Search Results (63)

Weeds compete with crops for resources, posing multiple negative impacts for agricultural production systems and triggering degradation of ecosystem services (e.g., alterations in the soil microbial community structure). Under the guidance of green plant protection, the development of efficient biocontrol strains with environmentally friendly characteristics has become a crucial research direction for sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to develop a fungal bioherbicide by isolating and purifying a pathogenic fungal strain (JZ-5) from infected redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.). The strain exhibited pathogenicity rates ranging from 23.46% to 86.25% against six weed species, with the most pronounced control efficacy observed against henbit deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule L.), achieving a pathogenicity rate of 86.25%. Through comprehensive characterization of cultural features, morphological observations, and molecular biological identification, the strain was taxonomically classified as Fusarium oxysporum. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that seven days post-inoculation, F. oxysporum JZ-5 formed dense mycelial networks on the leaf surfaces of cluster mallow (Malva verticillata L.), causing severe tissue damage. Safety assessments demonstrated that the spore suspension (10⁴ spores/mL) had no adverse effects on three crops: hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare var. coeleste L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). These findings suggest that F. oxysporum strain JZ-5 warrants further investigation as a potential bioherbicide for controlling three problematic weed species—Chenopodium album L. (common lambsquarters), Elsholtzia densa Benth. (dense-flowered elsholtzia), and Lamium amplexicaule L. (henbit deadnettle)—in cultivated fields of hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare var. coeleste L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). This discovery provides valuable fungal resources for ecologically sustainable weed management strategies, contributing significantly to the advancement of sustainable agricultural practices. Full article

The control of A. tauschii is critical to ensuring food security. This study investigated a range of different aspects of the biology of A. tauschii, including its emergence characteristics, population development dynamics, and its impact on wheat yield. Moreover, the efficacy of different herbicides and cultural control measures for managing A. tauschii was explored. Through laboratory cultivation and statistical analysis of the emergence rate of A. tauschii, it was found that its emergence rate significantly increased when temperatures ranged from 10 °C to 20 °C and the environmental osmotic potential fell between −0.1 MPa and −0.5 MPa—conditions similar to those found in wheat fields. Additionally, by recording the emergence rates at different depths, A. tauschii emergence was found to occur optimally at a sowing depth of 1–5 cm, which aligns with the shallow rotary tillage currently employed in wheat production. The weed was also found to be tolerant to weakly acidic and alkaline environments, while also presenting with moderate salt tolerance. Through field experiments, it was found that, upon spreading to new areas, A. tauschii rapidly expanded its population size. While its impact on wheat yield was relatively mild during the early stages of growth, it escalated to severe outbreaks with the passage of time. Field experiments were conducted to test the efficacy of five herbicides on weed control. The analysis indicated that Mesosulfuron-methyl was the only effective herbicide in controlling A. tauschii. Adopting three two-year-three-crop rotation patterns reduced the density of A. tauschii from 186 stems/m² to 11–15 stems/m². Watering-induced emergence also proved effective. The most effective watering was performed 15 days before sowing. Deep plowing was another effective measure. The deeper the plowing, the lower the emergence of A. tauschii. Delayed sowing time resulted in the additional suppression of the emergence of A. tauschii. Full article

Rice–fish culture, an ancient agronomic practice, integrates aquaculture with rice farming, a sustainable solution for enhancing food security and agricultural productivity. The recent advancements and historical perspectives on rice–fish culture have increased its ecological, economic, and social impacts. The practice spans over 2000 years and has seen significant technological improvements, especially in regions like China, Thailand, and Bangladesh. Implementations of modernized rice–fish systems demonstrate increased rice yields, reduced pest and weed prevalence, improvements in soil quality, and higher profits for farmers. For example, in China, it was reported that a rice–fishing system produced 6000–7000 kg of rice and 1500–7500 kg of fish per hectare per year. Furthermore, the fish reduce herbivore insect abundance and weed abundance, effectively eliminating the need for pesticides. Despite its advantages, challenges such as water management, the availability of quality fish seed, and socio-economic barriers remain. By synthesizing findings from various studies, we will highlight the potential of rice–fish culture to contribute to sustainable agriculture and rural development, recommending strategies for optimizing its adoption and addressing existing constraints. Full article

Orobanche aegyptiaca is a holoparasitic weed that extracts water, nutrients, and growth regulators from host plants, leading to significant yield and quality losses. Biocontrol microbial metabolites have been shown to enhance plant resistance against parasitic plants, yet the underlying microbial mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of Alternaria alternata JTF001 (J1) microbial metabolites in recruiting beneficial microbes to the tomato rhizosphere and promoting the establishment of a disease-suppressive microbiome. Pot experiments revealed that J1 metabolite application significantly reduced O. aegyptiaca parasitism. High-throughput sequencing of full-length 16S rRNA genes and ITS regions, along with in vitro culture assays, demonstrated an increase in the abundance of plant-beneficial bacteria, particularly Pseudomonas spp. The three candidate beneficial strains (zOTU_388, zOTU_533, and zOTU_2335) showed an increase of 5.7-fold, 5.4-fold, and 4.7-fold, respectively. These results indicate that J1 metabolites induce the recruitment of a disease-suppressive microbiome in tomato seedlings, effectively inhibiting O. aegyptiaca parasitism. Our findings suggest that microbial metabolites represent a promising strategy for managing parasitic plant infestations through microbial community modulation, offering significant implications for sustainable agricultural practices. Full article

This study assessed the effectiveness of four competitive pasture species—Premier digit grass (Digitaria eriantha Steud. var. Premier), Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth.), sabi grass (Urochloa mosambicensis Hack.), and buffel grass (Pennisetum ciliare L.) against the toxic annual riceflower (Pimelea trichostachya Lindl.) at varying planting densities and ratios. At six plants pot⁻¹, with a 66:33 grass-to-weed ratio, riceflower biomass decreased by 73.7%, 82.5%, 73.7%, and 60.6% when grown alongside Premier digit, Rhodes, sabi, and buffel grasses, respectively. Similarly, with four plants pot⁻¹ at a 75:25 ratio, reductions were 69.1%, 79.8%, 71.0%, and 44.5%, respectively. Annual riceflower experienced the greatest suppression when grown with Rhodes grass, showing aggressivity index (AI) values of −60.2 and −67.2 and relative crowding coefficient (RCC) values of 0.4 for both six and four plants pot⁻¹. Premier digit grass also suppressed riceflower effectively, with riceflower AI values of −35.6 and −36.7 and RCC values of 0.5 and 0.6. Buffel grass had the least impact, with riceflower AI values of −41.1 and −27.9 and RCC values of 0.9 and 2.0. Sabi grass also demonstrated good suppressive effects, though slightly less than the top two species. Higher planting densities generally resulted in stronger riceflower suppression. The results highlight the importance of considering planting density, arrangement, and key plant traits when selecting pasture species for successful weed control. Based on these findings, we conclude that Premier digit grass and Rhodes grass show promising potential for effective suppression of annual riceflower growth. Full article

Adoption of diverse weed management practices is viewed as essential for slowing the spread of herbicide-resistant (HR) weeds. Yet, adoption of diverse tactics has remained low, while there has been explosive growth of resistant weeds. This study analyzes U.S.-farm-level data to identify factors affecting adoption of diverse weed management practices. This study uses directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) to consider how practice adoption is influenced by different causal pathways between farmer and farm characteristics and farmer awareness of and concern over HR weeds. This study then uses multiple regression analysis to estimate the direct and indirect pathways that influence practice adoption. Respondents relied more heavily on herbicide-based weed control methods than on mechanical or cultural methods. Concern over herbicide resistance increased the number of practices farmers adopted and the percentage of acres where farmers implemented these practices. Practice adoption was negatively associated with increasing levels of farmer risk aversion. Technological optimism—belief that new herbicides would soon be developed to counter HR weeds—discouraged diverse herbicide use practices that combat resistance, but encouraged use of some non-chemical weed control methods. Perceived weed dispersal externalities (from weed mobility) led to more diverse weed management, running counter to hypotheses that greater mobility reduces incentives for individual resistance management. Full article

Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is a problematic weed in winter crops and fallows in the southeastern cropping region (SCR) of Australia. This weed has evolved resistance to multiple herbicide groups, globally. In Australia, L. rigidum is more prevalent in the western and southern regions than in SCR. To assess the herbicide resistance status of L. rigidum, the response of five L. rigidum populations (collected from the SCR) to glyphosate, glufosinate, paraquat, haloxyfop-P-ethyl, and clethodim is determined using dose–response curves. Three parametric logistic models are used to determine the herbicide dose required to achieve 50% survival (LD₅₀) and 50% growth reduction (GR₅₀). The LD₅₀ values for 50% survival at 28 days after treatment range from 1702 g a.e. ha⁻¹ to 8225 g a.e. ha⁻¹ for glyphosate, 1637 g a.i. ha⁻¹ to 1828 g a.i. ha⁻¹ for glufosinate, 141 g a.i. ha⁻¹ to 307 g a.i. ha⁻¹ for paraquat, 11 g a.i. ha⁻¹ to 107 g a.i. ha⁻¹ for haloxyfop-P-ethyl, and 17 g a.i. ha⁻¹ to 48 g a.i. ha⁻¹ for clethodim. The resistance factor, based on GR₅₀ value, is highest in the S7 population (2.2 times) for glyphosate, the S11 population (2.3 times) for glufosinate, the S11 population (2.0 time) for paraquat, the S7 population (3.9 times) for haloxyfop-P-ethyl, and the S3 population (3.1 times) for clethodim, compared with the susceptible or less tolerant population. The S11 population is found to be resistant to five tested herbicides, based on resistance factors. Similarly, the S3 population is highly resistant to glyphosate, haloxyfop-P-ethyl, and clethodim compared with the W4 population. These results suggest that L. rigidum populations in the SCR exhibit resistance to multiple herbicide groups at labelled field rates. The findings highlight the necessity of adopting an integrated management approach, including the use of residual herbicides, tank mixing herbicides with different modes of action, and rotating herbicides in conjunction with cultural and mechanical control methods. Full article

Weeds compete for environmental resources, leading to reduced soybean yield. In this context, integrated weed management strategies related to cultural control with the use of cover crops are necessary. Our aim was to evaluate weed occurrence in soybean systems with different cover crops. Field studies were conducted at Júlio de Castilhos, Santa Maria, Capão do Leão, Barra do Ribeiro, and Santo Ângelo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A randomized complete block design with four replications was used. Treatments consisted of black oats (Avena strigosa Schreb.), white oats (Avena sativa L.), rye (Secale cereale L.), hairy vetch (Vicia sativa L.), forage turnip (Raphanus sativus L.), and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in pure stands or in mixtures. The analyzed variables were relative frequency, density, abundance, and importance value index, similarity index of weeds, dry shoot mass of cover crop, and soybean yield. Cover crops containing white or black oats reduced the relative importance value index of weeds, such as Lollium multiforum, Conyza spp., and Bidens pilosa. Forage turnip, hairy vetch, and white clover showed distinct responses. Black oats and forage turnip did not differ from cover crop mixtures in terms of dry shoot mass and grain yield, being superior to fallow, white clover, and hairy vetch. Full article

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) production is complex, with strict regulatory constraints and challenges associated with a lack of labeled pesticides due to its status as a novel crop in the US. Four experiments were conducted in 2020 and 2021 to establish herbicide tolerances for hemp production in the coastal plain of Georgia, USA. Objectives included evaluating hemp response to pretransplant or posttransplant herbicides, determining if planting method influenced herbicide injury from residual preplant applied herbicides, and understanding how plastic mulch may influence hemp flower yields. When applied one day prior to transplanting, maximum hemp crop visual injury was less than 12% compared to the untreated control, with acetochlor, flumioxazin, fomesafen, pendimethalin, and norflurazon while dithiopyr, halosulfuron, isoxaben, and isoxaflutole resulted in greater than 50% injury. Posttransplant applications of S-metolachlor, acetochlor, pendimethalin, and clethodim resulted in less than 15% injury while halosulfuron, metribuzin, trifloxysulfuron, imazethapyr, and prometryn applications resulted in greater than 50% injury to plants. Preplant and posttransplant applied herbicides were found to have little effect on total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), or total cannabinoids in the dry flower after harvest. In a separate experiment, injury from halosulfuron and metribuzin was 52% to 56% less when planted with a mechanical transplanter as compared to the practice of using a transplant wheel to depress a hole in the soil followed by hand transplanting. In the final experiment, hemp dry flower yield in a non-plastic mulched (bareground) system was similar to that in a plastic mulched system. However, early season plant above-ground biomass was less in the plastic mulched system, which may have been due to elevated soil temperatures inhibiting early season growth. Full article

Blue heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule Vahl) is an extremely drought-hardy perennial weed that is often problematic within agricultural production systems and natural environments in some parts of the world. It has the capacity to outcompete and displace desirable plant species and it contains various biochemical compounds that are toxic to grazing livestock and humans. Heliotropium amplexicaule plants can grow within a range of climatic and environmental conditions and produce seeds that remain dormant for several years within the soil which exhibit staggered emergence long after the original parent plants have expired. While control options, including biological, chemical, cultural, and physical methods, are available, many are not suitable as a single-use approach for the long-term management of this species. Therefore, an integrated weed management (IWM) program is necessary for the confident and long-term management of H. amplexicaule, particularly within dryland ecosystems. This review explores the biology, ecology, distribution, and suitable management options currently available for H. amplexicaule, while identifying research gaps that can be addressed to assist in its future management. While particular emphasis is placed on the Australian experience, information from a global perspective is included, providing valuable insights for the long-term management of H. amplexicaule worldwide. Full article

Camelina is an interesting crop and producers must adopt cultural practices to achieve the highest yield and oil content possible. Considering the size of the seed, the harvesting phase is crucial to reduce losses and maximize income. Furthermore, in recent years, with the worsening of climatic conditions due to global warming, crop management can no longer follow the classic seasonality but must adapt to new climatic conditions. The possibility of double cropping, that is the process of producing two crops in a single season, allows multiple advantages such as weed control, greater remuneration, and less exposure to bare soil which determine greater resilience of the production system. To enable this, especially in recent years, even a few days of difference in the cultivation phases can guarantee the success of double cropping. For these reasons, the authors compared two different harvesting strategies: direct combining at full maturity (DC); swathing + combining at full maturity (SW). The working performance, cost, and seed losses associated with each harvesting method were calculated. The results highlighted how SW reduced the crop cycle length by 11 days, did not influence seed losses and crop yield but showed lower performance and higher cost with respect to DC. Full article

In the search for new alternative biocontrol strategies, phytopathogenic fungi could represent a new frontier for weed management. In this respect, as part of our ongoing work aiming at using fungal pathogens as an alternative to common herbicides, the foliar pathogen Nigrospora sphaerica has been evaluated to control buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris). In particular, in this work, the isolation and structural elucidation of two new biosynthetically related metabolites, named nigrosphaeritriol (3-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpentane-1,4-diol) and nigrosphaerilactol (3-(1-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyltetrahydrofuran-2-ol), from the phytotoxic culture filtrate extract were described, along with the identification of several known metabolites. Moreover, the absolute stereochemistry of (3R,4S,5S)-nigrosphaerilactone, previously reported as (3S,4R,5R)-4-hydroxymethyl-3,5-dimethyldihydro-2-furanone, was determined for the first time by X-ray diffraction analysis. Considering their structural relationship, the determination of the absolute stereochemistry of nigrosphaerilactone allowed us to hypothesize the absolute stereochemistry of nigrosphaeritriol and nigrosphaerilactol. Full article

Effective disease, pest, and weed control are essential for achieving sustainable agricultural practices. The ever-growing global population, coupled with the increasing demand for food, poses a significant challenge to agriculture systems globally. To address this challenge sustainably, farmers must employ effective disease, pest, and weed control measures that minimize the negative impacts on the environment, human health, and biodiversity. This study investigates the impact of innovative control methods on agricultural productivity, focusing on 30 farmers (21 male and 9 female) in the Bosome Freho District of Ghana. The goal of this research is to offer scalable solutions to maximize crop yields while reducing the use of environmentally-unfriendly agro-chemicals. This study employed a participatory approach, engaging farmers in the co-creation and implementation of sustainable control measures. Through a combination of integrated pest management techniques, biological control, and cultural practices, farmers were able to significantly reduce the prevalence of diseases, pests, and weeds on their fields. The results demonstrate a remarkable improvement in crop health, with increased yield and quality observed across various crops, such as maize, pepper, and plantain. The scalability of these achieved results is a key highlight, as the implemented strategies are easily transferable to other farms within the Bosome Freho District and beyond. The innovative nature of this study lies in the collaborative approach, which incorporates traditional knowledge and modern agricultural techniques, thereby bridging the gap between traditional and sustainable farming practices. This study proposes workable ways to increase agricultural productivity while safeguarding the environment and ensuring the long-term viability of farming communities by tackling the key issue of disease, pest, and weed control in a sustainable manner. Full article

Weeds are considered the main reason for crop yield loss in the world. Weed control and management include various treatments such as cultural, physical, chemical, and biological methods. Chemical control of weeds is the most common method; however, the application of commercial synthetic herbicides caused several dangerous hazards in the environment including the appearance of resistant weed biotypes. Prosopis farcta (Banks & Sol.) J.F.Macbr. (Family: Fabaceae), is a common weed plant in the Middle East, where it is hard to eliminate due to its deep and overlapped roots. On the other side, it has many traditional uses around the world. Herein, the essential oil (EO) of P. farcta above-ground parts was extracted via hydrodistillation techniques and then analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). From the GC-MS analysis, 47 compounds were identified with a relative concentration of 98.02%, including terpenes as the main components (95.08%). From overall identified compounds, cubenol (19.07%), trans-chrysanthenyl acetate (17.69%), torreyol (8.28%), davana ether (3.50%), camphor (3.35%), and farnesyl acetone (3.13%) represented the abundant constituents. Furthermore, the phytotoxic activity of the P. farcta EO was assessed against the weed Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd. The EO of P. farcta, at a concentration of 100 µL L⁻¹, significantly inhibited the germination, seedling shoot growth, and seedling root growth by 64.1, 64.0, and 73.4%, respectively. The results exhibited that the seedling root growth is the most affected followed by the seed germination and seedling shoot growth with respective IC₅₀ at 64.5, 80.5, and 92.9 µL L⁻¹. It can be concluded that weeds are not absolutely harmful, but they may have beneficial uses, such as, for example as a source of phytochemicals with application in weed control practices (bioherbicides). It is advised to conduct additional research to characterize the allelopathic action of the major chemicals in their pure form, either alone or in combination, against a variety of weeds. Full article

Rice is a water-guzzling crop cultivated mostly through inefficient irrigation methods which leads to low water use efficiency and many environmental problems. Additionally, the export of virtual water through rice trading and the looming water crisis poses significant threats to the sustainability of rice production and food security. There are several alternative rice production methods to improve water use efficiency. These include aerobic rice, direct-seeded rice (DSR), alternate wetting and drying (AWD), saturated soil culture (SSC), drip-irrigated rice, a system of rice intensification (SRI), and smart irrigation with sensors and the Internet of Things (IoT). However, each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, drip-irrigated rice and IoT-based automated irrigation are not feasible for poor farmers due to the high production costs associated with specialized machinery and tools. Similarly, aerobic rice, drip-irrigated rice, and the SRI are labor-intensive, making them unsuitable for areas with a shortage of labor. On the other hand, DSR is suitable for labor-scarce areas, provided herbicides are used to control weeds. In this article, the suitability of different water-saving rice production methods is reviewed based on factors such as climate, soil type, labor, energy, and greenhouse gas emissions, and their prospects and challenges are evaluated. Additionally, the article examines how cultural practices, such as seed treatment, weed control, and nutrition management, contribute to enhancing water use efficiency in rice production. Full article