Influence of obligate parasite Cuscuta campestris on the community of its host Mikania micrantha

As a means of biologically controlling Mikania micrantha in South China, the influence of the native obligate parasite Cuscuta campestris on its natural community was studied in the field. Mikania micrantha is a non‐indigenous vine that smothers other vegetation and has become a major invader of agricultural land and native areas in Southern China. These preliminary results showed pronounced effects on M. micrantha by C. campestris. Cuscuta campestris significantly reduced biomass of M. micrantha, increased species diversity and helped re‐establishment of native species. Biomass of M. micrantha decreased from 328 g m^?2 to 82 g m^?2, biomass of companion species increased from 41 g m^?2 to 145 g m^?2, the total number of species increased from 7 to 19 and the species diversity index from 1.8 to 5.6, when C. campestris was present. These results indicated that the use of C. campestris could be a potentially effective way of controlling M. micrantha and could help us achieve the novel objective of biological control of weeds using weeds.     

Chemical and environmental factors driving germination of Solanum americanum seeds

Solanum americanum Mill. is a weed that occurs with a number of crops, and it is known for its high seed production and its staggered germination. The objective of this work was to evaluate the germination behavior of S. americanum seeds under the influence of chemical and environmental factors. In the laboratory, we tested the effect on germination of (i) constant and alternating temperatures, (ii) seed washing, (iii) exposure time and concentration of chemical treatments and (iv) seeding depth and soil covered with plant residue on seedling emergence. The variables analyzed were germination percentage, germination rate index, seedling emergence and length of the seedlings. The results indicated that alternating temperatures are the main way to promote germination of S. americanum; however, chemical treatments can help to increase the germination percentage and rate index. There was no increase in germination with seed washing, with the exception of KNO₃ application. A GA₃ concentration of 0.84 g L^?1 and an exposure time of 21.22 h in 0.2% of KNO₃ promoted the highest germination of S. americanum. Germination occurs when seeds remain on the soil surface and are not covered by crop residue.     

Factors affecting the seed germination and seedling emergence of muskweed (Myagrum perfoliatum)

Myagrum perfoliatum is a noxious broad‐leaved weed in western Iranian farming systems. A better understanding of the timing of seedling emergence would facilitate the development of better control strategies for this weed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of different factors on muskweed seed germination. Only 2.8% of the seeds of this species, which are encapsulated in siliques, germinated by, while the seeds that had been removed from the siliques had a 50% germination rate. The immersion of muskweed fruits in concentrated sulfuric acid for 110 min was the best treatment for promoting germination. Gibberellic acid stimulated the germination of the naked seeds by 29.1%, potassium nitrate (40 mmol L^‐1) increased the germination rate to 71%, while higher concentrations of potassium nitrate inhibited germination. The optimum germination temperature for the naked seeds was 20/10°C (day/night) and light was not required for germination. No seedling emerged when the seeds were buried 6 cm deep. The seeds were sensitive to both osmotic and salinity stress, but they germinated to 46–49% over a pH range of 4–10. The results of this study revealed that the seeds of M . perfoliatum have physiological dormancy and that it is slowly broken via after‐ripening. However, the fruit wall can prevent germination after physiological dormancy is broken. Thus, this species has the potential to form a persistent seed bank because of the presence of the fruit wall.     

Development of a rapid,accurate glasshouse bioassay for assessing fusarium wilt disease responses in cultivated Gossypium species

A rapid glasshouse‐based bioassay method to screen large numbers of cotton plants for responses to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (Fov) was developed. Different Fov inoculum concentrations and methods of inoculation were assessed using resistant and susceptible cotton cultivars. Cotton seeds were planted directly into Fov‐inoculated soil. Studies of seed germination, seedling establishment, seedling mortality and fusarium wilt symptoms (i.e. stunting, foliar symptoms and vascular browning) were performed to optimize the bioassay parameters. Growing seedlings in Fov‐inoculated soils at 5 × 10⁴ or 1 × 10⁵ CFU g^?1 soil, in individual seedling tubes with 12 h at 28–30°C and 12 h at 15–18°C, gave consistent results when assessing Fov disease responses 6 weeks after inoculation. When fusarium wilt resistance ranks (FWRRs) and vascular browning index (VBI) means of 18 Australian and other cotton cultivars from the Fov glasshouse bioassay were compared against their fusarium field performance ranks (F‐ranks), assessed on adult plants for cotton cultivar release, Pearson’s correlation was highly significant for both comparisons. The level of congruence between field and glasshouse data indicated that this protocol should be an effective tool for large‐scale screening for Fov‐resistance responses in diverse germplasm and breeding populations and for advancing genetic research to develop molecular markers for Fov resistance in cotton.     

Efficacy of UV‐C radiation to reduce seedborne anthracnose (Colletotrichum acutatum) from Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis)

The potential of UV‐C radiation of Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis) seeds to eradicate seedborne infections of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum was investigated. UV‐C doses from 0 to 691.2 kJ m^?2 (resulting from 0 to 96 h of exposure time) on disease incidence reduction and germination on artificially and naturally infected seed were evaluated. The degree of incidence reduction and seed germination was dependent on the dose of UV‐C. The UV‐C doses of 86.4 kJ m^?2 and higher reduced incidence from 6% to 7% to undetectable levels, but these UV‐C doses also reduced seed germination. UV‐C can deleteriously affect physiological processes and overall growth. To assess its impact, L. mutabilis seeds irradiated with UV‐C doses of 57.6 and 86.4 kJ m^?2 were grown. Seedlings grown from noninfected seed and UV‐C treated seed showed an increased concentration of chlorophyll and protein contents, as well as an increase in the activation of defence enzymes peroxidase and catalase, in comparison with plants grown from infected seed. UV‐C doses resulted in seed emergence and seedling dry weight rates that were similar to the noninfected control or better than the fungicide control. Moreover, 57.6 kJ m^?2 reduced transmission of the pathogen from seed to the plantlets by 80%, while 86.4 kJ m^?2 apparently eradicated the pathogen, under greenhouse conditions. The use of UV‐C, first reported here, is advantageous for controlling anthracnose in lupin.     

Phytotoxic activity of Chinese violet (Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson) and two phytotoxic substances

Chinese violet (Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson) is a perennial invasive weed belonging to Acanthaceae. Leaves of this weed have been suggested to possess phytotoxic activity. However, phytotoxic substances in this weed have not yet been reported. Therefore, the present study investigated phytotoxic activity of Chinese violet extracts and phytotoxic substances. The extracts of Chinese violet leaves inhibited the root and shoot growth of cress, lettuce, alfalfa, barnyard grass, ryegrass, and timothy, where the level of inhibition increased with increasing extract concentrations. Bioassay‐guided separations of the extracts led to isolation of two phytotoxic substances, indole‐3‐carboxaldehyde and (6R,9S)‐3‐oxo‐α‐ionol. Indole‐3‐carboxaldehyde significantly inhibited the root and shoot growth of cress at concentrations ≥100 and 30 μmol L^?1, respectively, and concentrations of the substance required for 50% growth inhibition were 210 and 127 μmol L^?1 for cress roots and shoots, respectively. The other substance, (6R,9S)‐3‐oxo‐α‐ionol, was reported to have strongly inhibited cress roots and shoots. The present results suggest that Chinese violet contains two phytotoxic substances indole‐3‐carboxaldehyde and (6R,9S)‐3‐oxo‐α‐ionol, and those substances may play an important role in the phytotoxic activity of Chinese violet.     

Compounds from the subterranean part of Johnsongrass and their allelopathic potential

The allelopathic effects of the exotic invasive weed, Johnsongrass, on Lactuca sativa, a native plant in China, were evaluated and the phytotoxins were investigated under laboratory conditions. The crude extracts (chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions) that were obtained from the ethanol extract of the subterranean parts of Johnsongrass inhibited the germination speed and growth of the roots and shoots of the test plant. The four compounds, ethyl p‐hydroxybenzoate, diosmetin, apigenin, and luteolin, were isolated from the extract of the subterranean parts of Johnsongrass first, along with three other compounds (reported previously), p‐hydroxybenzaldehyde, p‐hydroxybenzoic acid, and dhurrin, and they all were evaluated on L. sativa. At the concentration of <0.5 mmol L^?1, ethyl p‐hydroxybenzoate, dhurrin, and the mixture of the compounds delayed the germination speed of the seeds of L. sativa at 24 h of incubation, while apigenin delayed the germination speed of the seeds of L. sativa at 72 h of incubation. Ethyl p‐hydroxybenzoate demonstrated the strongest delaying effect among the phenols and a similar effect was found with apigenin among the flavonoids, wheras ethyl p‐hydroxybenzoate induced a drastic inhibition of the germination at 2 mmol L^?1. In contrast, p‐hydroxybenzaldehyde and luteolin had no effect on the germination at any concentration at any stage. All the substances inhibited the shoot and root growth of L. sativa at 3 mmol L^?1. Increasing the concentration increased the inhibition of the growth of L. sativa. The inhibitory activity of ethyl p‐hydroxybenzoate and p‐hydroxybenzaldehyde was greater than that of the other compounds. This result suggested that the isolated phytotoxins might contribute to the successful invasion by Johnsongrass.     

Plant growth inhibitors in turmeric (Curcuma longa) and their effects on Bidens pilosa

Turmeric (Curcuma spp.) has numerous biological activities, including anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal and insecticidal properties. Here, we evaluated the plant growth‐inhibitory activities of two cultivars of Curcuma longa (C. longa ; Ryudai gold and Okinawa ukon) against radish, cress, lettuce and Bidens pilosa (B. pilosa ). The methanol extracts of both turmeric varieties inhibited the seed germination and seedling growth of all the tested plants. Ryudai gold had a significantly higher inhibitory effect on the seed germination and root and shoot growth of the plants than Okinawa ukon. Therefore, Ryudai gold was chosen for the isolation of plant growth‐inhibitory compounds using a silica gel column and high‐performance liquid chromatography. The structural identification of the compounds was carried out using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The growth inhibitors were identified as four curcuminoids; dihydrobisdemethoxycurcumin ( 1 ), bisdemethoxycurcumin ( 2 ), demethoxycurcumin ( 3 ) and curcumin ( 4 ). The IC₅₀ of the curcuminoids against the root and shoot growth of B. pilosa ranged from 8.7 ± 1.7 to 12.9 ± 1.8 and from 15.5 ± 1.8 to 38.9 ± 2.8 μmol L^?1, respectively. Compound 1 showed the lowest IC₅₀ against the root and shoot growth of B. pilosa . These results suggested that Ryudai gold has a potential growth‐inhibitory effect against B. pilosa .     

Plant growth inhibitory activity and active substances with allelopathic potential of cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) rhizome

Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica [L.] Raeusch.) is a perennial rhizomatous grass that belongs to the Poaceae and is widely distributed in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions over the world. The grass is strongly invasive and is suggested to have allelopathic potential. However, limited information is available on allelopathic substances in cogongrass rhizomes. Therefore, the allelopathic potential and substances in cogongrass rhizomes were investigated. The extracts of cogongrass rhizomes inhibited the root and shoot growth of barnyard grass, ryegrass, timothy, cress, lettuce and alfalfa. After bioassay‐guided separations of the extracts, four growth inhibitory substances, 5‐methoxyflavone, 5,2′‐dimethoxyflavone, methyl caffeate and abscisic acid, were isolated. 5‐Methoxyflavone, 5,2′‐dimethoxyflavone and methyl caffeate significantly inhibited the root and shoot growth of cress at concentrations of ≥0.03–0.3 m mol L^?1 and their concentrations required for 50% growth inhibition were 0.079–0.24, 0.23–1.1 and 0.59–0.88 m mol L^?1, respectively. The other isolated substance, abscisic acid, has been reported to have strong growth inhibitory activity. Its concentrations required for 50% growth inhibition on cress were 0.31–0.61 μ mol L^?1. The present study suggests that cogongrass rhizomes might have allelopathic potential and that those four substances might contribute to that potential.     

Yucca schidigera extract: a potential biofungicide against seedborne pathogens of sorghum

Treatment of seeds with an aqueous extract of yucca (YE), Yucca schidigera, was evaluated for antifungal activity against seedborne pathogens as well as its effect on seed germination and seedling growth of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). The antifungal effect of YE was observed against Leptosphaeria sacchari (syn. Phoma sorghina) when the extract was applied at 2·5 and 10% concentrations. At 10% concentration, YE significantly reduced not only the incidence of L. sacchari, but also that of Fusarium spp., Cochliobolus lunatus (syn. Curvularia lunata) and Cladosporium spp. The effect of 10% YE on seedborne fungi was broader than the fungicide fludioxonil, particularly with regard to Fusarium. Furthermore, the number of normal, healthy‐looking seedlings increased in a dose‐responsive manner with YE treatment. Seedling vigour was also stimulated by YE but no correlation was observed with the concentrations tested. Under glasshouse conditions, the treatment of seeds with 10% YE increased the emergence of seedlings and plant height and reduced the number of seedlings with crown rot compared to negative controls and saponin. The positive effect was similar to the effect obtained with fungicide‐treated seeds. Treatment of seeds with synthetic saponin inhibited seedborne fungi less effectively and also negatively affected germination and vigour of the seedlings, compared to the treatment with YE. The results demonstrate an agronomic potential for the use of YE as a biofungicide for seed treatment of sorghum. The difference between the antifungal and the vigour‐stimulating effects of YE warrants further investigation.     

Weeds for weed control: Asteraceae essential oils as natural herbicides

The aim of this study was to test the botanical family of Asteraceae as a source of natural herbicides. Twenty Asteraceae species were collected during flowering time and evaluated in terms of the yield and quality of essential oils (germination inhibition and growth of weeds). Half the species showed a sufficient yield of essential oil (from about 0.1% to 1.43%) when testing these phytochemicals in vitro as germination inhibitors of two typical weeds, Amaranthus retroflexus and Setaria viridis. Despite the higher tolerance of S. viridis, the concentration of 100 μg L^?1 of essential oils of the two Artemisia species and Xanthium strumarium could totally inhibit germination. In addition, at 10 μg L ^?1, the same essential oils showed full inhibition of A. retroflexus seeds. A comparison of their effectiveness at suboptimal doses led to a further selection of the most promising sources of essential oils. After their chemical characterisation, the essential oils were tested as post‐emergence herbicides on seedlings of the above‐cited weeds. After spraying the weeds at different concentrations (10, 100 and 1000 mg L^?1) during two different phenological stages of weed seedlings (cotyledons and the third true leaf), the essential oils of Artemisia annua and X. strumarium showed the best performance. The essential oils of X. strumarium were then tested again on both weeds to monitor the dynamics of plant injury. A reduction in plant fresh weight (about 20%–30% after 10 days) and chlorophyll content (destroyed, after the same amount of time) was found, thus confirming the total and rapid effectiveness of these essential oils. In summary, A. annua and X. strumarium have elicited considerable agronomic interest and appear to be suitable as a source of essential oils to act as natural herbicides.     

Management of the invasive species Opuntia stricta in a Botanical Reserve in Portugal

Opuntia stricta is an invasive species in the Dom António Xavier Pereira Coutinho Nature Reserve (Portugal). Different chemical approaches were assessed to simultaneously manage it and preserve the natural flora of the Botanical Reserve. Glyphosate was applied at different concentrations (2.8–180 g a.e. L⁻¹) and times of application (April, July and October) by injection into cladophyll and direct application onto areas in which the cladophyll had been cut (90 and 180 g a.e. L⁻¹). The efficacy of the herbicide applied on the cut areas was good, but the pieces of the cladophyll that had been cut were difficult to remove and destroy. Herbicide injection of a 2 mL of solution containing 45 g a.e. L⁻¹ glyphosate in the summer proved to be the easiest and most effective way of controlling the weed. Germination studies were carried out in order to understand the importance of seeds in the dissemination of O. stricta. The optimum constant temperature for germination was generally 20–25°C, there was a tendency towards increased germination following leaching in water for 24 h (7% germination at 20°C 12-h light) and 60-min scarification in sulphuric acid (15% at 20°C 12-h light). Although germination rates may be considered low, they do indicate that the emergence of O. stricta seedlings is possible.     

Chitosan enhances disease resistance in pearl millet against downy mildew caused by Sclerospora graminicola and defence-related enzyme activation

BACKGROUND: The present study investigated the effect of chitosan seed priming on the induction of disease resistance in pearl millet against downy mildew disease caused by Sclerospora graminicola (Sacc.) Schroet. RESULTS: Pearl millet seeds were primed with chitosan at different concentrations: 0.5, 1.5, 2.5 and 3 g kg^?1 seed. Of the different concentrations, 2.5 g kg^?1 was found to be optimum, with enhanced seed germination of 99% and seedling vigour of 1782, whereas the untreated control recorded values of 87% and 1465 respectively. At optimum concentration, chitosan did not inhibit sporulation and release of zoospores from sporangia. Furthermore, pearl millet seedlings raised after seed treatment with chitosan showed an increased level of the defence‐related enzymes chitosanase and peroxidase as compared with the untreated pearl millet seedlings on downy mildew pathogen inoculation. The effect of chitosan in reducing downy mildew incidence was evaluated in both greenhouse and field conditions, in which respectively 79.08 and 75.8% disease protection was obtained. CONCLUSION: Chitosan was effective in protecting pearl millet plants against downy mildew under both greenhouse and field conditions by inducing resistance against the pathogen. Thus, chitosan formulation can be recommended for seed treatment in the management of downy mildew disease. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Inheritance of resistance to fenoxaprop‐p‐ethyl in sprangletop (Leptochloa chinensis L. Nees)

Sprangletop (Leptochloa chinensis L. Nees) is a serious grass weed in direct‐seeded rice cropping systems in Thailand. One population of sprangletop, BLC1, was found to be resistant to fenoxaprop‐p‐ethyl at 62‐fold the concentration of a susceptible biotype, SLC1. This study elucidated the inheritance of resistance to fenoxaprop‐p‐ethyl in this sprangletop BLC1 genotype. The reaction to the herbicide at 0.12–2.4 mg ai L^?1 was determined in the seedlings of self‐pollinated resistant BLC1, susceptible SLC1 and SLC1 that had been allowed to cross‐pollinate with BLC1. At 0.24 mg ai L^?1, all the seedlings of SLC1 were killed, while 99% of BLC1 survived, along with 5% of the cross‐pollinated SLC1 seedlings, which were considered to be putative F₁ hybrids. The root and shoot lengths of the F₁ hybrids in 0.24 mg ai L^?1 of fenoxaprop‐p‐ethyl, relative to those in the absence of the herbicide, were close to or the same as the resistant parent, indicating that the resistance is a nearly complete to complete dominant trait. One‐hundred‐and‐forty‐one of the F₂‐derived F₃ families were classified by their response to the herbicide at 0.24 and 0.48 mg ai L^?1 into 39 homozygous susceptible : 72 segregating : 30 homozygous resistant, fitted with a 1:2:1 ratio at χ² = 1.21 and P = 0.56, indicating that the resistance to fenoxaprop‐p‐ethyl in the sprangletop BLC1 genotype is controlled by a single gene.     

Involvement of heme synthesis in the growth stimulation of maize seedlings by 5‐aminolevulinic acid

The growth of maize seedlings was stimulated by shoot‐applied 5‐aminolevulinic acid 2 days after treatment at 90 and 120 μmol L^?1. The effects of 5‐aminolevulinic acid on the activity of nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.2) and nitrite reductase (EC 1.7.7.1) and the chlorophyll, ammonium, heme and total free amino acid content were investigated by using maize seedlings to clarify the involvement of nitrogen metabolism and heme synthesis in the growth stimulation. 5‐Aminolevulinic acid increased the level of nitrate reductase activity at 90 μmol L^?1 and the ammonium and heme content at 90 and 120 μmol L^?1 2 days after treatment. The total amino acid content increased by 90 and 150 μmol L^?1 5‐aminolevulinic acid 2 and 3 days after treatment, respectively. However, no significant change was observed in the activity of nitrite reductase or the chlorophyll content after the 5‐aminolevulinic acid treatment. These results suggest that the enhancement of nitrogen metabolism by nitrate reductase activation is involved in the 5‐aminolevulinic acid‐induced stimulation of maize seedling growth. The activation of nitrate reductase might be related to an increase in the heme content following the 5‐aminolevulinic acid treatment.     

The allelopathic effect of three Amaranthus spp. (pigweeds) on wheat (Triticum durum)

The allelopathic effect of Amaranthus retroflexus L., Amaranthus blitoides S. Wats, and Amaranthus gracilis Desf. on wheat Triticum durum L. was investigated under laboratory, glasshouse and field conditions. Laboratory experiments showed that fresh shoot or root extract of the three weed species reduced germination, coleoptile length, root length and root dry weight of wheat seedlings. The inhibitory effects were rate dependent, with low concentrations of shoot extract promoting shoot growth of wheat. Fresh plant extracts were more phytotoxic than dried plant extracts and shoot extracts had higher detrimental effects than root extracts. In pot experiments, dried shoot extract of A. gracilis increased shoot and root dry weights of wheat seedlings. For A retroflexus and A. blitoides the extracts of these and dried shoots (8 g kg^?1), which had been added to soil mixtures significantly reduced ger-mination and growth of wheat seedlings. Addition of up to 16 g kg^?1 of A. gracilis residues promoted shoot growth of wheat and had no significant harmful effect on root growth. Roots appeared more sensitive to allelopathic effect than shoots. Under field conditions, incorporation of A. retroflexus or A. blitoides residues in the soil reduced height, grain and straw yield of wheat, whereas A. gracilis residues stimulated plant height and increased yield.     

Relationship between safening activity of dymron and fenclorim to pretilachlor and glutathione S-transferase activity in rice

Dymron [1‐(α,α‐dimethybenzyl)‐3‐(p‐tolyl)urea] and fenclorim (4,6‐dichloro‐2‐phenylpyrimidine) were found to exhibit a safening activity on the growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings against pretilachlor [2‐chloro‐2′,6′diethyl‐N‐(2‐propoxyethyl)acetanilide] injury. By pretilachlor treatment at 10^–6 and 10^–5 mol L^–1, the elongation of the third leaves of rice seedlings was reduced by approximately 20 and 40%, and that of the fourth leaves was reduced by approximately 40 and 80%, respectively. Upon the treatment of dymron at 3 × 10^–6 and 10^–5 mol L^–1 in combination with pretilachlor, the growth inhibition was half alleviated in the third leaves, and the length of the fourth leaves was almost recovered from 10^–6 mol L^‐1 pretilachlor injury, and was 20–25% recovered from 10^–5 mol L^–1 pretilachlor injury. Upon the treatment of fenclorim at 3 × 10^–6 and 10^–5 mol L^–1 in combination with pretilachlor, the growth inhibition of rice seedlings was almost alleviated in both the third and the fourth leaves. This result indicated that dymron and fenclorim showed almost the same safening effect on the fourth leaf growth against 10^–6 mol L^‐1 pretilachlor injury, although fenclorim showed higher effects at higher concentrations of pretilachlor. Glutathione S‐transferase (GST) activities in rice seedlings were investigated after being treated with a herbicide and safener. By pretilachlor treatment at 10^–6 and 10^–5 mol L^–1, the GST activity was approximately 32 and 72% increased in roots, respectively, and a little increased (7–13%) in shoots of two‐leaf‐stage rice seedlings. By dymron treatment at 3 × 10^–6?10^–5 mol L^–1, the GST activity was 2–30% increased in roots, but was not increased in shoots. By their combination treatment, the GST activity was almost the same or less than that by treatment with pretilachlor alone. In contrast, by fenclorim treatment alone, the GST activity was 43–52 and 33–45% increased in roots and shoots of rice seedlings, respectively. By the combination treatment of pretilachlor and fenclorim, the GST activity was increased 73–126% in shoots and 101–139% in roots, and was much more increased in both shoots and roots compared with treatment of pretilachlor or fenclorim alone. It was found that dymron showed less effect in increasing the GST activity than fenclorim. It is also suggested that dymron did not increase the GST activity in shoots but did increase it slightly in roots, and showed almost no effect on GST increase by pretilachlor in shoots, or rather reduced the increase in roots. From the above results, fenclorim and dymron may have different mechanisms of safening effects on the protection of rice seedlings against pretilachlor injury.     

Ca2+对Cd2+胁迫下板蓝根种子萌发及幼苗抗氧化酶活性的影响

研究了Cd²⁺（10 mg·L^-1、30 mg·L^-1）胁迫下不同浓度Ca²⁺（0、80、160、320 mg·L^-1）对板蓝根种子萌发、幼苗抗氧化酶系统及蛋白质含量的影响。结果表明：低浓度Ca²⁺（80、160 mg·L^-1）可缓解Cd²⁺毒害,显著提高板蓝根种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数,促进蛋白质含量的增加,提高SOD、POD、CAT活性,且160　mg·L^-1 Ca²⁺缓解效果最好,缓解能力随Cd²⁺浓度的升高有所下降;高浓度Ca²⁺（320 mg·L^-1）与Cd²⁺作用,反而抑制了板蓝根种子的萌发,幼苗的POD、SOD、CAT活性及蛋白质含量下降。低浓度Ca²⁺可以显著提高板蓝根的抗性,对Cd²⁺毒害起缓解作用,高浓度的Ca²⁺与Cd²⁺对板蓝根种子起协同毒害作用。     

Herbicidal potential and quantification of causative allelochemicals from several Compositae weeds

Compositae plants contain biologically active substances that are allelopathic to weed species. Aqueous extracts from leaves of 16 plants were bioassayed against lucerne (Medicago sativa) to determine their allelopathic effects, and the results showed the highest inhibition for the extracts from Lactuca sativa, Xanthium occidentale and Cirsium japonicum. The extracts applied to filter paper in Petri‐dish bioassay tests significantly inhibited root growth of lucerne. Extracts of 40 g dry tissue L^?1 from L. sativa, X. occidentale and C. japonicum were completely inhibitory to lucerne root growth, but hypocotyl growth of lucerne was less sensitive. Although allelopathic effects of methanol extracts were much less than those of coumarin or alachlor, early seedling growth of both lucerne and Echinochloa crus‐galli was significantly reduced by methanol extracts. Mixture of L. sativa, X. occidentale and C. japonicum extracts had more inhibitory effects on test plants than each single extract treatment. By means of high‐performance liquid chromatography, responsible causative allelopathic substances present in L. sativa, X. occidentale and C. japonicum were isolated from various fractions and identified as coumarin, trans‐cinnamic acid, o‐coumaric acid and p‐coumaric acid. These results suggest that some Compositae have various herbicidal potentials, and that their activities, types and amount of causative compounds differ, depending on the plant species.     

A pollen test to detect ACCase target‐site resistance within Alopecurus myosuroides populations

This study was conducted to determine a suitable medium for in vitro germination of Alopecurus myosuroides pollen and to develop a reliable test for the rapid screening of ACCase target site‐resistant plants within populations. The assay is based upon germination of pollen in a medium supplemented with ACCase inhibitors. A 0.25% agar medium, containing 200 mg L^–1 CaNO₃, 100 mg L^–1 H₃BO₃, 200 g L^–1 sucrose, was selected as a suitable medium for in vitro pollen germination. At 25 °C, this medium supported a mean germination rate of 85% within two hours. Plants highly resistant (Rh) to aryloxyphenoxypropionate (APP), owing to the expression of an insensitive ACCase, were found to express this resistance in their pollen. In contrast, plants moderately resistant (Rm) to APP herbicides, owing to an enhanced capacity to detoxify herbicides, did not exhibit this resistance in their pollen. Concentrations of 120 μM fenoxaprop and 1000 μM clodinafop were selected as the best for reliable discrimination of the target‐site‐resistant biotypes. At these concentrations there was more than 50% germination of the Rh pollen grains whereas less than 10% of the S and Rm pollen grains germinated. This test, using haploid material, may also permit distinction between homozygous‐ and heterozygous‐resistant individuals.