Comparative ecophysiology of grain sorghum and Abutilon theophrasti in monoculture and in mixture

Selection of crop genotypes that are more competitive with weeds for light interception may improve crop yield stability in the presence of weeds. The effects of interference on ecophysiological characteristics of Abutilon theophrasti Medic. and three morphologically diverse grain sorghum hybrids was evaluated to determine the relative tolerance and suppressive ability of the three hybrids and specific traits that may contribute to those differences. A tall hybrid was more tolerant to A. theophrasti interference than two medium stature hybrids. Early leaf area growth of two medium-stature sorghum hybrids was reduced by A. theophrasti interference, whereas early growth of a tall hybrid was unaffected. The height of A. theophrasti was greater than two moderate-stature hybrids but lower than the tall hybrid. Greatest leaf area density (L_D) of the tall sorghum hybrid was above that of A. theophrasti , whereas greatest L_D of medium-stature hybrids was below that of the weed. In monoculture, the partitioning of new biomass to various plant organs was similar among sorghum hybrids, whereas the tall sorghum hybrid partitioned less biomass to leaves and more to stems than medium hybrids in mixture. The results indicate that the three hybrids differ in their susceptibility to A. theophrasti competition. Crop traits that may contribute to greater crop competitiveness include greater maximum height and its growth rate and greater height of maximum leaf area distribution.     

Model of crop:weed competition applied to maize:Abutilon theophrasti interactions. I. Model description and evaluation

A complex set of interactions among crops, weeds and their environment determines the impact of weed interference on crop productivity. These interactions can be simulated with dynamic crop:weed competition models, such as ALMANAC. In this study, ALMANAC was modified to simulate maize: Abutilon theophrasti competition. In the modified ALMANAC model, daily increases in leaf area index (LAI), height and rooting depth are attenuated on the basis of accumulated above-ground biomass and by environmental stress. Also, a simple, flexible method is adopted to partition radiation in a mixed canopy. A maize: A. theophrasti competition study conducted near Aurora, NY, in which a range of weed densities (0–16 plants m⁻²) were established in a maize crop, was used to evaluate the model. The modified ALMANAC proved to be a useful tool for segregating the maize response to competition in 1991 (simulated loss of 35% at the highest weed density) from those in 1992–94 (simulated losses not greater than 16%). Based on these findings, the modified ALMANAC model is judged to be capable of distinguishing between environmental conditions that facilitate large yield losses and those that allow maize to outcompete A. theophrasti .     

侵染苘麻的菜豆金色黄花叶病毒的鉴定及基因组结构分析

为明确引起我国山西晋中地区苘麻叶片表现皱缩和花叶症状的病原物及其基因组分子特征, 本研究利用双生病毒简并引物扩增获得病毒基因组部分序列,经测序、比对后设计特异性引物扩增病毒基因组序列, 进而通过生物信息学方法构建系统发育树并进行序列分析。结果表明:引起苘麻叶片皱缩、花叶的病原物为番茄黄化曲叶病毒(tomato yellow leaf curl virus, TYLCV), 将该分离物命名为TYLCV-Abu, GenBank登录号为OP293347, 但未扩增到β卫星。该病毒DNA-A基因组全长为2 782 bp, 含有6个开放阅读框。TYLCV-Abu分离物与TYLCV茄子分离物KSQ1-3(GenBank登录号KC428753)的核苷酸序列一致性最高, 为98.99%, 其中C4和V2编码的蛋白变异较大。重组结果分析显示,分离物TYLCV-Abu是由TYLCV-F(GenBank登录号KY971326)和TYLCV-KSQ1-3重组得到, 重组区域为其基因组2 617－2 782 nt区域。这是首次从苘麻样品中扩增到TYLCV全基因组序列并进行分析。     

苘麻不同种群的种子萌发特性

为揭示农田恶性杂草苘麻种子的休眠萌发机制, 探寻基于休眠调控的绿色防控途径, 采用60℃温水浸种30 min+30℃恒温培养的方法测定了不同种群苘麻 Abutilon theophrasti 种子的萌发率?萌发势与萌发指数?结果表明, 供试的18个种群中, 种群XJ01?JL04和JL01的萌发率分别为89.95%?89.18%和87.77%, 显著高于其他种群; 而种群HB01的萌发率最低, 仅为41.50%?测定了萌发差异较大的种群JL01和HB01种子的萌发关键期指标, 发现JL01种群在温水浸种后培养2 h的吸胀数量?10 h破皮数量和20 h露白数量, 显著高于HB01种群, 其种子数量分别是HB01种群的1.37?1.76和2.96倍?通过进一步比较8个种群种子的萌发吸胀?破皮与露白数量指标, 证实苘麻不同种群种子存在显著休眠萌发差异, 其原因可能是由于母体生活环境不同所致?     

Mining the record: historical evidence for climatic influences on maize –Abutilon theophrasti competition

Variations in climate are widely recognized as central factors governing the competitive balance in mixed‐species plant communities. In agricultural systems, highly variable patterns of crop yield reduction as a function of weed density have been documented across sites and among years at the same site for several crop–weed combinations. This variation is typically attributed to contrasting environmental conditions. Despite broad acknowledgement of their importance, experimental and temporal limitations have constrained the investigation and systematic understanding of environmental controls on the dynamics of competition. For several well‐studied crop–weed associations, aggregating historical data from similar competition experiments provides an opportunity to explore interference relationships over an array of conditions. In this study, 19 site‐years of maize –Abutilon theophrasti (velvetleaf) data were compiled and the weather characterized (i.e. average ambient temperature and moisture regime) for discrete portions of each growing season. These features were then related to patterns of maize yield loss from A. theophrasti interference at high weed densities. Results of this analysis suggest that temperatures following establishment, together with the presence or absence of water stress during the maize crop's exponential growth phase, account for over 60% of the observed variation in relative yield loss.     

银胶菊对苘麻化感作用初步研究

通过室内培养皿法,研究了银胶菊水浸提液对苘麻种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响.结果表明,根、茎、叶、花水浸提液的化感作用强度存在差异,花、叶水浸提液对苘麻的化感抑制强度高于根、茎,且抑制强度随处理浓度的升高而增强;在20％浓度下,花、叶水浸提液完全抑制苘麻幼苗生长,对苘麻种子萌发的抑制率分别为91.9％、78.4％.     

不同环境因素对苘麻种子萌发及出苗的影响

苘麻Abutilon theophrasti Medikus具有生长旺盛、结籽量大和适应性强等特点,已成为多种农田中的恶性杂草,研究环境条件对苘麻萌发的影响对进一步探究其生物学特性与综合防治技术具有重要意义。通过室内试验研究温度、光照、酸碱度、水分胁迫、盐胁迫与苘麻种子萌发及埋土深度与其出苗的关系。结果表明,在10～35℃下苘麻种子均可萌发,20～30℃为其最适萌发温度范围;种子萌发对光照不敏感;适应pH范围广,在pH 4～9条件下种子发芽率均在70%以上;水势在-0.2～0 MPa范围内种子发芽率最高,当水势小于-0.7 MPa时,种子萌发受到完全抑制;有较强的耐盐性,NaCl浓度为160 mmol/L时发芽率超过40%;种子对播种深度适应性较强,覆盖不超过8 cm的土层均可出苗。     

黑龙江省大豆田苘麻田间发生动态

随着大豆种植面积逐年增加, 黑龙江省大豆田苘麻的危害也显著加重。掌握苘麻在大豆田中的发生规律, 抓住防除苘麻的关键时期, 可以更好地制定科学有效的综合防除策略。本研究通过田间调查及数据统计分析初步分析了苘麻的田间发生动态。结果表明, 拔除处理的苘麻种群数量达79.0株/m2, 显著高于不拔除处理的苘麻累计出苗数18株/m2, 且不拔除处理苘麻累计出苗数比其最高值33.8株/m2减少了46.75%。5月下旬到9月初苘麻的株高及鲜重变化曲线呈S形, 即表现“慢-快-慢”的基本规律。大豆播种后10~20 d为苘麻出苗高峰期, 6月中旬到7月中旬为苘麻快速生长期, 7月下旬苘麻进入开花结实期, 8月中旬苘麻种子逐渐成熟, 9月初苘麻种子大部分成熟。单株苘麻的生物量和结籽量随着出苗时间的推迟而降低。5月下旬到7月上旬出苗的苘麻均能开花结实完成整个生长繁殖过程, 且出苗越早的苘麻开花期越长, 苘麻蒴果的平均直径更大, 单蒴果平均种子数更多, 结实能力更强。7月中旬以后出苗的苘麻不能开花无生殖生长。     

Model of crop:weed competition applied to maize:Abutilon theophrasti interactions. II. Assessing the impact of climate: implications for economic thresholds

The practical application of single-season economic thresholds for post-emergence weed control decisions has been frustrated by the impact of growing season, climate and edaphic factors on crop:weed interactions. Competition in a mixed plant community is a dynamic process that is contingent upon species-specific growth characteristics and their expression based on environmental conditions. To address these issues, a modified version of the ALMANAC competition model was parameterized and run to simulate maize: Abutilon theophrasti competition with 30 years (1966–95) of historical climate data for a site in New York State. Simulations indicate that, when weeds do not emerge before maize, maize will only suffer substantial yield reductions from A. theophrasti competition in two out of every 10 years at this site. It is also evident that economic thresholds based solely on the level of weed infestation are inherently flawed. Long-term simulation results suggest that estimates of early season water stress could be used as an independent tool for rationalizing post-emergence control decisions. Shifting the focus from quantifying the infestation intensity of the weed population to assessing the competitive status of the maize crop indirectly with climate information may alleviate many of the problems commonly associated with threshold management strategies.     

银胶菊花对苘麻和稗的化感作用

通过室内培养皿法,研究了银胶菊花水浸提液及其乙酸乙酯相、正丁醇相、剩余水相不同极性组分对苘麻和稗种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响。定性测定结果表明,在50 g/L浓度处理下,水浸提液完全抑制苘麻和稗种子萌发,对苘麻和稗根长、芽长、鲜重抑制率分别为82.6%、89.1%、84.3%和91.7%、55.8%、39.1%;正丁醇相抑制苘麻种子萌发和幼苗生长最强,乙酸乙酯相抑制稗种子萌发和幼苗生长最强。定量测定结果表明,在1 g/L浓度处理下,乙酸乙酯相生物活性最高,苘麻和稗种子萌发率分别为13.3%和33.3%,对苘麻和稗根长、芽长、鲜重的抑制率分别为63.1%、80.0%、58.3%和51.3%、26.7%、23.3%。     

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.     

Over-winter predation of Abutilon theophrasti and Setaria faberi seeds in arable land

To improve understanding of over-winter weed seed predation in arable fields, we used data from winter exclosure trials to determine the amount of predation and the influence of crop habitats on predation of Abutilon theophrasti and Setaria faberi seed in 2-year (maize/soyabean) and 4-year (maize/soyabean/small grain+lucerne/lucerne) crop rotation systems between 2005 and 2008. Crop habitat influenced seed predation, and had similar impacts on the two weed species. Mean A. theophrasti predation ranged from 31% in the 2-year soyabean habitat to 99% in the 4-year lucerne habitat. Mean S. faberi predation ranged from 31% in the 2-year soyabean habitat to 97% in the 4-year lucerne habitat. Results suggest that a combination or interaction of cover and substrate may have affected crop habitat preference by seed predators. Future research should further examine the influence of physical habitat on seed predation to determine characteristics of cropping systems that encourage predation, particularly during over-winter periods, so as to routinely incorporate seed predators into long-term weed management strategies.     

藜、铁苋菜和苘麻对草甘膦的耐受性及其与莽草酸含量的关系

采用整株生物测定法研究了藜、铁苋菜和苘麻对草甘膦的耐受性,药后14 d测定结果表明,草甘膦对上述3种杂草的ED50分别为215.27、954.34、1 522.54 g a.i./hm~2。通过比较杂草植株地上部莽草酸积累量的变化发现,草甘膦1 230 g a.i./hm~2处理后,藜、铁苋菜和苘麻莽草酸积累量最大值分别为1 400.65、1247.19、581.28μg/g,莽草酸积累量越少的杂草对草甘膦耐受性也越强。药后5 d,对杂草不同部位莽草酸积累量的比较显示,3种杂草顶部叶片莽草酸积累量明显大于根部,敏感种和耐受种相比,顶部叶片莽草酸积累量的差异更为明显,该部位可以准确地评价杂草对草甘膦的耐受程度。     

Die Samtpappel (Abutilon theophrasti MED.) als neues Unkraut in Sachsen

Zusammenfassung Im Jahr 2000 wurde die Samtpappel erstmals vom amtlichen Pflanzenschutzdienst in Sachsen als Ackerunkraut registriert. Daraufhin führte die Sächsische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft gemeinsam mit den Staatlichen Ämtern für Landwirtschaft 3-jährige Erhebungen zum Vorkommen auf landwirtschaftlichen Flächen und Ermittlungen zu möglichen Ursachen durch. Von 2 Praxisschlägen mit erheblichem Besatz wurden im Jahr 2000 einige Pflanzen entnommen, von diesen erste biometrische Daten ermittelt, Samen gewonnen, deren Keimfähigkeit bestimmt und damit in den Jahren 2001 und 2002 ein Samtpappelbestand auf einer Versuchsfläche in Dresden etabliert. In diesen Versuchen und an Pflanzen aus Praxisschlägen wurden morphologische und phänologische Daten erhoben. Es ist relativ sicher anzunehmen, dass die Samtpappel nicht von ihren ephemeren bzw. bisher bekannten, insbesondere kartierten, nichtsegetalen Standorten in die Äcker einwandert, sondern dass Samen von A. theophrasti mit Saatgut von Zwischenfrüchten eingebracht werden. Wirtschaftsdünger wie Gülle, Stallmist und speziell Hühnermist sind weitere mögliche Eintragspfade. Als Quelle hierfür werden importierte Futtermittel vermutet. Eine Ausbreitung von A. theophrasti auf landwirtschaftlichen Flächen erscheint aufgrund dieser Eintragspfade und ihrer Biologie zukünftig nicht ausgeschlossen.     

Variability in seedling emergence for European and North American populations of Abutilon theophrasti

Abutilon theophrasti is a weed that is spreading worldwide and that has had to adapt to different combinations of environmental conditions. Wide interpopulation variability has been reported regarding dormancy and germination. This variability, controlled by the interaction of genetic diversity and maternal effect, could hinder the adoption of Integrated Weed Management (IWM) tools. A collaborative project was conducted to compare emergence dynamics of 12 European and North American populations under diverse environmental conditions. The main aim was to assess interpopulation variability and explain this according to environmental conditions in the seed collection sites. Seeds were sown at six experimental sites, and seedling emergence was monitored. The AlertInf model was tested to evaluate its ability to predict emergence dynamics of the different populations. A wide interpopulation variability was observed for emergence percentage and dynamics with consistent trends across sites and related to different seed dormancy levels. Populations from Catalonia, Iowa and Minnesota reached higher emergence percentage with earlier and concentrated emergence flushes probably due to low dormancy level, while populations from Croatia, Serbia and Hungary, given their low average emergence percentage, presented high dormancy levels. Good predictive accuracy of AlertInf model was obtained at the different sites, confirming the possibility of adopting it across a wide range of environmental conditions. Achieving a better knowledge of interpopulation variability can allow specific control strategies to be designed, facilitating the replacement of solely herbicide‐based management with true IWM.     

Threshold level and seed production of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medicus) in maize

Four tests were carried out in 1980 and 1981 to determine: (a) the economic threshold density of Abutilon theophrasti Medicus (velvetleaf) in maize, and (b) seed production with varying densities of infestation, both in the presence and in the absence of maize. The infestation was artificially created, and the density of the weed ranged from 0 to 80 plants m^?2. The economic threshold, calculated using the Cousens (1987) model, varied between 0?3 plants m^?2 and 2?4 plants m^?2, depending on the variables considered. The presence of maize reduced the seed-rain of A. theophrasti by 50%. This seed-rain reached its maximum level at 20–30 plants m^?2 in maize, and at 30–35 plants m^?2 in weed monoculture. However, with only 4–5 plants m^?2 in competition with maize, A. theophrasti produced 8–10 thousand seeds m^?2. The usefulness of threshold density in weed management is debatable when one considers the ecological characteristics of the A. theophrasti seed, and the great capacity of seed production of this weed.     

Does soil nitrogen affect early competitive traits of annual weeds in comparison with maize?

Soil nitrogen (N) is considered an important driver of crop‐weed interactions, yet the mechanisms involved have been only partially explored, especially with respect to early‐season growth, when competitive hierarchies are formed. This study characterises the effects of different N levels on biomass accumulation and plant morphology for maize (Zea mays), and four important weed species (Amaranthus retroflexus, Abutilon theophrasti, Setaria faberi, and Chenopodium album). Under glasshouse conditions, plants were grown in separate pots and irrigated with nutrient solution at four N concentrations (0.2, 0.5, 2, 5 μm L⁻¹) until 57 days after emergence. Except for S. faberi, which was unresponsive to N, the relative biomass growth rates (RGR) of maize and the broad‐leaved weeds were positively and similarly affected by increasing nitrogen. At all N levels, maize had a height advantage by virtue of its larger seed size, which conferred early growth benefits independent of RGR. At low N, biomass growth was instrumental to S. faberi’s improved competitive position, whereas height development per unit biomass improved the competitive position of A. theophrasti, C. album and A. retroflexus. The approach presented could be applied to other crop‐weed systems to evaluate environmental impacts on competitive outcomes.     

Demography of Abutilon theoprasti and Setaria faberi in three crop rotation systems

Field experiments were conducted to characterize the demography of Abutilon theophrasti and Setaria faberi in a conventionally managed 2‐year (maize/soya bean) rotation, and in 3‐year (maize/soya bean/triticale + red clover) and 4‐year (maize/soya bean/triticale + lucerne/lucerne) rotations managed with 72% and 79% lower herbicide inputs respectively. Rates of weed seedling recruitment, seedling survival and adult plant fecundity were determined for populations in each phase of each rotation and used to calculate annual rates of weed population change, Δ. In both years of the study, Δ for A. theophrasti populations declined or remained stable in all three rotation systems. Despite greater rates of seedling survival and fecundity in maize and soya bean in the 3‐ and 4‐year rotations, increases in Δ for A. theophrasti populations were prevented in these systems because of low fecundity in triticale and low seedling survival and fecundity in lucerne. For Setaria faberi populations, Δ remained stable in the 2‐year rotation, increased in the 3‐year rotation in both years, and increased in the 4‐year rotation in 1 year. The results of this study indicate that when herbicide use is reduced, rotations that include triticale and lucerne can facilitate the suppression of A. theophrasti. Rotations that include lucerne can contribute to restraining S. faberi population growth, given adequate levels of seedling mortality in this crop.     

Characterizing the spatial pattern of Abutilon theophrasti seedling patches

Spatial biology of weed populations is the study of weed patches and their relevant patch-level processes. In this context, a patch was defined as an area in which individuals are aggregated into discrete subdivided populations. Four Abutilon theophrasti seedling patches in two continuous maize production fields were surveyed using a contiguous grid of quadrats between 1995 and 1997. Surveyed area was dependent on patch size and ranged from 96 m² to 1134 m². Within each area, all seedlings were counted in each 1 m × 0.75 m quadrat in June, just before post-emergence weed control, and in mid-July after all weed control practices were completed. The spatial pattern observed in the seedling distribution maps was single or multiple focal points of high seedling density that decreased with distance from the focal point. Two-directional correlograms corroborated this visual observation, such that A. theophrasti seedling density in neighbouring quadrats was spatially autocorrelated, and correlation strength decreased with distance separating quadrats. Autocorrelation coefficients decreased at a greater rate across crop rows than parallel to crop rows. Visually, patch shape was elliptical and oriented in the direction of field traffic. Factors affecting patch-level processes of spatial aggregation, stability and edge dynamics were considered.     

Comparison of efficacy, absorption and translocation of three glyphosate formulations on velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)

Growth analysis, absorption and translocation studies were conducted to compare a 1-aminomethanamide dihydrogen tetraoxosulfate (GLY-A) formulation of glyphosate with two isopropylamine (GLY-IPA-1, GLY-IPA-2) formulations of glyphosate on velvetleaf. The two isopropylamine formulations differed by the presence of a surfactant in the formulation, GLY-IPA-1 containing surfactant whereas GLY-IPA-2 did not. Four- to six-leaf velvetleaf was treated with GLY-A and GLY-IPA-1 and GLY-IPA-2 (0, 50, 67, 89, 119, 158, 280, 420, 560 and 840 g AE ha(-1)) with and without ammonium sulfate (AMS; 20 g L(-1)). GLY-A and GLY-IPA-2 included a non-ionic surfactant (2.5 mL L(-1)) in the spray solution at all herbicide concentrations. No additional surfactant was added to GLY-IPA-1. The IC50 value for GLY-A was 88 g AE ha(-1) compared with 346 and 376 g AE ha(-1) for GLY-IPA-1 and GLY-IPA-2 respectively in the absence of AMS. When AMS (20 g L(-1)) was added to the spray solution, the estimated IC50 values were 143, 76 and 60 g AE ha(-1) for GLY-IPA-1, GLY-IPA-2 and GLY-A respectively. Absorption of 14C-glyphosate into the third leaf of five- to six-leaf velvetleaf was three- to sixfold greater 72 h after treatment (HAT) when applied as GLY-A compared with GLY-IPA-1 and GLY-IPA-2 respectively in the absence of AMS. AMS (20 g L(-1)) increased absorption of 14C-glyphosate in all glyphosate formulations two- to threefold, but differences among the formulations remained. Approximately three- and sixfold more 14C-glyphosate applied as GLY-A had translocated out of the treated leaf compared with GLY-IPA-1 and GLY-IPA-2 respectively by 72 HAT. Adding AMS (20 g L(-1)) increased translocation of 14C-glyphosate out of the treated leaf approximately 2.5-fold for all three formulations. The increased efficacy of GLY-A versus GLY-IPA-1 and GLY-IPA-2 on velvetleaf is due to the greater rate of absorption and subsequent translocation of glyphosate out of the treated leaf. AMS increased the efficacy of all three formulations by increasing absorption and translocation of glyphosate in the plant.