Intra-specific variation in morphological characteristics and growth habitat of newly and accidentally introduced velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) into Japan

The source of the velvetleaf spreading its distribution rapidly and causing serious problems in forage fields all over Japan since the mid 1980s was thought to be a new accidental introduction of seeds from velvetleaf mingled in some imported grains from the USA and Australia. However, velvetleaf used to be cultivated as a fiber crop until the 1880s. We examined the intraspecies variations, such as morphological characteristics and growth habits, using accessions previously collected and obtained from imported grains. Using principal component analysis (PCA), the accessions were classified into crop type and weed type. The crop type capsule was mostly an ivory color, and the weed type was mostly an ebony color. The crop type showed characteristics of a fiber crop, such as an erect form, uniform flowering and a low seed dormancy rate. Conversely, the imported grains were classified into the weed type which showed a strong weedy nature, such as branched form, long flowering period, high reproductive ability and a high dormancy rate. These results suggest that the new introduction is different from the indigenous fiber crop, and may possibly be the source of the present invasive velvetleaf because of its strong weedy nature. However, further studies comparing the new introduction directly with the present velvetleaf are necessary.     

Effects of human-mediated processes on weed species composition in internationally traded grain commodities

International trade is a major route by which non‐indigenous organisms are introduced into new habitats. Various kinds of weed seeds have been introduced through grain trade. The objectives of this study were to understand the factors that affect the initial assemblage of plant species introduced by the international grain trade and to extract their general attributes. We surveyed weed seed contamination of spring wheat imported from Canada to Japan and analysed the effects of the field abundance of each weed and of harvesting and cleaning on the quantity of weed seed included in the imported wheat. The field abundance was positively correlated with the weed seed quantity. Seeds of short weeds and seeds with a pappus were eliminated from the wheat by the harvesting or cleaning process. Many other crop plants contaminated the wheat. Because various transportation vehicles, temporary storage sites and port elevators are used commonly with all exported crops and it is difficult to remove all residues from them, other crops might be carried over into the wheat commodity. These relationships also apply to other grains.     

Establishment of Lolium species resistant to acetolactate synthase‐inhibiting herbicide in and around grain‐importation ports in Japan

Compared with natural seed dispersal, human‐mediated seed dispersal could spread herbicide resistance genes on a much larger scale. Herbicide‐resistant weed seeds have been reported as contaminants in commercial grain. We investigated the contamination of seeds of Lolium species with target‐site mutations conferring resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)‐inhibiting herbicides in wheat imported from the USA, Canada and Australia into Japan. We also investigated the establishment of ALS‐inhibiting herbicide‐resistant Lolium species in 12 seaports in Japan that are major entry points for international commodities. We found herbicide‐resistant Lolium spp. seeds from all classes of wheat samples. Resistant individuals became established at six of eight ports where more than 50 kt of imported wheat is unloaded every year. The establishment of resistant Lolium spp. individuals was common at major grain landing ports. Monitoring over 3 years at one port revealed that the frequency of resistant individuals did not fluctuate between years. Many resistant individuals were distributed in front of the entrance of a fodder company, but a few resistant individuals were found in areas 2 km away from the port. The results indicate that gene flow is rare through pollen or seed movement from resistant plants to peripheral populations. Further extensive and long‐term monitoring is necessary to perform a comprehensive risk assessment of herbicide‐resistant plants entering Japan through major commercial ports.     

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

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

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.     

Genetic diversity of Solanum elaeagnifolium,an invasive problematic weed in Jordan

Solanum elaeagnifolium (silverleaf nightshade) is a problematic weed that is common in Jordan and difficult to control. The weed exhibits distinct morphological variations in growth habit, leaf shape, leaf margins, flower colour and presence or absence of spines between individuals among and within populations suggesting genetic differences. Genetic variations among 61 samples of S. elaeagnifolium collected from heavily infested sites in the central Jordan Valley were investigated using six simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and eight amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primer combinations. Results showed that 111 out of 675 AFLP bands were polymorphic generating polymorphism information content (PIC) of 38.0%, while 23 SSR polymorphic alleles were detected generating a PIC of 30.8%. Phylogenetic analysis using RaxML software identified four major clades with a clear clustering of the samples with their collection sites. Genetic analysis using both techniques revealed high level of genetic diversity among S. elaeagnifolium samples collected from a small geographical area indicating that a range of genetic diversity may be detected in weed populations across the country that may complicate its management.     

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

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

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

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

Comparison of crop and weed height,for potential differentiation of weed patches at harvest

Weeds and weed control are major production costs in global agriculture, with increasing challenges associated with herbicide‐based management because of concerns with chemical residue and herbicide resistance. Non‐chemical weed management may address these challenges but requires the ability to differentiate weeds from crops. Harvest is an ideal opportunity for the differentiation of weeds that grow taller than the crop, however, the ability to differentiate late‐season weeds from the crop is unknown. Weed mapping enables farmers to locate weed patches, evaluate the success of previous weed management strategies, and assist with planning for future herbicide applications. The aim of this study was to determine whether weed patches could be differentiated from the crop plants, based on height differences. Field surveys were carried out before crop harvest in 2018 and 2019, where a total of 86 and 105 weedy patches were manually assessed respectively. The results of this study demonstrated that across the 191 assessed weedy patches, in 97% of patches with Avena fatua (wild oat) plants, 86% with Raphanus raphanistrum (wild radish) plants and 92% with Sonchus oleraceus L. (sow thistles) plants it was possible to distinguish the weeds taller than the 95% of the crop plants. Future work should be dedicated to the assessment of the ability of remote sensing methods such as Light Detection and Ranging to detect and map late‐season weed species based on the results from this study on crop and weed height differences.     

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

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

Weed interference and control in white yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir)

The climbing growth habit of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) coupled with its inability to shade the ground completely at any stage of its growth and development makes it very susceptible to weed interference. The critical period of weed interference in white yam was between the 8th and 16th week after planting (w.a.p.) for yam planted at the onset of rains. Keeping yam plants weedy for 16 w.a.p. or beyond significantly reduced tuber yield; keeping them weed-free for the same period resulted in a significant increase in tuber yield. A minimum of three weedings within 16 w.a.p. are necessary to minimize yield reduction caused by weeds. The lowest weed weight and highest crop yield from herbicide treatments were obtained where a mixture of fluometuron and metolachlor each at 2.0 kg a.i./ha was used for pre-emergence weed control.     

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

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

毒麦及其变种籽实分类的研究

关于毒麦的为害,很早就有記述。人与牲畜吃了毒麦都会中毒。毒麦传入我国繁生麦田,在一些地区已造成損害。毒麦的籽实同麦粒的大小和重量相近,很不容易进行机械清除。毒麦及其变种依靠籽实传布,常混杂麦粒难以鑑別。因此,毒麦及其变种籽实的鑑定与分类,对于检疫工作,显得很重要。本文就1950—1964年間,对我国已发生的毒麦,进行鑑定与分类。根据毒麦的穗、小穗,带稃籽实(颖果)及脫粒籽实的基本特征,主要是与种子分类有关的形态学上的特征,进行分析比较与描述。按鑑定的毒麦及其变种,編制籽实分类检索表,并附实物照片与插图。     

Factors impacting the detection of weed seed contaminants in seed lots

BACKGROUND

The setting and following of phytosanitary standards for weed seeds can lessen the impacts of weeds on agriculture. Standards adopted by seed companies, laboratories and regulators ensure the contamination rates do not exceed some thresholds. Globally sample size standards are set based on the amount needed to obtain a contaminant in a random sample of the seed lot, not detectability. New Zealand requires a 95% confidence that the maximum pest limit of 0.01% of quarantine weed seed contamination is not exceeded in an imported seed lot. We examined 24 samples each containing approximately 150 000 seeds of either perennial ryegrass (12 samples) or white clover seeds (12 samples) that were then spiked with seeds (contaminants) from 12 non-crop species (3–8 seeds of each). We considered factors that may impact detection rates: shape, color, size, and texture relative to the crop, and technician (including a commercial seed laboratory).

RESULTS

A linear mixed model fitted to the data indicated significant observer, crop, and seed color, shape, and size effects on detection. Detectability increased by 20% ± 7.7 (± standard error) when seeds had a distinct shape or color (28% ± 8.1), or were larger (23% ± 8.7) rather than smaller, relative to the crop. Commercial laboratory identifications were usually correct at the level of genus, and species for common weeds, but some misidentifications occurred.

CONCLUSION

Sample sizes for border inspections should be based on detectability of regulated weed seeds in the crop in combination with weed risk for the crop and location. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Chemical weed control in rainfed cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) in the Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria

In a field trial in 1978 at Mokwa, southern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria, metolachlor at 1.5 and 3.0, prometryne at 2.0 and norflurazon and diuron at 1.6 kg/ha combined good weed control with high grain yield of cowpeas. The grain yields with these herbicides were comparable to those of the hoe-weeded and significantly higher than the weedy controls. In 1979, under wetter conditions, crop injury was observed with prometryne and linuron at 2.0 kg/ha. However, the grain yields obtained with alachlor, metolachlor, chloramben, pendimethalin and norflurazon and their mixtures with prometryne, linuron, diuron or metobromuron were comparable to that of the hoe-weeded treatment. In 1979 at Samaru, northern Guinea savanna, pendimethalin at 1.5, metolachlor at 3.0 and chlorbromuron and linuron at 1.0 kg/ha gave selective weed control. Prometryne at 2.0 kg/ha was the only herbicide that gave a significantly lower broad-leaved weed weight than the weedy check but it reduced the crop stand. At 1.0 kg/ha it was tolerated by the crop but failed to control grasses. Metolachlor at 1.5 kg/ha had a significantly higher broad-leaved weed weight than the weedy check. All theherbicides, except pendimethalin at 3.0 kg/ha, controlled the annual sedges at Samaru.     

Biology and management of barnyardgrass,red sprangletop and weedy rice

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

Genetic Diversity in Populations of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in Cruciferous Weeds in Central Coastal California

ABSTRACT Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (X. campestris) infects a large number of cruciferous plants, including weeds. California has one of the largest and most diverse populations of wild cruciferous plants in the world. Although considerable information is available on the genetic diversity of X. campestris in commercial crop plants, nothing is known about the diversity in strains infecting weeds. To assess the genetic diversity among strains of X. campestris in weeds in noncultivated and cultivated areas, strains of the pathogen were isolated from populations of cruciferous weeds growing in coastal valley crop-production sites and from remote nonproduction sites along the California central coast. Results of fingerprinting over 68 strains using amplified fragment length polymorphism along with representative strains by sequence analysis showed the presence of seven genotypes. Genotypes A and B were limited to coastal sites; genotypes C, D, and E were from inland cultivated sites; and genotypes F and G were present in both coastal noncultivated and inland cultivated sites. Crop strains were grouped outside any weed strain group and were separated from the weed strains and other pathovars of X. campestris. These results revealed, for the first time, that strains of X. campestris present in noncultivated coastal weed populations generally were unique to a site and genetically distinct from strains present in populations of weeds in crop-production areas located nearby.     

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

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

Effects of drought on weed emergence and growth vary with the seed burial depth and presence of a cover crop

In conservation agriculture, weed seed germination could decrease with the presence of a cover crop, surface weed seed location and temporal drought in summer just after seed shedding. This study simultaneously examined the effects of a cover crop, burial depth (seed location) and hydric stress on weed emergence and early growth. It was hypothesized that drought would reduce weed emergence and the initial growth of weed seeds and that this effect would be greater when the seeds were on the soil surface and in the presence of a cover crop. Four annual weed species were chosen that are frequently found (Anisantha sterilis, Vulpia myuros, Sonchus asper, Veronica persica) and not frequently found (Alopecurus myosuroides, Poa annua, Cyanus segetum, Capsella bursa‐pastoris) in fields that implement conservation agriculture. The unburied seeds had 26% lower emergence, on average, than the buried seeds (significant for six of the eight species), hydric stress reduced emergence by 20% (for seven of the eight species) and the presence of a cover crop reduced the level of emergence by 17% (for all species). The unburied seeds with hydric stress were emerging under the “most stressful” set of factors, with a 45% decrease in emergence, compared with the seeds emerging under the “least stressful” set of factors (buried seeds without hydric stress). All the weed growth measurements (height, dry matter content and number of leaves) decreased with the presence of a cover crop. The species that are found frequently in the fields that implement conservation agriculture, compared with the species that are not frequently found in conservation agriculture fields, had higher rates of germination and a higher tolerance of hydric stress when their seeds were unburied.