Plant Interference through Competition and Allelopathy

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Weed Science and Weed Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 December 2021) | Viewed by 23008

Special Issue Editors

Department of Chemistry, Geology and Physics, Ashland University, Ashland, OH, USA
Interests: development of methods for analysis of plant root exudates and soil; passive sampling methods; bioassay methodology; invasive weeds; sustainable agriculture; contamination of consumer products with heavy metals such as lead and cadmium
Graham Centre of Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW, Australia
Interests: metabolomics; plant interactions; allelopathy; field research; bioinformatics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University, Wagga 2678, Australia
Interests: metabolomics/bioinformatics; plant interactions including competition and allelopathy; herbicide discovery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

This special issue will focus on competition and allelopathic interference mechanisms in aquatic and terrestrial plants, and their impact on plant growth, invasion, community diversity and ecosystem function. Of particular interest in this issue is the focus on new technologies to study the impact of allelochemicals on ecosystem and rhizosphere diversity as well as the role of microorganisms in allelopathy, allelochemical production and transformation and plant interference.

Plants, including weeds, interfere with other plants, particularly crops, by several important mechanisms which can negatively impact their germination, establishment, productivity, reproduction, performance and/or quality. In the past fifty years, ecologists, agronomists and horticulturalists have frequently focused on the study of plant inter- or intraspecific competition for resources as a key mechanism impacting plant productivity and community dynamics. Additional research evaluating the impact of plant competition on resource availability including water, soil nutrients, and other factors will be a focus of this special issue. The impact of plant competition on soil microbial diversity and rhizosphere interactions is of particular interest, as findings generated by technological advancements in the study of rhizosphere biology and microbial diversity have resulted in the recent discovery of the critical role that soil microorganisms play in plant establishment and successful competition for resources.

In addition, plant and microbial interference with plant growth due to allelopathy, or chemical interactions among plants and microbes, is mediated by the production of secondary products or allelochemicals. Such metabolites can play important roles in chemical signaling processes while also impacting plant defense, growth and development, soil diversity and microbial associations including symbiotic and ectomycorrhizal associations. Furthermore, soil microorganisms and soil properties can directly impact the persistence, availability and transformation of such metabolites, thereby significantly affecting plant growth and establishment over time. The impact of plant metabolites on plant invasion, crop establishment and performance and replant issues is also featured in this special issue, due to technological advancements in the study of microbial activity, metabolite identification, mode of action of such allelochemicals, and their biosynthesis.

We are specifically requesting original research papers, short communications and review papers on this subject matter.

Dr. Jeffrey Weidenhamer
Dr. Sajid Latif
Prof. Dr. Leslie A. Weston
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • plant competition
  • plant invasion
  • resources
  • soil rhizosphere
  • allelochemicals
  • allelopathy
  • symbiosis
  • microbial diversity
  • persistence

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 4195 KiB  
Article
Competitiveness of Early Vigour Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes Is Established at Early Growth Stages
by Pieter-Willem Hendriks, Saliya Gurusinghe, Peter R. Ryan, Gregory J. Rebetzke and Leslie A. Weston
Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 377; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12020377 - 02 Feb 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2616
Abstract
Weed competitiveness in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has previously been shown to be positively associated with shoot biomass. This study evaluated the impact of increased early shoot vigour on the weed competitiveness of Australian wheats. Breeding lines generated for early shoot vigour [...] Read more.
Weed competitiveness in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has previously been shown to be positively associated with shoot biomass. This study evaluated the impact of increased early shoot vigour on the weed competitiveness of Australian wheats. Breeding lines generated for early shoot vigour were top-crossed with two commercial wheat cultivars (Yitpi and Wyalkatchem) and the resulting high vigour lines (HV lines) were assessed for early growth and weed pressure in the field. These lines were directly compared with their parental lines, other commercial cultivars, and the tall heritage cultivar, Federation. Moreover, rye (Secale cereale L.) or triticale (× Triticosecale) was included in each trial as a positive control for vigour. The association between shoot growth and vigour and weed suppression was evaluated over 3 years in the cereal belt of south-eastern Australia during contrasting seasons. The HV lines consistently displayed greater leaf area, ground cover, and canopy light interception in both dry and wet seasons and suppressed weed growth significantly in contrast to commercial cultivars. Light interception at the first tiller stage, and ground cover at the end of tillering were identified as the most important variables for predicting weed suppression. This study demonstrated the enhancement of competitiveness in commercial wheat through the selection for early vigour, and identified traits that best predicted weed suppression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Interference through Competition and Allelopathy)
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17 pages, 1759 KiB  
Article
Impact of Rotational Sequence Selection on Weed Seedbank Composition in Australian Broadacre Crops
by Saliya Gurusinghe, K. M. Shamsul Haque, Paul A. Weston, William B. Brown and Leslie A. Weston
Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 375; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12020375 - 01 Feb 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1579
Abstract
The use of competitive crops in successional rotations has been shown to reduce the growth and establishment of annual weeds by the depletion of the weed seedbank in broadacre cropping systems. However, the impact of specific crop rotational sequences contributing to weed seedbank [...] Read more.
The use of competitive crops in successional rotations has been shown to reduce the growth and establishment of annual weeds by the depletion of the weed seedbank in broadacre cropping systems. However, the impact of specific crop rotational sequences contributing to weed seedbank density has not been quantified in the Riverina region of southern Australia. Trials were established in two locations in 2014–2018 to quantify the impact of selected annual rotations featuring grain, pulse, and pasture crops on weed infestation and seedbank dynamics with a focus on winter and summer annual weeds. The weed seedbank dynamics were evaluated by a twice-annual soil sampling regime (at planting and harvest), followed by soil sample screening for weed propagule germination and seedling establishment in a subsequent controlled-environment screening performed from 2014–2020. The weed seedling density decreased in the cereal rotations in years experiencing average to above-average rainfall, as crops established a dense canopy leading to reduced weed establishment and fecundity. Several rotational treatments were effective in suppressing the weed propagule numbers over time, including those using dual-purpose cereals only or a canola break-crop along with the cereals. Rotational selection can be an important and cost-effective tool in integrated weed management systems when applied over multiple growing seasons. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Interference through Competition and Allelopathy)
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20 pages, 4356 KiB  
Article
Phytotoxic Effects of Selected Herbal Extracts on the Germination, Growth and Metabolism of Mustard and Oilseed Rape
by Magdalena Rys, Diana Saja-Garbarz and Andrzej Skoczowski
Agronomy 2022, 12(1), 110; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy12010110 - 02 Jan 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2765
Abstract
The use of plants that have high allelopathic potential as natural herbicides in the form of aqueous extracts is gaining popularity in environmentally friendly agriculture. Usually, their effect on the germination and growth of weeds is investigated. However, less attention is paid to [...] Read more.
The use of plants that have high allelopathic potential as natural herbicides in the form of aqueous extracts is gaining popularity in environmentally friendly agriculture. Usually, their effect on the germination and growth of weeds is investigated. However, less attention is paid to the effect of the allelopathic compounds from extracts on cultivated plants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of herbal extracts that have allelopathic properties on selected physiological and biochemical processes of two plants of great economic importance—white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) and oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera). The extracts were prepared from mountain arnica (Arnica montana L.), ribwort (Plantago lanceolata L.), hypericum (Hypericum perforatum L.), common milfoil (Achillea millefolium L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and sage (Salvia officinalis L.). The germination of white mustard and oilseed rape was most inhibited by the extracts that were prepared from sage and sunflower. Additionally, in the germinating plants, the sunflower extracts increased the membrane permeability, which indicates membrane injuries. The metabolic changes in the plants were monitored using isothermal calorimetry and FT-Raman spectroscopy. The total heat production, which provided information about the metabolic activity of the white mustard and oilseed rape, was decreased the most by the sage extract but generally all of the tested extracts disturbed the shape of the heat emission curves compared to the water control. The impact of the allelopathic compounds that are present in the herbal extracts on the metabolism of the seedlings was clearly visible on the FT-Raman spectra—in the fatty acids and flavonoids range, confirmed using a cluster analysis. In conclusion, the herbal extracts from medicinal plants that have herbicidal activity could be used as a natural herbicide for weed control, but since they may also have negative impacts on cultivated plants, preliminary tests are advisable to find the extract from the species that has the least negative effect on a protected crop. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Interference through Competition and Allelopathy)
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15 pages, 332 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Different Crop Rotations by Weed Management Strategies’ Interactions on Weed Infestation and Productivity of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
by Muhammad Shahzad, Mubshar Hussain, Khawar Jabran, Muhammad Farooq, Shahid Farooq, Kristína Gašparovič, Maria Barboricova, Bandar S. Aljuaid, Ahmed M. El-Shehawi and Ali Tan Kee Zuan
Agronomy 2021, 11(10), 2088; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11102088 - 19 Oct 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3046
Abstract
Weed infestations significantly reduce the growth and yield of field crops. Herbicides are mostly used for weed management due to their quick results. However, resistant biotypes to available herbicides are rapidly increasing around the word. This situation calls for the development of alternative [...] Read more.
Weed infestations significantly reduce the growth and yield of field crops. Herbicides are mostly used for weed management due to their quick results. However, resistant biotypes to available herbicides are rapidly increasing around the word. This situation calls for the development of alternative weed management strategies. Crop rotation and allelopathic water extracts are regarded as the most important alternative weed management strategies. Therefore, this two-year study assessed the impact of different annual crop rotations by weed management strategies’ interactions on weed infestation and productivity of wheat crop. Wheat was planted in five rotations, i.e., (i) fallow-wheat, (ii) rice-wheat, (iii) cotton-wheat, (iv) mungbean-wheat and (v) sorghum-wheat. The weed management strategies included in the study were; (i) false seedbed, (ii) application of 12 L ha−1 allelopathic plant water extracts (1:1:1:1 ratio of sorghum, sunflower, mulberry and eucalyptus), (iii) herbicide application, (iv) weed-free (weed control) and (v) weedy-check (no weed control). Herbicide application was the most effective treatment in lowering weed densities and biomass during both years followed by false seedbed, while allelopathic crop water extracts were least effective. The lowest weed infestation was noted in sorghum-wheat rotation followed by cotton-wheat and mungbean-wheat, while fallow-wheat had the highest weed infestation. Weedy-check treatment caused significant reduction in wheat growth and yield, whereas the highest grain yield was recorded from weed-free and herbicide application treatments. Grain yield of wheat planted after sorghum was suppressed; however, yield improved when wheat was planted after mungbean. Planting wheat after mungbean in a weed-free environment, achieved through chemical and/or mechanical means, is the best strategy to obtain higher wheat yields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Interference through Competition and Allelopathy)
16 pages, 1558 KiB  
Article
Competition of Weeds Dominated by Wild Oat (Avena sterilis   L.) in Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) in Jordan
by Jamal R. Qasem
Agronomy 2021, 11(9), 1816; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11091816 - 09 Sep 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2009
Abstract
Wheat is the main field crop grown in Jordan. Productivity is low due to different factors, including erratic rainfall, poor soil fertility and weed competition. A field experiment was carried out at the University of Jordan Research Station for two growing seasons to [...] Read more.
Wheat is the main field crop grown in Jordan. Productivity is low due to different factors, including erratic rainfall, poor soil fertility and weed competition. A field experiment was carried out at the University of Jordan Research Station for two growing seasons to determine the effect of weed competition on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum durum Cv. “Hourani”). Treatments consisted of either allowing weeds to infest the crop or maintaining the crop weed-free for increasing durations after emergence. Results showed that, the longer the periods of weed competition, the greater the loss in crop growth and yield. Average reductions in grain and straw yields were 41% and 37%, respectively. The highest grain yield obtained was from weed-free, and the lowest was in weed-infested plots for the entire growing season. Average grain yield was not significantly different at 14 to 49 days of weed-infested periods, while none of the weed-free periods produced a yield similar to that of the weed-free control. However, maintaining a weed-free crop for three weeks after emergence significantly increased grain yield compared with the weed-infested control. High rainfall in the first season almost doubled weed growth and greatly reduced wheat growth and yield compared with the second season. To determine the critical period of weed competition and the influence of weed infestation on wheat grain yield, Gompertz and logistic equations were fitted to data representing increasing duration of weed-free and weed-infested periods, respectively. Based upon an arbitrary 5% level of average grain yield loss in the two years, the critical period of weed competition occurred at 0–49 days after wheat emergence, which corresponded with the rapid increase in weed biomass. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Interference through Competition and Allelopathy)
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13 pages, 5563 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Parthenium Weed-Amended Substrates on the Germination and Early Growth of a Range of Pasture and Crop Species
by Boyang Shi, Kunjithapatham Dhileepan and Steve Adkins
Agronomy 2021, 11(9), 1708; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11091708 - 27 Aug 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2666
Abstract
Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) is an internationally important invasive weed native to the tropical and sub-tropical Americas, and invasive in more than 30 countries. This weed has serious adverse influences on rangeland and agricultural crop production, on human and animal health, [...] Read more.
Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) is an internationally important invasive weed native to the tropical and sub-tropical Americas, and invasive in more than 30 countries. This weed has serious adverse influences on rangeland and agricultural crop production, on human and animal health, and on the biodiversity of natural communities. Parthenium weed leaf litter can reduce seedling emergence and affect the early growth of a wide range of pasture and crop species. Soil collected from a heavily infested parthenium weed area was shown to reduce seedling emergence of a wide range of test plants (lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), maize (Zea mays L.), curly windmill grass (Enteropogon acicularis L.), and liverseed grass (Urochloa panicoides P.Beauv.)) by between 20 to 40%; however, the soil had no effect on the subsequent growth of the surviving test plants. Soil amended with dried parthenium weed leaf litter reduced the emergence of test species by ca. 20 to 40%, but it had no effect on the growth of the surviving test plants. One week after emergence, the growth of all test species was stimulated by 9 to 86% in the leaf litter-amended soil with the increased growth matching the increased amounts leaf litter amended. In parthenium weed-infested landscapes, the substrate (soil) is affected by the plant during the growing season by the release of allelopathic chemicals. However, the plant’s litter can affect the community outside of the growing season, first through a residual allelopathic activity, but also by a fertilizing effect as litter breakdown occurs. This study demonstrates the significant ability of parthenium weed to affect plant communities throughout the year and, when considered over several years, this may lead to the creation of a complete monoculture of the weed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Interference through Competition and Allelopathy)
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13 pages, 1734 KiB  
Article
Winter Forage Crop Harvest Time Impacts Regeneration of the Annual Weeds Barley Grass, Annual Ryegrass and Wild Radish
by John W. Piltz, Stephen G. Morris and Leslie A. Weston
Agronomy 2021, 11(9), 1700; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11091700 - 26 Aug 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1897
Abstract
Barley grass (Hordeum spp.) is a short-lived annual weed which competes with preferred crop and pasture species and frequently contaminates wool and carcasses, and irritates the ears, eyes and noses of sheep. Barley grass, annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum L.) and wild [...] Read more.
Barley grass (Hordeum spp.) is a short-lived annual weed which competes with preferred crop and pasture species and frequently contaminates wool and carcasses, and irritates the ears, eyes and noses of sheep. Barley grass, annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum L.) and wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum L.) are annual winter crop weeds which reduce grain yield through competition. In three consecutive years (2015 to 2017) cereal, legume and cereal/legume forage crops were grown and harvested in early October, late October or early November consistent with an early silage harvest (ES), late silage harvest (LS) or hay cut (H). A spring wheat cultivar was sown over each site in the following year (2016 to 2018). Weed density was recorded during the forage crop and wheat phases. Forage crop weed populations varied between years. Late paddock preparation for sowing in 2015 effectively eradicated barley grass from all forage crops; however, the competitiveness of legume and cereal/legume crops against annual ryegrass was reduced. In contrast, legume and cereal/legume mixtures tended to have higher barley grass densities than cereal crops in 2016 and 2017, when paddock preparation was earlier. Cutting in October 2015 reduced annual ryegrass and wild radish populations in 2016 wheat by 92.0% and 86.7%, respectively. In 2017 and 2018, regrowth and subsequent seed set following cutting appeared to negate cutting time effects for all crop and crop/legume combinations. Late paddock preparation, an early October forage harvest and effective regrowth control provided the best opportunity for barley grass, annual ryegrass and wild radish control in a single year. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Interference through Competition and Allelopathy)
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17 pages, 2177 KiB  
Article
Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) Causes Severe Yield Losses in Soybean and Impairs Bradyrhizobium japonicum Infection
by Rea Maria Hall, Bernhard Urban, Helmut Wagentristl, Gerhard Karrer, Anna Winter, Robert Czerny and Hans-Peter Kaul
Agronomy 2021, 11(8), 1616; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11081616 - 14 Aug 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2276
Abstract
Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Asteraceae), known as common ragweed, is an annual herbaceous species native to North America that has become one of the most economically important weeds in arable fields throughout Central Europe. Its large ecological amplitude enables the species to become established [...] Read more.
Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Asteraceae), known as common ragweed, is an annual herbaceous species native to North America that has become one of the most economically important weeds in arable fields throughout Central Europe. Its large ecological amplitude enables the species to become established in several types of environments, and management options to effectively contain its spread are limited due to a lack of efficacy, high cost, or lack of awareness. In the last decade, in particular, soybean fields have been severely affected by common ragweed invasion. However, until now, information on the yield-decreasing effects of the plant has been scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the competition effects of common ragweed on (1) soybean growth (aboveground/belowground), (2) the yield of two different soybean cultivars, and (3) the nodulation potential. Based on a greenhouse and biennial field trial, we found that in plots with the highest common ragweed biomass, the soybean yield loss accounted for 84% compared to the weed-free control, on average. The number of nodules, in addition to the mean nodule weight, which are tightly correlated with soybean yield, were significantly reduced by the presence of common ragweed. Just one common ragweed plant per square meter reduced the number of nodules by 56%, and consequently led to a decrease in yield of 18%. Although it has been reported that the genus Ambrosia produces and releases several types of secondary metabolites, little is known about the influence of these chemical compounds on soybean growth and nodulation. Thus, there is substantial need for research to understand the mechanisms behind the interaction between common ragweed and soybean, with a view to finding new approaches for improved common ragweed control, thereby protecting soybean and other crops against substantial yield losses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Interference through Competition and Allelopathy)
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10 pages, 692 KiB  
Article
Elucidation of the Characteristics of Soil Sickness Syndrome in Japanese Pear and Construction of Countermeasures Using the Rhizosphere Soil Assay Method
by Tomoaki Toya, Masayoshi Oshida, Tatsuya Minezaki, Akifumi Sugiyama, Kwame Sarpong Appiah, Takashi Motobayashi and Yoshiharu Fujii
Agronomy 2021, 11(8), 1468; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/agronomy11081468 - 23 Jul 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1548
Abstract
The continuous planting of Japanese pear leads to a soil sickness syndrome that eventually affects the growth and yield of the plant. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the characteristics of soil sickness syndrome in the Japanese pear and construct countermeasures using [...] Read more.
The continuous planting of Japanese pear leads to a soil sickness syndrome that eventually affects the growth and yield of the plant. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the characteristics of soil sickness syndrome in the Japanese pear and construct countermeasures using the rhizosphere soil assay method that can quantify the risk of soil sickness syndrome by inhibitory chemicals. Water flushing treatment, rainfall treatment, and the incorporation of test soils with different rates of activated carbon were evaluated on the risks of soil sickness. The water flushing treatment under laboratory conditions and exposure of the continuous cropping soil to rainfall in the open field decreased the inhibition rate of the soil. The decrease in soil inhibition rate was presumed to be the result of accumulated growth inhibitory substances in the soil being washed away by water. In addition, activated carbon with the potential to reduce the soil sickness syndrome was selected using the rhizosphere soil assay method. It was clarified that the mixing of the selected activated carbon with the continuous cropping soil reduced the inhibition rate and increased the growth of pear trees increased compared to the untreated soil from the continuous cropping field. The inhibition rate of the soil from the continuous cropping field was reduced to the level of soil with no history of Japanese pear cultivation. In the replanted field, these treatments can promote the growth of trees by reducing the influence of soil sickness syndrome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Interference through Competition and Allelopathy)
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