The influence of interspecific interference on the seed production of Stellaria media and Hordeum vulgare (volunteer barley)

The effects of the density and proportion of both volunteer barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) and Stellaria media (L.) Vill. (common chickweed) on the seed yield of both species was investigated in linseed ( Linum usitatissimum L.) and autumn-sown field bean ( Vicia faba L.). A model was created to estimate these effects. It was a combination of two models. The first was a simple linear model relating weed seed number m² to weed dry weight m². The second was an inverse linear model relating weed dry weight per plant to weed density. A very good relationship existed between barley dry weight and number of seeds m² and between S. media dry weight and number of seed capsules m². This relationship was relatively consistent between experiments. The inverse linear model provided a good estimation of the relationship between weed density and weed dry weight per plant for both barley and S. media . Model variables, however, differed between experiments. Using the combined model it was estimated that, in the absence of other weed species and at a density of 800 plants m², S. media would produce between 4000 and 48 000 seeds m², whereas volunteer barley, at a density of 400 plants m², would produce between 2000 and 8000 seeds m². The presence of barley always reduced S. media seed yield and a barley population of 100 plants m² could reduce S. media seed yield by up to 79%. The presence of S. media reduced barley seed yield in only one of three experiments, in which a S. media density of 800 plants m² reduced barley seed yield by up to 68%. It was concluded that interspecific weed competition should not be ignored as a factor in models of weed population dynamics     

Orobanche aegyptiaca control in tomato fields with sulfonylurea herbicides

Field experiments were conducted from 1994 to 1997 at two locations to study the effectiveness of chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron applied through different irrigation methods (chemigation) for control of Orobanche aegyptiaca Pers. in tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill). Three split applications of chlorsulfuron at 2.5 g a.i. ha⁻¹ and of triasulfuron at 7.5 g a.i. ha⁻¹, through conventional sprinkler irrigation systems, 10–14 days apart followed immediately by sprinkling with water, controlled O. aegyptiaca by about 90% and 80% and increased crop yield 25–47% and 30%, respectively, without any crop injury symptoms. Repeated applications of the same herbicides at half rates resulted in slightly higher O. aegyptiaca control and crop yield than only one herbicide application at double rate. Chemigation by the sprinkler systems (microsprinklers, 60 m³ ha⁻¹) slightly increased the herbicide efficiency as compared with the high volume spray (800 m³ ha⁻¹). O. aegyptiaca control from sulfonylureas applied by drip chemigation was poor, as this probably requires very accurate timing and the herbicide distribution in the soil was not uniform.     

Smoke pollution and the effects of root-knot nematodes on the growth of eggplants

Single and combined effects of smoke pollution and the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita race 1, were studied on eggplant in 1988 and 1989 at two sites (K1 and K2) 1 and 2 km respectively away from a coal-fired thermal power plant, and a control site at the Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Mean concentrations of SO₂, NO₂ and suspended particulate matter (SPM) were respectively 172, 95 and 626 μg/m³ in 1988 and 144, 97 and 556 μg/m³ in 1989 at K1; and 258, 150 and 344 μg/m³ in 1988 and 226, 113 and 293 μg/m³ in 1989 at K2. Peak levels of the gases and SPM were recorded in the early (12.00–15.00) and late (15.00–18.00) afternoon respectively. Concentrations of the pollutants at a control site were very low. Marginal browning appeared on the leaves of eggplants grown at site K2 whether or not they were infected by the nematodes. The galling caused by nematodes was severe at both polluted sites but egg mass production was inhibited at K2. Egg laying was significantly reduced at both polluted sites. M. incognita significantly reduced plant growth, yield and leaf pigment production of eggplant at the control and polluted sites. Most non-infected plants also showed significant reductions in these plant varieties i.e. from the effects of pollution at K2. Foliar concentrations of sulphur were significantly increased at both polluted sites, being greater in infected plants. The interaction of smoke pollution and M. incognita infection led to greater suppressions at the polluted sites, which were mostly significant at K1. At the polluted sites, leaves had more and longer trichomes; also the number and size of stomata were decreased but their openings were wider especially in infected plants at the two polluted sites.     

Triadimenol drenches and residues in tobacco seedbeds improve growth and disease control in transplants

Triadimenol residues in sandy and clay soils, following applications of up to 1 g/m² in previous seasons to tobacco seedlings 2 days before they were transplanted, had little effect on seedling emergence and growth. Residues were beneficial to transplants; they improved growth and controlled stem and root infection caused by Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani. During the first 4 weeks after transplanting, stem infection was negatively correlated with log_e of the pre-sowing rate of triadimenol and with log_e of the soil concentration in seedbeds at pulling. Plant growth increased linearly according to the equation l/Y=a+b/(x-c), where Y = plant dry mass (g/plant), .x = triadimenol pre-sowing (mg/m²) and c= - 1 1, determined iteratively, r² = 0-94; P < 0.001. Triadimenol applications to bare soil increased the soil concentration by 1 μ/g per 50 mg/m² applied.     

Effect of wind on the dispersal of oospores of Peronosclerospora sorghi from sorghum

The effect of wind on the dispersal of oospores of Peronosclerospora sorghi , cause of sorghum downy mildew (SDM) is described. The oospores are produced within the leaves of aging, systemically infected sorghum plants. These leaves typically undergo shredding, releasing oospores into the air. Oospores are produced in large numbers (6.1 × 10³ cm⁻² of systemically infected leaf) and an estimate of the settling velocity of single oospores (0.0437 m s⁻¹) of P. sorghi indicated their suitability for wind dispersal. In wind tunnel studies wind speeds as low as 2 m s⁻¹ dispersed up to 665 oospores per m³ air from a group of leaves previously exposed to wind and displaying symptoms of leaf shredding. The number of oospores dispersed increased exponentially with increasing wind speed. At 6 m s⁻¹, up to 12 890 oospores per m³ air were dispersed. Gusts increased oospore dispersal. A constant wind speed of 3 m s⁻¹ dispersed a mean of 416 oospores per m³. When gusts were applied the mean was 15 592 oospores per m³. In field experiments in Zimbabwe, oospores were sampled downwind from infected plants in the field and at a height of 3.8 m above ground level immediately downwind of an infected crop. These data indicate that wind could play a major role in the dispersal of oospores from infected plants in areas where SDM infects sorghum, perhaps dispersing oospores over long distances.     

Factors affecting UV-induced resistance in grapefruit against the green mould decay caused by Penicillium digitatum

Exposure of harvested grapefruit to ultraviolet (UV) light induced resistance against the green mould decay caused by Penicillium digitatum. Grapefruit picked at various times during the harvest season responded differently to UV treatments. The UV dose required for development of maximum resistance increased as the season progressed. The initial UV dose required in November-picked fruit for maximum response was 4·8 kJ/m². It declined to 1·6 and 3·2 kJ/m² in December- and January-picked fruit, respectively, and increased to 8 kJ/m² in February-picked fruit. Correspondingly, the minimum percentage infection developing after UV treatment increased throughout the season from 0 to 35%. Resistance in UV-treated fruit developed to its maximum extent at 24–48 h following exposure to UV light and then decreased. Development of induced resistance in grapefruit peel was affected by the temperature at which the fruit was stored 24 h after UV treatment and before infection with P. digitatum. In the UV-treated fruit, the fungus developed a sporadic mycelium with marked inhibition of sporulation. The activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and peroxidase markedly increased in the peel following exposure of the fruit to UV light.     

THE NATURE AND CONSEQUENCE OF INTERFERENCE BY ALOPECURUS MYOSUROIDES HUDS. ON THE GROWTH OF WINTER WHEAT

Summary. In a field experiment with different densities of Alopecurus myosuroides , 10 plants/m² caused no significant reduction in total dry weight of winter wheat at harvest. When autumn- or spring-germinated plants at 100/m² remained until harvest, crop weight was reduced by about 30%. A study of root-zone competition between A. myosuroides and winter wheat in the glasshouse showed that suppression of the weed by the crop was greater at high nitrogen levels; the practical implications of this are discussed.
La nature de l'interférence d' Alopecurus myosuroïdes Huds. sur la croissance du blé d'hiver, et ses conséquences     

Effects of ozone exposure and leaf age of wheat on infection processes of Septoria nodorum Berk.

The infection process of Septoria nodorum was studied on the flag and second leaves of wheat plants at the flag-leaf emergence growth stage (GS 39), after pre-inoculative fumigation with different doses of ozone (0, 80, 180 or 240 μg/m³) for 7 h daily over 7 days. On ozone-treated plants, formation of appressoria occurred earlier, leading to a greater number and density of appressoria and faster growth of superficial infection hyphae than on plants grown without ozone amendment. Additionally, on leaves treated with 180 and 240 μg/m³ ozone, the percentage of papillae per appressorium was only half that on control plants. The number of germ tubes per conidium was not significantly affected by any treatment. Effects of increasing leaf age on the infection process were similar to those obtained with ozone. These results provide further evidence for similarities in the physiological effects of ozone and leaf ageing, which support the hypothesis that disease alterations due to ozone are strongly determined by the senescing effects of the pollutant.     

Effects of humidity and air speed on sporulation of Phytophthora infestans on potato leaves

An apparatus is described for the control of humidity, air speed and temperature around detached potato leaflets and whole plants. Leaflets and plants inoculated with Phytophthora infestans were incubated in air at 15°C. Abundant sporangia were formed in an air speed of 0.3 × 10⁻³ m/s when the ambient humidity was 90–100% RH, but not at 85 or 80% RH. At air speeds of 5.5 × 10⁻³ and 13.7 × 10⁻³ m/s there were numerous sporangia at 100% RH, but not at 95–80% RH. The number of sporangia formed on leaflets kept in air flowing at 5.5 × 10⁻³ m/s with alternating humidities of 80 and 100% RH each for 12 h per day was intermediate between numbers formed on leaflets incubated at each humidity continuously, and higher than numbers formed at a constant 90% RH. Removing leaflets from plants before inoculation did not affect the number of sporangia produced.     

Effects of humidity, leaf wetness, temperature and light on conidial production by Phaeoisariopsis personata on groundnut

Controlled-environment studies of conidial production by Phaeoisariopsis personata on groundnut are described. With constant relative humidity (RH), conidia were only produced above a threshold (94·5% RH) and there was a linear increase between 94·5% RH and 100% RH. Conidial production was less with continuous leaf wetness (resembling heavy dew) than with continuous 98–99% RH, but it was similar with intermittent leaf wetness and intermittent 98–99% RH (8 h at 70% RH each day). With alternate high (≥97% RH) and low humidity, daily conidial production depended both on the duration of high RH and on the low RH value. With 99% RH at night (12 h), night-time conidial production decreased with the previous daytime RH. After conidial production had started, small numbers of conidia were produced even when the RH was well below the threshold (94·5%). Conidia were produced in continuous light when the photon flux density was 2 μmol/m²/s, but production was completely inhibited with 60 μmol/m²/s. With constant RH, more conidia were produced with a 12 h photoperiod than in continuous darkness. However, more than 75% of the conidia were produced in the dark. With continuous darkness, more conidia were produced during the night (18.00–06.00 h) than during the day, but this biological rhythm was overcome with a (light-night)/(dark-day) regime. With constant 98–99% RH there was a linear increase in conidial production with temperature between 10 and 28°C, and virtually no conidia were produced at 33°C. The daily production of conidia increased with time for 2 to 6 days, depending on the treatment.     

Sporulation on infected tissues, and presence of airborne Verticillium albo-atrum in alfalfa fields in New York

The phenology of Verticillium albo-atrum ( Vaa) sporulation on infected tissues and the presence of Vaa in the air were investigated in alfalfa fields affected by verticillium wilt (VW) during the 1983/84 growing season. Few and scattered Verticillium conidiophores developed on stubble by the end of May, but abundant Verticillium sporulation was found on necrotic leaflets and petioles by the beginning of June at the first appearance of symptoms. Abundant conidiophores developed also on necrotic stems and leaf tissues sampled later. Sporulation was never found on entirely green stems. Concentration of airborne colony-forming units (cfu) of Vaa ranged from 0.0 to 15.3 cfu/m³ above fields with a VW incidence of 2.2-33.0% in June and August, and from 5.9-25.9 cfu/m³ during mowing of the crop in August. The ratio of Vaa to other airborne fungi above sampled fields was less than 5 x 10^-3, Airborne fungi were even more abundant at the time of mowing. Our results suggest that airborne V. albo-atrum may not play an important role in the epidemiology of VW of alfalfa.     

Application of a flowing solution culture technique to study the parasitic fitness of the nematode Radopholus similis on banana plantlets under two different nitrogen nutrient regimes

A flowing solution culture technique was used to study the effects of N nutrition on banana root infestation by the burrowing nematode Radopholus similis . Paired groups of banana plants were grown in separate compartments containing coarse sand (2–5 mm diameter). Input nutrient solutions had fixed compositions and identical total N concentrations. The two compartments differed in their NH₄⁺/total N concentrations, one receiving 0% NH₄⁺/total N (100% NO₃⁻/total N) and the other 60% NH₄⁺/total N (40% NO₃⁻/total N). The compartments were connected by a inverted T-shaped tube containing fine sand (200–250  μ m diameter) through which nematodes were inoculated. The pH and N concentrations of the output solution were determined at regular intervals. The pH of the output solution differed markedly between the two compartments, with values of 6.8 and 3.6 in the 0% and 60% NH₄⁺ compartments, respectively. In the compartment receiving 0% NH₄⁺, the number of nematodes in the roots and the growth of banana plants was significantly higher than in the compartment receiving 60% NH₄⁺. Even though they were more infested by nematodes, banana plants receiving 100% NO₃⁻ developed better than the less infested plants grown in the medium containing 40% NO₃⁻.     

Adaptation of spray dosage in stone-fruit orchards on the basis of tree row volume

The tree row volume (TRV) model was adapted for use in stone-fruit orchards. The number of leaves, leaf area and TRV were determined in apricot, peach, cherry and plum orchards in France and Switzerland. The number of leaves per tree ranged from 2500 to 25900, and TRV values ranged from 5400 to 28600 m³ ha⁻¹. Trees were sprayed with a fluorescent tracer, according to TRV, in order to determine the quantity and distribution of tracer deposition in the crown of the trees. For large trees with TRV values above 15000 m³ ha⁻¹, tracer deposits on leaves were lower in the upper half of the crown than in the lower half. The TRV formula developed for pome-fruit trees was accordingly used for spraying stone-fruit trees, but with a 15% increase in spray volume for large trees. Under these conditions, disease control was efficient, and residues of difenoconazole, penconazole and dithianon were below the maximum residue limit. The TRV method was thus found to allow adaptation of spray dosage and volume to the volume of the trees, on condition that sprayers are carefully calibrated and adjusted for each orchard. The TRV concept can be applied to a wide range of pome and stone-fruit orchards and can help to harmonize registration protocols for fungicides and insecticides.     

Relationships between the spatial pattern and number of apothecia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and stem rot of soybean

Relationships between the spatial patterns and numbers of apothecia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and incidence of sclerotinia stem rot of soybean (Glycine max) were investigated in a field plot in 1981 and 1982. Apothecia and disease were both spatially aggregated and were most consistently described by the negative binomial distribution, although the Poisson-binomial and logarithmic with zeros distributions sometimes gave significant fits to data. Numbers of apothecia and disease incidence were correlated within quadrats of 1.4 m² (r = 0.04-0.57), 36 m² (r = 0.44-0.87) and 108 m² (r = 0.44-0.99). The results suggest that disease incidence was determined primarily by inoculum produced within the field. This information may be important in developing models for disease production.     

The effects of direct harvesting and drying systems on the incidence and control of neck rot (Botrytis allii) in onions

Direct harvesting, with mechanical removal of the foliage (topping), of onion crops followed by post-harvest drying at ambient temperatures ( c . 18°C) resulted in an increase in the incidence of onion neck rot ( Botrytis allii ).
The disease was substantially reduced if topped onions were dried at 30°C with an airflow of 425 m³ air/h/tonne. The treatment was most effective if the crop was removed from the field for drying within 48 h of topping thus avoiding severe infection of the damaged green tissues of the necks of onions.     

A qualitative quick-test for detection of herbicide resistance to tribenuron-methyl in Papaver rhoeas

A qualitative seed-based method useful for the detection of resistance to the herbicide tribenuron-methyl in Papaver rhoeas L. is described. Seeds were germinated on 35 mL of a 1.3% agar medium containing 2 g KNO₃ L^–1 in 8.5 cm Petri dishes in a growth chamber under 20 μmol s^–1 m^–2 of fluorescent light. When 0.24 μM tribenuron-methyl or more was added, growth in susceptible plants stopped after the cotyledon stage and they turned chlorotic. The resistant plants continued developing new leaves. The same effect was achieved when 0.2 g gibberellin (GA₃) L^–1 and 7.68 μM tribenuron-methyl or 0.5 g GA₃ L^–1 and 61.44 μM tribenuron-methyl were added. Germination percentage rose with gibberellin in the presence or absence of the herbicide. Plants developed rapidly, with only about 14 d needed to finish the test but sometimes root growth was reduced because of the addition of gibberellin. In the absence of gibberellin but in the presence of the herbicide, plants grew more slowly and developed smaller leaves with a 17-d evaluation period requirement. The test was validated with pot experiments in a greenhouse and also with field trials. The best combination was found to be 0.2 g GA₃ L^–1 and 7.68 μM tribenuron-methyl, assuring homogenous germination and testing of dormant seeds but avoiding root inhibition associated with too much gibberellin.     

Effect of the fungal pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana toxin prehelminthosporol on barley root plasma membrane vesicles

The effects of the phytotoxin prehelminthosporol from the fungal pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana on the activities of the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase, Ca²⁺- ATPase, and 1, 3-β-glucan synthase in barley roots were investigated in vitro. Plasma membranes were isolated by aqueous polymer two-phase partitioning. Proton pumping by the H⁺-ATPase was drastically reduced in a dose-dependent manner, with complete inhibition at 500 μM prehelminthosporol, while inhibition of ATP hydrolysis was less drastic, with a 35% inhibition at 500 μM toxin. Ca²⁺ uptake was also reduced, although to a lesser extent than proton pumping, with a maximal inhibition of 60% at 500 μM toxin. The 1, 3-β-glucan synthase activity was weakly stimulated at toxin concentrations below 100 μM, with higher concentrations being inhibitory. Taken together, our results indicate that prehelminthosporol exerts its effect in at least two ways. First, it appears to disrupt the membrane barrier and thus seriously interfere with establishment of the proton gradient that drives ion and nutrient uptake and affect the efflux of Ca²⁺ to maintain the low cytoplasmic concentration of Ca²⁺ essential for the function of Ca²⁺ as a messenger in signal transduction. Secondly, it appears to inhibit the enzyme activities. The 1, 3-β-glucan synthase is activated by Ca²⁺ and can operate in the presence of low concentrations of prehelminthosporol (which may induce Ca²⁺ leakage into the cytoplasm and hence activate the enzyme), to produce callose to seal leaky membranes.     

Biological activity of pyribenzoxim in winter wheat and associated weeds

Pot and field tests were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of pyribenzoxim for winter weeds in wheat. In the pot tests, pyribenzoxim, at 50 g ha⁻¹, controlled certain biotypes of blackgrass, including a fenoxaprop-P-ethyl-resistant biotype (the "Notts" biotype). A chlorotoluron-resistant blackgrass (the "Peldon" biotype) was not controlled. Cleaver, at the three-to-four-leaf stage, was completely controlled by pyribenzoxim at 30 g ha⁻¹. In the field, the application in December gave good control of common chickweed, but did not control other weeds. No damage to wheat was observed with this rate of pyribenzoxim in December. The application in March gave complete control of blackgrass , hairy chess, and soft brome at 70 g ha⁻¹, and cleaver at 140 g ha⁻¹. The partial control of corn poppy and field violet was achieved. The March application scorched the wheat at 50–70 g ha⁻¹, with prolonged stunting at 100–140 g ha⁻¹. In conclusion, it was shown that pyribenzoxim had potential as a wheat herbicide, but needed further fine-tuning to find an optimum dosage.     

Modelling different cultivation and herbicide strategies for their effect on herbicide resistance in Alopecurus myosuroides

A single dominant mutation conferring resistance to aryloxyphenoxypropionate (AOPP) and cyclohexanedione (CHD) herbicides was incorporated into a quantitative model for the population development of Alopecurus myosuroide s Huds. The model predicts that from an initial seedbank of 100 seed m^–2, 10^–6 of which mutate to resistance each generation, and annual use of AOPP/CHD herbicides which kill 90% of susceptible but no resistant plants, a threshold of 10 plants m^–2 surviving herbicides ('field resistance') will develop: in 9–10 years if all tillage is by tine cultivation to 10 cm deep; after 28–30 years of annual ploughing; in 12 years if tine cultivations are interspersed with ploughing once every 4 years. If AOPP/CHD herbicides are alternated with herbicides with different modes of action, outcomes depend on the annual kill rate: with 95% kill (of susceptible plants by AOPP/CHDs and all plants by alternative herbicides) and tine cultivation, field resistance develops in 22 years; however, resistance can be delayed for 45 years if AOPP/CHDs are rotated with two additional herbicides, each with a different mode of action. The model predictions on the number of years required for field resistance to develop are not highly sensitive to the density of the seedbank or the initial frequency of resistance.     

Antifungal vapour-phase activity of allyl-isothiocyanate against Penicillium expansum on pears

The fungitoxicity of allyl-isothiocyanate (AITC) vapour against Penicillium expansum , the causal agent of blue mould on pears (cvs Conference and Kaiser), was evaluated. The best control of blue mould was obtained by exposing fruits for 24 h in a 5 mg L⁻¹ AITC-enriched atmosphere, the extent of control depending on the inoculum density. Lesion diameter was inversely related to AITC concentration. In treated fruits the percentage of infected wounds increased with conidial concentration, with fewer than 20% affected at 1 × 10³ conidia mL⁻¹ to almost 80% at 1 × 10⁶ conidia mL⁻¹. In comparison, >98% of wounds were infected in untreated fruits irrespective of conidial concentration. AITC treatments were effective up to 24 h after inoculation for Conference and 48 h for Kaiser. AITC treatments also controlled a thiabendazole-resistant strain of P. expansum , reducing the incidence of blue mould by 90% in both cultivars. The use of AITC produced from pure sinigrin or from Brassica juncea defatted meal may be an economically viable alternative to synthetic fungicides against P. expansum .