Effects of N, P and K on Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze seed germination and infestation of sorghum

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) plants were grown in pots with 12.5 and 50 mg applied N kg^?1 soil. With an increase of soil N, the Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze infestation, as well as the sorghum shoot dry matter losses due to infestation, decreased. The relative differences in stimulant capacity to induce Striga seed germination among the four sorghum genotypes were not consistent over the 0 to 150 mg N 1^?1 range. The sorghum root exudate was considerably more active at 0 mg N 1^?1, than at 30 mg N 1^?1, and the stimulant produced at 150 mg N 1^?1 failed to induce Striga seed germination. Presence of N in the growth medium considerably reduced the effectiveness of the stimulating substance produced by sorghum roots, whereas K promoted stimulant activity only in the absence of N. The presence or absence of P in the growth medium did not affect Striga seed germinability, probably due to the inability of this element to interfere with the production or activity of the stimulating substance from the host plants. It can be concluded, therefore, that sorghum plants seem to produce active root exudate only in conditions of N deficiency.     

A histological study of the effect of glyphosate on seed development in the wild oat (Avena fatua L.)

Glyphosate was applied to panicles of wild oats (Avena fatua L.) before, at and after anthesis. The florets in spikelets exposed to the herbicide before, at and immediately after anthesis produced seeds with abnormal embryos and endosperm. Histological and embryological studies showed that in all cases the chemical did not stop the normal process of double fertilization in the florets. The zygote divided, but did not proceed beyond the proembryo stage. The development of both the proembryo and the endosperm was abnormal. The proembryos and the early stages of embryos showed no normal provascular or vascular tissue differentiation. Externally also there was no proper development of embryo parts, such as the scutellum, epiblast, shoot and root apices. The embryonic tissues showed considerable obliteration and shrinkage and the nuclei in cells appeared small and shrunken. The cells, especially in the meristem regions, appeared lacunose. The embryo and the endosperm in the caryopses treated with glyphosate 9 days after anthesis or later, were morphologically and structurally very similar to those of the controls of comparable age. It was concluded that the greater the delay of glyphosate application after anthesis, the less was the effect on seed development. Une étude histologique de l'effet du glyphosate sur le developpement des graines de folle avoine (Avena fatua L.) Du glyphosate a été appliquéà des panicules de folle avoine (Avena fatua L.), avant, pendant et après l'anthèse. Les fleurs dans les epillets exposés à l'herbicide avant, et pendant immédiatement après l'anthese ont donné des graines avec des embryons et des endospermes anormaux, Des études histologiques et embryologiques ont montré que dans tous les cas le produit n'a pas arrêté le processus normal de double fertilisation au niveau des florets. Le zygote s'est divisé mais n'a pas été au-delà du stade proembryon, Les développements du proembryon et de l'endosperme ont été anormaux. Les proembryons et les stades précoces des embryons n'ont pas montré de différenciations normales des tissus provasculaires ou vasculaires, Extérieurement également, il n'y a pas eu un développement plus correct des parties embryonnaires comme le scutellum, epiblast les ébauches racinaires et tigellaires. Leurs tissus embryonnaires ont montré des manques considérables et des rétrécissements et les noyaux dans les cellules sont apparus petits et rétrécis. Les cellules, particulièerement dans les régions méristématiques semblaient pleines de lacune. L'embryon et l'endosperme chez les caryopses traités au glyphosate 9 jours après l'anthèse ou plus tard, étaient structurellement et morphologiquement très voisins de ceux des témoins à un âge comparable. II en est conclu que plus le délai après l'anthèse de l'application du glyphosate était élevé, moins l'effet était fort sur le développement de la graine. Eine histologische Untersuchung der Wirkung von Glyphosat auf die Samenbildung des Flug-Hafers (Avena fatua L.) Glyphosat wurde auf die Rispen von Flug-Hafer (Avena fatua L.) vor, während und unmittelbar nach der Blüte appliziert, woraufhin die Embryos und das Endosperm sich anormal entwickelten. In histologischen und embryologischen Untersuchungen zeigte sich, daß der Wirkstoff in allen Fällen den normalen Befruchtungsprozeß nicht beeinträchtigte. Die Zygote teilte sich, doch kam sie nicht über das Proembryo-Stadium hinaus. Die Entwicklung sowohl des Proembryos als auch des Endosperms war anormal. Die Proembryonen und ersten Embryo-Stadien zeigten keine normale Entwicklung des Provascular-bzw. Leitungsgewebes. Auch äußerlich waren die Embryonen nicht ordentlich entwickelt, was sich am Scutellum sowie Epiblast und an den Sproß-und Wurzelspitzen zeigte. Die Embryo-Gewebe hatten beträchtliche Lücken und Schrump-fungen, und die Nuclei waren klein und geschrumpft. Die Zellen, besonders in den Meristemen, erschienen lückig. Nach Glyphosat-Behandlungen 9 Tage oder später nach der Blüte entwickelten sich Embryo und Endosperm sowohl morphologisch als auch struk-turell sehr ähnlich wie in Kontrollpflanzen gleichen Alters. Daraus ließ sich schließen, daß die Wirkung von Glyphosat auf die Samenent-wicklung umso geringer ist, je später die Behandlung erfolgt.     

Germination of seeds from plants of Avenafatua L. treated with glyphosate

Glyphosate was applied at four rates under greenhouse conditions to Avena fatua L. plants at four stages of seed development. Application at anthesis completely prevented the formation of viable seeds. Application five days after anthesis (DAA) of the terminal floret of the panicle significantly reduced seed production at all herbi-cide rates used, and at 1.76 kg a.i. ha^-1 no viable seeds were produced. When applied 10 DAA, only the highest rate of glyphosate resulted in substantial reduction in number of primary seeds, but seed viability suffered at all herbicide levels. Glyphosate applied 15 DAA still produced a significant decrease in primary and secondary seed production and biomass. Both the viability and the germination rate of seeds from treated plants were significantly affected. When the herbicide was applied to plants 5 DAA, no viable seeds were produced by plants surviving the highest rate, and all rates significantly reduced germination. Glyphosate applied 10 DAA significantly suppressed germination, with 1.76 kg a.i. ha^-1 being the most effective rate. When applied to plants 15 DAA, only the highest rate of glyphosate significantly affected the overall germination of both primary and secondary seeds, but the normal imposition of dormancy was partially blocked in seeds from plants treated with 0.44 and 0.88 kg a.i. ha^-1. These findings are relevant to chemical summerfallow and crop desiccation practices.     

ON THE REGENERATION OF ROOT FRAGMENTS OF LEAFY SPURGE (EUPHORBIA ESULA L.)

Summary. The roots of leafy spurge ( Euphorbia esula L.) normally produce shoot buds abundantly near the soil surface but with decreasing frequency at increasing depths. By placing Fragments of roots collected from various depths in the soil in shallow flats in a glasshouse, it was demonstrated that root Fragments from all depths down to 2–8 m do not differ appreciably in rcgenerative capacity and this capacity is not dependent upon the presence of performed shoot buds. By collecting root fragments from the same stand throughout the growing season it was shown that regenerative capacity is lowest in June at the time of maximum flowering. The implications of these findings arc discussed in relation to the control of this species.
Sur la régénération des fragments de racines de Euphorbia esula L .     

Efficacy of Bacillus subtilis MBI 600 Against Sheath Blight Caused by Rhizoctonia solani and on Growth and Yield of Rice

Rice sheath blight disease(ShB),caused by Rhizoctonia solani,gives rise to significant grain yield losses.The present study evaluated the efficacy of Integral?,the commercial liquid formulation of Bacillus subtilis strain MBI 600,against rice ShB and for plant growth promotion.In greenhouse studies,four log concentrations of Integral(from 2.2×106 to 2.2×109 cfu/mL) were used as seed treatment(ST).After 25 d,seedlings were dipped(SD) into Integral prior to transplanting.At 30 d after transplanting(DAT),leaf sheaths were inoculated with immature sclerotia of the pathogen.At 45 DAT,a foliar spray(FS) with Integral was applied to some treatments.The fungicide control was 50% carbendazim at 1.0 g/L,and a nontreated control was also included.Overall,there were 10 treatments,each with five replications.ShB severity was rated at 52 DAT,and seedling height and number of tillers per plant were rated at 60 DAT.In 2009,two field trials evaluated Integral at 2.2×108 and 2.2×109 cfu/mL.Integral was applied as ST,and seedlings were produced in a nursery bed.After 32 d,seedlings were treated with Integral as SD and transplanted into 10 m2 blocks.Foliar sprays were given at 45 and 60 DAT.There were seven treatments,each with eight replications arranged as a factorial randomized complete block design.At 20 DAT,the plots were broadcast inoculated with R.solani produced on rice grains.Seedling height before transplanting,ShB severity at 90 DAT,and grain yield at harvest were recorded.Integral at 2.2×109 cfu/mL provided significant increase of seedling heights over other treatments under greenhouse conditions.The Integral treatments of ST + SD + FS at 2.2×109 cfu/mL significantly suppressed ShB over other treatments.In field studies,Integral provided significant increase of seedling height in nursery,and number of tillers per plant,compared with the control.ShB severity was significantly suppressed with higher concentrations of Integral compared to lower concentrations.Grain yield were the highest at an Integral concentration of 2.2×109 cfu/mL.Overall,Integral significantly reduced ShB severity,enhanced seedling growth,number of tillers per plant and grain yield as ST + SD + FS at the concentration of 2.2×109 cfu/mL under the conditions evaluated.