Glyphosate Resistance Confirmation and Field Management of Red Brome (Bromus rubens L.) in Perennial Crops Grown in Southern Spain

The excessive use of the herbicide glyphosate on annual and perennial crops grown in Southern Spain has caused an increase in resistant weed populations. Bromus rubens has begun to spread through olive and almond cultivars due to low glyphosate control over these species, whereas previously it had been well controlled with field dose (1080 g ae ha−1). Characterization using Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers confirmed the presence of B. rubens collected in Andalusia. A rapid shikimic acid accumulation screening showed 17 resistant (R) populations with values between 300 and 700 µg shikimate g−1 fresh weight and three susceptible (S) populations with values between 1200 and 1700 µg shikimate g−1 fresh weight. In dose–response experiments the GR50 values agreed with previous results and the resistance factors (RFs: GR50 R/GR50 S (Br1)) were between 4.35 (Br9) and 7.61 (Br19). Foliar retention assays shown no differences in glyphosate retention in both R and S populations. The tests carried out in a resistant field (Br10) demonstrated the control efficacy of pre-emergence herbicides since flazasulfuron in the tank mix with glyphosate had up to 80% control 15 to 120 days after application (DAA) and grass weed postemergence herbicides, such as propaquizafop + glyphosate and quizalofop + glyphosate, had up to 90% control 15 to 90 DAA. Results confirm the first scientific report of glyphosate-resistant B. rubens worldwide; however, the use of herbicides with another mode of action (MOA) is the best tool for integrated weed management.

Cover–biomass relationships of an invasive annual grass, Bromus rubens, in the Mojave Desert

Estimates of plant biomass are helpful for many applications in invasive plant science and management, but measuring biomass can be time-consuming, costly, or impractical if destructive sampling is inappropriate. The objective of this study was to assess feasibility of developing regression equations using a fast, nondestructive measure (cover) to estimate aboveground biomass for red brome (Bromus rubens L.), a widespread nonnative annual grass in the Mojave Desert, USA. At three study sites, including one measured for three consecutive years, B. rubens cover spanned 0.1% to 85% and aboveground biomass 1 to 321 g m−2. In log10-transformed linear regressions, B. rubens cover accounted for 68% to 96% of the variance in B. rubens biomass among sites, with all coefficients of determination significant at P < 0.05. For every doubling of percent cover, biomass was predicted to increase by 78%, 83%, and 144% among the three sites. At the site measured for three consecutive years, which ranged in rainfall from 65% to 159% of the long-term average, regression slopes each year differed from other years. Regression results among sites were insensitive to using cover classes (10 classes encompassing 0% to 100% cover) compared with simulated random distribution of integer cover within classes. Biomass of B. rubens was amenable to estimation in the field using cover, and such estimates may have applications for modeling invasive annual plant fuel loads and ecosystem carbon storage.

Aportaciones a la flora de Galicia. XII

Se mencionan 31 plantas de diverso interés para la flora de Galicia, otras zonas de la Península Ibérica y Europa. Se incluye 1 novedad para España (Cistus populifolius subsp. populifolius × laurifolius), 5 novedades regionales (Limonium sinuatum, Onobrychis viciifolia, Verbascum pulverulentum × simplex, Carex divulsa subsp. leersii, Scirpus sylvaticus), 13 novedades provinciales (Minuartia hybrida subsp. vaillantiana, Cistus populifolius × salvifolius, Sinapis alba subsp. mairei, Sedum dendroideum, Euphorbia lathyrus, Buglossoides arvensis, Mentha spicata, Centaurea langei subsp. langei, Tragopogon castellanus, T. dubius, Aira cupaniana, Allium oleraceum, Bromus rubens, Fritillaria lusitanica) y diversas plantas de interés ecológico, corológico o taxonómico, incluyendo varias novedades para la flora de la Sierra de Ancares (Lugo-León). Se confirma la presencia de Verbascum boerhavii. También, a la luz de la información obtenida, eliminamos del catálogo de la flora vascular de Galicia Verbascum rotundifolium subsp. haenseleri.

Climate Change May Alter Both Establishment and High Abundance of Red Brome (Bromus rubens) and African Mustard (Brassica tournefortii) in the Semiarid Southwest United States

Nonnative, invasive plants are becoming increasingly widespread and abundant throughout the southwestern United States, leading to altered fire regimes and negative effects on native plant communities. Models of potential invasion are pertinent tools for informing regional management. However, most modeling studies have relied on occurrence data, which predict the potential for nonnative establishment only and can overestimate potential risk. We compiled locations of presence and high abundance for two problematic, invasive plants across the southwestern United States: red brome (Bromus rubens L.) and African mustard (Brassica tournefortii Gouan). Using an ensemble of five climate projections and two types of distribution model (MaxEnt and Bioclim), we modeled current and future climatic suitability for establishment of both species. We also used point locations of abundant infestations to model current and future climatic suitability for abundance (i.e., impact niche) of both species. Because interpretations of future ensemble models depend on the threshold used to delineate climatically suitable from unsuitable areas, we applied a low threshold (1 model of 10) and a high threshold (6 or more models of 10). Using the more-conservative high threshold, suitability for Bromus rubens presence expands by 12%, but high abundance contracts by 42%, whereas suitability for Brassica tournefortii presence and high abundance contract by 34% and 56%, respectively. Based on the low threshold (worst-case scenario), suitability for Bromus rubens presence and high abundance are projected to expand by 65% and 64%, respectively, whereas suitability for Brassica tournefortii presence and high abundance expand by 29% and 28%, respectively. The difference between results obtained from the high and low thresholds is indicative of the variability in climate models for this region but can serve as indicators of best- and worst-case scenarios.

Distribución potencial de ocho especies exóticas de carácter invasor en el estado de Baja California, México

<p>Se determinó la distribución potencial de ocho especies exóticas de carácter invasor en el estado de Baja California (<em>Atriplex semibaccata</em>, <em>Brassica tournefortii</em>, <em>Bromus rubens</em>, <em>Centaurea melitensis</em>, <em>Cynodon dactylon</em>, <em>Salsola tragus</em>, <em>Schismus barbatus</em> y <em>Tamarix ramosissima</em>), mediante el uso del programa de modelaje MaxEnt. Para ello se utilizaron 19 variables climáticas y la distribución conocida de las especies, obtenida de registros de herbario. Todos los modelos fueron evaluados para probar su habilidad de predicción y se analizaron las variables climáticas más importantes en el modelo predictivo de cada especie. Se identificó la zona costera noroeste (zona mediterránea), como el área de mayor probabilidad de presencia de las especies. Esto puede deberse a que es una zona en donde históricamente el intercambio florístico ha sido más intensivo y donde la actividad antropogénica es mayor; además, probablemente estas especies han tenido una mejor adaptación a las condiciones climáticas de la zona, sólo algunas de ellas extienden su distribución potencial hacia las regiones desérticas del estado. Este es el primer trabajo que se realiza en Baja California, que considera las especies exóticas y su potencial invasor a partir de modelos de distribución potencial. Estos modelos, definidos con la información actual disponible, pueden apoyar para determinar los sitios más importantes de concentración de las mismas.</p>

Effects of high fire frequency in creosote bush scrub vegetation of the Mojave Desert

Plant invasions can increase fire frequency in desert ecosystems where fires were historically infrequent. Although there are many resource management concerns associated with high frequency fire in deserts, fundamental effects on plant community characteristics remain largely unstudied. Here I describe the effects of fire frequency on creosote bush scrub vegetation in the Mojave Desert, USA. Biomass of the invasive annual grass Bromus rubens L. increased following fire, but did not increase further with additional fires. In contrast, density, cover and species richness of native perennial plants each decreased following fire and continued to decrease with subsequent fires, although not as dramatically as after the initial fire. Responses were similar 5 and 14 years post-fire, except that cover of Hymenoclea salsola Torr. & A. Gray and Achnatherum speciosa Trin. & Rupr. both increased in areas burnt once. These results suggest that control of B. rubens may be equally warranted after one, two or three fires, but revegetation of native perennial plants is most warranted following multiple fires. These results are valid within the scope of this study, which is defined as relatively short term vegetation responses (≤14 years) to short fire return intervals (6.3 and 7.3 years for the two and three fire frequency levels) within creosote bush scrub of the Mojave Desert.