The use of an alternative food source (red clover) as a means of reducing slug pest damage to winter wheat: towards field implementation

Slugs are major pests of many crops in the UK, including winter wheat, yet current methods of control are often unreliable. The aim of this study was to investigate three issues key to the successful field implementation of a control strategy that uses red clover as an alternative food source to reduce the amount of damage caused to winter wheat by the field slug, Deroceras reticulatum (Müller). A series of three experiments was designed to assess this aim. Firstly, under laboratory conditions, red clover was consumed in greater quantities than wheat, even when wheat was presented as a novel food. Secondly, red clover had no significant effects on the emergence and early growth of wheat in a polytunnel experiment. Both these results are crucial to the successful implementation of a strategy that uses red clover as an alternative food source. Lastly, the results of a field experiment were consistent with the results of the polytunnel experiment, in that red clover did not significantly affect wheat emergence. However, plots in which red clover was left to grow until the time of wheat harvest resulted in significantly lower (43%) wheat yields than plots without red clover. These results suggest that red clover must be removed from the field after the wheat has passed its vulnerable seedling stage. Recommendations for the potential use of red clover as an alternative food source for reducing damage to winter wheat in field conditions are discussed and opportunities for further work are suggested.     

A laboratory evaluation of the palatability of legumes to the field slug,Deroceras reticulatum Müller

Slugs are major pests of many crops, including winter wheat, in temperate climates, yet current methods of control are often unreliable. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential for common legume species to act as an alternative source of food, or trap crop, for the most damaging agricultural pest species, the grey field slug, Deroceras reticulatum Müller, thereby reducing damage to the wheat crop. A series of three controlled-environment experiments were designed to assess this aim. Individual slugs were fed leaves of one of ten legume species together with winter wheat leaves for a 72-h period. A clear hierarchy of acceptability was shown, with red clover, lucerne, lupin and white clover showing significantly higher Acceptability Indices than the other six species tested. Red clover produced the greatest reduction in mean wheat consumption (78%) from day 1 to day 3. When species were fed individually, red clover was consumed in significantly greater quantities than any of the other treatments: 40% more than white clover and 56% more than wheat. Furthermore, when fed with red clover the amount of wheat consumed was some 50% less than when the latter was fed alone. The results indicate that legumes vary greatly in their acceptability to D. reticulatum and it is essential that a legume with a high Acceptability Index is chosen, which results in the least amount of wheat consumed.     

Can Batesian mimicry help plants to deter herbivores?

Several authors have suggested that edible plants could avoid herbivory by mimicking olfactory cues of toxic plants. However, very few studies have been carried out to test this hypothesis. The aims of the present study were to identify the volatiles of three clover species and to test whether a species lacking chemical defences, such as red clover, could avoid being grazed by rabbits by mimicking the volatiles of the cyanogenic white clover. Two main volatiles were identified in all three clover species, and a further two volatiles were present in white clover only. Rabbits presented with a choice between white clover, red clover and red clover sprayed with white clover extract ate significantly more red clover than white or white-flavoured red clover. The results suggest that the volatiles of toxic plants could be used and exploited as a source of natural, safe and effective repellents to control the impact of pest herbivores on plants.     

A laboratory-based comparison of a molluscicide and an alternative food source (red clover) as means of reducing slug damage to winter wheat

Slugs are major pests of many crops in the UK, including winter wheat, yet current methods of control are often unreliable. This study investigates the potential use of red clover, as an alternative food source, to reduce the amount of damage caused to winter wheat by the field slug, Deroceras reticulatum (Müller). Two laboratory-based studies, each conducted over a 7-day period, investigated the effects of red clover seedlings and commercial metaldehyde pellets on damage to winter wheat seeds and seedlings. The results indicate that metaldehyde applications, in the form of commercially available pellets, resulted in significantly greater protection to wheat seeds compared with red clover, whereas metaldehyde and red clover were equally as effective in reducing damage to wheat seedlings. A further laboratory experiment investigated the effect of two slug population densities (48 and 16 adults m(-2)) and high and low red clover seed rates (125% and 75% of a standard rate) on damage to wheat seeds. Results showed that, at the highest slug population density, red clover sown at 125% of the standard rate gave 99% protection to wheat seeds, compared with the 75% seed rate which gave 55%. At the lower slug population density, both seed rates of red clover resulted in similar levels of protection. Implications for the potential use of red clover as an alternative food source for reducing damage to winter wheat in field conditions are discussed.     

Differential responses of red clover cultivars to Sclerotinia trifoliorum under diverse natural climatic conditions

The susceptibility of 15 red clover ( Trifolium pratense ) cultivars to Sclerotinia trifoliorum under natural conditions in field experiments was investigated at sites in Sweden located at latitudes ranging from 60 to 64°N, with corresponding ranges of climatic regimes and lengths of vegetative growth and winter periods. At each site, 10 red clover cultivars were included: five were common, and five were selected according to the regional climate. Clover rot caused by S. trifoliorum from natural sources occurred in all geographical areas studied, and all cultivars included were affected. The numbers of plants of each cultivar killed by the pathogen was estimated at five sites over 2 years. Severe effects were observed in the first winter at these sites, but while incidence of clover rot increased and diseased areas expanded substantially in the second winter in northern Sweden, this pattern was not observed in southern regions. Tetraploidy, late flowering type and previous selection for resistance among cultivars positively influenced survival rates in the field. Estimates of susceptibility of cultivars obtained under field conditions after 2 years showed strong correlation when compared with rankings of susceptibility caused by an aggressive isolate of S. trifoliorum in previously conducted controlled environment laboratory tests. Yields were correlated to the proportion of gaps caused by the pathogen, indicating its economic importance.     

Investigation of wheat as a trap crop for control of Orobanche minor

Orobanche minor is a parasitic weed that attaches to the roots of red clover (Trifolium pratense) and a number of other broad‐leaved plant species in the Pacific Northwest USA. Orobanche minor seed must be stimulated by host plant exudates for germination and attachment to occur. However, plant species called false‐hosts can stimulate parasitic seed germination without attachment. These species could be utilized as trap crops to reduce the amount of parasitic seed in infested soil. Wheat (Triticum aestivum), was found to be a false‐host of O. minor; therefore, growth chamber, glasshouse and field soil experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of six soft white winter wheats (T. aestivum), one durum wheat (Triticum turgidum), and one triticale (Triticale hexaploide) on O. minor germination. In growth chamber experiments, wheat and triticale induced 20–70% of O. minor seeds to germinate. In glasshouse studies, O. minor attachment was minimal on red clover plants grown in pots previously planted to wheat or triticale. In pots that did not receive a false‐host treatment, red clover plants averaged 4.2 O. minor attachments per plant. Red clover plants also had fewer O. minor attachments when grown in field soil taken from the plots where wheat or triticale were grown compared with plants grown in soil where no wheat or triticale were previously grown. Our results demonstrate that wheat may have the potential to be effectively integrated into an O. minor management system.     

Prevalence, species composition, genetic variation and pathogenicity of clover rot (Sclerotinia trifoliorum) and Fusarium spp. in red clover in Finland

The species composition of a total of 173 red clover root fungal isolates from red clover roots from two established organic fields, a field in a transitional phase to organic and from two conventional fields was investigated based on morphology and molecular methods. Fusarium avenaceum was the most common Fusarium species overall but it occurrred less frequently in older organic fields. Gliocladium spp., Trichoderma spp. and Rhizoctonia spp. isolates were more common in the established organic clover fields, which had been under organic management for more than ten years and in one conventional field, than in a field still in the transitional phase. The taxonomical status of certain Fusarium, Alternaria and Sclerotinia isolates difficult to identify by morphological traits alone could be confirmed by species-specific primers and by comparing their ITS (internal transcribed spacer region) sequences to known sequences. The fingerprinting patterns of RAPD-PCR products could be used for the identification of fungal isolates and for studying the genetic variation among the isolates. Only one of the Fusarium isolates originating from apparently healthy red clover roots was clearly pathogenic to germinated red clover seedlings. In detached leaf experiments, the cvs Jokioinen and Ilte were more susceptible to one of the Sclerotinia trifoliorum isolates than cvs Betty and Bjursele, while all of them were equally susceptible to two other S. trifoliorum isolates. In further greenhouse experiments with intact plants it was possible to slow down the development of clover rot to some extent by means of one of the biological agents tested (Bacillus subtilis 10-VIZR, commercial name Alirin B), and almost completely by chemical control.     

Micronutrients reduce root rot in red clover (Trifolium pratense)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is an important component of mixed grass-legume leys; however, fungal root rot decreases red clover viability over time....     

Pest and disease management by intercropping: Suppression of thrips and rust in leek

Abstract

Leek (Allium porrum L.) is an Important field vegetable in most of western and central Europe. Infestations of onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman) cannot be controlled with the range of insecticides now available in The Netherlands. Leek rust (Puccinia allii Rudolph) is now also difficult to control. Experiments in which no insecticides or fungicides were applied, were carried out to assess the effects on thrips populations and infection by leek rust when leek crops were undersown with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.). To evaluate the economic aspects of this approach, both the quality and quantity of the leeks produced in the two systems were compared. Undersowing leeks with clover drastically reduced thrips infestations which was reflected in improved quality of leeks at harvest. Leek rust incidence was also reduced slightly by undersowing with clover and the quality of the leeks at harvest was also better. Although the quality of the leeks was improved when the crop was undersown with clover, the quantity of crop produced was reduced considerably as a result of plant competition.     

Exploring host-pathogen combinations for compatible and incompatible reactions in grapevine downy mildew

Rhizoctonia leguminicola, the traditional name for the causal agent of blackpatch of red clover (Trifolium pratense) and other legumes, produces alkaloids, one of which causes livestock to salivate excessively. Fungal presence is generally confirmed by microscopy, disappearance of symptoms in livestock after removal of suspect forage, and chromatography of the alkaloid slaframine, in legume tissue. Use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify a pathogen-specific DNA fragment would complement the other methods of pathogen identification. Primers were designed to the R. leguminicola ITS region, sequence provided by another laboratory. Two separate primer pairs each amplified a different fragment–one ~250 bp long (expected length 249 bp), and the other 300 to 400 bp long (expected length 368 bp)–in DNA extracted from cultures of R. leguminicola. Under the experimental conditions, the primers to the larger fragment amplified a stronger band, and a minimum of 0.1 ng DNA per reaction was needed to produce a detectable band. With the primers to the 368-bp fragment, a band 300 to 400 bp long was also amplified in DNA extracted from red clover (cultivar Kenland) inoculated with R. leguminicola and harvested 70 h post inoculation. No amplification with this primer set occurred in DNA extracted from mock-inoculated red clover plants, supporting the likelihood that the primers amplified R. leguminicola DNA extracted from inoculated red clover. This primer set did not amplify DNA extracted from a red clover isolate of the legume pathogen Stemphylium sarcinaeforme, or DNA extracted from two isolates of the legume pathogen Colletotrichum trifolii, indicating specificity for R. leguminicola DNA. Lack of amplification of alfalfa DNA indicated that the R. leguminicola primers will be useful for testing for the presence of blackpatch in alfalfa.     

Effects of alachlor on anthocyanin and lignin synthesis in etiolated sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) mesocotyls

Alachlor, a preemergence herbicide used to control grasses and some broadleaf weeds, was found to inhibit anthocyanin and lignin accumulation in excised sections of mesocotyls from 6 day-old, etiolated sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) seedlings. Alachlor inhibited anthocyanin and lignin synthesis by 50% at 20 and 28 μM, respectively, with anthocyanin synthesis being inhibited in 1 hr. Other chloroacetanilide herbicides also inhibited anthocyanin synthesis in this system, but all were less active than alachlor. Inhibition of anthocyanin synthesis could not be reversed by compounds from the shikimic acid or phenylpropanoic acid pathways. Anthocyanin synthesis could be restored by removal of alachlor from the incubation solution. Evidence is presented which suggests that alachlor inhibits anthocyanin formation at a point late in the phenylpropanoic acid pathway and not in the shikimic acid pathway.     

Rotting by spread of mycelium from ascospore lesions ofSclerotinia trifoliorum

Brown lesions on red clover, resulting from infection by ascospores ofSclerotinia trifoliorum, were sometimes surrounded by a light grey ring. Clover rot developed rapidly from these rings under moist conditions. The beginning of rot in the field was often observed in the joints of the trifoliate leaves. Freezing plants at ?6° or ?8°C or freezing small parts of plants with carbon dioxide snow resulted in a quick spread of mycelium, with rotting, from the ascospore lesions. Weakening the plants by bruising did not promote this transition to active rotting. Very heavy infection by ascospores, however, may cause immediate rotting in the plants. The information obtained indicates that in the field clover rot originates mainly from ascospore lesions.     

New weed management strategy using subterranean clover reseeding under different tillage systems: Numerical experiments with the subterranean clover-tillage dynamics model

Subterranean clover ( Trifolium subterraneum L.) appears to be a suitable winter legume cover crop for Japan because the subterranean clover stands maintain themselves by reseeding in autumn and the large seeds facilitate establishment and enable early fall production. However, there is little information on the relationship between reseeding and tillage systems for subterranean clover under Japanese climatic conditions. A weed-tillage population dynamics model was developed to investigate the effects of the tillage method and timing on the reseeding of subterranean clover. The field experiments were conducted in a silage corn and subterranean clover rotation system. The life cycle of subterranean clover was modeled to describe the seed production competing with weed growth, seasonal changes in the buried seeds' viability, and the movement of seeds by tillage treatments. In the numerical simulation, the effect of the tillage method on the seedling population of reseeded subterranean clover was investigated and the simulation results showed good agreement with the experimental results. Rotary tilling immediately after subterranean clover seed maturation successfully produced a good subterranean clover stand the following spring. However, rotary tillage conducted 2 months after seed maturation killed the emerging subterranean clover seedlings and the field was dominated by winter weeds. These simulation results suggest that a suitable tillage system can maintain successful subterranean clover re-establishment from year to year.     

The influence of soil disinfection with DD,certain components of DD and some other compounds with nematocidal activity on the growth of white clover

In pots containing soil fumigated with DD before planting the growth of white clover was considerably better than in untreated pots. A similar effect was obtained both with cis- or trans-1,3-dichloropropene. Some other components of DD, including 1,2-dichloropropane, had no influence on clover growth in the concentration at which they occur in DD. Of the compounds not associated with DD, EN 18,133 and sugar showed a favourable effect on clover growth, but X 323 had no influence. In the untreated pots with poorly growing clover many roots had died. On the places where dead lateral roots had been attached many fungi were present in the tissue, especiallyRhizoctonia sp. andFusarium spp. These pots contained also more clover cyst nematodes and more springtails (Collembola). In one of the pot experiments poor growth could probably be attributed to an attack by the clover cyst nematode (Heterodera trifolii Goffart). The nematode level above which damage to the plants occurred was calculated at 1000–3000 eggs (larvae inclusive) per 100 ml of soil. In the other pot experiment, however, poor growth could not be explained by cyst nematodes only. In field experiments clover growth was promoted by soil fumigation with DD, also when only a few cyst nematodes were present. These observations increase the evidence that attack of white clover by pathogens is a complex phenomenon in which nematodes as well as fungi and perhaps insects too are involved. Apart from a small increase in growth at the beginning, soil fumigation with DD did not raise the yield of perennial rye grass.In this article the name DD is used as abbreviation for the trade name Shell D-D.     

Under‐sown cover crops and post‐harvest mowing as measures to control Elymus repens

Two potential control methods for Elymus repens, which do not disturb the soil, are post‐harvest mowing and competition from under‐sown cover crops. Our aim was to quantify the effect of cover crop competition and mowing on E. repens and to evaluate the potential for combining the two methods. We present a two‐factorial split‐plot experiment conducted at three locations in Sweden, in two experimental rounds conducted in 2011–2012 and 2012–2013. A spring cereal crop was under‐sown with perennial ryegrass, red clover or a mixture of the two (subplots). Under‐sown crops were either not mowed, or mowed once or twice post‐harvest (main plots). This was followed by ploughing and a new spring cereal crop the next year. Mowing twice reduced autumn shoot biomass by up to 66% for E. repens and 50% for cover crops compared with the control, twice as much as mowing once. Pure ryegrass and mixture treatments reduced E. repens shoot biomass by up to 40% compared with the control. Mowing twice reduced rhizome biomass in the subsequent year by 35% compared with the control, while the pure red clover treatment increased it by 20–30%. Mowing twice and treatments including red clover resulted in higher subsequent grain yields. We concluded that repeated mowing has the potential to control E. repens, but a low‐yielding cover crop has insufficient effect on rhizome biomass. Clover–grass mixtures are of interest as cover crops, because they have the potential to increase subsequent crop yield and even at low levels they reduce E. repens above‐ground autumn growth.     

The Complete Nucleotide Sequence of a Japanese Isolate of White clover mosaic virus Strain RC

The complete nucleotide sequence was determined for genomic RNA of White clover mosaic virus (WClMV-RC) isolated from red clover (Trifolium pratense) in Japan, It is 5843 nucleotides in length, excluding the poly(A) tail at the 3' terminus. Similar to other potexviruses, it contains five open reading frames (ORFs 1 through 5), which putatively encode an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) (147 kDa), a triple gene block (TGB) (26 kDa/13 kDa/7 kDa), and a coat protein (CP) (22 kDa), respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of the WClMV-RC CP was identical to that of WClMV-O, one of two New Zealand isolates, but only 85% identical to that of WClMV-M, the other New Zealand isolate, because of heterogeneity in the C-termini of CP amino acid sequences. The implication of this CP heterogeneity is discussed. Received 30 August 2001/ Accepted in revised form 11 January 2002     

THE EFFECT OF SUPERPHOSPHATE APPLICATION, 2,4-DB AND GRAZING ON BROOMRAPE (OROBANCHE MINOR SM.) IN A SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER PASTURE

Two 5-year trials were conducted in New South Wales on the control of broomrape (Orobanche minor Sm.), a plant parasite of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and skeleton weed (Chondrilla juncea L.). Applications of superphosphate to two soils of low phosphorus status stimulated clover growth, which caused a reduction in the number of skeleton weed plants and a decrease in the broomrape population. Similar but less effective control was obtained when subterranean clover pasture was sprayed with 2,4-DB for skeleton weed control as soon as the clover seedlings had developed trifoliate leaves. In spring, sheep readily grazed the broomrape stems before flowering, causing death of the plants. Autumn application of super phosphate, coupled with grazing of the pasture by sheep, significantly reduced broomrape density.     

A distinctive strain of the red clover mottle virus in the Netherlands

A virus isoaate obtained from red clover in the Netherlands in 1957 has been identified as red clover mottle virus by means of host reaction studies, electron microscopy and serology. This isolate is considered to be a separate strain, however, on the basis of clear differences in severity of symptoms in broad bean, pea and red clover plants and especially of qualitative serological differences between this isolate and the English type strain. The virus produces granular inclusion bodies in artificially infected pea plants. It is especially distinguished from other legume viruses described so far by its reaction in broad bean, pea, and red clover plants. A discussion is given of its distant relationship to cowpea mosaic virus. This is the first report of the occurrence of the red clover mottle virus outside England. At present the virus appears to be of no economic importance in the Netherlands.Samenvatting Aangetoond kon worden dat een in 1957 in Nederland uit rode klaver geïsoleerd virus op grond van waardplantreacties (Fig. 1, 2, 3 en 5), elektronenmicroscopie (Fig. 6) en serologie overeenkomt met het in 1960 doorSinha in Engeland beschreven red clover mottle virus. Hiervoor wordt thans de Nederlandse naam vlekkerigheidsvirus van rode klaver ingevoerd. De Nederlandse isolatie moet echter worden beschouwd als een aparte stam van het virus op grond van geconstateerde duidelijke verschillen in hevigheid van de symptomen veroorzaakt in rode klaver (Fig. 1), erwt en tuinboon en vooral op grond van een in kruisreactie-en kruisverzadigingsproeven gevonden kwalitatief serologisch verschil (Tabel 1).Het virus doet in kunstmatig geïnfecteerde erwteplanten granulaire celinsluitsels ontstaan (fig. 4). Het is gemakkelijk van andere, tot dusver beschreven virussen van vlinderbloemigen te onderscheiden op grond van de in de reeds genoemde plantesoorten opgewekte verschijnselen en het onvermogen om komkommer en tabakssoorten te infecteren. Daar het volgens onderzoek vanAgrawal & Maat (1964) een verre verwantschep met het o.a. in Suriname voorkomende mozaïekvirus vanVigna (cowpea mosaic virus) vertoont, wordt het vermoedelijk niet door bladluizen, maar door bladhaantjes of aardvlooien overgebracht.Het virus is op dit moment in Nederland niet van praktische betekenis.     

Severity of phytophthora root rot and pre‐emergence damping‐off in subterranean clover influenced by moisture,temperature, nutrition,soil type,cultivar and their interactions

Studies were carried out in controlled environment rooms reflecting field situations. In the presence of the devastating soilborne pathogen Phytophthora clandestina, subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) seedling emergence was significantly affected by moisture, soil type, temperature and cultivar. The level of rotting of tap and lateral roots was significantly affected by nutrition, soil type, temperature and cultivar. There were significant interactions involving temperature, moisture, soil type and cultivar; cultivar resistance, high moisture, high or medium temperature, high nutrition and sand soil all contributed towards less pre‐emergence damping‐off and tap and lateral root disease and to greater clover productivity. Host resistance of subterranean clover cultivars was critical for reducing disease severity and increasing productivity, even when favourable environmental conditions for severe disease occurred. In the presence of P. clandestina, the most resistant cultivar, Seaton Park, performed best under a high temperature, high nutrition and high moisture combination, but showed lower productivity under conditions of low nutrition or lower temperature, even when moisture level was high. In contrast, less resistant cultivars Riverina and Meteora had less disease and greater productivity under low moisture conditions. Findings reflect field observations that pre‐emergence damping‐off and root disease from P. clandestina in subterranean clover is particularly severe under colder conditions and in nutritionally impoverished sandy soils, and demonstrate how variations in soil type, nutrition, moisture, temperature and cultivar have profound effects on the expression and severity of phytophthora pre‐emergence damping‐off and root disease and the productivity of subterranean clover forages.     

芝麻坏死花叶病毒的鉴定

 自武昌芝麻坏死花叶病株得到1个病毒分离物,根据该分离物生物学特性、粒体形状、血清学性质、外壳蛋白分子量和核酸组分、大小,明确为自然侵染芝麻的一种新病毒,定名为芝麻坏死花叶病毒(Sesame necrotic mosaic virus,SNMV)。在人工接种7科38种植物中,SNMV侵染6科23种;体外稳定性状:稀释限点10^-4~10^-5,致死温度80~85℃,体外存活期限40d;病毒可通过土壤和接触传播。SNMV病毒粒体球状,表面有粒状突起,直径约32nm。制备病毒抗血清用琼脂双扩散方法测定效价为1:128。SNMV和红三叶草坏死花叶病毒(RCNMV)、甜三叶草坏死花叶病毒(SCNMV)、黄瓜花叶病毒(CMV)和花生矮化病毒(PSV)抗血清没有反应。病毒外壳蛋白亚基分子量为38 100道尔顿;核酸1个组分,大小约4700nt,另含RNA片段,大小约600nt,可能为卫星RNA。依据上述病毒特性,SNMV可能归属于番茄丛矮病毒科(Tombusviridae)。