Ecological studies on Cyperus difformis, Cyperus iria and Fimbristylis miliacea: three troublesome annual sedge weeds of rice

Cyperus difformis , Cyperus iria and Fimbristylis miliacea are troublesome annual sedges of rice grown in many countries. Laboratory and screenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of temperature, light, salt and water stress, seed burial depth, and flooding time, duration and depth on germination, emergence and growth of these three species. Germination of all the three species was stimulated by light and warm fluctuating temperatures. Germination of C. difformis was influenced to a greater degree by increasing salt and water stress than C. iria and F. miliacea . In all three species, seeds sown on the soil surface gave the greatest percentage of seedling emergence, and no seedlings emerged from seeds buried in soil at depths of ≥1 cm. Flooding, although not continuous or deep, had a suppressive effect on emergence and growth of C. iria and F. miliacea . Intermittent flooding to shallow depths, however, was less effective in controlling C. difformis ; deep flooding was needed to suppress growth of C. difformis seedlings. When the flooding was delayed to 21 days after sowing, there was little growth reduction in all three species.     

Effects of cadmium, nickel and lead on growth, chlorophyll content and proteins of weeds

The effects of Cd, Ni and Pb on the growth, chlorophyll (Chl) and protein contents, and content of proteases of potted weed plants Cyperus difformis, Chenopodium ambrosioides and Digitaria sanguinolis were determined. The three heavy metals inhibited the shoot growth but were less suppresive to root growth. They also lowered leaf Chl content. The changes in root and shoot protein and proteases contents of weeds were interrelated. The heavy metal additions to soil increased their contents in both roots and shoots, several times more in roots than in shoots. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

不同作物轮作制度对土壤杂草种子库特征的影响

为明确不同作物轮作制度对杂草种子库特征的影响,比较研究了玉米-小麦(MW)、大豆-小麦(SW)轮作和原水稻-小麦(RW)轮作方式下杂草种子库的特征。结果表明,作物轮作显著影响杂草种子库的密度和种类组成,进行玉米-小麦或大豆-小麦轮作2年后,杂草种子库密度分别比稻麦轮作降低27．16％、44．44％。在原水稻-小麦轮作方式下,种子库中主要杂草为陌上菜、异型莎草、菵草、水苋菜、千金子等。玉米-小麦轮作使种子库中马唐、碎米莎草、飘拂草的相对优势度显著上升,鸭舌草、水苋菜、菵草的相对优势度显著下降。而在大豆-小麦轮作方式下,种子库中通泉草、马唐、鳢肠、飘拂草的相对优势度显著上升。玉米-小麦轮作种子库的物种多样性指数高于大豆-小麦轮作和水稻-小麦轮作。玉米-小麦与大豆-小麦轮作种子库的物种组成相似性较高。作物轮作影响杂草种子库密度和种类组成的机制,可能在于通过轮换种植不同的作物,提供了多样化的选择压,限制了某些对单一种植系统有着良好适应性的杂草种类的生长。     

Influence of senescence and of carbohydrate levels on the pattern of leaf proteases in purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus)

Cyperus rotundus L. is a monocotyledonous perennial weed, which forms large numbers of tubers during its vegetative growth. Since these tubers represent major sinks, source/sink interactions are more complex, and leaf senescence and proteolytic processes in this species may be different from the situation in the well‐investigated annual crop plants characterized by monocarpic senescence. Judged by native PAGE and by inhibitor studies, three different aminopeptidases, one iminopeptidase, two or more carboxypeptidases and two or more different endopeptidases were present in mature green leaves. Exo‐ and endoproteolytic activities increased during the senescence of excised leaf segments. A marked change was observed in the endopeptidase pattern, since a cysteine proteinase activity was strongly induced during senescence of the segments. This endopeptidase was also found in naturally senescing leaves and may, therefore, participate in nitrogen salvage from these organs. An increase of different protease activities was demonstrated in leaf segments of C. rotundus in the presence of high carbohydrate levels. The mechanisms involved, and the importance of this phenomenon for the interaction between source/sink relations and senescence, remain to be demonstrated.     

不同生态条件下华抗草78水稻对杂草的干扰控制作用

对不同水稻叶龄、水层深度、水稻密度和保水时间条件下水稻对杂草控制效果进行研究.结果表明,具有化感特性的水稻品系华抗草78对稗草、鳢肠、异型莎草等杂草的抑制率显著优于无化感特性品种Lemont;华抗草78对0～1.5叶期稗草和0～0.3叶期异型莎草的控制效果优于1.5～2.4叶期稗草和0.8～2.0叶期异型莎草;移栽时叶龄与栽插密度互作有利于提高华抗草78对杂草的防效,并明显高于移栽时叶龄分别与水层深度和保水时间互作效应.适当提高水稻移栽时的叶龄、增加移栽密度可显著提高华抗草78对供试杂草的抑制率.     

Allelopathic effect of actinobacterial isolates against selected weeds

The taxonomic characteristics of weeds such as morphology of shoot, leaves, flowers, stem, fruits and seeds were recorded as Gynandropsis pentaphylla, DC, Amarantus spinosus Linn, Cyperus rotundus, Amarantus viridis Linn, Cassia occidentalis, Linn and Echinochilora orygicola. Totally 20 actinobacteria isolates were screened for herbicidal activity against the weed. Among the 20 isolates, only four actinobacterial isolates KA1-3, KA1-4, KA1-7 and KA23A showed significant herbicidal activity against C. rotundus. The herbicidal effect of actinobacterial culture filtrates on germination and seedling growth of C. rotundus was tested. The shoot and root growth of C. rotundus was severely affected when compared to control. The potent actinobacterial isolates KA1-4 and KA1-7 were characterised based on their morphological and molecular phylogenetic property and were identified as Streptomyces sp. The present study concludes that actinobacterial isolates will be used as bioherbicide against C. rotundus. Further studies are required to confirm the activity of actinobacterial isolates against C. rotundus under field conditions.     

稻鸭共作及其它控草措施对稻田杂草群落的影响

运用群落生态学方法研究了稻鸭共作、人工除草、化学除草3种控草措施对稻田杂草群落特征的影响及其对田间杂草的控制作用.结果表明,稻鸭共作显著降低了田间杂草的发生密度,对稻田主要杂草鸭舌草(Monochoriavaginalis)、异型莎草(Cyperusdifformis)、矮慈姑(Sagittariapygmaea)的防效均达到95%以上,总体控草效果显著优于化学除草和人工除草.稻鸭共作使稻田杂草群落的物种丰富度及Shannon-Wiener多样性指数略有降低,但Pielou均匀度指数显著提高,表明群落物种组成有了很大的改变,降低了原来优势杂草的发生危害.在不同控草措施作用下,稻田杂草群落的结构组成也发生了一定的变化,稻鸭共作区群落组成为陌上菜(Linderniaprocumbens)+异型莎草+水虱草(Fimbristylismiliacea),Whittaker群落指数显著高于化学除草、人工除草及对照区,表明稻鸭共作对田间杂草群落结构影响较大.从Sorensen群落相似性指数及以其为距离测度指标的聚类分析结果中也可得到同样的结论.     

Variability in Indian isolates of Sclerotium rolfsii

Variability among 26 isolates of Sclerotium rolfsii collected from various hosts/soil samples and localities in India is reported. The isolates varied in colony morphology, mycelial growth rate, sclerotium formation, teleomorph production and sclerotial size and color. Out of 26 isolates, only 4 produced the teleomorph stage on Cyperus rotundus rhizome meal agar medium. Mycelial incompatibility among the isolates was also seen, and out of 325 combinations, only 29 combinations (8.9%) showed compatible reactions. Based on mycelial compatibility, 13 vegetative incompatibility groups (VCG) were identified among the isolates. HPLC analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction of culture filtrates of the isolates revealed 10-22 peaks. Six peaks were identified as gallic, oxalic, ferulic, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), chlorogenic, and cinnamic acids. Oxalic, IAA, and cinnamic acids were present in the culture filtrates of all the isolates in varying amounts. The other three phenolic acids were not detected in some of the isolates. A comparative HPLC analysis of sclerotial exudate, sclerotia, mycelia, and culture filtrates of two S. rolfsii isolates (leaf spot- and collar rot-causing) producing different symptoms on their respective hosts revealed variation in the content of phenolic acids, IAA, and oxalic acid.     

Antifungal activity of the alkaloids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eschscholtzia californica</Emphasis>

The isoquinoline alkaloids hunnemanine and norsanguinarine have been isolated from methanolic extract of the whole plant of Eschscholtzia californica. These two alkaloids were checked for their antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi Alternaria melongenae, A. brassicola, A. brassicae, Curvularia lunata, C. maculans, Helminthosporium pennisetti, H. oryzae, H. turcicum, Fusarium undum and F. lini. Hunnemanine exhibited 100 % inhibition of spore germination of A. brassicae, H. pennisetti and F. lini at 1000 ppm whereas norsanguinarine exhibited 100 % inhibition of A. brassicicola and C. maculans at this concentration.     

金华地区秋旱作物田杂草生态相似关系研究

对浙江金华地区秋旱作物田１７个样点的杂草优势度等级进行了七级目测调查,计测了２２种主要杂草的生态位宽度和生态位重叠值,作出了反映它们间生态学相似程度的最小生成树。结果表明,马唐Ｄｉｇｉｔａｒｉａ ｓａｎｇｕｉｎａｌｉｓ、狗尾草Ｓｔｅａｒｉａ ｖｉｒｉｄｉｓ、千金子Ｌｅｐｔｏｃｈｌｏａ ｃｈｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ、碎花莎草Ｃｙｐｅｒｕｓ ｉｒｉａ、牛筋草Ｅｌｅｕｓｉｎｅ ｉｎｄｉｃａ、石胡荽Ｃｅｎｔｉｐｅｄ     

应用主成分分析法和最小生成树法研究浙中秋旱作物田杂草种间生态关系

研究意义浙江金华地处浙江中部,旱地面积有５．０９×１０４ｈａ,占耕地总面积的１８％以上,棉花、大豆、甘薯等秋旱作物是该地区重要的经济作物,几年来,由于农村劳动力转移,中耕除草减少,草害问题日趋严重。化学除草是解决旱田草害的有效方法。但是,除草剂的长期...     

Fusarium Species Isolated from Common Weeds in Eggplant Fields and Symptomless Hosts of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae in Turkey

Thirteen species of weed plants were collected between May and September in 2010 and 2011 from eggplant fields representing 11 distinct locations covering a wide geographical area of Turkey. Weeds are potential hosts of many plant pathogens and may not exhibit disease symptoms when colonized. Fusarium spp. were isolated from five monocotyledonous species and eight dicotyledonous species. A total of 212 isolates recovered from weeds were assigned to eight Fusarium species on the basis of morphological characteristics. F. oxysporum was the most frequently isolated species (29.7%), followed by F. solani (19.8%), F. graminearum (13.7%), F. verticillioides (12.7%), F.equiseti (9.9%), F. avenacearum (8.0%), F. proliferatum (3.8%) and F. subglutinans (2.4%). The F. oxysporum isolates from different weed hosts were characterized by means of pathogenicity and vegetative compatibility grouping (VCG) tests. Among these, 29 isolates were found to be pathogenic to eggplant cv. Kemer and re‐isolated as Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. f. sp. melongenae (Fomg) as evidenced. These isolates from weed hosts were assigned to VCG 0320. This study is the first report of Fomg isolated from weeds in eggplant fields in Turkey. None of the weed species tested showed symptoms of wilting in pot experiments, and F. oxysporum was isolated with greater frequency from all inoculated weeds. The results of this study indicate that several weed plants may serve as alternative sources of inoculum for Fomg, during the growing season.     

Weed species within cereal crop rotations can serve as alternative hosts for Fusarium graminearum causing Fusarium head blight of wheat

Fusarium graminearum is the main causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB) of small grain cereals, but the importance of weeds in the FHB disease cycle and the establishment of F. graminearum in agroecosystems are still not fully understood. The objective of this study was to determine the potential role of weeds present within cereal crop rotations as alternative hosts. F. graminearum was isolated from different organs of asymptomatic weeds sampled from six fields with cereal-crop rotations in Lithuania for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). The fungi were identified using morphological and molecular methods. Out of 57 weed species that were investigated, 41 (71.9%) harboured F. graminearum isolates. Twenty five weed species were identified as new, previously undocumented, hosts. The majority (73.3%) of the isolates of F. graminearum from this study belonged to the 15ADON genotype while a smaller proportion (23.4%) belonged to the 3ADON genotype. All F. graminearum isolates that were assessed induced FHB symptoms on artificially inoculated spring wheat tested in the field.     

Plasmid and pathogenicity in Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae, the bacterial blight pathogen of Oryza sativa

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae , the causative agent for bacterial leaf blight of rice, comprises diverse groups of strains differing in biochemical and pathological characteristics. A collection of X.o . pv. oryzae strains differing in geographical origin was screened for the presence of plasmids. Out of 17 isolates of X.o. pv. oryzae , 14 harboured plasmids of which two isolates (XoP5, XoC26) had two plasmids each and one isolate (XoR20) had three. The remaining isolates contained a single plasmid of identical mobility. Finger print analysis of plasmids was carried out using Eco RI for 10 isolates. The restriction fragment pattern was distinct for each isolate. They were classified under three groups based on cluster analysis using the unweighted pair group method with averages (UPGMA). Of the 18 plasmids, the plasmid pMA36 ( X.o. pv. oryzae XoC36) was further characterized. This plasmid was cured by acridine orange at the frequency rate of 10%. The cured strain was transformed with pMA36 at a frequency of 2.3 times 10² transformants μg^-1 of plasmid DNA. The plasmid-cured strain was virulent on rice but symptom development was delayed when compared to wild and transformed strains. The wild type strain ( X.o. pv. oryzae XoC36) was resistant to ampicillin, carbenicillin and rifampicin whereas the cured strain was resistant to carbenicillin and rifampicin but sensitive to ampicillin. The transformant was resistant to the three antibiotics indicating that the plasmid pMA36 codes for ampicillin resistance. The plasmid influenced the pathogenicity of X.o. pv. oryzae.     

Molecular systematics of citrus-associated Alternaria species

The causal agents of Alternaria brown spot of tangerines and tangerine hybrids, Alternaria leaf spot of rough lemon and Alternaria black rot of citrus historically have been referred to as Alternaria citri or A. alternata. Ten species of Alternaria recently were described among a set of isolates from leaf lesions on rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri) and tangelo (C. paradisi × C. reticulata), and none of these isolates was considered representative of A. alternata or A. citri. To test the hypothesis that these newly described morphological species are congruent with phylogenetic species, selected Alternaria brown spot and leaf spot isolates, citrus black rot isolates (post-harvest pathogens), isolates associated with healthy citrus tissue and reference species of Alternaria from noncitrus hosts were scored for sequence variation at five genomic regions and used to estimate phylogenies. These data included 432 bp from the 5' end of the mitochondrial ribosomal large subunit (mtLSU), 365 bp from the 5' end of the beta-tubulin gene, 464 bp of an endopolygalacturonase gene (endoPG) and 559 and 571 bp, respectively, of two anonymous genomic regions (OPA1-3 and OPA2-1). The mtLSU and beta-tubulin phylogenies clearly differentiated A. limicola, a large-spored species causing leaf spot of Mexican lime, from the small-spored isolates associated with citrus but were insufficiently variable to resolve evolutionary relationships among the small-spored isolates from citrus and other hosts. Sequence analysis of translation elongation factor alpha, calmodulin, actin, chitin synthase and 1, 3, 8-trihydroxynaphthalene reductase genes similarly failed to uncover significant variation among the small-spored isolates. Phylogenies estimated independently from endoPG, OPA1-3 and OPA2-1 data were congruent, and analysis of the combined data from these regions revealed nine clades, eight of which contained small-spored, citrus-associated isolates. Lineages inferred from analysis of the combined dataset were in general agreement with described morphospecies, however, three clades contained more than one morphological species and one morphospecies (A. citrimacularis) was polyphyletic. Citrus black rot isolates also were found to be members of more than a single lineage. The number of morphospecies associated with citrus exceeded that which could be supported under a phylogenetic species concept, and isolates in only five of nine phylogenetic lineages consistently were correlated with a specific host, disease or ecological niche on citrus. We advocate collapsing all small-spored, citrus-associated isolates of Alternaria into a single phylogenetic species, A. alternata.     

Diversity in Pathogenicity to Tobacco and in Elicitin Production among Isolates of Phytophthora parasitica

The pathogenicity to tobacco of a large set of Phytophthora parasitica isolates has been assessed using several procedures: root inoculation of young plants, leaf inoculation on detached disks and stem inoculation of decapitated plants, with or without healing. Analysing various aspects of the plantpathogen interaction with this array of tests led to the discrimination between three groups of isolates. In the isolates from hosts other than tobacco, none was truly pathogenic to tobacco, and all but one produced parasiticein, a proteinaceous elicitor of the elicitin family which induces a hypersensitive-like response in tobacco. Isolates producing parasiticein in vitro induced necrotic fleks on the leaves upon inoculation of roots orof, freshly wounded stems. Most tobacco isolates, including all the highly virulent ones, were characterized by a lack of elicitin production. However, those collected in Australia and Zimbabwe differed in that they exhibited reduced virulence, induced leaf, necrotic flecks and produced parasiticein. The incidence of elicitin production on virulence and the significance of two types of tobacco-pathogenic strains for tobacco pathology are discussed.     

Bioactivities of the leaf essential oil of Curcuma longa (var. ch-66) on three species of stored-product beetles (Coleoptera)

Essential oil extracted from the leaves of turmeric, Curcuma longa L., was investigated for contact and fumigant toxicity and its effect on progeny production in three stored-product beetles, Rhyzopertha dominica F. (lesser grain borer), Sitophilus oryzae L. (rice weevil), and Tribolium castaneum Herbst (red flour beetle). Oviposition-deterrent and ovicidal actions of C. longa leaf oil were also evaluated against T. castaneum. The oil was insecticidal in both contact and fumigant toxicity assays. The adults of R. dominica were highly susceptible to contact action of C. longa leaf oil, with LD50 value of 36.71 microg/mg weight of insect, whereas in the fumigant assay, adults of S. oryzae were highly susceptible with LC50 value of 11.36 mg/liter air. Further, in T. castaneum, the C. longa oil reduced oviposition and egg hatching by 72 and 80%, respectively at the concentration of 5.2 mg/cm2. At the concentration of 40.5 mg/g food, the oil totally suppressed progeny production of all the three test insects. Nutritional indices indicate >81% antifeedant action of the oil against R. dominica, S. oryzae and T castaneum at the highest concentration tested.     

A multilocus gene genealogy concordant with host preference indicates segregation of a new species, Magnaporthe oryzae, from M. grisea

Magnaporthe oryzae is described as a new species distinct from M. grisea. Gene trees were inferred for Magnaporthe species using portions of three genes: actin, beta-tubulin, and calmodulin. These gene trees were found to be concordant and distinguished two distinct clades within M. grisea. One clade is associated with the grass genus Digitaria and is therefore nomenclaturally tied to M. grisea. The other clade is associated with Oryza sativa and other cultivated grasses and is described as a new species, M. oryzae. While no morphological characters as yet distinguish them, M. oryzae is distinguished from M. grisea by several base substitutions in each of three loci as well as results from laboratory matings; M.oryzae and M. grisea are not interfertile. Given that M. oryzae is the scientifically correct name for isolates associated with rice blast and grey leaf spot, continued use of M. grisea for such isolates would require formal nomenclatural conservation.     

A non-specific aminopeptidase from Aspergillus

A fermentation broth supernatant of the Aspergillus oryzae strain ATCC20386 contains aminopeptidase activity that releases a wide variety of amino acids from natural peptides. The supernatant was fractionated by anion exchange chromatography. Based on the primary amino acid sequence data obtained from proteins in certain fractions, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were made and a PCR product was generated. This PCR product was used to screen an A. oryzae cDNA library from which the full length gene was then obtained. Fusarium venenatum and A. oryzae were used as hosts for gene expression. Transformed strains of both F. venenatum and A. oryzae over-expressed an active aminopeptidase (E.C. 3.4.11), named aminopeptidase II. The recombinant enzyme from both fungal hosts appeared as smears on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. After deglycosylation of the N-linked sugars, both samples were a sharp band at approximately 56 kDa and had identical N-terminal amino acid sequences. Aminopeptidase II is a metalloenzyme with, presumably, Zn in the active site. Using various natural peptides and para-nitroanilides (pNAs) of amino acids as substrates, the aminopeptidase was found to be non-specific. Only X-Pro bonds demonstrated resistance to hydrolysis catalyzed by this aminopeptidase. The optimal enzyme activity was observed at pH 9.5 and 55 degrees C. Among amino acid pNAs, Leu-pNA appears to have the highest value of bimolecular constant of 40 min(-1) mM(-1) (k(cat) = 230 min(-1); K(m) = 5.8 mM) at pH 7.5 and 21 degrees C. Among Xaa-Ala-Pro-Tyr-Lys-amide pentapeptides, the velocity of catalytic hydrolysis at pH 7.5 and 21 degrees C was in a decreasing order: Pro, Ala, Leu, Gly and Glu.     

Leaf stage-associated resistance is correlated with phytohormones in a pathosystem-dependen manner

It has been reported in several pathosystems that disease resistance can vary in leaves at different stages. However, how general this leaf stage-associated resistance is, and the molecular mechanism(s) underlying it, remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of leaf stage on basal resistance, effectortriggered immunity(ETI) and nonhost resistance, using eight pathosystems involving the hosts Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum, and N. benthamiana and the pathogens Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci, P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000, and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae(Xoo). We show evidence that leaf stage-associated resistance exists ubiquitously in plants, but with varying intensity at different stages in diverse pathosystems. Microarray expression profiling assays demonstrated that hundreds of genes involved in defense responses, phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling, and calcium signaling, were differentially expressed between leaves at different stages. The Arabidopsis mutants sid1, sid2-3, ein2, jar1-1, aba1 and aao3 lost leaf stage-associated resistance to S. sclerotiorum, and the mutants aba1 and sid2-3 were affected in leaf stage-associated RPS2/Avr Rpt2t-conferred ETI, whereas only the mutant sid2-3 influenced leaf stage-associated nonhost resistance to Xoo. Our results reveal that the phytohormones salicylic acid,ethylene, jasmonic acid and abscisic acid likely play an essential, but pathosystem-dependent, role in leaf stageassociated resistance.