Three<Emphasis Type="Italic">Orobanche</Emphasis> species newly found on crops in israel

Orobanche amethystea Thuill.,O. loricata Reichenb. andO. pubescens D’Urv. were found to parasitize the roots of cultivated plants in Israel.Orobanche pubescens is known from the local flora, and was now found to cause damage in parsley fields and toTropaeolum majus L. (nasturtium) in ornamental gardens.Orobanche amethystea andO. loricata are known as occasional weeds in Europe and were recently found for the first time in Israel.Orobanche amethystea densely populated vetch fields in Israel, andO. loricata was found in ornamental gardens. A key for the identification ofOrobanche species in cultivated areas in Israel is given, based on morphological features. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 13, 2002.     

Fenugreek root exudates show species-specific stimulation of Orobanche seed germination

Various Orobanche species are weedy and cause severe reduction in the yields of many important crops. The seeds of these parasitic weeds may remain dormant in the soil for many years until germination is stimulated by the release of a chemical signal from a host plant. In order to determine the effects of fenugreek root exudate on the induction of Orobanche crenata, Orobanche ramosa and Orobanche foetida seed germination, root exudate was collected from hydroponically grown fenugreek seedlings. Fractionation patterns obtained from column and thin layer chromatography of the fenugreek root exudate showed a set of metabolites differing in their polarity with stimulatory activity on Orobanche seed germination. The crude root exudate stimulated both O. ramosa and O. crenata seed germination to the same level caused by the synthetic germination stimulant GR24 at 10 mg L^?1. It also stimulated O. foetida seed germination which did not respond to GR24. Active fractions of root exudate stimulated the germination of Orobanche species differentially.     

Soyasapogenol B and trans-22-dehydrocam- pesterol from common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) root exudates stimulate broomrape seed germination

BACKGROUND: Orobanche and Phelipanche species (the broomrapes) are root parasitic plants, some of which represent serious weed problems causing severe yield losses on important crops. Control strategies have largely focused on agronomic practices, resistant crop varieties and herbicides, albeit with marginal success. An alternative control method is the induction of suicidal seed germination with natural substances isolated from root exudates of host and non‐host plants. RESULTS: Soyasapogenol B [olean‐12‐ene‐3,22,24‐triol(3β,4β,22β)] and trans‐22‐dehydrocampesterol [(ergosta‐5,22‐dien‐3‐ol, (3β,22E,24S)] were isolated from Vicia sativa root exudates. They were identified by comparing their spectroscopic and optical properties with those reported in the literature. Soyasapogenol B was very specific, stimulating the germination of O. minor seeds only, whereas trans‐22‐dehydrocampesterol stimulated P. aegyptiaca, O. crenata, O. foetida and O. minor. CONCLUSION: Soyasapogenol B and trans‐22‐deydrocampesterol were isolated for the first time from Vicia sativa root exudates, and their biological activity as stimulants of Orobanche or Phelipanche sp. seed germination was reported. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Genetic diversity of Moroccan populations of Orobanche foetida: evolving from parasitising wild hosts to crop plants

Orobanche foetida is widely distributed in western Mediterranean countries infecting wild legumes. Recently it has been reported in Morocco infecting common vetch, presenting a further constraint for legume production in this area. Comparative studies between Orobanche populations attacking wild species and Orobanche populations growing on crops from the same region may help to clarify whether a host specialisation process occurred. In the present study, the genetic variability of five O. foetida populations, four infecting wild plants and one infecting cultivated vetch in Morocco was characterised using amplified fragment‐length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to elucidate the existing genetic relationship between populations and to suggest a potential origin for the recently detected vetch‐infecting population. Analysis of molecular variance suggested the existence of genotypic differentiation among populations. The most genetic divergent population by cluster analysis was the population collected on Ornithopus sativus. The vetch‐infecting O. foetida population was closer to the three populations infecting Scorpiurus muricatus. The possibility of the presence of a reservoir of diversity is balanced against direct genetic adaptation and completely new introduction. The potential for this Orobanche species to shift host and become a threat to agriculture exists and has to be taken into account for future legume breeding for these areas.     

根寄生杂草种子萌发剂概述

独脚金属（Striga spp.）及列当属（Orobanche spp.和Phelipanchce spp.）杂草是世界范围内对农业生产危害严重的根寄生杂草,主要依靠寄生茄科、豆科、谷类等作物获得水分和营养。根寄生杂草种子只有在合适的萌发诱导物（如独脚金内酯）刺激下才能萌发。文章从根寄生杂草的分类、分布及危害,种子萌发剂类型及适用范围,种子萌发剂独脚金内酯的生物合成及分离鉴定,根寄生杂草种子萌发诱导剂的作用机制以及种子萌发过程中激素间协同调控作用等方面进行了综述,并展望了种子萌发剂设计筛选及其在根寄生杂草化学防控中的潜在应用前景。     

Prediction of yield loss caused by Orobanche spp. in carrot and pea crops based on the soil seedbank

Root parasites of the genus Orobanche cause serious losses in many subtropical crops. Direct control options are very limited and crop yield loss can reach 100%. Prediction of potential damage in a crop before sowing or planting would support farmers in their choice of crop. This paper discusses the relationship between the number of Orobanche spp. seeds in the field and yield loss in peas (Pisum sativum L.) and carrots (Daucus carota L.) in Israel. Yield loss due to Orobanche crenata Forsk. in peas was 100% at high infestations, whereas in carrots when O. crenata and O. aegyptiaca were present it stabilized at about 50% for moderate infestations of 200 seeds per kg of soil. Statistical analyses related the yield loss from parasitism in peas and carrots to the numbers of Orobanche seeds remaining in the soil. A rectangular hyperbolic model, previously applied to competition data, fitted the data well. Confidence intervals for per cent yield loss were calculated using the bootstrap method. The practical applications of these models in predicting yield loss are discussed.     

Identification,characterisation and discriminatory power of microsatellite markers in the parasitic weed Orobanche cumana

Orobanche cumana is an obligate root parasite of sunflower. It represents a major agricultural problem in many countries of southern and eastern Europe. Information on O. cumana population genetics, structure and dynamics is scarce, particularly due to the lack of suitable molecular markers for such studies. The objective of this study was to identify and characterise simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for O. cumana. Four thousand two hundred SSR‐containing candidate sequences were obtained from O. cumana using next‐generation sequencing, from which 298 SSR primer pairs were designed and 217 of them used for validation. Seventy nine SSR primers produced reproducible, high quality amplicons of the expected size that were polymorphic among 18 O. cumana populations from different geographical locations and hosts (sunflower, wild hosts from the Compositae family). The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 10, with an average polymorphism information content value of 0.37. The O. cumana SSR markers were highly transferable to the closely related species Orobanche cernua. SSR markers showed high resolving power; UPGMA cluster analysis allowed proper classification of Orobanche spp. samples into species (O. cumana and O. cernua), geographical origin and host. The functional SSR markers reported in this study constitute a valuable tool for genetic analyses in O. cumana and related species and will contribute insights into the biology and genetics of this parasitic weed.     

Insect pests

Abstract

Investigation on seed production potentialities of weeds of Dharwar was carried out at the Agricultural College Farm, during January 1969. Both the parasitic weeds Striga and Orobanche showed high seed production, Striga producing as many as 380,000 seeds per plant followed by Orobanche with 230,000 seeds per plant. Among the weeds studied, Desmodium diffusum produced the least (425) seeds per plant.     

Germination response of Orobanche seeds subjected to conditioning temperature, water potential and growth regulator treatments

Broomrapes (Orobanche spp.) are parasitic weeds that cause significant losses of crop yield. Experiments were conducted to investigate the seed response to the artificial germination stimulant GR₂₄ in three species of Orobanche subjected to preconditioning under various temperatures, water potentials and with plant growth regulators. The highest germination percentages were observed in Orobanche ramosa, Orobanche aegyptiaca and Orobanche minor seeds conditioned at 18°C for 7 days followed by germination stimulation at 18°C. With the increase of the conditioning period (7, 14, 21 and 28 days), the germination percentage of O. ramosa and O. aegyptiaca progressively decreased. When conditioned at −2 MPa, the germination percentage was lower than at 0 and −1 MPa, especially at 13 and 28°C. Orobanche minor seeds could retain relatively high germination if conditioned at 18, 23 or 28°C, even after significantly extended conditioning periods (up to 84 days). GA₃ (30–100 mg L⁻¹), norflurazon and fluridone (10–100 mg L⁻¹), and brassinolide (0.5–1.0 mg L⁻¹) increased seed germination, while 0.01 mg L⁻¹ uniconazole significantly reduced germination rates of all three Orobanche spp. The promotional effects of GA₃ and norflurazon and the inhibitory effect of uniconazole were evident, even when they were treated for 3 days. Germination of Orobanche seeds was much lower when the unconditioned seeds were directly exposed to GR₂₄ at 10⁻⁶ m . This early GR₂₄-induced inhibition was however alleviated or even eliminated by the inclusion of GA₃ or norflurazon (10–50 mg L⁻¹) in the conditioning medium. On the contrary, the inclusion of uniconazole increased the inhibitory effect of GR₂₄, particularly in the case of O. ramosa.     

Horizontal resistance: core to a research breakthrough to combat Striga in Africa

The parasltie flowering plants, Striga species, represent the largest biological constraint to cereal and legume crop production in sub-Saharan Africa. Eighty-three percent of Striga worldwide (35 species) occurs in Africa. Among them, Striga hermonthica causes the greatest damage. The IITA's scientists began research on breeding maize for horizontal resistance to Striga in 1982. By 1995 a comprehensive approach to combat Striga on maize had been developed and demonstrated. This included the development of a simple field infestation technique, the discovery of durable resistance genes, genetic studies of resistance genes and the formation of many resistant varieties (hybrids and synthetics) with high grain quality, high grain and stover yields and a combined resistance to major biotic and abiotic stresses. Multilocation testing and subsequent seed multiplication of the resistant varieties was carried out by national programmes in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo. Striga-resistant maize varieties show horizontal resistance not only to S. hermonthica, but also to another species, Striga asiatica. Based on the results of a 15 year research, an integrated approach using resistant varieties and cereal-legume intercropping or rotation is recommended as a sustainable and permanent solution to combat Striga in Africa. This horizontal resistance package, with a combined resistance to other biotic stresses, could be applicable not only to Striga problems in other crops such as sorghum, millet, rice and cowpea, but also to other parasitic weeds, such as Orobanche species. This paper reviews and discusses why, approximately a century's research work on parasitic weeds, has not led to a major research breakthrough.     

Quantitative studies on downy mildew (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Peronospora destructor</Emphasis> Berk. Casp.) affecting onion seed production in southern Uruguay

Onion downy mildew (Dm) symptoms and damage on seed production fields in southern Uruguay were quantified during two seasons as the progress of incidence, severity, and as the effect of the level of seed-stalks infections on seed yield and quality. In addition, the effects of two plantation dates and two plant densities on Dm were studied in a factorial experiment. Maximum incidence along the season ranged from 15 to 65% in four commercial fields in 2005 and two fields in 2006. Maximum severity ranged from 4.5 to 9.3% of leaf area affected in 2005, and 0.35 to 1.17% in 2006. Whereas Dm incidence varied among studied fields, disease progress as Dm severity varied mainly between studied years. Crop rotation, crop vigour and plant density were identified as major factors affecting Dm variation in the field. Intensive fungicide schedules did not control Dm when other conditions favoured the disease. A high level of Dm severity defined as large necklace spots on seed-stalks significantly reduced seed yield in comparison with healthy seed-stalks in 2005, as well as seed yield and germination in 2006. Weight of 1,000 seeds was not significantly reduced by Dm infections on seed-stalks. Six genera of fungi were recovered from seeds harvested on highly infected seed-stalks (Stemphylium, Fusarium, Alternaria, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Botrytis), but not Peronospora. Late planting date and low plant density had significantly lower Dm incidence and severity. This finding questioned the early planting dates and high densities previously recommended in order to achieve high yielding crops. The combination of several practices to reduce initial inoculum, susceptibility status of the host, and environmental conditions promoting the disease is discussed as forming a basis for effective disease control.     

Biology and management of the fast‐emerging threat of broomrape in rapeseed–mustard

Broomrapes (Phelipanche and Orobanche spp.) are obligate root parasites of the family Orobanchaceae. The natural variation in Orobanchaceae exists in plants involving Triphysaria versicolor (facultative hemiparasite), Striga hermonthica (obligate hemiparasite) and Phelipanche aegyptiaca, formerly Orobanche aegyptiaca (holoparasite). The family Orobanchaceae has 90 genera. The four major parasitic species of broomrape are Phelipanche ramosa in the Brassicas, especially in rapeseed, Phelipanche cernua in tobacco and sunflower, P. aegyptiaca in solanacious crops and in Brassica juncea and Phelipanche crenata in leguminous crops. They are prevalent, infesting nearly 1.2% of the world's arable land. In India, P. ramosa and P. aegyptiaca cause severe infestations of Brassica and have threatened its cultivation in major growing areas. In addition, a single broomrape plant can release >100 000 seeds that remain viable for decades in the soil. This provides the parasite with a great genetic adaptability to environmental changes, including host resistance, agronomical practices and herbicide treatments. Different control measures, such as manual weeding, herbicide applications, solarization, crop rotation and integrated broomrape management practices, have been proposed in order to reduce the broomrape menace and improve yields in farmers' fields. Breeding for broomrape resistance also could be an economic, feasible and environmental friendly control method. The present article reviews the current status of research on broomrape in India and abroad, as well as suggests strategies for its effective management.     

Study of Resistance to Orobanche ramosa in Host (Oilseed Rape and Carrot) and Non-host (Maize) Plants

Orobanche ramosa is a parasitic Angiosperm responsible for severe yield losses in several economical crops. It is a serious threat in oilseed rape in France and Morocco and is appearing in carrot crops in Morocco. In this study, several varieties of oilseed rape and carrot were screened in order to identify resistant cultivars and to characterize the resistance mechanisms involved. All the 15 oilseed rape varieties tested were susceptible. In carrot, the varieties 'Colmar à coeur rouge' and 'Nantaise demi-longue' were susceptible, whereas 'Palaiseau' and 'Buror' were resistant. In the susceptible 'Colmar à coeur rouge' carrot no defence reactions were found and the development of the parasite inhibited carrot tap root formation. In the resistant carrot varieties, the parasite germinated, became attached to the host root but became necrotic before emergence. In 'Buror' carrot, formation of a mechanical barrier was associated with the restriction to the cortex of the parasite. In maize cv. 'Vigni', a non-host of O. ramosa, thickening of xylem vessels, cell divisions in the central cylinder and formation of an encapsulation layer were observed in association with restricted development of Orobanche haustoria.     

Biomolecular relationships among isolates of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Tanzania Virus</Emphasis>

An investigation of the biological properties of the virus causing tomato yellow leaf curl disease in Tanzania was initiated to compare it with other known tomato yellow leaf curl viruses. Properties relating to acquisition and inoculation feeding time, persistence, mechanical inoculation, seed transmission and host range were studied. Results obtained indicate that the virus was transmitted persistently byBemisia tabaci Genn., but it was not mechanically, sap- or seed-transmissible. Minimum acquisition and inoculation feeding time was 30 min.Capsicum annuum, Datura stramonium, Nicotiana glutinosa, N. tabacum andLycopersicon esculentum were found to be hosts of the virus among the plant species tested, whereasPhaseolus vulgaris was not. It is concluded that the properties of the agent causing yellow leaf curl symptoms in tomato plants from different regions in Tanzania are similar to those ofTomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus species studied elsewhere. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Feb. 20, 2003.     

Molecular and biochemical mechanisms of defence induced in pea by Rhizobium leguminosarum against Orobanche crenata

Orobanche species (broomrapes) are parasitic weeds which dramatically decrease the yields of many economically important dicotyledonous crops, including pea (Pisum sativum), in Mediterranean areas. Previously, we identified some Rhizobium leguminosarum strains, including P.SOM, which could both promote pea development and significantly reduce infection by Orobanche crenata, notably through induction of necrosis of attached parasites. In the present study, induced resistance against broomrape in the nodulated pea was shown to be associated with significant changes in rates of oxidative lipoxygenase (Lox) and phenylpropanoid/isoflavonoid pathways and in accumulation of derived toxins, including phenolics and pisatin (pea phytoalexin). Changes were followed for 5 weeks after inoculation and attack by Orobanche. In contrast to non‐inoculated plants or Orobanche only infected plants, polyphenoloxidase (PPO) activity and hydrogen peroxide content increased in response to bacteria inoculation indicating the involvement of oxidative processes. In parallel, the nodulated roots displayed high Lox activity related to the overexpression of the lox1 gene. Similarly, the expression of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and 6a‐hydroxymaackiain 3‐O‐methyltransferase (Hmm6a) genes were induced early during nodule development, suggesting the central role of the phenylpropanoid/isoflavonoid pathways in the elicited defence. As a consequence, the derived products, phenolics and pisatin, accumulated in response to rhizobacteria and conferred mechanical and chemical barriers to the invading parasite. These results highlight the likely role of signalling pathways in induced resistance and suggest these mechanisms should be enhanced through integrated Orobanche management practices.     

First record of the invasive mite<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus evansi</Emphasis> in Greece

The red spider miteTetranychus evansi (Acari: Tetranychidae) Baker and Pritchard was recorded for the first time in Greece, in the area of Tympaki (south-central Crete) onSolanum nigrum. T. evansi is a pest of crops of the family Solanaceae, which are grown extensively in Crete. The species identification was based on both morphological and molecular data. The second internal transcribed spacer was PCR amplified and sequenced in samples from Crete. Sequences were compared with the sequence ofT. evansi from Brazil and with the ITS2 sequences (retrieved from GenBank) of the two closely related tetranychid species most commonly found in Greece,Tetranychus turkestan andTetranychus urticae.     

Use of ITS nuclear sequences from Phelipanche aegyptiaca as a direct tool to detect single seeds of broomrape species in the soil

Broomrape (Phelipanche and Orobanche spp.) are obligate holoparasites that attack roots of almost all economically-important crops in semiarid regions of the world. Broomrape seeds are extremely small (dust-like seeds), averaging 200 to 300?μm in size and because of the miniscule seed size it is difficult to detect and confirm via conventional methods. In this study our aim was to develop a PCR-based assay specific for broomrape soil-borne seeds and sensitive enough to detect a single or few broomrape seeds in a soil sample. For this purpose, we used complementary polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers based upon unique sequences in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the nuclear ribosomal DNA of Phelipanche aegyptiaca. Genomic DNA was extracted from soil samples artificially infested with broomrape seeds or tissue of Phelipanche aegyptiaca Pers., Orobanche cumana Wallr. and Phelipanche crenata Forsk. and subjected to PCR analysis. Using ITS-350 primers, a specific PCR product (350?bp) was amplified and detected in all samples containing broomrape species, but was not detected in soil sample free of broomrape seeds or tissues. Additionally, the PCR-based assay was sensitive enough to detect even a single broomrape seed in the soil. As expected the universal internal control primers amplified a PCR product (555?bp) of genomic DNA extracted from soil samples with or without broomrape tissues or seeds. This diagnostic method is simple, reliable and rapid and could help for assessment of broomrape seed contamination in a crop field.     

Determination of seedborne fungi and detection of aflatoxins in sudanese fenugreek seeds

Following incubation of fenugreek(Trigonella foenum- graecum L.) seeds on potato dextrose agar and moist filter papers at 28±2°C, 59 species and 11 varieties belonging to 21 genera of fungi were determined as seedborne in fenugreek crops. Among these isolates, 45 species and 9 varieties are new records for this crop; and two species are new to the mycoflora of Sudan:Aspergillus stellifer andEmericella variecolor. The genusAspergillus (15 species and 8 varieties) is the most prevalent, followed byDrechslera (3 species),Rhizopus (3 species),Alternaria andFusarium (6 species each),Emericella (4 species and 2 varieties)Cladosporium andPenicillium (4 species each),Chaetomium (3 species) andCurvularia (3 species and one variety). The remaining 11 genera displayed low level of infection. Of the common pathogens of fenugreek plants,Fusarium oxysporum (2.13%) was recovered from the seeds of this crop. Thin layer Chromatographic analysis of chloroform extracts of 13 seed samples showed that two samples were naturally contaminated with aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂ (7.5–35.2 μg/kg). http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Nov. 4, 2001.     

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.     

Orobanche species and population discrimination using intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR)

Summary Orobanche species are commonly identified using morphological characteristics. In many cases, the distinction of closely related species is difficult, and a molecular tool is more suitable to differentiate them. In this study, genomic polymorphism between morphologically distinct species was investigated through amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) regions. Five primers were used to study genetic variation in the morphologically distinct species O. hederae and O. amethystea, as well as the closely related species O. cernua and O. cumana. For the first two species, all the primers detected genetic polymorphism. Anchored primers allowed the identification of more specific molecular markers than non‐anchored tri‐ and tetranucleotide primers. Genetic polymorphism was investigated among three O. hederae populations using the two types of primer. One non‐anchored and two anchored primers detected intraspecific variation, which was not correlated with the geographical location of those populations. The primer (GATA)₄ detected polymorphism between five specimens each of O. cernua and O. cumana species collected from different countries, permitting these two closely related species to be clearly differentiated. This study demonstrated that ISSR markers can be highly reliable for precise identification of Orobanche species.