfall, or double annual rainfall). Weekly population censuses in 2012 and 2013 assessed the frequency and timing of seedling emergence within a growing season. Generally, germination rates were two times higher and seed dormancy was 58% lower in hybrid versus wild populations. Surprisingly, experimental soil moisture conditions did not determine seedbank dynamics over time. Yet, seed bank dynamics changed between years, potentially related to different amounts of annual rainfall. Thus, variation in seedbank dynamics may be driven by crop‐wild hybridisation rates and, potentially, annual variation in soil moisture conditions.     

A definitive method for distinguishing cultivated onion from its weedy mimic,Asphodelus fistulosus,at multiple developmental stages

The onion, Allium cepa, is an important vegetable crop around the world. Globally, India ranks second in onion production, but yields are often much lower than in many other onion producing countries. This study reports on one major contributing factor to low onion yields in India: the presence of a weedy mimic that is morphologically similar to onion until the onset of flowering. We used morphological and molecular methods to identify this mimic as Asphodelus fistulosus, an exotic weed not previously reported in India. Our study indicated that molecular markers derived from the rbcL and/or matK chloroplast genes in a DNA barcoding approach allow accurate identification of this weed using any tissue and even at early developmental stages. Our results also showed that visual examination of seed lots coupled with DNA barcoding analysis of samples of 5–10 individual seeds can be used to confirm identification. The ability to easily identify contaminating material before and during cultivation can allow farmers to minimise production losses and prevent further spreading of this weed.