A plant‐traits approach to assessing the success of alien weed species in irrigated Mediterranean orchards

In addition to their impact on natural habitats, invasive alien plants can have a significant negative effect on agricultural systems and cause economic losses. Flood‐irrigated orchards in the Mediterranean Basin are vulnerable to the invasion of alien weeds, primarily because of the traditional management practices used in the orchards, which are characterized by high soil moisture during the dry summer period, nutrient availability and high levels of disturbance. This study sought to determine whether their biological traits can explain the success of alien weed species. To answer this question, 408 floristic relevés were conducted in 136 flood‐irrigated orchards on the Plains of Lleida (Catalonia, NE of Spain). Richness and cover of native and alien weeds were compared. Furthermore, a set of biological traits were compared between successful and non‐successful weeds for the whole data and separately between native and alien weeds using logistic regression and classification trees. In flood‐irrigated orchards, alien species covered most of their area, even though the richness of alien species was lower than that of the native species. The most important species were C4 species with seeds dispersed by water, and on the other hand, rosulate and caespitose‐reptant hemicryptophytes with long flowering period. Most of these traits fitted with those of the invasive alien weeds, which were mostly C4 species with seeds dispersed by water. Perennial life form characterized successful native weeds. In this study, we discuss how the traditional management of flood irrigation in fruit‐tree orchards favours invasive alien weeds that have specific traits, acting as a reservoir for the spread of alien weeds into other crops and surrounding riparian habitats. We also propose changing management practices in order to avoid the selection of alien weeds and to promote native species.     

转cry1Ac＋cry2Ab基因棉与转cry1Ac＋剧咯邢基因棉荒地的生存竞争能力

【背景】此研究为“十二五”转基因生物新品种培育国家项目中创建新的转基因棉花品种环境安全评价技术而设。【方法】以转双价双成抗虫基因（cry1Ac＋cry2Ab）棉和转双价抗虫、抗除草剂基因（cry1Ac＋肼强阳）棉为观察品种,非转基因棉赣棉11号为对照品种,在荒地用撒播和3cm深度播种2种方式,于2011年5月一2012年3月对棉花出苗率、株高、生育进程、棉吐絮瓣数、絮瓣脱落率、自生苗等生存竞争能力进行比较,检测、评价其杂草化的风险,并探讨、验证检测技术的可行性。【结果】在荒地条件下,以2种方式播种的转cry1Ac＋cry2Ab基因棉和转cry1Ac＋EP5P5基因棉与非转基因棉相比,上述各项指标的竞争能力总体上未表现显著优势。【结论与意义】转cry1Ac＋cry2Ab基因棉和转cry1Ac＋EPSPS基因棉在荒地条件下生长无杂草化风险。同时,研究证明,在荒地自然生态条件下,可以采用撒播和3cm深度播种方法检测新的转基因棉花品种在生存竞争能力上的杂草化风险,在测评上有互为参照效应,为定性评价新的转基因棉花品种的杂草化风险提供了保障。     

The evolution of self-fertility inCrepis tectorum (Asteraceae)

The extent of self-fertility was examined in 16 populations ofCrepis tectorum. A hypothesis that a weedy habit favours autogamy was only partly supported. Low levels of self-fertility characterized non-weedy populations from calcareous grasslands (alvars) on the Baltic island in Öland. By contrast, plants in nearly all weed populations studied were more or less self-fertile. However, the trend towards autogamy may have occurred independently of the trend towards a weedy habit, as shown by moderately to high levels of self-fertility in alvar populations from two other Baltic islands. In the weed group, there was a tendency for plants from two field populations to be more autogamous than plants from more ruderal habitats. There was an association between self-fertility and small, inconspicious heads in the alvar group but the association was weaker when weed populations were also considered. The relatively wide heads characterizing the ruderal weed populations may, at least partly, be an indirect effect of increases in overall plant size and/or in the size of the fruit associated with each flower.     

Comparative floral development in male and female plants of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri)

Premise

Characterizing the developmental processes in the transition from hermaphroditism to unisexuality is crucial for understanding floral evolution. Amaranthus palmeri, one of the most devastating weeds in the United States, is an emerging model system for studying a dioecious breeding system and understanding the biological traits of this invasive weed. The objectives of this study were to characterize phases of flower development in A. palmeri and compare organogenesis of flower development in female and male plants.

Methods

Flower buds from male and female plants were dissected for light microscopy. Segments of male and female inflorescences at different stages of development were cut longitudinally and visualized using scanning electron microscopy.

Results

Pistillate flowers have two to three styles, one ovary with one ovule, and five obtuse tepals. Staminate flowers have five stamens with five acute tepals. Floral development was classified into 10 stages. The distinction between the two flower types became apparent at stage four by the formation of stamen primordia in staminate flowers, which developed female and male reproductive organs initially, as contrasted to pistillate flowers, which produced carpel primordia only. In staminate flowers, the putative carpel primordia changed little in size and remained undeveloped.

Conclusions

Timing of inappropriate organ termination varies across the two sexes in A. palmeri. Our study suggests that the evolution of A. palmeri from a cosexual ancestral state to complete dioecy is still in progress since males exhibited transient hermaphroditism and females produced strictly pistillate flowers.     

转基因（Bn-csRRM2）高产棉花的荒地生存竞争能力

【背景】转基因作物在商业化种植之前,必须评价其环境安全性。其中,荒地生存竞争能力是转基因作物环境安全性评价的重要内容之一。【方法】以转基因（Bn-csRRM2）高产棉为观察品种,受体材料中棉所12及转基因（Bt+CpTI）抗虫棉中棉所79为对照品种,分别于2013年4月底和5月底在荒地用地表撒播和3 cm深播2种方式播种,并于5～9月份对棉花存活率、株高、茎直径、果枝数、蕾铃数等生长参数进行比较,检测、评价其荒地竞争能力及杂草化风险。【结果】无论是撒播还是深播,荒地中棉花长势均较弱,表现为生长缓慢、植株矮小、生育期延迟。4月底播种的棉花至9月底未见棉铃;5月底播种的棉花有个别植株能够结铃,但铃数少且小,无吐絮铃。【结论与意义】转基因高产棉在荒地中无竞争优势,不能繁殖传代,无杂草化风险。本研究为转基因棉花环境安全评价技术的完善提供了理论依据。     

The attractiveness of flowering herbaceous plants to bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) and hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in agro‐ecosystems of Central Spain

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Effects of Species Richness on Resident and Target Species Components in a Prairie Restoration

The ecological role of biodiversity in achieving successful restoration has been little explored in restoration ecology. We tested the prediction that we are more likely to create persistent, species‐rich plant communities by increasing the number of species sown, and, to some degree, by varying functional group representation, in experimental prairie plantings. There were 12 treatments consisting of 1‐, 2‐, 3‐, 4‐, 8‐, 12‐, and 16‐species mixtures of native perennials representing four functional groups (C₄ grasses, C₃ grasses, nitrogen‐fixing species, and late‐flowering composites) that predominate within Central Plains tallgrass prairies. In 2000, species were seeded into square plots (6 × 6 m), with five replicates per treatment, on former agricultural land. Annually, we measured total species richness and evenness, target species richness and cover, and richness and cover of resident species (i.e., those emerging from the seed bank). Both target species richness and rate of establishment of target communities were highest in the most species‐rich mixtures, but there was no additional benefit for treatments that contained more than eight species. Richness of resident species did not vary with target species richness; however, cover by resident species was lower in the higher target species treatments. Our results, indicating that establishment of species‐rich prairie mimics can be enhanced by starting with larger numbers of species at the outset, have implications for grassland restoration in which community biodiversity creation and maintenance are key goals.     

转基因抗草甘膦抗虫棉的荒地生存竞争能力

【背景】随着转基因作物的大量种植,其环境安全性已成为目前的研究热点,其中转基因作物的荒地生存竞争能力,是其环境安全性评价的重要内容之一。【方法】以2种转双价抗草甘膦抗虫基因（EPSPS＋crylAc）棉为试验品种,非转基因棉中棉所49为对照品种,分别于4月底和5月底在荒地用地表撒播和3cm深播2种方式播种,并于4～9月份对棉花存活率、株高、真叶数、茎直径、果枝数、蕾铃数等生长参数进行比较,以检测、评价其荒地竞争能力及杂草化风险。【结果】无论是撒播还是深播,荒地中棉花长势均较弱,表现为生长缓慢、植株矮小、生育期延迟。4月底播种的棉花有极个别植株能够结铃,但铃数极少且小,无成熟的种子;5月底播种的棉花长势更弱,至9月底未见蕾铃。【结论与意义】转基因抗草甘膦抗虫棉在荒地中无竞争优势,不能繁殖传代,无杂草化风险。本研究为转基因棉花环境安全评价技术的完善提供了理论依据。