Invasive exotic plant monitoring in Capitol Reef National Park: 2019 field season, Scenic Drive and Cathedral Valley Road

Invasive exotic plant (IEP) species are a significant threat to natural ecosystem integrity and biodiversity, and controlling them is a high priority for the National Park Service. The North-ern Colorado Plateau Network (NCPN) selected the early detection of IEPs as one of 11 monitoring protocols to be implemented as part of its long-term monitoring program. From May 30 to June 1, 2019, network staff conducted surveys for priority IEP species along the Scenic Drive and Cathedral Valley Road monitoring routes at Capitol Reef National Park. We detected 119 patches of six priority IEP species along 34 kilometers of the two monitor-ing routes. There were more patches of IEPs, and a higher percentage of large patches, than in previous years. This indicates that previously identified infestations have expanded and grown. The most common (47.1%) patch size among priority species was 1,000–2,000 m2 (0.25–0.5 acre). The vast majority (93.2%) of priority patches ranked either low (58.8%) or very low (34.4%) on the patch management index scale. Tamarisk (Tamarix sp., 72 patches) was the most prevalent priority IEP species. African mustard (Malcolmia africana, 32 patch-es), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis, 9 patches), and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angusti-folia, 3 patches) occurred less commonly. Together, these four species represented 97.5% of all patches recorded in 2019. Four IEP species were found on the monitored routes for the first time: Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), quackgrass (Elymus repens), Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila), and African mustard (Malcolmia africana, not on the priority species list before 2019). Cathedral Valley Road had higher IEP priority patches per kilometer (5.68) than the Scenic Drive (2.05). IEP species were found on 37.9% (25 of 66) of monitored transects. Almost all these detections were Russian thistle (Salsola sp.). Russian thistle was widespread, present in 33.3% of transects, with an estimated cover of 0.2% across all transects sampled. Across routes monitored in all three rotations (2012, 2015, and 2019), Russian thistle has increased in frequency. However, its frequency remained about the same from 2015 to 2019, and percent cover remains low. Tamarisk and field bindweed have both increased in preva-lence since monitoring began, with tamarisk showing a dramatic increase in the number and size of patches. Immediate control of tamarisk and these other species is recommended to reduce their numbers on these routes. The NCPN plans to Capitol Reef in 2020 to monitor Oak and Pleasant creeks, completing the third rotation of invasive plant monitoring.

Effects Of Sideration On The Number Of Weeds Used At Different Times

In keeping up and expanding soil fertility by applying siderite (green manure), increasing the yield of cotton by planting and cultivating pisum, pea, rapeseed, and grain as siderite crops from selected plants; amid cultivation, 39-51 tons of green biomass per hectare was collected in summer and 17-22 tons in autumn, and their effect on weed numbers were determined. In this case, in the experimental field, more perennial weeds were found, such as salomalaykum (Cyperus rotundus L.), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), ajrik (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.), and annuals were found in semizoot (Portulaca oleracea L.), white sorghum (Chenopodium album L.), common rosemary (Amaranthus retleflexus L.), ituzum (Solanum nigrum) and others were observed. As a result, the number of yearly and perennial weeds beneath the influence of summer sideration diminished by 2.4-2.6 units compared to the control option before the 1st cultivation between cotton rows, and by 4.6-4.7 units before the final irrigation, or under the influence of autumn sideration. In accordance with the over, a decrease of 2.8-3.1 units was accomplished, and before the final irrigation - to 5.0 units. The most noteworthy reduction in weeds was observed in rapeseed and barley variants utilized as siderates in both experiments.

Results of Studying the Efficiency of Chemical Measures Against Weed Vegetation in Sunflower Crops

This study identified the most effective methods for protecting sunflowers from weeds through the treatment of crops with the herbicides Euro Lightning, Euro Lightning Plus and Express. These options provided substantial protection of sunflowers from weeds such as the cursed thistle, field bindweed, yellow bristle grass, field mustard, frost blite and redroot pigweed. In the fight against ragweed, the herbicides Euro Lightning and Euro Lightning Plus provided excellent action and the herbicide Express provided good results. Variants with the use of the soil herbicides Gezagard and Gardo Gold suppressed yellow bristle grass, field mustard and frost blite, and satisfactorily protected against redroot pigweed. However, they were ineffective against perennial species of weeds (cursed thistle and field bindweed) and ragweed growing in the experimental area. The application of soil herbicides did not influence the growth of sunflower broomrape and plots. The use of the herbicides Euro Lightning and Express helped to reduce the contamination of crops with this type of weed. When processing crops with the herbicide Euro-Lightning Plus, this type of weed was completely absent. Statistical processing of crop data showed a difference in yield in the studied variants. Carrying out weed control measures significantly increased the yield of sunflowers in comparison to control options (without treatment). There was a significant difference in the yield of oilseeds when herbicides intended for application on vegetating plants (Euro Lightning and Express) were used, compared to when the variants of soil herbicides Gezagard and Gardo Gold were used. Keywords: sunflower, weed plants, herbicides, oilseed productivity

Symptomatology, (Co)occurrence and Differential Diagnostic PCR Identification of ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’ and ‘Ca. Phytoplasma convolvuli’ in Field Bindweed

Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) is one of the major natural plant hosts and reservoirs of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (‘Ca. P. solani’), the causal agent of plant diseases in diverse agricultural crops, including Bois noir (BN) disease of grapevine. Phylogenetically, the most closely related phytoplasma to ‘Ca. P. solani’, the ‘Ca. P. convolvuli’, induces disease in field bindweed that is known by its symptoms as bindweed yellows (BY). The occurrence, coinfection and symptoms association of the two phytoplasmas in shared host plants were the subject of this study. Specific primers for the amplification of the elongation factor Tu gene (tuf) were developed for the identification of ‘Ca. P. convolvuli’ (by conventional nested PCR), as well as primers for simultaneous detection of ‘Ca. P. solani’ and ‘Ca. P. convolvuli’ by duplex SYBR Green real-time PCR. Among symptomatic bindweed plants, 25 and 41% were infected with a single phytoplasma species, ‘Ca. P. solani’ and ‘Ca. P. convolvuli’, respectively, while 34% were infected with both phytoplasmas. None of the non-symptomatic control plants carried phytoplasma, while non-symptomatic plants from our previous epidemiological studies in BN-affected vineyards were confirmed to be infected solely with ‘Ca. P. solani’. Stamp gene typing revealed Rqg50 and Rqg31 ‘Ca. P. solani’ genotypes in plants coinfected with ‘Ca. P. convolvuli’, while three diverse genotypes (Rqg50, GGY and Rpm35) were identified in a single locality with symptomatic bindweeds infected solely with ‘Ca. P. solani’. Variations in symptoms and their association with each of the phytoplasmas are described and documented. The symptom of bushy appearance could be single out as specific for ‘Ca. P. convolvuli’ infection, while occurrence of ‘Ca. P. solani’ could not be unequivocally associated with specific alterations in infected bindweeds. The results are discussed in the context of the epidemiological and ecological complexity of ‘Ca. P. solani’-induced diseases and the relationship between the two phytoplasma relatives in shared host plant.

Hyalesthes obsoletus is an active vector of Wood blackening in the Republic of Moldova

Hyalesthes obsoletus (Signoret) is an important vector of Wood Blackening in the Republic of Moldova. To identify the causes of the epidemiology of this disease in vineyards, the period of flight and the preference of the host plant H. obsoletus in the field were studied. Monitoring of vineyards showed that this species was found on the Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), and during the period of mass flight, the leafhopper was observed on Xanthium strumarium and Gorets bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus L.). The captured leafhoppers were diagnosed with the presence of Bois Noir stolbur phytoplasm (STOL). The adults of H. obsoletus were also caught from other herbaceous plants: Povoy fence (Calystegia sepium L.), Garden quinoa (Ariplex hortensis L.), Sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus L.), Medicinal dandelion (Taraxacum officinale L.), as well as c Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.). Changes in climatic conditions in the region, causing premature drying of the grass cover, forces cicadas - vectors to switch to actively growing plants during this period, including grapes, which contributes to the widespread of the disease.

Possibility of spreading weeds with oil radish seeds

The results of herbological analyzes of seed lots of oil radish are presented. It was established that the quality of green manure seeds often does not meet the standards of the Russian Federation. A high probability of the spread of seeds of dangerous weeds with seed lots of green manure is shown. One of the most harmful weeds spreading with oil radish seeds is field bindweed.

Možnosti zatiranja izbranih plevelnih vrst v Evropi z žuželkami

Weed control by insects is increasingly important, as chemical weed control (the use of herbicides) has an important impact on the environment and, consequently, on all organisms living there. The use of insects to control weeds thus represents an alternative to herbicides. The article presents the suppression of some widespread and persistent weeds in Europe with their natural enemies - insects. The following combinations presented below are: broad-leaved dock (<em>Rumex obtusifolius</em> L.) – <em>Gastrophysa viridula</em> (De Geer, 1775), curly dock (<em>Rumex crispus</em> L.) – <em>Apion violaceum</em> (Kirby, 1808), common ragweed (<em>Ambrosia artemisiifolia</em> L.) – <em>Ophraella communa</em> (LeSage, 1986) and <em>Zygogramma suturalis</em> (Fabricius, 1775), creeping thistle (<em>Cirsium arvense</em> (L.) Scop.) – <em>Cassida rubiginosa</em> (Müller, 1776), cleavers (<em>Galium aparine</em> L.) – <em>Halidamia affinis</em> (Fallen, 1807) and <em>Sermylassa halensis</em> (Linnaeus, 1767), common knotgrass (<em>Polygonum aviculare</em> L.) and black-bindweed (<em>Fallopia convolvulus</em> L.) – <em>Gastrophysa polygoni</em> (Linnaeus, 1758) and as the last one field bindweed (<em>Convolvulus arvensis</em> L.) – <em>Galeruca rufa</em> (Germar, 1824) and <em>Tyta luctuosa</em> (Denis in Schiffmuller, 1775).

Control of ragweed in apple orchards in southern Ukraine

Goal. The effectiveness of the herbicides Hurricane Forte 500 SL, RK and Bast 150 SL, RK in protecting the apple orchard from ragweed was evaluated. Methods. The studies were conducted in the field in plantations of apple trees. The soil of the experimental plot is the southern light loamy chernozem, with a humus content in the arable layer of 3.2%, pH — 7.1. The tree planting scheme was 1.5—4 m. The experiments, observations, and counting were carried out according to generally accepted methods. Results. According to the results of phytosanitary surveys of apple plantations in farms of Odessa region, 27 species of weeds were identified, which belong to 12 botanical families. Among the annual weeds, the following species dominated: ragweed, ragweed, common shrubbery, common bedroot, white gauze; from perennial species: sharp gusset, pink sow thistle, field bindweed, wheat grass creeping, spurge vine. The mass emergence of seedlings of ragweed was observed in the third decade of April — the first decade of May. The phase of development of ragweed plants at the time of processing was 2—4 true leaves. Herbicide Hurricane Forte 500 SL in the norm of 2.0 l/ ha a month after treatment controlled 98.0%, at the end of the growing season — 83.2% of the weed. The treatment of plots with Hurricane Forte 500 SL with a flow rate of 1.0 l/ha and the addition of Trend 90 surfactant to the working solution ensured weed control after a month — 96.8%, at the end of the growing season — 80.6%. With a single application of the Bast 150 SL herbicide at a consumption rate of 4.0 l/ha, the technical efficiency a month after treatment was 94.7%; at the end of the growing season, it decreased to 60.1% due to the regrowth of ragweed plants. Two-time use of the Basta 150 SL preparation at a consumption rate of 3.0 l/ha made it possible to control the weed during the entire growing season at the level of 86.4—87.4%. Conclusions. The use of a reduced consumption rate of the Hurricane Forte 500 SL, RK herbicide in a mixture with the surfactant Trend 90 provides control of the ragweed at the optimal rate. Herbicide Basta 150 SL, RK is more effective to apply twice.