Chloroplast DNA markers for Echinochloa taxa

The genus Echinochloa (Poaceae) includes numerous problematic weeds over a wide range of ecoregions in the world. To date, molecular markers for species identification and assessing phylogenetic relationship are still limited in the genus Echinochloa. In this study, we developed seven chloroplast molecular markers based on divergent chloroplast regions of E. crus‐galli and E. oryzicola. Furthermore, Marker #1 (psbA) was examined in more than 200 Echinochloa accessions and a phylogenetic tree grouped these Echinochloa accessions into four clades. Additionally, two different E. crus‐galli varieties (E. crus‐galli var. crus‐galli, E. crus‐galli var. praticola) and E. colona were successfully distinguished by this marker. The developed molecular markers contribute to better identification of Echinochloa taxa.     

Morphological and genetic variability of local Echinochloa accessions and the link with herbicide sensitivity

Echinochloa crus‐galli and Echinochloa muricata are common weeds in Belgian maize fields. Both species are morphologically difficult to distinguish and exhibit high morphological variability. Their response to herbicides varies from field to field. This study investigated whether the considerable morphological polymorphism found among Belgian Echinochloa accessions has a genetic background and whether it is consistently associated with differences in sensitivity to maize herbicides. For this purpose, accessions of E. crus‐galli and E. muricata were compared for morphological and genetic resemblance and tested for herbicide sensitivity. All accessions were planted in the field to examine the morphological traits. A cluster analysis was conducted to assess them for morphological diversity. DNA of leaf material was used for amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis to cluster the accessions genetically. Dose–response pot experiments were conducted in the glasshouse to assess the effectiveness of an acetolactate synthase (nicosulfuron), acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (cycloxydim) and 4‐hydroxyphenyl phosphate dioxygenase (topramezone) inhibiting herbicide. The genetic and morphological clusters were compared with the effective doses obtained from the dose–response bioassays. Morphological variation significantly correlated with genetic variation, but the relation with herbicide sensitivity was weak. Spikelet size and biomass characteristics are reliable discriminating characteristics for (sub)species classification. Intraspecies identification does not seem essential for optimisation of chemical control of E. crus‐galli and E. muricata in the field.     

Modelling the effects of herbicide dose and weed density on rice‐weed competition

The effects of herbicide dose on rice‐weed competition were investigated to develop a combined model, which can be utilised to estimate an optimum herbicide dose for a given weed density in paddy rice cultivation. Field studies were conducted in Suwon for rice‐Echinochloa crus‐galli competition and Iksan for rice‐Eleocharis kuroguwai during 2007. The competitive effect of the weeds E. crus‐galli and E. kuroguwai decreased with increasing doses of flucetosulfuron and azimsulfuron, respectively, in the same manner as the standard dose–response curve. The combination of the rectangular hyperbolic model and the standard dose–response curve adequately described the complex effects of herbicide dose and weed competition on rice yield. Parameter estimates were used with the model to predict rice yield and estimate the doses of flucetosulfuron and azimsulfuron required to restrict rice yield loss caused by E. crus‐galli and E. kuroguwai, respectively, to an acceptable level. For a rice yield of 5.0 t ha^?1, the model recommended flucetosulfuron doses of 8.7, 13.4 and 20.1 g a.i. ha^?1 when infested with E. crus‐galli at 12, 24 and 48 plants m^?2 respectively. For a rice yield of 5.2 t ha^?1, the model recommended azimsulfuron doses of 3.9, 7.5 and 12.6 g a.i. ha^?1 when infested with E. kuroguwai at 24, 48 and 96 plants m^?2 respectively. The theoretical outputs of the combined model appear robust and indicate there are opportunities for reduced herbicide use in the field. These now require evaluation under field conditions.     

Herbicide‐resistant weeds in the Philippines: Status and resistance mechanisms

Two major weeds in rice in the Philippines, Sphenochlea zeylanica Gaertn. and Echinochloa crus‐galli (L.) Beauv., are controlled with chemical and cultural methods. In the 1980s, after >10 years of continuous use of 2,4‐D, S. zeylanica evolved resistance to the chemical in those rice fields that had been treated with 2,4‐D once or twice every cropping season. In the 1990s, E. crus‐galli evolved resistance to butachlor and propanil in rice monocrop areas where both herbicides were used continuously for 7–9 years. Rice farmers continue to use 2,4‐D, butachlor and propanil extensively and are often unaware of herbicide resistance or the potential for cross‐resistance, its causes or its implications. In order to control herbicide‐resistant E. crus‐galli, farmers are shifting to locally available herbicides with different modes of action, such as bispyribac, an acetolactate synthase inhibitor, and cyhalofop, an acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase inhibitor. Follow‐up manual weeding or rotary weeding after herbicide spraying, a common farmers’ practice, removes the susceptible and resistant biotypes and could help to delay or prevent the evolution of resistance. Although the resistance mechanisms of both weeds are not determined yet, they could be related to enhanced degradation that is similar to the mechanisms that are shown by the resistant biotypes in other countries.     

Identification and expression pattern of a glutathione S‐transferase in Echinochloa crus‐galli

Plant glutathione S‐transferase (GST) forms a major part of the herbicide detoxification enzyme network in plants. A GST cDNA was isolated from Echinochloa crus‐galli and characterised. The gene, designated EcGST1 (E. crus‐galli GeneBank no: JX518596 ), has a 684 bp open reading frame predicted to encode a 25 kD protein. Sequence alignment showed that EcGST1 is a GST homologue. Its expression in response to quinclorac treatment was monitored in seedlings (leaves and roots) and adult plants (leaves, roots, stems and seeds) of quinclorac‐resistant (R) and susceptible (S) biotypes of E. crus‐galli. EcGST1 expression was 1.5–3 times greater in the R plants than in the S plants. However, after exposure to quinclorac, the difference in the expression levels of EcGST1 in R plants, compared with S plants, increased to a ratio of 6–10. Enhanced EcGST1 levels should enable greater quinclorac detoxification following quinclorac stimulation in R plants. GST‐based metabolism may be partially responsible for resistance to quinclorac in E. crus‐galli. The results suggest a new resistance mechanism for this R biotype in Chinese rice fields.     

Allelopathic potential of indigenous Bangladeshi rice varieties

A series of experiments was conducted in the laboratory and greenhouse of the Subtropical Field Science Center, University of the Ryukyus, Japan, from April to October 2015 to assess the allelopathic potential of 50 indigenous Bangladeshi rice varieties by using the donor–receiver bioassay, equal compartment agar method (ECAM), plant residue extract method and pot culture method. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), cress (Lepidium sativum L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus‐galli L. Beauv.) and jungle rice (Echinochloa colona L.) were used as the test plants. The highest inhibition effect was given by Boterswar, while the stimulating effect was given by Kartikbalam and Panbira in the donor–receiver bioassay and ECAM tests. Boterswar, Goria, Biron and Kartiksail were selected as the highest allelopathic‐potential varieties by the donor–receiver bioassay and ECAM. In the methanol extract test, Boterswar gave the strongest inhibitory effect on both barnyard grass and jungle rice, while Kartiksail gave the highest inhibitory effect on the jungle rice shoot. The growth parameters and total dry matter of barnyard grass in the greenhouse pot experiment were significantly reduced as a result of the application of aqueous extracts of the selected rice varieties, which was similar to the results of the laboratory experiments. The varieties of Boterswar, Goria, Biron and Kartiksail were selected as the most allelopathic among the 50 indigenous Bangladeshi rice varieties. These rice varieties could be used for the isolation and identification of allelochemicals and to further develop new varieties that are tolerant to weeds.     

Misidentifications of Echinochloa crus‐galli var. formosensis as Echinochloa oryzicola as a result of similar cpDNA sequences

Echinochloa crus‐galli (L.) Beauv. var. formosensis Ohwi (2n = 6x = 54, AABBCC genomes) and Echinochloa oryzicola (Vasinger) Vasinger (2n = 4x = 36, AABB) are major paddy weeds in East and Southeast Asia. E. oryzicola has been generally considered to be a paternal genome donor of E. crus‐galli s. l., which includes E. crus‐galli var. formosensis based on cpDNA sequences. Thus, molecular characterization using polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of cpDNA has been proposed as a reliable method for discriminating between the two species. In this study, we report that four accessions of E. crus‐galli var. formosensis from Okinawa, Nagasaki, Shizuoka and Tokyo had similar cpDNA sequences to E. oryzicola and had been misidentified as E. oryzicola using molecular methods. In addition, our results demonstrated that these accessions likely inherited their chloroplast genomes from E. oryzicola and not from an anonymous diploid species during polyploidization. Our findings provide new insights into the evolution of E. crus‐galli s. l. and suggest that identification using the cpDNA molecular method alone is not an appropriate approach to differentiate E. crus‐galli var. formosensis and E. oryzicola.     

Propanil tolerance in Echinochloa crus‐galli (L.) Beauv

Abstract

Two morphological variants of Echinochloa crus‐galli were collected from rice fields of an area in Greece where rice has been grown for over a decade and growers have recently been complaining about reduced effectiveness of propanil. Seedling response of the two variants to propanil was compared with that of E. crus‐galli collected from vegetable fields in another area where rice has never been grown. Initial contact toxicity of propanil was similar in all collections. Growth inhibition thereafter was clearly different, resulting in death of the E. crus‐galli from vegetables but not of the E. crus‐galli from rice. The latter could overcome initial toxicity and resume growth at 8 kg/ha of propanil, whereas the former was killed at 2–4 kg/ha. Prevalence of E. crus‐galli forms of higher tolerance resulting from selection through rice husbandry and/or repeated use of propanil may account for the reduced effectiveness of propanil in the area of intensive rice growing.     

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.     

Restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing allows for the rapid identification of simple sequence repeat markers in Echinochloa crus‐galli

Echinochloa crus‐galli is a serious weed worldwide. Microsatellite markers (simple sequence repeats, SSRs) are important molecular markers that are used widely for studying genetic diversity in plants. However, a limited number of SSRs is available for E. crus‐galli. The restriction site‐associated DNA (RAD) sequencing approach was combined with Illumina DNA sequencing for the rapid and mass detection of SSRs in E. crus‐galli. The RAD tags were generated from the genomic DNA of E. crus‐galli and were sequenced in order to produce 6921.6 Mb of high‐quality sequences with 45.1% guanine–cytosine content. In total, 3081 putative SSRs were detected, of which 82.2% were dinucleotide motif‐repeats. AT was the most frequent motif, accounting for 35.0% of the SSRs. In order to test the validity of the SSRs that were developed here, eight SSRs that were selected from putative SSRs were used to study the genetic diversity and structures of 20 E. crus‐galli populations that had been collected from rice fields in eastern China. Ninety‐seven alleles were amplified from the eight microsatellite loci among the 20 E. crus‐galli populations. These populations showed low genetic diversity and were classified on the basis of their genetic structures into three distinct groups that corresponded to the three regions of population sampling. The SSRs that were identified in this study represent a valuable resource for studying the genetic diversity, population biology and evolution of E. crus‐galli.     

Using panicle dry weight to estimate seed production in Echinochloa crus‐galli

A better understanding of weed seed production is a key element for any long‐term management allowing some weeds to shed seeds. The challenge with measuring seed production in weeds is the large effort required in terms of time and labour. For the weed species Echinochloa crus‐galli, it was tested whether the number of seeds per panicle dry weight or per panicle length can be used to estimate seed production. Experiments were conducted in three maize fields in north‐eastern Germany. The effect of factors that could influence this relationship, such as the time of seedling emergence, the density of E. crus‐galli, the control intensity of other weeds, seed predation and field, was included. A few days before maize harvest, all panicles were removed and weighed, panicle length was measured, and for a subsample of 178 panicles, the number of seeds was counted manually. Panicle dry weight predicted the number of seeds per panicle better (R² = 0.92) than did panicle length (R² = 0.69). The other factors except for ‘field’ and ‘seed predation’ had no effect on these relationships. The relationships between seed number and panicle dry weight found in this study closely resembled those reported in an earlier study. Based on our results, we conclude that both plant traits are appropriate for the estimatation of seed production, depending on required level of precision and availablilty of resources for the evaluation of sustainable weed management strategies.     

Strategy of Echinochloa oryzicola Vasing. for survival in flooded rice

Echinochloa oryzicola Vasing. (= Echinochloa phyllopogon Stapf ex Kessenko) is an obligate weed with an elaborated survival strategy in the flooded rice of Japan. In this review various adaptive characters of the weed, which comprise the survival strategy, are discussed through the life cycle. The weed is distributed only in flooded rice. Seeds (spikelets) buried in the soil exhibit annual cycles between dormant and non‐dormant state, and non‐dormant seeds recurrently appear in spring when rice growers start to prepare seedling beds and fields for rice transplanting. The non‐dormant seeds have unique characters metabolically adapted to submerged conditions to germinate and grow by the anaerobic respiration through alcohol fermentation. The weed has seemingly perfect mimicry of the rice plants throughout its development from seedling to heading, by which the weed escapes from manual weeding. In a rice paddy, the weed starts heading coincidentally with the rice plants at the period when the growers are reluctant to walk in the rice paddy to weed. Irrespective of plant height of the rice cultivar, the weed develops a few upper leaves above the rice canopy during the heading period of rice. This phenotypic plasticity of E. oryzicola in plant height is one of the characters conferring its competitive aggressiveness in flooded rice. When weeding is begun again after heading, the dormant weed seeds escape weeding by shattering and join the soil seedbank. The dormant seeds express the gene of an enzyme catalyzing ATP synthesis through the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation more abundantly, and have larger oxygen absorption and enzyme activity of the aerobic respiration than the non‐dormant seeds, suggesting that the dormant seeds maintain viability by the conventional aerobic respiration in the paddy soil drained from rice harvesting in fall to the next early spring. The various adaptive characters comprising the survival strategy of E. oryzicola in flooded rice consist of those inherited from the wild progenitor and those selected by the crop cultivation pressure. It is suggested that both the mimicry of the weed and the heading coincident with the rice plants have been acquired by the large selection pressure of frequent weeding, which has been done over the past hundred years. However, today, the manual weeding is substituted with herbicides, which cannot detect the mimicry and heading photoperiodic sensitivity. As a result, the dominant species of Echinochloa weeds in flooded rice is changing from E. oryzicola to Echinochloa crus‐galli var. crus‐galli that has neither mimicry nor photoperiodic sensitivity synchronizing to that of rice, but is more competitive against rice.     

Cross‐resistance of Echinochloa species to acetolactate synthase inhibitor herbicides

This study was conducted to evaluate the cross‐resistance of acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors with different chemistries, specifically azimsulfuron (sulfonylurea), penoxsulam (triazolopyrimidine sulfonanilide) and bispyribac‐sodium (pyrimidinyl thio benzoate), in Echinochloa oryzicola and Echinochloa crus‐galli that had been collected in South Korea and to investigate their herbicide resistance mechanism. Both Echinochloa spp. showed cross‐resistance to the ALS inhibitors belonging to the above three different chemistries. In a whole plant assay with herbicides alone, the resistant/susceptible ratios for azimsulfuron, penoxsulam and bispyribac‐sodium were 12.6, 28.1 and 1.9 in E. oryzicola and 21.1, 13.7 and 1.8 in E. crus‐galli, respectively. An in vitro ALS enzyme assay with herbicides showed that the I ₅₀‐values of the resistant accessions were approximately two‐to‐three times higher than the susceptible accessions, with no statistical difference, suggesting that the difference in ALS sensitivity cannot explain ALS inhibitor resistance in Echinochloa spp. for azimsulfuron, penoxsulam and bispyribac‐sodium. A whole plant assay with fenitrothion showed that the GR ₅₀‐values significantly decreased in both the resistant E. oryzicola and E. crus‐galli accessions when azimsulfuron, penoxsulam and bispyribac‐sodium were applied with the P450 inhibitor, while no significant decrease was observed in the susceptible accessions when the P450 inhibitor was used. Thus, these results suggest that ALS inhibitor cross‐resistance for azimsulfuron, penoxsulam and bispyribac‐sodium is related to enhanced herbicide metabolism.     

Use of phytotoxic rice crop residues for weed management

There is a general perception among Cambodian rice (Oryza sativa) farmers that, after harvesting, rice crop residues that are incorporated into the field benefit the growth of the subsequent rice crop. However, the effect of this action upon weed establishment and growth has not yet been considered. A series of pot and field trials were conducted to determine whether such action could inhibit weed establishment and/or growth. The pot studies first evaluated the response of the test plant (rice line ST‐3) and three weed species, barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus‐galli), small umbrella sedge (Cyperus difformis), and water primrose (Ludwigia octovalves), to the residue of 16 rice lines and the field trials were later conducted to evaluate the response of the same test plants to the residue of seven putatively allelopathic rice lines and one non‐allelopathic rice line. The residue of all the studied rice lines, depending on how long they had been incorporated into the soil, reduced the establishment and growth of all three weed species, as well as the rice crop. However, if the residue's incorporation was delayed by 2 weeks or only a proportion of the residue was incorporated, the rice crop could withstand the growth‐inhibiting effect, while the inhibition of the establishment and growth of the three weed species was retained. These responses of rice and the weeds to rice crop residues might provide a basis for a weed management strategy, particularly in the resource‐poor rice‐production systems of Cambodia.     

Simple sequence repeat analysis of genetic diversity among Acetyl‐CoA carboxylase inhibitor‐resistant and ‐susceptible Echinochloa crus‐galli and E. oryzicola populations in Korea

Echinochloa species are amongst the most problematic weeds in rice fields of Korea. The steady reliance on the Acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACCase) and acetolactate synthase inhibiting herbicides for control of these weeds has led to resistance to these herbicides. The objective of this study was to assess the genetic diversity among populations of ACCase inhibitor‐resistant and ‐susceptible Echinochloa crus‐galli and E. oryzicola in Korea, to better understand their population structure and possible origins of resistance. Seven simple sequence repeat markers were applied to assess the genetic diversity between resistant and susceptible E. crus‐galli and E. oryzicola from 12 populations in Korea. Genetic diversity was slightly higher in the resistant group. The Unweighted Pair Group Method using Arithmetic algorithm (UPGMA) dendrogram generated two distinct clades. One clade consisted of Echinochloa spp. from three populations, i.e. Anmyeondo, Gimje 4 and Gongju, which are resistant and differentiated from the susceptible populations, and the other clade contained the rest of the populations. Structure modelling supported two clades of UPGMA clustering. Based on these data, we can infer that some resistant populations are greatly differentiated, whereas other resistant biotypes are still building up resistance in rice fields in Korea. Resistance traits will be fixed and continue to spread over time without proper control measures.     

Sensitivity of Echinochloa crus‐galli populations to maize herbicides: a comparison between cropping systems

Echinochloa crus‐galli is an important maize weed with significant variation in herbicide sensitivity. This differential response may reflect differences in selection pressure caused by years of cropping system‐related herbicide usage. The herbicide sensitivity of E. crus‐galli populations from three divergent cropping systems was evaluated in dose–response pot experiments. Populations were collected from sandy fields with (i) a long‐term organic cropping system, (ii) a conventional cropping system with maize in the crop rotation or (iii) a conventional cropping system with long‐term monocropping of maize. Each cropping system was represented by six E. crus‐galli populations. The effectiveness of three foliar‐applied maize herbicides (nicosulfuron, cycloxydim and topramezone) and two soil‐applied maize herbicides (S‐metolachlor and dimethenamid‐P) was tested at three doses and two runs. Foliar‐applied herbicides were applied at the three true leaves stage. Soil‐applied herbicides were applied immediately after sowing. The foliage dry weight per pot was determined 4 weeks after treatment. Plant responses were expressed as biomass reduction. Herbicide sensitivity was consistently lowest for populations from maize monocropping systems. Compared with populations from organic cropping systems, populations from monocropping systems showed 6.9%, 9.8% and 29.3% lower sensitivity to cycloxydim, topramezone and nicosulfuron respectively. Populations from the conventional crop rotation system showed intermediate sensitivity levels, which did not significantly differ from sensitivity levels of populations from the other cropping systems. Sensitivity to dimethenamid‐P and S‐metolachlor was not affected by cropping system. Environmental conditions influenced herbicidal response . This study indicated that integrated weed management may be necessary to preserve herbicide efficacy over the long term.     

Mining the Watkins collection of wheat landraces for novel sources of eyespot resistance

Eyespot is an economically important stem base disease of wheat caused by the soilborne fungal pathogens Oculimacula yallundae and Oculimacula acuformis. The most effective method of controlling the disease is host resistance. However, there are only three genetically characterized resistances in wheat varieties and further sources of resistance are required. Previous studies have identified resistances in wild relatives, but use of these resistances has been limited by linkage drag with deleterious traits exacerbated by low rates of recombination. Therefore, the identification of novel resistances in hexaploid wheat germplasm is desirable. The Watkins collection currently consists of 1056 hexaploid wheat landraces that represent global wheat diversity at the time of its collection in the 1920s and 1930s. As such, it may contain beneficial agronomic traits such as eyespot resistance. The Watkins collection was screened for resistance to O. yallundae based on a glasshouse test of all 1056 accessions and a polytunnel test of 44 accessions selected from a previous field trial. Resistant lines identified in these tests were retested against both O. yallundae and O. acuformis. This identified 17 accessions with resistance to one or both of the pathogen species. From these, two accessions (1190094.1 and 1190736.3) provided a high level of resistance to both pathogen species. An F₄ population derived from accession 1190736.3 indicated that the resistance to O. acuformis in this accession is conferred by a single gene and therefore would be suitable for introgression into elite wheat varieties to provide an alternative source of eyespot resistance.     

Cucumis metuliferus is resistant to root‐knot nematode Mi1.2 gene (a)virulent isolates and a promising melon rootstock

Pot experiments were carried out to characterize the response of two Cucumis metuliferus accessions (BGV11135 and BGV10762) against Mi1.2 gene (a)virulent Meloidogyne arenaria, M. incognita and M. javanica isolates and to determine the compatibility and the effect on physicochemical properties of fruit melons. In addition, histopathological studies were conducted. One week after transplanting, plants were inoculated with one J2 cm^?3 of sterilized sand (200 cm³ pots) and maintained in a growth chamber at 25 °C for 40 days. The susceptible cucumber cv. Dasher II or melon cv. Paloma were included for comparison. The number of egg masses and number of eggs per plant were assessed, and the reproduction index (RI) was calculated as the percentage of eggs produced on the C. metuliferus accessions compared to those produced on the susceptible cultivars. The compatibility and fruit quality were assessed by grafting three scions, two of Charentais type and one of type piel de sapo, under commercial greenhouse conditions. The resistance level of both C. metuliferus accessions ranged from highly resistant (RI < 1%) to resistant (1% ≤ RI ≤ 10%) irrespective of Meloidogyne isolates. Melon plants grafted onto C. metuliferus accession BGV11135 grew as self‐grafted plants without negatively impacting fruit quality traits. Giant cells induced by Meloidogyne spp. on C. metuliferus were in general poorly developed compared to those on cucumber. Furthermore, necrotic areas surrounding the nematode were observed. Cucumis metuliferus accession BGV11135 could be a promising melon rootstock to manage Meloidogyne spp., irrespective of their Mi1.2 (a)virulence, without melon fruit quality reduction.     

Effects of ferrous iron (Fe) on the germination and root elongation of paddy rice and weeds

Laboratory experiments were conducted to analyze the iron (Fe) tolerance of paddy weeds and rice varieties (Oryza sativa) for germination and root elongation. Under a waterlogged soil condition, the Fe(II) content in a soil solution increased with an increase in the ratio of rice straw to the soil. In the presence of 0.9% (w/w) straw to soil, which corresponds approximately to 8 t of straw applied to an area of 1 ha × 10 cm depth in the field, ～80 mg L^?1 of Fe(II) was produced in the soil solution. Based on this result, the seeds of rice and the weeds were incubated in a solution with <100 mg L^?1 of Fe(II). The presence of 100 mg L^?1 of Fe(II) suppressed the germination of Echinochloa crus‐galli var. crus‐galli, Cyperus serotinus, Cyperus difformis, and Monochoria korsakowii. However, it had no effect on the germination of Echinochloa oryzicola, Schoenoplectus juncoides (= Scirpus juncoides var. ohwianus), and Monochoria vaginalis. This level of Fe tolerance was the same as that of rice. These findings suggest that E. oryzicola, S. juncoides, and M. vaginalis can grow under more severe conditions than E. crus‐galli, C. serotinus, C. difformis, and M. korsakowii. In relation to seminal root elongation, the order of tolerance of Fe toxicity was O. sativa cv. Dunghan Shali > O. sativa cv. Hoshinoyume > E. oryzicola > M. vaginalis > S. juncoides. Thus, the results show that the tolerance of rice is greater than that of E. oryzicola, which had a comparatively strong tolerance among the weeds examined, and also that there are differences in tolerance among the rice varieties. These findings suggest that the difference in Fe tolerance is involved in weed control systems when organic materials are applied. If this difference is an important factor in the weed control system, Fe‐tolerant rice varieties, like cv. D. Shali, could facilitate weed control systems due to their higher Fe tolerance ability.     

Flooding affects the development of Plasmodiophora brassicae in Arabidopsis roots during the secondary phase of infection

Clubroot, a disease of Brassicaceae species, is caused by the soilborne pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae. High soil water content was previously described to favour the motility of zoospores and their penetration into root cells. In this study, the effect of irrigation regimes on clubroot development during the post‐invasive secondary phase of infection was investigated. Three irrigation regimes (low, standard, high) were tested on two Arabidopsis accessions, Col‐0 (susceptible) and Bur‐0, a partially resistant line. In Col‐0, clubroot symptoms and resting spore content were higher under the ‘low irrigation’ regime than the other two regimes, thus enhancing the phenotypic contrast between the two Arabidopsis accessions. Clubroot severity under high and low irrigation regimes was evaluated in near‐isogenic lines derived from a Col‐0 ×  Bur‐0 cross, to assess the effect of soil moisture on the expression of each of four quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling partial resistance. The presence of the Bur‐0 allele at the QTL PbAt5.2 resulted in reduced severity only under low irrigation, whereas the Bur‐0 allele at QTL PbAt5.1 was associated with partial resistance only under high irrigation. QTL PbAt4 reduced the number of resting spores in infected roots, but was not associated with reduced clubroot symptoms. The results indicated that soil moisture could have consequences for the secondary phase of clubroot development, depending on plant genotype. Future genetic studies may benefit from using combinations of watering conditions during the secondary stage of infection, thus opening up the possibility of identifying genetic factors expressed under specific environmental conditions.