Search Results (157)

This study aimed to evaluate the forage yield, quality, and weed suppression potential of narbon vetch (Vicia narbonensis L.) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) grown as sole crops and in mixtures under organic farming conditions in Bilecik, Turkey, during the 2020–2021 growing season. The experiment included 15 treatments comprising monocultures and mixed sowing at different ratios. Measurements included morphological traits, forage yield components (green herbage, hay, and crude protein), fiber content, botanical composition, and weed biomass. The results reveal significant differences among treatments in terms of growth parameters and forage performance. Monocultures of IFVN 567 and Bartigra showed the highest green and hay yields, while mixtures such as IFVN 567 + Trinova and IFVN 567 + Bartigra outperformed in terms of land equivalent ratio (LER) and protein yield, demonstrating a clear advantage in land use efficiency. Furthermore, these mixtures showed superior weed suppression compared to monocultures. Overall, the findings suggest that carefully selected vetch–ryegrass combinations can enhance forage productivity, nutritional quality, and weed management under organic systems. Full article

Weed suppression is a crucial factor in sustainable agriculture, and optimizing plant mixtures can enhance weed control efficiency. This study evaluates the effects of different mixture ratios of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) on forage yield, biomass production, dry matter production, and weed suppression in organic forage cropping systems. Field experiments were conducted during the 2021–2022 growing season at two locations in Turkey: Ankara/Yenikent and Manisa/Beydere, using 11 mixture ratios ranging from 100% vetch to 100% ryegrass. Results showed that ryegrass-dominant mixtures, particularly 10% vetch/90% ryegrass and 30% vetch/70% ryegrass, achieved the highest forage and dry matter yields while maintaining effective weed suppression. Pure ryegrass systems (100% ryegrass) exhibited the highest overall productivity, whereas pure vetch (100% vetch) treatments were less effective in weed control and biomass production. Environmental differences between locations significantly influenced the performance of mixtures, with Manisa/Beydere yielding higher overall results. This study highlights the potential of optimizing vetch–ryegrass mixtures to balance forage yield, weed suppression, and adaptability in organic cropping systems, offering practical insights for sustainable forage production. Ryegrass-dominated mixtures (30% V 70% RG, 60% V 40% RG) have been shown to provide high yields, effective weed suppression, and better nutritional benefits than vetch. Full article

This study investigates the diversity and distribution of root endophyte fungi and bacteria across Festuca and Lolium grasses, including open-grassland and forest species. The species examined include perennials such as Festuca arundinacea, F. gigantea, F. pratensis, Lolium perenne, and L. perenne × F. gigantea hybrids and the annuals L. temulentum and L. multiflorum. A total of 21 fungal species (60 isolates) and 26 bacterial taxa (59 isolates) were recovered in the culture (PDA medium for fungi and LB for bacteria) from the root cuttings of these grasses. Microdochium bolleyi fungi and Bacillus sp. bacteria were the most prevalent endophytes, with each being identified in five of the seven plant species examined. The annuals L. multiflorum and L. temulentum exhibited a higher abundance of endophytes than that in their perennial relatives, suggesting the benefits of microbial associations in supporting their short life cycles. The woodland F. gigantea demonstrated the highest fungal endophyte diversity, with six species identified. In contrast, the open-grassland perennials F. arundinacea, F. pratensis, and L. perenne hosted only one to two species. Two Basidiomycota, Coprinellus disseminatus and Sistotrema brinkmannii, were exclusively obtained from the roots of the forest grass F. gigantea. Notably, the open-grassland perennial F. arundinacea exhibited the highest bacterial diversity, with nine species present. However, it showed the lowest fungal diversity, with only one species detected. Overall, our study reveals distinct patterns of fungal and bacterial endophyte diversity in the roots of Festuca and Lolium grasses, with variations linked to host species, growth type traits, and ecological adaptations. Among the root-derived endophytes isolated, several fungi and bacteria are potential candidates for plant growth promotion and biocontrol. Therefore, the findings of this study provide potential implications for improved grassland management and crop breeding strategies aimed at specific climate and/or soil conditions. Full article

In Europe, food and agricultural waste amount to millions of tonnes annually. Effective management and valorisation of these residues result in environmental benefits and foster opportunities within the circular economy. Composting has emerged as a sustainable method to convert waste into fertiliser, enhancing soil fertility, water retention, and crop resilience against diseases. However, an adequate compost production process is vital to obtain a functional fertiliser. In this study, a controlled conditions self-produced compost from horticultural waste (C1) was compared against two other commercial composts, one of similar vegetable origin (C2) and another from chicken manure (C3). Physicochemical parameters and nutrient contents in the three compost types were analysed, and phytotoxicity and plant development tests were carried out on Lolium multiflorum Lam. seeds and Pistacia lentiscus L. seedlings. C1 presented fertility and germination parameters similar to C3 and showed the best seedling development. In contrast, C2 showed low levels of fertility, germination, and plant development because of impurities and possible substances inhibiting plant growth, suggesting inadequate compost formation processes. Finally, C3, although it presented germination data similar to C1, produced the worst results in the development of seedlings, probably because of high salinity values and low phosphorus content. Full article

The current Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) foresees a reduction of 50% in the use of herbicides by 2030. This study investigates the potential of integrating remote sensing with a low-cost RGB sensor and variable-rate technology (VRT) to optimize herbicide application in a ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) fodder crop. The trial was conducted on three 7.5-hectare plots, comparing a variable-rate application (VRA) of herbicide guided by a prescription map generated from segmented digital images, with a fixed-rate application (FRA) and a control (no herbicide applied). The weed population and crop biomass were assessed to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed method. Results revealed that the VRA method reduced herbicide usage by 30% (0.22 l ha⁻¹) compared to the FRA method, while maintaining comparable crop production. These findings demonstrate that smart weed management techniques can contribute to the CAP’s sustainability goals by reducing chemical inputs and promoting efficient crop production. Future research will focus on improving weed recognition accuracy and expanding this methodology to other cropping systems. Full article

Shrub encroachment is a global ecological issue. The changes in growth dynamics between shrub seedlings and herbs are pivotal in determining shrub encroachment, yet their response to varying rainfall regimes remains unclear. We conducted a precipitation manipulation experiment (three precipitation (P) amount treatments: P−25% (225 mm), P (300 mm), P+25% (375 mm); three drought interval treatments: DI4, DI6, DI8) on a mixture of Caragana microphylla (shrub) seedlings and four herbs (Neotrinia splendens, Campeiostachys dahurica, Lolium multiflorum and Medicago sativa), analyzing their ecophysiological and growth responses. The results showed the following: (1) Under P−25%, herb growth was inhibited, while shrub seedlings thrived. Compared to P, C. microphylla significantly increased by 138% in aboveground biomass (AGB), while herb AGB decreased by 10%. (2) Under P+25%, herbs exhibited superior growth to shrub seedlings. Compared to P, four herbs significantly increased by 53% in AGB, while C. microphylla growth did not significantly respond. (3) Under DI8, shrub seedlings exhibited superior growth compared to herbs. Compared to DI4, C. microphylla significantly increased by 90% in AGB, while herb growth did not significantly respond. Our results indicate that drier conditions suppressed herb growth while promoting shrubs. However, increased precipitation amounts stimulated herb growth but not shrubs. These results could explain the process of shrub encroachment and provide a theoretical basis for predicting the pattern of shrub expansion under future rainfall regimes. Full article

Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum, IRG) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L., PRG) are widely cultivated as forage grasses in Korea using heterogeneous and polycross techniques, which promote genetic diversity within varieties. However, their genetic diversity patterns in Korea remain underexplored. This study evaluated the genetic diversity of IRG (eight varieties, including one exotic) and PRG (two exotic varieties) using 66 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Across 87 samples (nine IRG and two PRG varieties), 655 alleles were identified, averaging 9.9 per locus. Key genetic parameters included heterozygosity (0.399), observed heterozygosity (0.675), fixation index (0.4344), and polymorphic informative content (0.6428). The lowest within-variety genetic distance was observed in ‘Hwasan 104ho’ (0.469), while ‘IR901’ had the highest (0.571). Between varieties, the closest genetic distance was between ‘Greencall’ and ‘Greencall 2ho’ (0.542), and the furthest was between ‘Kowinmaster’ and ‘Aspire’ (0.692). Molecular variance analysis showed 90% variation within varieties and 10% among varieties. Five clusters (I–V) were identified, with cluster I primarily including diploid IRG varieties and the tetraploid ‘Hwasan 104ho.’ Structural analysis differentiated diploid from tetraploid varieties (K = 2) and further separated tetraploid IRG and PRG (K = 3). Principal component analysis confirmed these groupings, with ‘Greencall’ and ‘Greencall 2ho’ exhibiting the closest genetic distance (0.227) and ‘Greencall’ and ‘Aspire’ the furthest (0.384). These findings provide a foundational resource for marker-assisted breeding to improve agronomic traits and enhance the efficiency of ryegrass breeding programs. Full article

Numerous studies have shown the potential effect of bioactive agents against weeds. In this study, we developed two binary formulations with nonanoic acid, citral, or thymoquinone as herbicides and evaluated their physicochemical properties. The presence of the bioactive compounds in the formulations was confirmed through FTIR spectroscopy. A dynamic light scattering study was conducted to characterize the emulsified formulations and the size and distribution of the aggregates. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis was performed to ensure the thermal stability of the formulations. The herbicidal activity against Amaranthus hybridus, Lolium multiflorum, and Brassica rapa weeds was evaluated, and each species showed different levels of sensitivity with half maximal inhibitory concentration doses from 0.07 to 5 mM. The binary formulations negatively affected the photosynthetic system reducing Fv/Fm values at 5 days after treatment. Lastly, the phytotoxic effect of the formulations was tested on wheat germination, and they did not inhibit plant germination and seedling growth at ≤5 mM after 14 days of application. The development of new formulations with natural compounds as bioactive ingredients would allow control of a wide spectrum of weeds through a multitarget-site effect. Full article

Weeds cause a decrease in the quantity and quality of agricultural production and economic damage to producers. The prolonged use of synthetic pesticides causes problems of environmental pollution, the possible alteration of agricultural products and problems for human health. For this reason, the scientific community’s search for products of natural origin, which are biodegradable, safe for human health and can act as valid alternatives to traditional herbicides, is growing. Essential oils can have useful implications in agriculture by acting as effective alternatives to chemical herbicides. In this work, the chemical composition of an EO from Artemisia herba-alba and its herbicidal properties were studied on two weeds (Lolium multiflorum and Trifolium pratense) and two crops (Brassica napus and Hordeum vulgare) and its environmental safety was also assessed using three model organisms: Chaoborus sp., Tubifex tubifex and Eisenia foetida. The principal component of the EO was camphor (26.02%), with α- and β-thujone (9.60 and 8.38%, respectively), 1,8-cineole (8.02%), piperitenone (5.29%) and camphene (4.95%) as the main components. The EO demonstrated variable phytotoxic effects with a dose-dependent manner, inhibiting both the germination and the radical elongation of the tested seeds, and was also found to be environmentally safe for the selected organisms. The results lay the foundation for considering this EO as a potential weed control agent. Full article

Grassland ecosystems cover about 25% of the Earth’s surface, providing essential ecosystem services that benefit nature, people, and food security. This study evaluated agronomic and nutritional parameters of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) based on fertilization levels and cutting frequency in the Amazonas department. The INIA 910—Kumymarca variety was used with nitrogen fertilization rates (0, 60, 120, 180 kg/ha) and cutting intervals of 30 and 45 days for agronomic traits and 30, 45, and 60 days for nutritional traits. A randomized complete block design with eight treatments and three replications was applied. Repeated measures analysis and Tukey’s mean comparison tests (p < 0.005) were performed, along with Pearson correlation and response surface analysis using the central composite design in R. The results showed that applying 180 kg/ha of nitrogen with a 45-day cutting interval provided the highest dry matter yield (460 kg/m²) and superior agronomic traits, including plant height (96.73 cm), number of tillers, and stem diameter. Non-fertilized treatments had the highest crude protein content (17.45%) and digestibility, while higher nitrogen doses increased crude fiber and acid detergent fiber, reducing digestibility. Significant correlations were observed between fresh and dry weight with plant height (p = 0.000; r = 0.84), fiber contents (p = 0.000; r = 1), and ash and protein content (p = 0.000; r = 0.85). The optimal management practice was cutting every 45 days with 180 kg/ha of nitrogen (T8), maximizing forage yield and quality. Proper fertilization and cutting management can improve ryegrass production, benefiting livestock feeding and rural economies. Full article

Many endophytic fungi are approved as plant growth stimulants, and several commercial biostimulants have already been introduced in agricultural practice. However, there are still many species of fungi whose plant growth-promoting properties have been understudied or not studied at all. We examined the growth-promoting effect in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) induced by three endophytic fungi previously obtained from the roots of Festuca/Lolium grasses. Surface-sterilized seeds were inoculated with a spore suspension of Cadophora fastigiata (isolate BSG003), Paraphoma fimeti (BSG010), Plectosphaerella cucumerina (BSG006), and their spore mixture. Before harvesting, the inoculated plants were grown in a greenhouse, with the barley being in multi-cavity trays for 30 days and ryegrass being placed in an original cylindric element system for 63 days. All three newly tested fungi had a positive effect on the growth of the barley and ryegrass plants, with the most pronounced impact observed in their root size. The fungal inoculations increased the dry shoot biomass between 11% and 26% in Italian ryegrass, but no such impact was observed in barley. The highest root increment was observed in barley. Herein, P. cucumerina and C. fastigiata inoculations were superior to other treatments, showing an increase in root dry weight of 50% compared to 20%, respectively. All fungal inoculations significantly promoted root growth in Italian ryegrass, resulting in a 20–30% increase in dry weight compared to non-inoculated plants. Moreover, a strong stimulatory effect of the fungi-emitted VOCs on the root development was observed in plate-in-plate arrays. In the presence of C. fastigiata and P. cucumerina cultures, the number of roots and root hairs in barley seedlings doubled compared to control plants. Thus, in our study, we demonstrated the potential of the grass root-derived endophytes C. fastigiata, P. fimeti, and P. cucumerina as growth promoters for spring barley and Italian ryegrass. These studies can be extended to other major crops and grasses by evaluating different fungal isolates. Full article

Fragipans are dense subsurface soil layers that severely restrict root penetration and water movement. The presence of shallow fragipan horizons limits row crop production. We hypothesized that the roots of cover crop might improve soil physiochemical properties and biological activity, facilitating drainage and increasing effective soil depth for greater long-term soil water storage. To evaluate annual ryegrass as one component of a cover crop (CC) mix for promoting the characteristics and distribution of soil water, on-farm studies were conducted at Marion and Springerton in southern Illinois, USA. Soil samples were collected at 15 cm increments to 60 cm (Marion) and 90 cm (Springerton) depths during the fall of 2022. Both sites had low total soil carbon and nitrogen contents and acidic soil pH (≤6.4). A soil water retention curve was fitted using the van Genuchten equation. At Springerton, the CC treatment increased saturated (thetaS) and residual (thetaR) soil water contents above those of the no cover crop (NCC) at the 60–75 cm and 75–90 cm depths. Changes in volumetric soil water content were measured using a multi-depth soil water sensor for the Springerton site during late July to early August of the soybean growing phase of 2022; NCC had higher soil water than CC within the 0–15 cm depth, but CC had higher soil water than NCC at the 30–45 cm depth. These findings indicate that cover crop mix has the potential to improve soil water movement for soils with restrictive subsoil horizon, possibly through reducing the soil hydraulic gradient between the surface and restrictive subsurface soil layers. Full article

At present, there is growing consumer interest in Triticum spelta L., which has high nutritional value. This species is recommended for cultivation in organic farming. In this system of agriculture, biofertilizers are an alternative to mineral fertilization. Biofertilizers stimulate plant growth by providing nutrients through the biological fixation of molecular nitrogen from the air or by increasing the availability of insoluble nutrients in the soil and by synthesizing substances that stimulate plant growth. Green manure biomass and root secretions provide growth material for soil microorganisms, and microorganisms return nutrients to the soil and plants through nutrient decomposition and conversion. Considering the many benefits of using biofertilizers and growing cereals with cover crops for green manure in cereal rotations, field research was carried out on an organic farm to evaluate the soil microbes and the amount of biomass from green manures and their follow-up effect on Triticum spelta L. yields using biofertilizers. Two factors were researched: (I) biofertilizers: control object (no biofertilizer), Azotobacter chroococcum + Azospirillum lipoferum Br 17, Arthrobacter agilis + Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum, and combined application of atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria with phosphate solubilizing bacteria; (II) green manures: control object (no green manure application), Trifolium pratense L., Trifolium pratense L. + Lolium multiflorum L., and Lolium multiflorum L. The results show that the most favorable abundance of microorganisms determined in the soil after harvesting Hordeum vulgare L. was recorded after the application of biofertilizers containing atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria under a mixture of Trifolium pratense L. with Lolium multiflorum L. Plowing green manure from a mixture of Trifolium pratense L. with Lolium multiflorum L. resulted in an average increase of 39% in grain yield of Triticum spelta L., while the application of a biofertilizer containing Azotobacter chroococcum + Azospirillum lipoferum Br 17 + Arthrobacter agilis + Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum resulted in an average increase of 63%. The proposed spelt wheat cultivation technique can be recommended for agricultural practice due to the positive response of grain yield, but it may also be an important direction for further research to reduce the negative impact of agriculture on the environment. Full article

The spread of invasive pests exacerbates the direct damage to host plants and the potential threat to the environment. Silicon has the potential to enhance host plant resistance to insects while also increasing plant yield. This study evaluated changes in Italian ryegrass biological yield and resistance to fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) larvae after silicon supplementation (sodium silicate and potassium silicate at 6 mmol·L⁻¹ were denoted as groups T1 and T2, respectively). Silicon supplementation significantly increased the shoot biological yield (T1 by 30.26%, T2 by 23.05%) and silicon content (T1 by 22.61% and T2 by 12.43%) of Italian ryegrass. At the same time, silicon supplementation increased the protein, soluble sugar, and vitamin contents of Italian ryegrass, while also stimulating the improvement of its physical and chemical defenses. Therefore, even though the nutrient intake of fall armyworm increased, the synergistic physical-chemical defense formed by silica deposition, flavonoid content, and increased protease inhibitor activity in the Italian ryegrass still weakened the antioxidant capacity of the larvae and inhibited larval feeding and protein accumulation. The larval body weight of the T1 and T2 groups decreased by 20.32% and 15.16%, respectively. The comprehensive scores showed that sodium silicate and potassium silicate of the same concentration had similar effects on the growth and insect resistance of Italian ryegrass. These findings suggest that both sodium and potassium silicate are effective silicon supplements for host plants. Therefore, reasonable supplementation of silicon fertilizer may become an important alternative plan for optimizing the comprehensive pest control strategy in agricultural production areas in the future, but this still needs further field research verification. Full article

Chromosome numbers and morphology are important characteristics of a species and its evolution. Root tips are the most commonly used tissue as a source of actively dividing cells for chromosome visualization in plants. Previously, rapidly growing root tips were collected from germinating kernels or from seedlings growing in pots or fields. However, the use of adventitious roots (ARs) derived from aerial tissue as meristems for chromosome visualization has always been overlooked. Here, we successfully induced ARs in 12 materials that were investigated, with the exception of Sorghum nitidum. Using ARs meristem we obtained high-quality chromosome spreads for Morus alba, Broussonetia papyrifera, Lolium multiflorum, Sorghum sudanense, S. propinquum, S. bicolor × S. sudanense, Zea mays, Z. mexicana, Glycine max, Medicago sativa, and Brassica napus. The results reported here demonstrate that layering is an alternative and effective method for producing meristematic cells for high-quality chromosome preparation in plant species producing ARs. For species that produce ARs by layering, this protocol is particularly valuable for the development of cost-effective and high-throughput non-invasive cytogenetic studies. Full article