A molecular phylogeny of wild and cultivated Echinochloa in East Asia inferred from non-coding region sequences of trnT-L-F

The phylogenetic relationship among 30 accessions belonging to nine species of the genus Echinochloa Beauv. was studied on the basis of the sequence of three non-coding regions ( trn T-L, trn L-F intergenic spacers, and trn L intron) of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA). A strict consensus parsimonious tree of the three most parsimonious trees derived from 25 polymorphic sites (six indels and 19 substitutions) in the total sequences, ranging from 1715–1760 bp, represented five groups: (i) Echinochloa oryzicola Vasing. and Echinochloa stagnina Beauv. from Thailand; (ii) Echinochloa crus-galli Beauv. complex; (iii) Echinochloa crus-pavonis Schult; (iv) Echinochloa colonum Link. and Echinochloa frumentacea Link.; and (v) the African species, Echinochloa obtusiflora Stapf and Echinochloa stagnina . Japanese barnyard millet ( Echinochloa esculenta H. Scholz) and various weedy varieties of E. crus-galli and Echinochloa oryzoides Fritsch had quite similar sequences and formed the E. crus-galli complex, which was characterized by six substitutions. A cultivated form of E. oryzicola (Mosuo barnyard millet) and various morphological and agronomical forms of E. oryzicola were characterized by two indels. Indian barnyard millet ( E. frumentacea ) and its wild counterpart ( E. colonum ) were characterized by five substitutions. Domestication as millets and adaptation to paddy environments as mimic weeds might occur after the divergence of species in the Asian Echinochloa .     

小麦禾谷胞囊线虫(Heterodera avenae)的核糖体基因(rDNA)限制性片段长度多态性研究

 采用PCR技术扩增出中国和摩洛哥禾谷胞囊线虫群体的核糖体基因(rDNA)的内转录间隔区(ITS)片段的长度约为1 060 bp。用11种限制性内切酶(RE)酶切禾谷胞囊线虫ITS扩增产物,共产生27个酶切片段。用AluI和RsaI酶切ITS扩增产物证明中国禾谷胞囊线虫ITS属于"B型",而摩洛哥禾谷胞囊线虫ITS属于"A型"。用HinfI酶切后,7个中国禾谷胞囊线虫群体产生2个RFLP片段(860和200 bp),而摩洛哥群体产生3个RFLP片段(520、340和200 bp),HinfI揭示出中国与摩洛哥禾谷胞囊线虫ITS之间存在差异。AvaI和HindⅢ不能酶切禾谷胞囊线虫ITS。用CfoI、Bsh1236I、MsrFI、ScrFI、HaeⅢ和MvaI 6种RE酶切中国和摩洛哥禾谷胞囊线虫群体的rDNA-ITS,均分别得到相同类型的RFLP分布型,因此这6种RE不能揭示中国与摩洛哥群体的rDNA-ITS的差异。     

Molecular Detection of Diaporthe phaseolorum and Phomopsis longicolla from Soybean Seeds

ABSTRACT Species-specific detection of Diaporthe phaseolorum and Phomopsis longicolla from soybean seeds was accomplished using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and TaqMan chemistry. To use these detection systems, fungal DNA was released from soybean seed coats using an ultrasonic processor to break the cells. DNA fragment lengths ranged from 200 to 1,200 base pairs (bp), with the majority of fragments <500 bp. Based on DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of ribosomal DNA, three TaqMan primer/probe sets were designed. Primer/probe set PL-5 amplified a 96-bp fragment within the ITS1 region of P. longicolla, D. phaseolorum var. caulivora, D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis, and D. phaseolorum var. sojae. Set PL-3 amplified a 86-bp DNA fragment within the ITS2 region of P. longicolla. Set DPC-3 amplified a 151-bp DNA fragment within the ITS2 region of D. phaseolorum var. caulivora. TaqMan primer/probe sets were able to detect as little as 0.15 fg (four copies) of plasmid DNA. When using PCR-RFLP for Diaporthe and Phomopsis detection, the sensitivity was as low as 100 pg of pure DNA. Among 13 soybean seed lots from Italy and the United States, the total Diaporthe and Phomopsis detected using a traditional seed-plating technique ranged from 0 to 32%. P. longicolla was most prevalent, followed by D. phaseolorum var. sojae. D. phaseolorum var. caulivora, which only occurred in 0.5% of the Italian seed lots, was not detected in the U.S. seed lots. D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis was not detected in either the U.S. or Italian seed lots. Using TaqMan primer/probe set PL-3, the frequency of P. longicolla was 18% in seed lot I3, similar to the frequency obtained from PCR-RFLP and potato dextrose agar plating detection. The frequencies of D. phaseolorum and P. longicolla in each seed lot obtained by the different detection methods were comparable with respect to total infection and individual species detection. However, TaqMan detection provided the fastest results of all the methods tested.     

Differential ability of alcohol fermentation between the seeds of flooding-tolerant and flooding-susceptible varieties of Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.

Seed germination and respiratory metabolism under aerobic and anaerobic conditions were studied in the flooding-tolerant and flooding-susceptible varieties of Echinochloa crus-galli with an identical genome and common ancestry . In the flooding-tolerant E. crus-galli var. formosensis , the seeds imbibed under nitrogen could germinate and exhibited an I/N quotient > 0.6. They accelerated glycolysis and concomitantly produced large and equimolar quantities of carbon dioxide and ethanol, suggesting that the seeds of this variety showed operation of the Pasteur effect and respired through alcohol fermentation under anaerobic conditions. The seeds excreted most of the toxic fermentation product. In contrast, the seeds of the flooding-susceptible E. crus-galli var. praticola were capable of germinating only under aerobic conditions through the conventional aerobic respiration and were unable to anaerobically respire to germinate through alcohol fermentation regardless of the presence of both sufficient alcohol dehydrogenase activity and a high redox charge of the pyridine nucleotides.     

番茄抗晚疫病Ph-3基因RAPD标记 的克隆与CAPS标记的建立

目前,番茄晚疫病(Phytophthora infestans)在世界各番茄主产区普遍发生,并造成严重的经济损失,已经成为番茄生产的主要障碍之一.防御番茄晚疫病最有效的方法是培育抗病品种.依靠常规方法耗时、耗力,同时由于人为鉴定标准的差异,会直接影响鉴定结果,延长育种周期,分子标记技术的发展为解决此问题提供了可能.分子标记可被用于在苗期进行大量的抗病鉴定,不受时间、地域的限制,从而加速育种工作进程[1].Qiu等[2]已找到1条与抗晚疫病Ph-3基因连锁的RAPD标记,本研究旨在将此RAPD标记转化为稳定的CAPS标记,为抗晚疫病分子辅助选择育种(MAS)奠定良好的基础.     

Oryza sh4 gene homologue represents homoeologous genomic copies in polyploid Echinochloa

The coding region sequence of the Oryza sh4 gene homologue in Echinochloa was analyzed in relation to the shattering nature of spikelets and the phylogeny of homologue copies in the Asian annual polyploidy Echinochloa . The Sh4 homoeologue copies were detected in Echinochloa oryzicola , Echinochloa crus-galli , Echinochloa stagnina, Echinochloa colona , and Echinochloa crus-pavonis . Amino acid sequence differences did not lead to a functional change in the sh4 gene between the shattering and non-shattering types in E. crus-galli , E. oryzicola , and E. colona . A phylogenetic analysis of the homoeologous copy sequences indicated a genomic relationship between the Asian Echinochloa species and supported that the allohexaploid E. crus-galli shares two genomes with its parental donor, E. oryzicola . The Asian perennial tetraploid species, E. stagnina , shares one genome with E. oryzicola and possesses an unknown genome. Echinochloa crus-pavonis , from the New World, shows a close affinity of two genomes with E. crus-galli and E. oryzicola . Echinochloa colona showed distant affinities in all homoeologous copies.     

Rapid Diagnosis of Pseudomonas syringae pv. papulans, the Causal Agent of Blister Spot of Apple, by Polymerase Chain Reaction Using Specifically Designed hrpL Gene Primers

ABSTRACT The identification and detection of Pseudomonas syringae pv. papulans, the causal agent of blister spot of apple, on apple leaves and fruit was achieved by polymerase chain reaction amplification of a specific DNA fragment of the hrpL sequence. The consensus primers hrpL(1) and hrpL(2) were designed based on the alignment of pseudomonad hrpL gene sequences available in nucleic acid data banks. This primer set produced a 631-bp amplicon from 37 of the 57 pseudomonads strains tested. These strains belonged to genomospecies 1 and 2, as described by Gardan et al. (8). The amplicon obtained from 30 of these strains was digested with eight restriction enzymes. Three different restriction patterns were produced from strains belonging to genomospecies 1, resulting in A1 and A2 patterns, while strains belonging to genomospecies 2 were characterized by a B pattern. Patterns A1 and A2 differed at only two sites, a Bsp 143I site located at nucleotide 360 and a MseI site located at nucleotides 22-24. Group A2 consisted solely of P. syringae pv. papulans strains. The hrpL gene in P. syringae pv. papulans strain CFBP3323 was sequenced. Two primer sets, Pap1/Pap2 and Pap1/Pap3, were designed and tested for specificity to P. syringae pv. papulans. These primers amplified expected fragments of 242 and 303 bp, respectively. Pap1/Pap2 amplified a fragment only with P. syringae pv. papulans DNA, while Pap1/Pap3 amplified all tested strains belonging to genomospecies 1. A diagnostic procedure using the Pap1/Pap2 primer set was successful for the detection of P. syringae pv. papulans in diseased fruit and artificially inoculated leaves.     

水稻叶尖枯病初侵染和再侵染研究

 本研究首次证明水稻叶尖枯病(Phyllosticta oryzicola Hara)的初侵染来源与病残体、病稻种和带菌野生杂草有关。在老病区,病残体特别是落在田中的病叶是主要的初侵染来源。病区稻种带菌率一般为0.5~2.5%,带菌部位几乎都是颖壳。田间无芒稗、西来稗、双穗雀稗、狗尾草、李氏禾、千金子、牛筋草、虎尾草、白茅、菰、马唐和芦竹等10多种禾本科杂草均可是病菌的野生寄主。试验还表明,田间水稻叶尖枯病能够进行再侵染。     

看麦娘对甲基二磺隆靶标抗性的快速检测

甲基二磺隆是防除小麦田看麦娘Alopecurus aequalis等禾本科杂草的主要除草剂品种之一,但目前中国山东、江苏及安徽等地已有部分看麦娘种群对其产生了抗性。ALS基因197位点突变是看麦娘对甲基二磺隆产生抗性的重要机理,根据突变型和野生型看麦娘在197位点处碱基序列的不同,本研究设计出了一种衍生性酶切扩增多态性序列(dCAPS)分子标记方法,可用于197位点突变的快速检测。通过在引物D197F序列的3′ 端引入一个错配碱基,扩增所得不同种群看麦娘的ALS片段经限制性内切酶BamH I酶切后表现出多态性:野生敏感型分别产生了200和36 bp的2个条带;纯合突变型因无法被切开,只有236 bp的一个条带;而杂合突变型则同时产生了上述3个条带。该dCAPS检测结果准确、可靠,与经典的整株水平测定结果一致,并且可同时检测197位点上任一形式的突变。研究结果可为看麦娘等禾本科杂草对甲基二磺隆靶标抗性的快速检测提供理论依据。     

产蛋下降综合症病毒（EDS‘76）核酸序列分析及基因扩增研究

从被EDS＇76病毒感染的鸭胚尿囊液中提取病毒核酸,经Pstl酶切后重组到PT_7/T_3a—19的PstI位点,再转化到Ecoli DH 5a中。在LB平板上筛选了一个EDS特异的PTEZ·P28重组质粒。用双脱氧末端终止法测定了该重组质粒中插入片段的一段核酸序列,在此基础上设计了一对引物,用这对引物成功地从EDS＇76—DNA上扩增出了一个209 bP的核酸片段。     

猕猴桃溃疡病菌的分子检测技术研究

 猕猴桃溃疡病是猕猴桃生产上的主要病害,为建立该病的快速诊断技术,本实验通过RAPD分析获得一条1 300 bp左右的致病菌的特异片段,对该片段进行克隆测序,在测序的基础上设计并合成一对特异引物F7/R7,优化特异引物扩增条件,并验证引物的特异性和灵敏性。利用该特异引物对包括猕猴桃溃疡病菌在内的14个菌株基因组DNA进行PCR扩增表明,只有猕猴桃溃疡病菌能扩增出1条约为950 bp的特异条带,其他菌株及对照均未扩增出特异条带。对采自果园的染病枝干组织和接种致病菌的枝干组织的检测表明,该特异引物能特异性地检测到猕猴桃溃疡病菌的存在,其在组织中的检测灵敏度为100 fg/μL。因此,利用设计合成的特异引物F7/R7,参考优化的体系和程序,结合简单的试剂盒法提取猕猴桃溃疡病菌或植物组织DNA,可以在短时间内完成对该病原菌的分子检测。     

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

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

Genetic diversity in Echinochloa spp. collected from different geographic origins and within rice fields in Côte d'Ivoire

Summary Diversity studies of Echinochloa spp. are complicated by problems in taxonomy and species identification, caused by the existence of morphologically intergrading types. Six amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primer combinations and five microsatellites were used to assess variation in 24 samples morphologically identified as E. crus-galli , E. colona and E. crus-pavonis , from Bangladesh, India, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire and Philippines. Out of 909 AFLP bands generated, 775 were polymorphic. Genotype diversity for the microsatellites ranged from 0.28 to 0.72. Similarity matrices were calculated using Jaccard coefficient, and input into cluster and principal coordinates analyses. AFLP and microsatellite results were highly correlated. Echinochloa crus-pavonis and E. crus-galli were intermixed, consistent with the view that E. crus-galli occurs as numerous intergrading races in the four countries (Bangladesh, India, Côte d'Ivoire and Philippines). The E. colona samples clustered as a distinct group. In 15 samples of E. crus-pavonis collected from rice fields in a valley in Côte d'Ivoire (over a 2-km distance), four different genotypes were found in a 4 m × 4 m area. These results suggest that AFLPs and SSRs may be useful not only for discriminating genotypes and studying population structure but also for helping to resolve taxonomic relationships in Echinochloa spp.     

Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Grouping of Diaporthe phaseolorum and Phomopsis longicolla Isolates from Soybean

ABSTRACT Diaporthe phaseolorum and Phomopsis longicolla isolates from soybean were examined using traditional mycological characteristics and molecular methods. Cultural characteristics including types of fruiting bodies and conidia were assessed for isolates collected from soybean stems and seeds. Cultures were identified as P. longicolla, D. phaseolorum var. caulivora, D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis, or D. phaseolorum var. sojae. Molecular markers for these groups were developed and analyzed using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the 5.8S ribosomal DNA. The ITS(4) and ITS(5) primers amplified PCR products for all isolates studied. Gel electrophoresis of undigested PCR products and DNA sequencing produced various fragment lengths including 604 bp for P. longicolla, 602 and 603 bp for D. phaseolorum var. caulivora, 603 bp for D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis, and from 597 to 609 bp for D. phaseolorum var. sojae. Digestion of these PCR products with enzymes AluI, HhaI, MseI, RsaI, and ScrFI resulted in distinct bands for identification of P. longicolla and the varieties of D. phaseolorum I. All P. longicolla, D. phaseolorum var. caulivora, and D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis isolates were distinguished using AluI and HhaI with RsaI or ScrFI. The banding patterns of D. phaseolorum var. sojae isolates were complex and were separated into 11 subgroups after digestion with AluI, HhaI, MseI, RsaI, and ScrFI. Phylogenetic analysis of 20 isolates of D. phaseolorum and P. longicolla based on the DNA sequence of the ITS region resolved six clades termed A, B, C, D, E, and F. Clade A included all sequenced D. phaseolorum var. caulivora isolates, two from Italy and one from the United States. Isolates in clade B were exclusively associated with D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis. Clades A and B formed a well-supported monophyletic group. Isolates in clades C, D, E, and F were morphologically defined as isolates of P. longicolla, D. phaseolorum var. sojae, and Diaporthe spp. The ITS sequences similarity of seven geographically diverse P. longi-colla isolates illustrated that P. longicolla isolates have a similar genetic background, with some affiliations to some D. phaseolorum var. sojae isolates. Morphological characteristics of the isolates along with the terminal clades of the ITS phylogeny suggest that P. longicolla is an individual species, D. phaseolorum var. caulivora and D. phaseolorum var. meridionalis are varieties of D. phaseolorum, and D. phaseolorum var. sojae is either several varieties of D. phaseolorum or possibly several distinct species.     

桑树黄化型萎缩病植原体延伸因子基因的克隆及序列分析

利用已报道的引物对fTuf Ay/rTuf Ay,采用PCR技术对桑树黄化型萎缩病植原体延伸因子(EF-Tu)tuf基因片段进行了扩增、测序及序列分析。结果表明,从表现黄化型萎缩病症状的桑树样品中扩增得到预期大小的目的片段。经核苷酸序列测定,扩增得到的延伸因子基因片段为946 bp(GenBank登录号为:GQ268317)。对桑树黄化型萎缩病植原体及16Sr I组中的各亚组代表植原体的延伸因子tuf基因的相似性比较结果表明,桑树黄化型萎缩病植原体与16Sr I组中的MD、PRIVA亲缘关系最近,核苷酸的相似性为99.9%。该序列与已知的16Sr-I各亚组代表植原体构建的进化树表明,桑黄化型萎缩病植原体与tufI-B亚组聚类为一个亚组,归为翠菊黄化植原体组(Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris),即16Sr I组tufI-B亚组,该结果从亚组水平上进一步确定了桑树黄化型萎缩病植原体的分类地位。     

Effects of lodging of Echinochloa crus-galli L. on the herbicidal efficacy of MTB-951, a mycoherbicide using Drechslera monoceras (Drechsler) Subram. et Jain (= Exserohilum monoceras [Drechsler] Leonard et Suggs)

MTB-951 is a plant pathogen ( Drechslera monoceras ), which was isolated from native Echinochloa spp. in Japan. The conidia of this pathogen were used as the herbicidal active ingredient to control Echinochloa crus-galli L. The herbicidal efficacy of MTB-951 on E. crus-galli was drastically increased with an increasing water depth of between 1 and 10 cm. The efficacy also was increased when shoots were lodged by pushing down on them with a stainless steel net so that all parts of the weed were submerged. These results suggest that the contact area of the leaf surface of E. crus-galli with water is important for infection and that lodging the shoots of E. crus-galli might be effective in increasing the herbicidal efficacy. In order to find other methods to lodge the weed, we investigated several materials, of which diisononyl phthalate (DINP) was found to be the most effective. Using this material as a model, the effect of lodging on the herbicidal efficacy of MTB-951 was examined. The lodging ratio (ratio of the number of the plants lodged on the water surface to that of the total plants) was increased with an increased amount of DINP, between 0.5 and 8 kg ha⁻¹. The herbicidal efficacy of MTB-951 also was increased by DINP and a positive correlation was observed between the lodging ratio and herbicidal efficacy. These results indicate that lodging, which can increase the contact area between the leaf surface and water, enhances the herbicidal efficacy of MTB-951.     

河南郑州小麦禾谷孢囊线虫(Heterodera avenae)的核糖体基因ITS序列和RFLP分析

 采用PCR技术对河南郑州禾谷孢囊线虫群体的核糖体基因(ribosomal DNA,rDNA)内转录间隔区(Internal Transcribed Spacers,ITS)进行扩增,获得片段长度约为1040bp。利用UPGMA方法分析了河南郑州禾谷孢囊线虫群体与近缘种的系统发育关系,结果表明:中国Heterodera avenae群体,H.australis和H.pratensis亲缘关系很近。8种限制性内切酶(Restriction Enzyme,RE)酶切禾谷孢囊线虫ITS的扩增产物,其中HindⅢ、AvaⅠ不能酶切PCR产物;Alu Ⅰ酶切PCR产物,获得560bp和480bp2个片段;RsaⅠ和Hinf Ⅱ酶切后分别得到3个片段(700、320、20bp和820、180、40bp);CfoⅠ是3个酶切位点(740、150、110、40bp);HaeⅢ和MvaⅠ能分别清晰地观察到3个片段(420、350、180bp和400、340、280bp),但有微小片段无法清晰观察到。9个种群所得RFLP图谱一致,说明郑州禾谷孢囊线虫群体可能是同一种群且不同于欧洲群体(typeA)和印度群体(typeB)的C型。     

宁波沿海地区水稻田稗草发生量及对丙草胺、丁草胺的抗药性检测—以6个样点为例

为研究宁波沿海地区水稻田稗草发生量及对丙草胺和丁草胺的抗药性,本研究以宁波沿海地区土壤盐碱化、碱化和非盐碱化稻田的稗草及土壤中稗草种子库密度为研究对象,通过连续3年的大田试验及室内抗药性分析,研究稗草草相及土壤中稗草种子库密度变化,并对稗草的抗药性进行了分析。结果表明,在调查周期内,宁波沿海的盐碱化稻田稗草发生密度为16.23株/m2,显著高于土壤碱化和非盐碱化稻田中的11.70株/m2和10.10株/m2。盐碱化稻田稗草种子库密度为19 169.17粒/m2,高于土壤碱化稻田的17 224.83粒/m2,并显著高于非盐碱稻田的15 411.33粒/m2。在庵东镇和大徐镇的盐碱稻田中,稗草对丙草胺和丁草胺的相对抗药性指数(RI)分别从调查初始期的4.51和2.88上升至调查末期的5.52和6.14,达到中抗水平;而在土壤碱化稻田和非盐碱稻田中,稗草对丙草胺和丁草胺的RI均维持在相对较低的水平,调查周期内介于1.00~2.33之间,处于低抗水平。因此,在该地区的水稻生产过程中,应尽量改善土质,以控制稗草种群规模、延缓抗药性的产生。     

Weed-suppressing rice cultivars – does allelopathy play a role?

A range of 111 rice cultivars was studied for weed-suppressing ability in field experiments with a sown infestation of Echinochloa crus-galli. Cultivars differed significantly in their ability to suppress the growth of E. crus-galli , and the differences were reasonably reproducible over three seasons. The same rice cultivars were tested in a laboratory screening for allelopathic potential, which showed significant differences in the ability to reduce root growth of E. crus-galli . Correlation between the laboratory screening and the field experiments showed that field performance could be described to some extent by E. crus-galli root length reduction in the laboratory. Plant height in the field experiment was correlated with weed biomass 8 weeks after seeding. Even among the most weed-suppressing rice cultivars, however, all heights were represented. None of the measured growth parameters from greenhouse studies could explain the distribution of weed-suppressing rice cultivars. This indicates that allelopathy in combination with competitive ability determines the weed interference outcome of a given rice cultivar.     

Physiochemical factors affecting the salt tolerance of Echinochloa crus-galli Beauv. var. formosensis Ohwi

The effects of NaCl-induced stress on physiochemical factors such as inorganic cations, proline, malondialdehyde (MDA) and polyamines were investigated in the gramineous weed, Echinochloa crus-galli Beauv. var. formosensis Ohwi ( E. crus-galli ) and rice ( Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare). Growth inhibition at the 2nd leaf stage under salt stress was more severe in rice than in E. crus-galli . Water content in the 2nd leaves was also more severely decreased in rice, indicating that E. crus-galli was more salt-tolerant. After NaCl treatment, Na⁺ accumulated in the 2nd leaves of both plant species but not in their roots. Proline accumulation in the 2nd leaves was significantly higher in salt stressed E. crus-galli than in rice, suggesting the significance of proline production in the salt tolerance of this weed. Content of MDA of the rice increased more greatly with NaCl treatment than that in E. crus-galli . NaCl treatment affected polyamine metabolism of both plant species, but the response of each plant to salt stress was somewhat different, especially in the leaves. Leaf putrescine and spermidine contents were high in non-stressed plants in salt-sensitive rice, although rather lower in E. crus-galli in response to NaCl concentrations. These results indicate that an increase in proline and changes in polyamines relates to the salt tolerance of E. crus-galli .