ALBERT

Notes: A floristic study of the weeds in irrigated crops in the Guadalquivir River Valley (southern Spain) revealed a total of 284 species in the 267 fields surveyed, of which about 100 can be considered highly harmful. The families with the highest numbers of species were Compositae, Gramineae, Leguminosae, Cruciferae and Umbelliferae. Although 77·8% of the species were therophytes, geophytes were important in spring-sown crops. Most species were of Mediterranean origin, especially in autumn-sown crops; Cosmopolitan and Neotropical species were more important in the spring-sown crops. At the early and late crop growth stages 7% and 10%, respectively, of the fields had severe or very severe infestations.The relationships between the main weed species and crops were studied by cluster analysis, using the corrected frequency of each species in each crop as the reference parameter. This allowed classification of the species into subgroups and hierarchical groups according to their agro-ecological preferences. A close relationship was found between a given crop, its cycle and the usual soil management practices and the phenology of certain species, reflecting the influence of these factors in restricting the germination period. The analysis differentiated the typically winter, summer and intermediate weed floras.

Notes: Orobanche crenata seeds, collected in Syria, Egypt and Spain, were buried in the field in Syria (all three seed lots) and Spain (only Spanish seeds) and at regular intervals exhumed and tested for germination, to investigate whether the seeds exhibit an annual dormancy/non-dor- mancy cycle. When exposed directly to the synthetic germination stimulant GR24 for 7 days at 20°C, seeds only germinated in autumn after the first rains and to a limited extent in winter. When the seeds were conditioned for 11 days at 20°C prior to exposure to GR24, germination occurred during summer and autumn, but seeds were dormant in winter and early spring. The observed seasonal pattern in germinability, in relation to rainfall and soil temperature, was largely consistent with the results of an in vitro experiment by Van Hezewijk et al. (1993), investigating the effect of conditioning temperature and conditioning period on germination capacity and the development of secondary dormancy. Moisture and temperature can therefore be considered the major factors regulating induction and alleviation of dormancy in buried O. crenata seeds. There were no basic differences in response owing to site of collection of O. crenata seeds, nor to the location where they were buried. Variations saisonnières des exigences de germination de graines enfouies d'Orobanche crenata Forsk.Des graines d'Orobanche crenata récoltées en Syrie, en Égypte et en Espagne ont été enfouies au champ en Syrie (les 3 lots) et en Espagne (seules les graines d'Espagne) puis ont été exhumées a intervalles régulier pour que leur aptitude à la germination soil évaluée. Le but était de déterminer si les graines possédaient un cycle annuel dormance/non dormance. Quand elles étaient directement exposées au stimulant de germination synthétique GR24 pendant 7 jours à 20°C, les graines ne germaient qu'à l'automne après les premières pluies et peu en hiver. Quand les graines restaient pendant 11 jours à 20°C avant leur exposition au GR24, la germination seproduisait en été et à l'automne mais les graines restaient dormantes en hiver et au début du prin-temps. Les variations saisonnières d'aptitude à la germination, liées aux précipitations et à la temperature du sol, étaient en accord avec les résultats d'une expérience in vitro de Van Hezewijk et al. (1993) concernant l'effet de la température et de la durée pendant laquelle elle est appliquée, sur l'aptitude à la germination et le développement de la dormance secondaire. L'humidité du sol et sa température peuvent ainsi être considérées comme les principaux facteurs qui induisent et lèvent la dormance de graines de O. crenata enfouies. On n'observait pas de différences importantes dues au lieu de récolte ou à l'endroit oü elles étaient enfouies. Jahreszeitliche Änderungen der Keimung von vergrabenen Samen von Orobanche crenata Forsk.Proben von in Syrien, Ägypten und Spanien gesammelten Orobanche-crenata-Samen wurden in Syrien und Proben nur spanischer Herkunft in Spanien im Freiland im Boden ausgelegt und in regelmäßigen Zeitabständen ausgegraben und auf ihre Keimfähigkeit getestet, um zu untersuchen, ob die Samen einen jährlichen Dormanz-Zyklus haben. Beim direktem Auslegen in dem synthetischen Keimungsmittel GR24 öber 7 d bei 20°C keimten die Samen nur im Herbst nach den ersten Regenfällen und in beschränktem Umfang im Winter. Wenn die Samen för 11 d bei 20°C vor dem Auslegen in GR24 vorbehandelt worden waren, keimten sie im Sommer und Herbst, aber im Winter und fröhen Fröhjahr waren sie dormant. Das jahreszeitliche Verhalten der Keimfähigkeit in Abhängigkeit von Niederschlag und Bodentemperatur stimmte weitgehend mit den Ergebnissen eines In-vitro-Versuches von Van Hezewijk et al. (1993) öber die Wirkung einer Wärmevorbehandlung und Vorbehandlungszeit auf die Keimfähigkeit und die Ausprägung sekundärer Dormanz öberein. Bodenfeuchte und -temperatur können deshalb als die wichtigsten Faktoren för die Induktion und Aufhebung der Dormanz von Orobanche-crenata-Samen im Boden angesehen werden. Herkunft und Versuchsort hatten keinen erheblichen Einfluß auf die Ergebnisse.

Notes: Studies were conducted in the field in 2 years comparing the phenology and growth of Orobanche crenata (Forsk) (crenate broomrape) in lentils (Lens esculenta L.) cv. Castellana, peas (Pisum sativum L.) cv. Orix, vetch (Vicia sativa L.) cv. comun and broadbean (Vicia faba L. cv. Alameda. First attachment of O. crenata to these crops took place 9–14 weeks after mid-November planting and earlier after later plantings, Differences in the first O. crenata attachment dates and in the duration of the underground growth period of O. crenata were much greater between years for any given crop than between crops in a given year: both attributes were apparently affected more by seasonal climatic conditions than by crop species, Furthermore, there was no consistent relationship found between crop growth stages and time after first attachment of the parante. This occurred in lentils and vetch while they were vegetative, in peas at late vegetative-early flowering stages, and at widely varying growth stages in broadbean, depending on planting dates and years. The maximum number of O. crenata plants successfully attached to each individual crop plant decreased in the order: peas 〉 broadbean 〉 lentil 〉 vetch, with 21, 14, 10 and 8 per plant, respectively, averaged over the two seasons. Similarly, plant parasites: host dry weight ratio were 1.0, 0.7, 0.3 and 0.2 For each of these crops, respectively.

Notes: Field studies were conducted in 1988 and 1989 to determine the phenology and growth of broomrape in sunflower as affected by crop sowing dates. The parasitic weed attachment was observed in sunflower plants with 6–7 leaves; later it was found throughout the vegetative and flowering period of the crop. O. cernua seedlings with shoot development extensive but subterranean were mainly observed at the early heading stage of sunflower. At this stage they were beginning to reduce sunflower plant growth as compared with non–parasitized plants. The emergence of broomrape began at the early flowering stage of the crop and was particularly abundant throughout this and the achene–filling stage. Generally, broomrape infection was much less at the first than at the second or third sunflower sowings, and caused less reduction in yield.The duration of the broomrape emergence period increased as sowing date was delayed. Since sunflower yield was higher at earlier sowing dates, early sowing may be recommended for sunflower crops in broomrape–infested areas under mild mediterranean climates. Effet de la date de semis sur les infections d'orobanche (Orobanche cernua Loefl.) en culture de tournesol (Helianthus annuus L.)Des études de plein champ ont été conduites en 1988 et 1989 pour déterminer comment la phénologie et la croissance des orobanches en culture de tournesol étaient affectées par les dates de semis de la culture. Le rattachement de 1'adventice parasite a été observeé chez les plantes de tournesol avec 6–7 feuilles; plus tard il était observé tout au long des périodes végétatives et de floraison de la culture.Des plantules d'O. cernua avec un développement de la tige important mais souterrain ont été principalement observées au stage bourgeon précoce du tournesol. A ce stade elles ont commencé & réquire la croissance du tournesol en comparaison avec des plantes non parasitées. La levée de 1'orobanche a commencé au début du stade de la floraison de la culture et a été particuliérement abondant pendant celle–ci et le stade remplissement des akénes. Généralement, l'infection d'orobanche a été beaucoup moins forte au premier qu'au second et troisiéme semis et a causé des baisses de rendement plus faibles.La durée de la période de levée des orobanches a augmenté quand le semis a été retardé. Puisque le rendement en tournesol a été plus élevé pour les dates de semis précoces, un semis précoce peut être recommandé pour le tournesol en zones infestées par les orobanches sous les climats méditerranéens. Die Bedeutung des Saattermins der Sonnenblume (Helianthus annuus L.) für den Befall mil der Sommerwurz (Orobanche cernua Loefl.) In Feldversuchen wurden 1988 und 1989 die PhÄnologie und das Wachstum der Sommerwurz in Sonnenblumenkulturen untersucht. Der Befall der Sonnenblumenpflanzen wurde im 6- bis 7-Blatt-Stadium festgestellt, aber auch später in der gesamten vegetativen und generativen Phase der Kulturpflanze. Keimpflanzen der Sommerwurz mit einer kräftigen, aber unterirdischen Sproßentwicklung wurden überwiegend im frühen Stadium der Blütenentwicklung der Sonnenblume beobachtet. In diesem Stadium begann die Wachstumshemmung der Sonnenblume. Zu Beginn der Blüte der Sonnenblume lief die Sommerwurz auf und war während dieses Entwicklungsstadiums und der folgenden Samenbildung besonders häufig anzutreffen. In der ersten Aussaat der Sonnenblume war der Befall allgemein geringer als in der zweiten oder dritten. Mit späterem Saattermin verlängerte sich die Keimungsperiode der Sommerwurz. Nachdem die Sonnenblume bei früherer Saat einem höheren Ertrag brachte, wird für mild-mediterrane Gebiete mit Befall von Sommerwurz eine frühe Aussaat empfohlen.

Notes: Studies on competition between Ridolfia segetum Maris, and sunflower (Helianthemum annuus L.) were conducted at eight locations in southern Spain in 1990 and 1991. in order to define competition models and to estimate from these economic thresholds as affected by crop inputs and potential yields. Competition losses in sunflower crops ranged from 19% to 56% of weed–free yields. There were slightly better correlations between percentage sunflower reduction and weed density than with weed dry weight, (−0.66 and −0.59, respectively). The weed competitive index, or sunflower crop dry weight reduction per unit dry weight of R. segetum, was 1.09. The percentage yield losses due to weed density (NPRt) were fitted to multiple linear, quadratic, exponential and hyperbolic models. The hyperbolic equation, %RSY=100 (1+1/b*NPRt)−1, where b=0.14 and is the R. segetum competitive ability index, had the lowest error sum of squares (SSE), and gave the best biological explanation for the competition response. Early emergence (before mid–March) made weeds about 1.5 times more competitive than late emergence. The economic threshold to offset the cost of a shallow post–emergence tillage, assuming 70% control efficiency, ranged from about 2.5 plants m −2 for low–yielding crops(1200kgha−1) to less than one plant m−2 for higher–yielding crops (2800 kg ha−1).

Notes: The influence of broomrape (Orobanche crenata Forsk) infection levels on commercial broad bean (Vicia faba L.) crops was investigated and an equation relating yield losses to O. crenata density was derived. O. crenata growth was weakly and negatively related to the final height or shoot number of the broad bean plant. O. crenata decreased seed yield mainly by reducing the number of pods. The number of seeds per pod was also decreased by O. crenata infection when competition occurred at late-crop growth stages when most of the pods had already developed. Bean unit seed weight was only weakly affected by infection. Correlation coefficients between O. crenata number and broad-bean seed yield per plant were significant at P=0·05 and greater than 0·70 in most locations. On average, about four O. crenata per broad-bean plant decreased seed yield by half. An estimation of the percentage of losses in any field can be calculated from the equation:%loss = 100 × 0·124 × OcN.where OcN is the average final number of emerged O. crenata per plant.

Notes: In a study of the weed flora of dryland crops in the Córdoba region (southern Spain) in 1983 and 1984, a total of 256 species from 41 families was identified in the 201 fields surveyed. The families with the highest numbers of species were Compositae, Gramineae, Leguminosae and Cruciferae. Therophytes represented 79% of the biological spectrum, with hemicryptophytes and geophytes more especially in the spring-sown crops. At the early and late crop growth stages about 4% and 8%, respectively, of the fields had severe or very severe infestations. The seasonality of the crop had a marked influence on the weed flora, mainly due to the relationship of its phenological cycle with well defined climatic periods and to soil management practices. Cluster analysis clearly differentiated typically autumn-spring and spring-summer floras as well as a set of common species.