Functionally diverse flax-based rotations improve wild oat (Avena fatua) and cleavers (Galium spurium) management

Wild oat (Avena fatua L.) and false cleavers (Galium spurium) are currently a challenge to manage in less competitive crops such as flax (Linum usitatissimum L.). Increasing the functional diversity in crop rotations can be an option to improve weed management. Nonetheless, this strategy is not tested in flax in Western Canada. A 5-yr (2015-2019) crop rotation study was carried at three locations in western Canada to determine the effect of diverse flax-based crop rotations with differences in crop species, crop life cycles, harvesting time and reduced herbicides on managing A. fatua and G. spurium. The perennial rotation (flax-alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)-alfalfa-alfalfa-flax) under reduced herbicide use was found to be the most consistent cropping system, providing similar A. fatua and G. spurium control to the conventional annual flax crop rotation[flax-barley (Hordium vulgare L.)-flax-oat (Avena sativa L.)-flax] with standard herbicides. At Carman, this alfalfa rotation provided even better weed control (80% A. fatua, 75% G. spurium) than the conventional rotation. Furthermore, a greater A. fatua control was identified compared to conventional rotation where two consecutive winter cereal crops were grown successfully in rotation (flax-barley-winter triticale (x Triticosecale ex A. Camus)-winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-flax), greater A. fatua control was observed compared to the conventional crop rotation under standard herbicides. Incorporation of silage oat crops did not show consistent management benefits compared to the perennial alfalfa rotation but were generally similar to the conventional rotation with standard herbicides. The results showed that perennial alfalfa in the rotation minimized G. spurium and A. fatua in flax cropping systems, followed by rotations with two consecutive winter cereal crops.

Mechanical scarification technique breaks seed coat-mediated dormancy in wild oat (Avena fatua)

Wild oat is a herbicide resistance-prone global weed species that causes significant economic losses in dryland and horticultural agriculture. As a result, there has been a significant research effort in controlling this species. A major impediment to this research is the seed coat-mediated dormancy of wild oat, requiring a labor-intensive incision or puncturing of the seed coat to initiate seed germination. This study defines the most efficient settings of a mechanical thresher to overcome wild oat seed dormancy and then validates these settings using multiple populations collected from the Western Australian grain belt. We also compare the effects of rapid mechanical scarification and known germination stimulus tactics such as scarification with sulfuric acid (H2SO4), partial endosperm removal, sandpaper scarification of the seed coat, and immersion in sodium nitroprusside (NO donor SNP) solution on wild oat seedling growth rate. Threshing treatment of 1,500 rpm for 5 s provides equivalent germination compared with manually puncturing individual wild oat seeds, with no difference in seedling relative growth rate. The mechanical scarification of seeds using the thresher resulted in greater germination (66%) than H2SO4 scarification (0%), partial endosperm removal (10%), sandpaper seed coat scarification (25%), and exposure to NO donor SNP (34%). This study demonstrates that the physical dormancy of wild oat can be rapidly overcome using a commercially available mechanical thresher.

Differences in Germination of ACCase-Resistant Biotypes Containing Isoleucine-1781-Leucine Mutation and Susceptible Biotypes of Wild Oat (Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana)

Herbicide resistance can affect seed germination and the optimal conditions required for seed germination, which in turn may impose a fitness cost in resistant populations. Winter wild oat [Avena sterilis L. ssp. ludoviciana (Durieu) Gillet and Magne] is a serious weed in cereal fields. In this study, the molecular basis of resistance to an ACCase herbicide, clodinafop-propargyl, in four A. ludoviciana biotypes was assessed. Germination differences between susceptible (S) and ACCase-resistant biotypes (WR1, WR2, WR3, WR4) and the effect of Isoleucine-1781-Leucine mutation on germination were also investigated through germination models. The results indicated that WR1 and WR4 were very highly resistant (RI > 214.22) to clodinafop-propargyl-contained Isoleucine to Leucine amino acid substitution. However, Isoleucine-1781-Leucine mutation was not detected in other very highly resistant biotypes. Germination studies indicated that resistant biotypes (in particular WR1 and WR4) had higher base water potentials than the susceptible one. This shows that resistant biotypes need more soil water to initiate their germination. However, the hydrotime constant for germination was higher in resistant biotypes than in the susceptible one in most cases, showing faster germination in susceptible biotypes. ACCase-resistant biotypes containing the Isoleucine-1781-Leucine mutation had lower seed weight but used more seed reserve to produce seedlings. Hence, integrated management practices such as stale seedbed and implementing it at the right time could be used to take advantage of the differential soil water requirement and relatively late germination characteristics of ACCase-resistant biotypes.

Comparison of Gut Bacterial Communities of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) Reared on Different Host Plants

Spodoptera frugiperda is a highly polyphagous and invasive agricultural pest that can harm more than 300 plants and cause huge economic losses to crops. Symbiotic bacteria play an important role in the host biology and ecology of herbivores, and have a wide range of effects on host growth and adaptation. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to investigate the effects of different hosts (corn, wild oat, oilseed rape, pepper, and artificial diet) on gut microbial community structure and diversity. Corn is one of the most favored plants of S. frugiperda. We compared the gut microbiota on corn with and without a seed coating agent. The results showed that Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes dominated the gut microbial community. The microbial abundance on oilseed rape was the highest, the microbial diversity on wild oat was the lowest, and the microbial diversity on corn without a seed coating agent was significantly higher than that with such an agent. PCoA analysis showed that there were significant differences in the gut microbial community among different hosts. PICRUSt analysis showed that most of the functional prediction categories were related to metabolic and cellular processes. The results showed that the gut microbial community of S. frugiperda was affected not only by the host species, but also by different host treatments, which played an important role in host adaptation. It is important to deepen our understanding of the symbiotic relationships between invasive organisms and microorganisms. The study of the adaptability of host insects contributes to the development of more effective and environmentally friendly pest management strategies.

Burial Environment Drives Seed Mortality of Kochia (Bassia scoparia), Wild Oat (Avena fatua), and Volunteer Canola (Brassica napus) Irrespective of Crop Species

Models of weed population demography are critical to understanding the long-term viability of management strategies. The driving factors of weed seedbank persistence are often underrepresented in demographic models due to the cumbersome nature of seedbank research. Simplification of weed seedbank dynamics may induce substantial error in model simulations. A soil bioassay was conducted to determine whether growth of different crop species, including wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), canola (Brassica napus L.), and field pea (Pisum sativum L.), differentially impact seed mortality of kochia [Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott], wild oat (Avena fatua L.), and volunteer canola in seven burial environments in western Canada. Weed seed survival after the 7 week burial period varied widely among burial environments (from 8% to 88% when averaged among weed and crop species), whereas growth of the different crop species had negligible impact on seedbank persistence. Among environments, wild oat seed survived the greatest (79%), followed by kochia (20%), and volunteer canola (6%). Weed seed survival was associated with soil physical properties (texture) and seed microsite characteristics (temperature), but not crop species or soil chemical properties. Overall, these data support the need for greater integration of soil and environmental parameters into models of weed population demography.

Evaluation of panicle removal methods and crop topping applications as supplemental tools for wild oat (Avena fatua) management

Increased frequency and occurrence of herbicide-resistant biotypes heightens the need for alternative wild oat management strategies. There is an opportunity to exploit the height differential between wild oat and crops by targeting wild oat between panicle emergence and seed shed timing. Two field studies were conducted either in Lacombe, AB, or Lacombe, AB and Saskatoon, SK from 2015-2017. In the first study, we compared panicle removal methods: hand clipping, use of a hedge trimmer and a selective herbicide crop topping application to a weedy check and an industry standard in-crop herbicide application in wheat. These treatments were tested early (at panicle emergence), late (at initiation of seed shed) or in combination at one location over three years. In the second study, we investigated optimal timing of panicle removal via a hedge trimmer with weekly removals in comparison to a weedy check in wheat and lentil. This study was conducted at two locations, Lacombe, AB and Saskatoon, SK over three years. Among all the tested methods, the early crop topping treatment consistently had the largest impact on wild oat density, dockage, seedbank and subsequent year crop yield. The early (at panicle emergence) or combination of the early and late (at initiation of seed shed) treatments tended to reduce wild oat populations the following season the most compared to the late treatments. Subsequent wild oat populations were not influenced by panicle removal timing, but only by crop and location interactions. Panicle removal timing did significantly affect wild oat dockage in the year of treatment but no consistent optimal timing could be identified. However, the two studies together highlight a number of additional questions to be investigated, as well as the opportunity to manage wild oat seedbank inputs at the panicle emergence stage of the wild oat lifecycle.

Spray Coverage and Biological Efficacy of Single, Twin Symmetrical, and Twin Asymmetrical Flat Fan Nozzles

Proper selection of nozzle type and spray volume is essential to optimize herbicide dose, reducing its adverse environmental effects. It has not been sufficiently evaluated which nozzle type (twin symmetrical flat fan nozzle or the twin asymmetrical one) is more efficient and whether pinoxaden application is more efficient at a low or high spray volume. The spray coverage of a single, twin symmetrical, and twin asymmetrical flat fan nozzles, each in the sizes of 110015, 11002, 110025, 11003, 11004, and 11005 on the moisture-sensitive papers (MSPs) was investigated. The biological efficacy of treatments using pinoxaden against wild oat was investigated. Unlike other nozzle types, the single flat fan nozzle could not cover MSP placed vertically behind the nozzle trajectory. Except for the latter, each nozzle type could cover the MSPs more efficiently with increase in nozzle size. Generally, the nozzles’ performance was twin symmetrical > single = twin asymmetrical flat fan nozzles. A larger nozzle size improved the coverage of MSPs but increased the effective dose (ED50; dose that gives a 50% reduction in dry weight), indicating a decrease in the efficacy of pinoxaden. Among all treatments, the lowest ED50 value was obtained by the twin symmetrical flat fan nozzle 110015 (5.2 g a.i. ha−1). The smaller, more concentrated droplets are required to achieve optimal pinoxaden efficacy against wild oat, which can be provided by a twin symmetrical flat fan nozzle with a smaller size.

Phytotoxic Effect of Caraway Essential Oil and Its Main Compounds against Germination of Spring Wheat, Wild Oat and Chamomile

Caraway oil is a promising botanical herbicide. This study tested the phytotoxic potential of caraway oil, carvone and d-limonene on germination and seedlings’ growth of spring wheat, wild oat and chamomile. As a result, an inhibiting effect of caraway oil and carvone on all the tested species was found. Contrary, d-limonene displayed selective toxicity against chamomile and wild oat, which should be investigated further.