Medicinal and aromatic plants with allelopathic effect are a potential source of natural herbicides. The experiment was conducted in order to assess herbicidal potential of meadow sage (Salvia ...pratensis L.) on germination and growth of weed species velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Med.) and common corn-cockle (Agrostemma githago L.). Water extracts from S. pratensis dry biomass in different concentrations were evaluated under controlled laboratory conditions in Petri dish bioassay. Herbicidal effect of S. pratensis extracts depended on the extract concentration and weed species. In general, higher concentrations of water extract showed greater negative effect on germination and growth parameters of weed seedlings. A. githago had greater sensitivity to S. pratensis extracts with reductions in germination and seedlings growth up to 100% in treatments with 7.5% and 10% extract concentrations. A. theophrasti germination was not affected by water extracts, however, substantial reductions of root and shoot length as well as fresh weight of seedlings were recorded. S. pratensis proved as promising plant species for further studies.
Ljekovite i aromatične biljke s alelopatskim djelovanjem potencijalni su izvor prirodnih herbicida. Pokus je proveden kako bi se utvrdio herbicidni potencijal livadne kadulje (Salvia pratensis L.) na klijanje i rast korovnih vrsta Teofrastov mračnjak (Abutilon theophrasti Med.) i poljski kukolj (Agrostemma githago L.). Vodeni ekstrakti od suhe biomase S. pratensis u različitim koncentracijama procijenjeni su u kontroliranim laboratorijskim uvjetima u pokusu u Petrijevim zdjelicama. Herbicidni utjecaj ekstrakata S. pratensis ovisio je o koncentraciji ekstrakta i vrsti korova. Općenito, više koncentracije vodenog ekstrakta pokazale su veći negativan učinak na klijavost i parametre rasta klijanaca korova. Vrsta A. githago pokazala je veću osjetljivost na ekstrakte S. pratensis sa smanjenjem klijavosti i rasta klijanaca do 100 % u tretmanima s koncentracijama ekstrakta od 7,5 % i 10 %. Vodeni ekstrakti nisu imali utjecaja na klijavost A. theophrasti, ali je zabilježeno značajno smanjenje duljine korijena i izdanaka kao i svježe mase klijanaca. S. pratensis pokazala se kao perspektivna biljna vrsta za daljnja istraživanja.
Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi alelopatski potencijal lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) na klijavost sjemena i rast klijanaca rotkvice (Raphanus sativus L.), radiča (Cichorium intybus L. var. foliosum) ...i rajčice (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Vodeni ekstrakti pripremljeni od suhe nadzemne mase lucerne u tri koncentracije (1 %, 2,5 % i 5 %) testirani su u laboratorijskim uvjetima. Alelopatski potencijal lucerne ovisio je o test vrsti, koncentraciji vodenog ekstrakta te mjerenom parametru. Najslabije djelovanje zabilježeno je na klijavost te rast klijanaca rajčice. Povećanjem koncentracije vodenog ekstrakta povećavao se i negativni alelopatski potencijal. Najmanji utjecaj vodenih ekstrakata zabilježen je na suhu masu klijanaca test vrsta.
The aim of the study was to determine the allelopathic potential of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) on seed germination and seedling growth of radish (Raphanus sativus L.), radicchio (Cichorium intybus L. var. foliosum) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Water extracts prepared from dry alfalfa biomass in three concentrations (1%, 2.5% and 5%) were tested under laboratory conditions. The allelopathic potential of alfalfa depended on the test species, the water extract concentration, and the measured parameter. The weakest effect was recorded on germination and growth of tomato seedlings. As the concentration of the water extract increased, the negative allelopathic potential also increased. Dry weight of seedlings of test species was the least affected.
The aim of the research was to determine the effectiveness of various methods for breaking seed dormancy of weed species Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.) and their influence on ...germination and seedlings growth. Beside control treatment, eight treatments for breaking dormancy of seeds were applied: seed immersion in distilled water for 24 hours; seed immersion in water at 60 °C for 1 hour; immersion in a 0.2% solution of potassium nitrate for 24 hours; immersion in 2% solution of sodium hypochlorite for 8 hours; treatments with concentrated sulphuric acid for 5 and 10 minutes; treatment with concentrated sulphuric acid for 5 minutes and germination in darkness; and combined treatment of sulphuric acid (5 minutes) and 1.5% potassium nitrate solution (2 hours). Average germination of Johnson grass seeds in control treatment was very low, only 2.8%. All dormancy breaking treatments increased seed germination and the highest germination was observed in treatment with combination of sulphuric acid and potassium nitrate (35.0%) and treatment with 2% sodium hypochlorite (30.6%). However, sodium hypochlorite reduced root length of seedlings for 40.9% compared to control, while all treatments had a positive effect on Johnson grass shoot length. Total seedlings length was the highest when seeds were treated for 5 minutes with sulphuric acid. None of the treatments showed significant effect on Johnson grass seedlings fresh weight. Seed germinated fastest in treatment with a combination of sulphuric acid and potassium nitrate (4.58 days), and slowest when seeds were immersed in water (8.16 days) and in the 2% solution of sodium hypochlorite (8.92 days).
Alfalfa and red clover are important perennial legumes for the production of high-quality fodder. The improvement of the forage quality of legumes is one of the strategic goals of breeding programs. ...Variation in quality traits (protein content (CP), neutral detergent fiber content (NDF), and acid detergent fiber content (ADF)) and relative feed value (RFV) among seven cultivars and 39 elite breeding populations of alfalfa and red clover was evaluated in the study. Significant differences were determined among the investigated cultivars/populations. Alfalfa populations L-8, 10, 12, 15, and 20 were characterized by a high CP content (up to 23.47%) and/or low NDF and ADF contents. The highest CP content in red clover was recorded in population CD-18 (21.89%), while the lowest NDF and ADF contents were determined in populations CD-19 and CD-4, respectively. High RFV was determined in alfalfa populations L-10, 12, 20, 15, 16, 8, 11, and 17 (prime fodder), and in red clover populations CD-4, 8, 16, 14, and 19 (premium-quality fodder). The identified superior alfalfa and red clover populations will be used to improve the nutritional value of forage crops in our breeding program, which will lead to the release of novel cultivars with improved forage quality.
The current series of experiments was conducted to assess the allelopathic potential of fennel, rue, and sage seed and plant biomass on weed species hoary cress (Lepidium draba). The effect of plants ...was evaluated through: seed cogermination in Petri dishes, effect of water extracts from fresh and dry plant biomass in two concentrations (50 and 100 g l-1) in Petri dishes and pots, and effect of fresh and dry plant residues in rates of 10 and 20 g kg-1 of soil. The cogermination of seeds affected germination and seedling length of hoary cress with fennel seeds having the highest inhibitory effect and reducing germination up to 34.9%. The water extracts in Petri dish essay had various effects, however the dry plant biomass in higher concentration reduced germination and seedlings growth for up to 100%. The applications of the extracts from fresh biomass in pots with soil differed from results in Petri dishes. Sage extract in higher concentration inhibited germination for 34.2%, and fennel extract reduced root length for 22.7%. The effect of incorporation of plant residues depended on the plant species and amount of the plant residues and was both stimulatory and inhibitory. The emergence reduction was the highest with incorporation of fresh rue residues.
Alfalfa is the most important forage legume in the production of voluminous fodder. Although not primarily produced for its seeds, the seed yield is still important for the recognition and commercial ...viability of the cultivars on the market. Creating a cultivar of superior yield and forage quality with satisfactory seed production is one of the biggest challenges for alfalfa breeders and seed producers. The objective of this study was to determine forage and seed yields of 19 newly developed alfalfa experimental populations (ABP 1–19) of the Agricultural Institute Osijek during a long-term research period (2014–2018) in different climatic conditions. Significant differences were found between ABPs and years for forage and seed yields. Three-year (2014–2016) average green mass yield ranged from 68.41 t ha–1 (ABP 6) to 78.05 t ha–1 (ABP 19) and dry matter yield from 13.73 t ha–1 (ABP 6) to 15.30 t ha–1 (ABP 18). The average two-year (2017–2018) seed yield varied from 150.78 kg ha−1 (ABP 9) to 335.35 kg ha−1 (ABP 7). Annual forage yield significantly increased from the year of establishment to the second and third growing seasons of alfalfa. The highest average annual yield of green mass (90.24 t ha−1) was achieved in 2015, dry matter yield (17.62 t ha−1) in 2016 and the seed yield (394.17 kg ha−1) in 2017. During the researched period there was a considerable decreasing trend in forage yield from the first to the last cut, except in the year of the alfalfa establishment. Several alfalfa populations (ABP 19, 8, 14) superior in all analyzed traits were identified, and they represent top performing materials with the potential for developing and releasing cultivars in the near future. Populations with high yields of green mass and dry matter (ABP 12, 18, 1) and seed yield (ABP 7, 4) were also detected and represent valuable genetic material to improve our alfalfa breeding program.
Allelopathy, a biological phenomenon, is a valuable tool for weed management and minimization of synthetic pesticide use in sustainable agricultural production. The aim of the study was to evaluate ...the allelopathic potential of nine sunflower genotypes. Water extracts from dry sunflower leaves collected in two growth stages (butonisation and flowering) were tested in two concentrations (1 and 2.5%) on germination and growth of lettuce under laboratory conditions. The allelopathic effect of extracts was influenced by genotype, growth stage and extract concentration. The majority of extracts exhibited negative allelopathic potential with seed germination being the least affected, and root length reduced up to 85% compared to the control. A higher concentration of water extracts resulted in a greater reduction of lettuce growth parameters. On average, extracts collected in the flowering stage inhibited lettuce shoot length to a greater degree. Several genotypes showed a greater negative impact, especially on shoot length and seedlings’ fresh weight. Further investigations of selected sunflower genotypes with the highest allelopathic potential on weed species and studies on phytochemical analysis are needed.
Conservation tillage (CT) is an effective tool for maintaining crop productivity under adverse climate conditions, while its adoption is conditioned by the possible negative response of crop weed. ...Research with CT and liming (L) was conducted at different experimental sites on acid soils (ES 1 and ES 2) to determine the maize weediness and yield. The tillage treatments used were ST (conventional tillage), CTD (deep loosening), CTS (shallow loosening), and liming; Ly (CaO) and Ln (no CaO). The weediness assessment was conducted at the V7 and R5 maize growth stages. Weed density (WD), biomass (WB), weed coverage (WC), and species density (WSN) were determined. The highest WD was recorded on ES 2 in V7, and WB, WC, and WSN were significantly higher at CTS in R5 compared to ST. Liming affected the decrease of WD and WC in V7 and WB, WC, and WSN in R5. The average maize yield on ES 2 was 36% higher compared to ES 1. CTS resulted with the highest yield at ES 1, while at ES 2, it was similar to ST. Liming application significantly increased the maize yield. The given results indicated the positive impact of CT and L on crop productivity in different agroecological conditions, despite the increased weediness.
Climate change and the variable extreme weather conditions that today’s agricultural producers are dealing with represent some of the most important issues in food production. Nowadays, weather ...patterns are increasingly unpredictable, characterized by frequent fluctuations in temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather events. As a result, there is an increasing demand for scientists to develop more resilient and tolerant crop cultivars. Plant breeders must become creative and utilize all available resources to create modern high-yielding and widely adapted cultivars to help agriculture grow and thrive amidst the emerging changes. Forage legumes, due to their beneficial characteristics, are among the crops that can contribute to mitigating the consequences of climate change. Furthermore, what certainly does not contribute to weather conditions is the erosion of plant genetic material, which has been caused by the modernization of agriculture and the selection of the best cultivars with desirable traits over many years. Crop wild relatives (CWRs) and landraces represent plant genetic materials rich in novel gene variants that contain traits for resistance and tolerance to different climatic conditions. To expand the genetic base of cultivars and mitigate the consequences of climate change, breeders are increasingly utilizing pre-breeding methods. These methods include all the activities connected to the identification of desirable genes and traits from un-adapted materials, such as CWRs, and the transformation of these traits to an intermediate set of materials that can be used for creating new cultivars. This review paper will cover the pre-breeding process, including its components, and the resistance and/or tolerance of the CWRs and landraces of forage legumes to different extreme environmental conditions.
Alfalfa is the main perennial legume and a rich source of phytoestrogens. Variation of phytoestrogen content and agronomic traits was evaluated in twenty alfalfa populations over two consecutive ...years. The most dominant phytoestrogen in alfalfa populations was genistein, while slightly lower levels were found for kaempferol and coumestrol. Several populations (Af 1, 12, 18, 19, 20) showed superior agronomic performance, especially high forage yield (up to 71.93 t ha−1). These populations were also characterized by a lower (Af 1, 12, 18, 20) or high (Af 1, 19) content of total and individual phytoestrogens, including Af 8 population with the highest total content (2637.10 μg g-1 of DM) and content of most of the individual phytoestrogens and favorable agronomic properties. Ward hierarchical clustering method grouped the twenty evaluated populations into four distinct clusters. Identified materials provide a valuable source of germplasm for further breeding programs in order to develop new high-yielding cultivars with either low (for forage use) or high (for possible pharmaceuticals/nutraceuticals industries) phytoestrogen content.
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