Red leaf blotch (Dactuliochaeta glycines) of soybeans (Glycine max) and its relationship to yield

Red leaf blotch of soybeans, caused by Dactuliochaeta glycines, was evaluated on soybean plants in field plots located in Zambia. Two experiments were conducted in each of two seasons. Experiment 1 had four cultivars that were either fungicide-sprayed or not sprayed. Disease severity was greatest on leaves at the lowest nodes from early vegetative through the reproductive growth stages. Area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) values and percentage of nodes defoliated at growth stage R5 were significantly ( P  = 0.05) greater in unsprayed plots for all cultivars in both seasons. Yield losses ranged from 8 to 37% while reduced seed size ranged from 21 to 29% for the four cultivars. Number of pods per plant in fungicide-sprayed plots did not differ from those in unsprayed plots. However, the number of seeds per plant and seeds per pod were significantly ( P  = 0.05) greater in sprayed than unsprayed plots for some cultivars. In experiment 2, cultivar Tunia was either fungicide-sprayed at different times or not sprayed. The lowest attached leaf had the most variation in the amount of disease while ratings of the most median leaf in the canopy were generally less variable. The AUDPC values calculated from the lowest attached leaf, the mean of all attached leaves, and the median attached leaf differed significantly ( P  = 0.05) the number of times plants were sprayed with fungicide. Defoliation and vertical incidence of red leaf blotch from lower to higher nodes were significantly ( P  = 0.05) reduced in fungicide-sprayed plots in one season, but not the other. One thousand-seed weight and yield differed significantly ( P  = 0.05) with treatment as one application of triphenyltin acetate increased yields by 18% over unsprayed plots in season 1. One thousand-seed weight and yield, regressed on the AUDPC for the median leaf in the canopy, explained 92 and 72% of the variation, respectively.     

不同生境条件下软紫草(Arnebia euchroma)结实特性的差异

对软紫草在自然生境及人工栽培条件下的结实结籽特性进行比较分析.结果表明:软紫草不同居群、同一居群的不同生境以及同一生境的不同年份,在结实特性上均表现出不同程度的差异.自然居群软紫草植株的花数、结实率、结1～2粒和3粒种子的花的频率分布、种子产量、结籽率及种子千粒重均远低于人工栽培居群,彼此间存在极显著差异;自然居群各样地植株的花数、结实率、结1粒和2粒种子的花的频率分布、种子产量及结籽率均表现为样地S1＞样地S3＞样地S2,种子千粒重表现为样地S1＞样地S2＞样地S3,其中,结实率、种子产量、结籽率和种子千粒重在各样地间存在极显著差异.不同年份中,自然居群样地S1植株的结实、结籽率无显著差异,但花数、种子产量和种子千粒重存在极显著差异;而栽培居群植株的花数、结实结籽率、单株种子产量存在极显著差异,种子千粒重存在显著差异.     

Problems of herbicide assessment in peanuts in Jamaica

Delays of 40 or 60 days in weeding peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) gave lower yields and fewer pods per plant but did not affect seed number per pod. Yield, pod number per plant, seeds per pod and mean weight per seed were all less in unweeded plots. In three herbicide trials crop yields were not closely correlated with crop vigour scores made several weeks before crop maturity, or with weediness scores. Correlations between yields and weed dry weights were better, but certain high-yielding herbicide treatments gave poor weed control and in some cases had low crop vigour scores. Most yield differences reflected differences in pod number per plant, with additional smaller compensating or additive effects on the other components. Certain herbicides apparently gave high mean seed weights without diminishing seed numbers per pod. Pre-emergence alachlor was the most promising herbicide, combined with preplant incorporated vernolate if nutgrass was serious. Napropamide and metobromuron merit further testing.     

黄土高原旱地豌豆早播增产机理研究

通过定位试验,探讨了黄土高原旱地不同播种期对豌豆产量的影响,供试材料为绿豌豆(高产品种)和燕农2号(低产品种).结果表明,不同播种期对高产豌豆品种出苗情况的影响大于对低产品种的影响.豌豆提前播种,可以增加低产品种的单位面积干物质积累量,但对高产品种的影响不显著.豌豆提前播种,可以提前达到盛花期,高产品种的盛花期早于低产品种的盛花期,在盛花期有较长时间避开六月份的高温天气,有利于高产.豌豆提前播种,可以增加高产品种的产量,显著增加低产品种的产量.有利于产量构成因素的形成,提高籽粒水分利用效率.     

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%。     

Growth and fitness of triazine-susceptible and triazine-resistant common waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus var. rudis)

Two greenhouse trials were conducted over a 2 year period (2004 and 2005) to compare the relative growth potential and fitness of triazine-susceptible (TS) and triazine-resistant (TR) waterhemp biotypes. Waterhemp plants from each biotype were grown in 6 L pots in the greenhouse in a completely randomized design. There was no difference in leaf number, plant height, plant biomass, time to bud or time to flower between the two biotypes. The TR female waterhemp plants produced 30% less reproductive biomass and 39% less seed than the TS biotype. The fitness penalty associated with triazine resistance was related to reproductive capability, not to vegetative growth.     

不同生态型杂草稻对水稻生长及产量的影响

通过田间试验初步研究采自上海市青浦区、浦东新区、嘉定区等地的籼型和偏籼型杂草稻以及采自崇明区的粳型杂草稻对水稻生长、产量构成因子和产量的影响。结果表明,在水稻营养生长期,不同籼型、偏籼型杂草稻密度对水稻基本苗、株高、单株鲜质量、分蘖数、倒二叶长、倒二叶宽均未有明显影响;而籼型和偏籼型杂草稻密度对产量构成因子有效穗数、穗长、一次枝梗数、穗粒数、千粒质量、结实率等均能产生一定影响,而粳型杂草稻只对水稻有效穗数、结实率、千粒质量等产生一定影响,实际产量等均随杂草稻密度的增加呈下降趋势。青浦区、浦东新区、嘉定区等地的籼型、偏籼型杂草稻和崇明区粳型杂草稻导致水稻产量损失50%时的密度分别为8.19、12.82、15.45、19.82株/m~2。     

Cohort-dependent seedling recruitment, survival and reproductive capacity of Tribulus terrestris

Knowledge of the population biology of the summer annual Tribulus terrestris can provide valuable information for managing the risk of its colonising crop fields. Because of spring‐summer crop management practices, fields can exhibit bare ground in late April and early May. In this situation, four cohorts in 2000 and three cohorts in 2001 were censused and monitored throughout the vegetative and reproductive season, in order to evaluate the relationship between time of emergence, survival, vegetative growth and plant reproductive capacities. To a great extent, seedling survivorship depended on emergence timing; the earlier the emergence of the seedlings, the higher was the proportion of survivorship (64% and 4%, for early and late emergences). The time of emergence also influenced plant development; in both years, surviving individuals of the first cohorts presented significantly greater plant biomass and larger numbers of reproductive structures (60.5 fruits per plant) than those of later cohorts (0.8 fruits per plant). Reproductive meristem allocation was also highest in the earliest cohorts. Results showed that T. terrestris can increase its population size in fields if gaps of bare soil surface are available from mid spring to early summer.     

Effects of sowing date on severity of blight caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ascochyta rabiei</Emphasis> and yield components of five chickpea cultivars grown under two climatic conditions in Tunisia

Five chickpea cultivars, Chitoui, Neyer, Kasseb, Beja 1 and Bouchra, were planted on three sowing dates at two Experimental Stations in Tunisia: Bou Salem in the north and the more southerly Mornag, where the climate is drier. Severity of blight, caused by Ascochyta rabiei, was measured on a 1–9 scale (defined) on vegetative parts and on pods as percent infected and percent infected that were empty. At both locations, disease was essentially absent on plants sown on the third dates but present on plants sown on the two earlier dates. At Bou Salem, disease severity was highest for the second sowing date whereas at Mornag it was highest for the first sowing date; but for each sowing date, disease severity was lower at Mornag than at Bou Salem. Yield components were measured as number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, number of seeds per 100 pods, 100 seed weight and weight of seeds per plant. Both disease severity and yield differed significantly among sowing dates (differently at each location) and also among cultivars for each sowing date, these differences depending both on sowing date and location. A lower yield was always associated with a higher disease severity, although the quantitative relationship differed between cultivars and locations. Cultivar Beja 1 had the lowest vegetative disease scores at both locations and both sowing dates 1 and 2. Beja 1 also scored well for all yield components. Plants sown on the third (latest) date gave the highest yields for all cultivars at both locations (except for an unusually high yield of Neyer at Mornag on sowing date 2), in some instances being more than double those from the earlier sowing dates. Thus, in contrast to other studies, late sowing did not result in yield loss.     

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.     

Prickly sida (Sida spinosa L.) and spurge (Euphorbia hyssopifolia L.) response to wide row and ultra narrow row cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) management systems

A 4 year field study was conducted from 1998 to 2001 to evaluate the response of prickly sida ( Sida spinosa L.) and hyssop spurge ( Euphorbia hyssopifolia L.) growing in either ultra narrow row (UNR) or wide row (WR) cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) management systems. Weeds surviving pre- and postemergence herbicide treatments were harvested just prior to defoliation and the morphological characteristics were compared. Prickly sida growth was significantly reduced with regard to the number of main stem nodes, primary, secondary and tertiary branching, number of seed capsules produced and dry weight under UNR compared with WR. However, plant height was not affected by the management system. Spurge growth was significantly reduced with regard to branching and fresh weight but not height. These results show that UNR might suppress weed development by reducing vegetative and reproductive growth of prickly sida and vegetative growth of spurge. The reduction in seed and seed capsule production of prickly sida is likely to reduce its reproductive potential and also diminish the subsequent seed rain and soil seed bank reserves. Thus, a potential benefit of UNR cotton management systems might be to reduce the competitive ability of weeds and decrease seed production.     

芝麻青枯病严重度对芝麻生长与产量的影响

为预测芝麻青枯病造成的产量损失,以茎秆病斑长度为指标确定成熟期芝麻青枯病严重度的分级标准,测定4个芝麻品种在不同青枯病严重度下的农艺性状指标、产量构成因子以及产量,建立单株蒴果数、单蒴粒数、千粒重、单株产量与青枯病严重度的回归方程,在此基础上对芝麻青枯病严重度与单株产量损失率进行回归分析。结果表明:随着青枯病严重度上升,芝麻株高显著降低,空梢长度显著增长,始蒴高度显著增高;而芝麻单株蒴果数、单蒴粒数、千粒重均显著下降,其中芝麻单株蒴果数降低最显著,各级芝麻病株的单株蒴果数之间显著差异,且4个芝麻品种9级病株的单株蒴果数比0级病株降低71.24%～79.08%;各级病株的单株产量之间显著差异,4个芝麻品种的1、3、5、7和9级病株平均产量损失率分别为12.56%、29.53%、54.01%、72.57%和81.98%;青枯病严重度与单株蒴果数、单蒴粒数、千粒重3个产量构成因子呈极显著线性负相关;青枯病严重度x与产量损失率y的线性回归方程为y=2.5534+9.4132x(R~2=0.9867),说明青枯病严重度越高,损失率越大。     

Evaluation of oilseed rape seed yield losses caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptosphaeria biglobosa</Emphasis> in central China

Phoma stem canker of oilseed rape (Brassica napus), caused by Leptosphaeria maculans/L. biglobosa is a globally important disease. Severe phoma stem canker symptoms have been observed on winter oilseed rape in China but the seed yield loss caused by this disease remains unknown. In May 2012 and May 2013, 17 and 13 crops were surveyed, respectively, in seven counties of Hubei Province, central China. Stems with phoma stem canker disease symptoms were sampled for pathogen isolation and identification. Only L. biglobosa was identified by culture morphology and species-specific PCR; no L. maculans was found. To evaluate the yield losses, yield components (number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, 1000-seed weight, number of seeds per pod) were assessed on healthy and diseased plants sampled from crops in four counties and on plants from inoculated pot experiments (plants of three cultivars were inoculated at the green bud stage by injecting L. biglobosa conidia into the stem between the first and second leaf scars). Results of the field surveys showed that diseased plants had 14–61% less branches and 32–83% less pods than healthy plants, respectively. The estimated seed yield loss varied from 10% to 21% and from 13% to 37% in 2012 and 2013, respectively. In the pot experiments, there were no differences in numbers of branches or pods but there were differences in number of seeds per pod between inoculated and control plants. For the three cultivars tested, the inoculated plants had yield losses of 29–56% compared with the control. This study indicates that L. biglobosa could cause substantial seed yield loss in China.     

Effect of powdery mildew (Erysiphe pisi) on nodulation and nitrogenase activity in pea (Pisum sativum)

The effects of powdery mildew ( Erysiphe pisi) disease of pea (Pisum sativum) on the number and size of root nodules and on nitrogenase activity were investigated in pea plants grown in pots and in the field. There were significant reductions in nodulation and in the size of root nodules as well as in nitrogenase activity in infected plants.     

分根灌溉对干旱区棉花生长干物质分配和产量的影响

本试验旨在观测分根灌溉(Partial Rootzone Irrigation,PRI)棉花能否在降低灌溉量的条件下维持一定的经济产量。田间实验的灌溉方式分为2种:交替隔沟灌溉(Alternative Furrow Irrigation,AFI)、固定隔沟灌溉(Fixed Furrow Irrigation,FFI)和常规灌溉(Conventional Furrow Irrigation,CFI)。结果表明,在降低30%灌溉量的条件下,棉花籽棉产量略有减少,AFI和FFI的籽棉总产量分别为CFI的92%和84%,但AFI比CFI的霜前花产量高出12%。PRI处理的棉花叶面积、株高及叶片、桃和茎的干物质量都低于CFI,但单株平均桃数与CFI没有显著差异。在降低灌溉量的条件下,由于霜前花价格比较高,AFI基本上能够维持棉花的经济产量不降低。     

穗期玉米螟为害对夏玉米产量损失影响初报

以人工接卵方法研究夏玉米小黄品种乳熟到完熟阶段玉米螟幼虫数量与产量的相关,得知虫口密度与产量损失呈直线相关。单株每增加幼虫1头,百株产量损失0.17斤,损失百分率为0.89%,影响极小。如按每亩2300株计,在上述玉米生育阶段内无虫时的产量436斤,单株平均有虫1头时,每亩损失约4斤。作者初步认为:北京地区夏玉米使用颗粒剂一次防治螟害,在玉米较早生育期(如心叶末期或开花授粉期)施药,效果应优于在卵高峯前后施药。     

THE EFFECT OF INTRA-SPECIFIC COMPETITION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHENOPODIUM ALBUM L.

Summary. Plants of Chenopodium album L. were grown at a range of different densities in each of three years. The stem diameter, the number of main branches and the size and number of leaves decreased with increasing density as did weight and leaf area per plant. The dry-matter yield per unit area increased with density up to 576 plants/m² in two of the three trial years. The proportion of the seed yield relative to the total yield was higher in the leas dense than in the dense stands, or was almost constant. Density did not affect the seed yield per unit area, but seed yield per plant fell as density increased. Maximum seed production was 41 900 per plant and the mean seed yield over the three years was 8300 seeds per plant. The percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium were highest when the plants were at an early stage of development. The proportions of these elements in the dry-matter yield decreased with increasing age of the plants. The density of the stand did not affect the percentages of elements but the total amounts per plot were greatest at the flowering stage and in the denser stands.     

Pea seed-borne mosaic virus: occurrence in faba bean (Vicia faba) and lentil (Lens culinaris) in West Asia and North Africa,and further information on host range,transmission characteristics,and purification

In a survey for viruses of cultivated legumes in West Asia and North Africa, pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) was found in faba bean, lentil and pea. Using ELISA, it was detected in 107 out of 1554 faba bean samples and 40 out of 496 lentil samples with virus-like symptoms collected in Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Lebanon., Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia and Turkey.A pea isolate (SP9-88) from Syria was further characterized. Out of 57 plant species tested, 35 were found susceptible, 19 of which are newly reported hosts of the virus. The virus was transmitted efficiently in the non-persistent manner by five aphid species, especiallyMyzus persicae. Purification from systemically infected faba bean plants yielded 10–15 mg of purified virus per kg of infected tissue. Sap-inoculation of the food and forage legume species chickpea, faba bean, lentil, pea,Vicia narbonensis, V. sativa, Lathyrus ochrus andL. sativus at flowering stage led to 66.0, 40.5, 44.6, 49.2, 31.7, 7.5, 35.7 and 12.0% yield loss, respectively, and to seed-transmission, rates of 0.7, 6.0, 10.8, 1.1, 0.3, 0.2 and 0.4%, respectively. No transmission was detected in chickpea seed embryo axes. However, the virus was detected in the seed coat of SPbMV-infected chickpea at an estimated rate of 1.81%.     

Effect and underlying mechanisms of pea-cereal intercropping on the epidemic development of ascochyta blight

Field experiments were conducted in western France for two consecutive years to investigate the effect of pea-cereal intercropping on ascochyta blight, a major constraint of field pea production world-wide. Disease pressure was variable in the experiments. Intercropping had almost no effect on disease development on stipules regardless of disease pressure. In contrast, disease severity on pods and stems was substantially reduced in the pea-cereal intercrop compared to the pea monocrop when the epidemic was moderate to severe. Therefore, a pea-cereal intercrop could potentially limit direct yield loss and reduce the quantity of primary inoculum available for subsequent pea crops. Disease reduction was partially explained by a modification of the microclimate within the intercrop canopy, in particular, a reduction in leaf wetness duration during and after flowering. The effect of intercropping on splash dispersal of conidia was investigated under controlled conditions using a rainfall simulator. Total dispersal was reduced by 39 to 78% in pea-wheat canopies compared to pea canopies. These reductions were explained by a reduction in host plant density and a barrier or relay effect of the non-host plants.     

Seed degeneration in potato: the need for an integrated seed health strategy to mitigate the problem in developing countries

Seed potato degeneration, the reduction in yield or quality caused by an accumulation of pathogens and pests in planting material due to successive cycles of vegetative propagation, has been a long‐standing production challenge for potato growers around the world. In developed countries this problem has been overcome by general access to and frequent use of seed, produced by specialized growers, that has been certified to have pathogen and pest incidence below established thresholds, often referred to as certified seed. The success of certified seed in developed countries has concentrated the research and development agenda on the establishment of similar systems in developing countries. Despite these efforts, certified seed has had little penetration into the informal seed systems currently in place in most developing countries. Small‐scale farmers in these countries continue to plant seed tubers acquired through the informal seed system, i.e. produced on‐farm or acquired from neighbours or local markets. Informal seed tubers frequently have poor health status, leading to significant reductions in yield and/or market value. This review emphasizes the need to refocus management efforts in developing countries on improving the health status of seed tubers in the informal system by integrating disease resistance and on‐farm management tools with strategic seed replacement. This ‘integrated seed health strategy’ can also prolong the good health status of plants derived from certified seed, which would otherwise be diminished due to potential rapid infection from neighbouring fields. Knowledge gaps, development challenges and impacts of this integrated seed health strategy are discussed.