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.     

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.     

The relative importance of root and shoot competition between water-seeded rice and Echinochloa phyllopogon

The relationship between root and shoot growth were determined for water-seeded rice and Echinochloa phyllopogon in greenhouse experiments. When grown in monoculture at four nitrogen rates (0, 60, 120, 180 kg N ha⁻¹), root dry weight was highly correlated with canopy structure for both species. Echinochloa phyllopogon showed a significantly stronger response to the nitrogen rate than rice. When rice and E. phyllopogon were grown in competition, with roots either separated or allowed to mingle, root competition contributed more than shoot competition to reductions in the growth of the target species. The results suggest that root competition may be the primary mechanism determining competitive outcomes between water-seeded rice and E. phyllopogon . The importance of root competition and the relationship between root and shoot growth demonstrated in this study suggest that researchers should not rely solely on correlations between shoot traits and competitive ability as evidence that competition is primarily for light. Our results also suggest the importance of considering the whole plant when assessing rice cultivars for competitive ability.     

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     

Weed suppression ability of upland rice under low-input conditions in West Africa

Weeds are a major constraint to upland rice production in west Africa. The objectives of this investigation were to study differences in weed suppression ability among upland rice cultivars and to determine the morphological traits involved. Twelve contrasting cultivars, including West African indigenous Oryza glaberrima (Steudel) lines and traditional and improved O. sativa L., were cultivated under natural weed competition and low-input conditions in Côte d'Ivoire in two seasons. Significant differences between cultivars were observed in weed biomass at 100 days after seeding (DAS) in 1994 and 1995, indicating differences in their competitive ability. Weed biomass was negatively correlated with rice root growth at early growth stages and with rice shoot and root growth at later growth stages. Across cultivars, grain yields with a single hand-weeding were 60% in 1994 and 49% in 1995 of those in plots that were weeded regularly. High grain yields in weedy plots were associated with low weed biomass. IG 10, an O. glaberrima cultivar, was the most competitive against weeds.     

杂草稻与栽培稻叶片生长的竞争性研究

杂草稻造成栽培稻产量的损失主要表现为叶片间的相互竞争。争夺空间、争夺光照矛盾突出。杂草稻主茎叶片多于栽培稻,最大叶片长于栽培稻,最大叶片宽于栽培稻,叶片披散,形似杂交稻叶。如果在667 m2旱直播稻田接种2.5 kg粳性杂草稻籽,栽培稻上部全被杂草稻稻叶覆盖,栽培稻植株瘦黄、弱小,茎、蘖逐步退化消亡,造成基本绝产。     

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.     

Influence of canopy structure on sheath blight epidemics in rice

Sheath blight (caused by Rhizoctonia solani) is one of the most important constraints in achieving high grain yield in intensive rice production systems. Canopy structure can influence the development of sheath blight epidemics. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of canopy structure parameters such as shoot number, leaf area index, biomass production, contact frequency, light transmittance and plant height on the development of sheath blight epidemics in commercial fields. Field experiments were conducted in both early and late seasons of 2009 and 2010 in Wuxue, Hubei province, China. The effects of nitrogen (N) rate and hill density on structure and production parameters and sheath blight severity were investigated. Sheath blight severity was recorded as a sheath blight index or relative lesion height on inoculated and uninoculated plants in each crop. Lesion length was measured on inoculated plants in 2010. The results showed that the sheath blight index increased with an increase of N rate and hill density in uninoculated plots in each trial. Stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that contact frequency was consistently related to sheath blight. Lesion length on inoculated plants was not correlated with canopy structure. These results indicate that canopy structure influences sheath blight epidemics. A ‘healthy’ canopy resulting from appropriate crop management practices can be used to suppress sheath blight epidemics in rice.     

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     

Phenotypic plasticity of Ammannia spp. in competition with rice

The annual broadleaved weeds Ammannia auriculata Wild, and A. coccinea Rottb. are widespread and competitive in California rice ( Oryza sativa L.) fields. We studied Ammannia spp. biology in a greenhouse pot experiment. Weeds were grown alone and in competition with rice (cv. M–202), and harvested six times over 122 days. Compared with growth alone, competition reduced Ammannia spp. total plant dry weight (DW), shoot DW and leaf area in all but the first harvest. However, weed height differed at only one harvest (85 days after planting). Ammannia spp. responded to competition with increased shoot:root DW ratios, increased stem:other shoot DW ratios, decreased stem diameters, fewer but elongated internodes and fewer branches. This suggests that light capture was more important than nutrient capture for maintaining Ammannia spp. growth. The weeds appear to lodge easily in rice fields because competitive growth responses make them top heavy and unstable. Weed seed DW declined by 97% in competition, which showed the importance of crop interference to Ammannia spp. control. Plasticity may help Ammannia spp. to escape common control practices (e.g. high crop plant densities or early herbicide application), and probably contributes to its widespread distribution. Thus, Ammannia spp. plasticity should be more fully considered when designing management strategies.     

25％双环磺草酮悬浮剂防除杂草稻的使用策略

杂草稻Oryza sativa f. spontanea是一种危害水稻生产、具有杂草特征的水稻,筛选可防除杂草稻的除草剂可有效解决防除杂草稻的难题。为明确25%双环磺草酮悬浮剂(SC)防除杂草稻的使用策略,采用盆栽试验测定了25%双环磺草酮SC 不同用药剂量、用药时间和用药方式 (喷雾法和毒土法) 对杂草稻的防除效果及对水稻的安全性。结果表明:25%双环磺草酮SC按有效成分150~375 g/hm2的剂量分别于杂草稻萌芽期、立针期、1~2叶期和2~3叶期施用,当采用喷雾法施药时,其对杂草稻的株数防效分别达98.0%~100%、94.0%~100%、94.0%~100%和83.0%~100%,而采用毒土法施药时,其防效分别为51.0%~100%、56.0%~93.0%、27.0%~89.0%和28.0%~71.0%;在有效成分为187.5 g/hm2和375 g/hm2剂量下,喷雾法施药对水稻各项生长指标无不良影响,而毒土法施药则对水稻株高、根长、根系和植株鲜重等均有抑制作用。表明与毒土法相比,喷雾法施药具有防除效果好、使用期宽和对水稻安全性高等优点,但该药的速效性较差,施药后20~30 d方能达到最佳防效。本着高效、经济、安全的原则,推荐25%双环磺草酮SC防除杂草稻的使用策略为:于杂草稻萌芽期至1~2叶期采用喷雾法施药,推荐使用剂量为有效成分150~187.5 g/hm2,如推迟至杂草稻2~3叶期防除,则使用剂量应提高至187.5~225 g/hm2。施药时应有水层1~2 cm,施药后保持水层5 d以上。     

Effects of initial nematode population density and water regime on resistance and tolerance to the rice root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola in African and Asian rice genotypes

The rice root-knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne graminicola, is an important pathogen affecting rice production in South and Southeast Asia. Efficacy of resistance and tolerance in selected M. graminicola-resistant African rice genotypes TOG5674, TOG5675 and CG14 and -susceptible Asian rice genotypes IR64 and UPLRi-5 were examined under a range of initial population densities (Pi) and water regimes. Resistance to M. graminicola in resistant rice genotypes was not broken with increasing pathogen pressure (Pi = 15,000 to 60,000 J2/plant). Resistant rice genotypes were even tolerant to the damage and yield loss caused by high pathogen pressure. On the other hand, increasing Pi levels caused more damage on susceptible rice genotypes. Final nematode population densities in the root systems of resistant and susceptible rice genotypes were significantly lower under flooded conditions than under upland and drought conditions. TOG5674, TOG5675 and CG14 were more tolerant to M. graminicola infection even when grown under upland and drought conditions while IR64 and UPLRi-5 were highly sensitive.     

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.     

High level of variation among Sri Lankan weedy rice populations,as estimated by morphological characterization

Weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea) is a notorious weed that infests paddy fields worldwide. Understanding the morphological variation pattern of this weed in a given rice‐planting region will facilitate its effective management and use. Here, 29 populations, covering nearly all the rice‐cultivation regions in Sri Lanka, were characterized in a common‐garden cultivation experiment that was based on 13 morphological traits. The variation level of the weedy rice populations was considerably high, as estimated by the Simpson and Shannon–Weaver indices. An ANOVA revealed a higher level of among‐population variation than within‐population variation. Seed shattering was the most variable trait and the seed length and width were the least variable traits, as indicated by their coefficient of variation. The results of the principal component analysis, in which the first two principal components represented 57.5% of the total variation, indicated the important role of such traits as plant height, seed weight and number of tillers and panicles in the divergence of the weedy rice populations. However, the variation was not associated with their geographical locality. Knowledge of such a morphological variation pattern provides opportunities to design strategic management methods for weedy rice control in Sri Lanka, in addition to the proper use of it as a genetic resource for rice improvement.     

杂草稻对水稻生长及产量的影响

通过室内试验和田间试验明确了杂草稻对水稻生长、产量构成因子和产量的影响。水稻营养生长期,不同杂草稻密度对水稻基本苗、株高、单株鲜重、分蘖、倒二叶长与宽均没有影响。而水稻株高、有效穗数、穗长、一次枝梗数、穗粒数、千粒重、结实率、实际产量等均随杂草稻密度的增加而呈现下降趋势。杂草稻密度为1株/m2可导致水稻产量损失9.15%,当杂草稻密度达7株/m2时可导致水稻产量损失50%以上,杂草稻密度达到12株/m2时水稻产量损失可高达72.29%。     

The influence of rice plant type on the effect of weed competition on Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima

Detailed studies were conducted on three rice cultivars – IG10, an Oryza glaberrima Steudel; Moroberekan, a traditional Oryza sativa L.; and IDSA6, an improved O. sativa L. – in conditions with and without competition from weeds. IG10 suffered less from competition with weeds and suppressed weeds better than the O. sativa cultivars. IG10 accumulated more biomass, produced more tillers, established a higher leaf area index, had higher specific leaf area and, in the earlier stages of growth, partitioned more of its biomass to leaves than the O. sativa cultivars. Without competition from weeds, grain yields did not significantly differ between the cultivars, but IG10 produced higher yields in competition with weeds. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the development of rice plants with good weed suppression characteristics.     

Components of early competition between upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) and Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A.Rich) Stapf.

Abstract

In Latin America early weed competition is a constraint upon upland rice production, leading to intensive herbicide use. Breeding for rice competitiveness may help reduce the need for herbicides. Two consecutive screenhouse pot experiments were conducted with 13 upland cultivars grown alone or in mixtures with Brachana brizantha to identify plant characteristics for early rice competitiveness which could serve as selection criteria. Rice growth reduction from B. brizantha competition was evident in all cultivars by 30 d.a.e., and the traits most related to cultivar competitiveness were: total above‐ground plant biomass > leaf weight > stem weight > leaf area. Plant height and tillering were least affected by competition. Rice and B. brizantha partially avoided competition since the competing canopies did not fully intercept the incoming light. Traits measured in monoculture did not correlate well with the competition‐induced growth reductions. In breeding for competitiveness, selection according to the above traits should be conducted on rice growing in competition, rather than in monoculture. A measure of plant biomass or leaf area at 30 d.a.e. appears to provide the most convenient estimates of early interference.     

噁草酮防除直播稻田杂草稻的施用技术

为确立噁草酮防除直播稻田杂草稻的施用技术,通过温室盆栽试验比较了噁草酮在不同土壤水分环境下对栽培稻的安全性及对杂草稻的防效,并在大田中比较了不同直播方式下其对杂草稻的防效及栽培稻产量的影响。结果表明,透气条件下,噁草酮对栽培稻的药害最低,但对杂草稻的防效也较差;饱和水分条件下对杂草稻防效较好,150 g(a.i.)/hm~2时其出苗率和鲜重的抑制率达89.61%和61.87%,超过450 g(a.i.)/hm~2时完全抑制出苗;但药后播种对栽培稻安全性较高,600 g(a.i.)/hm~2下对其出苗率和鲜重的抑制率仅分别为38.06%和39.96%,播后施药的药害较重,最低剂量150 g(a.i.)/hm~2时抑制率已分别达88.77%和45.52%;淹水条件下,虽对杂草稻有100%的防效,但也完全抑制栽培稻出苗。大田施用噁草酮300、450、600 g(a.i.)/hm~2,旱直播和水直播方式下杂草稻株防效分别为26.88%、43.54%、44.45%和84.88%、85.74%、90.92%;鲜重防效分别为11.58%、20.16%、27.33%和30.86%、53.68%、80.15%。旱直播和水直播方式下施用量分别超过450、300 g/hm~2时栽培稻产量显著增加。综合分析,推荐水直播整地后泥水状态施用300 g(a.i.)/hm~2噁草酮,水层落干后播种,保持土壤湿润且土表不出现水渍,栽培稻顺利出苗后及时上水且不淹没苗心为宜。     

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.     

Fate of carbendazim in rice tissues after seed or foliage treatments

Carbendazim was quantified employing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography in rice coleoptiles, radicles and shoot portions of seedlings of different ages grown from seeds treated with the fungicide, and in shoot portions of adult plants at different times after foliar treatment with the fungicide. The highest levels of carbendazim were detected in the coleoptiles four days after germination of seeds and the radicals contained the lowest concentrations. Carbendazim residues declined with time in the shoot portions of seedlings and of adult plants. However, the levels of carbendazim detected in the shoot tissues of 21-day-old seedlings grown from treated seeds [recommended dose of 10 mg a.i. 10g^?1 seeds] and in adult plants 35 days after treatment (recommended dose of 0.25 g a.i. litre^?1 spray fluid) correspond to the reported lasting ability of the fungicide in terms of protection against blast of rice.