Assessing the Weed-Suppressing Potential of Cotton Chromosome Substitution Lines Using the Stair-Step Assay.

Johnie N Jenkins,Sukumar Saha,David M Stelly,Mary Gracen Fuller,Te Ming Tseng

doi:10.3390/plants10112450

Johnie N Jenkins, Sukumar Saha + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112450

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Abstract

Palmer amaranth is a problematic common weed species, especially in cotton. With the wide use of chemical herbicide and herbicide-tolerant transgenic cotton lines, Palmer amaranth populations have developed tolerance to commonly used herbicides. It is imperative to develop alternative weed control methods to slow the evolution of herbicide-resistant weed populations and provide new strategies for weed management. Eleven chromosome substitution (CS) cotton lines (CS-B26Lo, CS-T17, CS-B16-15, CS-B17-11, CS-B12, CS-T05sh, CS-T26Lo, CS-T11sh, CS-M11sh, CS-B22sh, and CS-B22Lo) were screened for weed-suppressing abilities in this study. The cotton lines were tested using the established stair-step assay. Height (cm) and chlorophyll concentration (cci) were measured for each plant in the system. The most significant variation in Palmer amaranth height reduction among the CS lines was observed 21 days after establishment. CS-B22sh (76.82%) and CS-T26Lo (68.32%) were most effective in reducing Palmer amaranth height. The cluster analysis revealed that CS-B22sh, and CS-T26Lo were clustered in one group, suggesting similar genetic potential with reference to Palmer amaranth growth and development. CS-B22sh showed novel genetic potential to control the growth and development of Palmer amaranth, a problematic weed in cotton fields. Future experimentation should implement more parameters and chemical testing to explore allelopathic interactions among CS lines and Palmer amaranth.

Highlights

Weed Science is a discipline focused on plants that are considered a nuisance [1]
Weed suppressive or otherwise competitive chromosome substitution (CS) cotton lines were determined using the reduction in mean height reduction and chlorophyll concentration of Palmer amaranth, the receiver plant species
The entire system was run for a total of 21 days after establishment (DAE)

Summary

Introduction

Weed Science is a discipline focused on plants that are considered a nuisance [1]. The definition of what is regarded as a weed largely depends on the human perspective and is generally considered a plant growing somewhere it is not desired [2,3]. One of the most troublesome weeds facing farmers and weed scientists is Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri), a broad-leaved, herbaceous dicot capable of prolific seed production and aggressive early seasonal growth [4,5]. Palmer amaranth negatively affects many economically important crops, including soybean, sorghum, and cotton [5]. Palmer amaranth is considered the most problematic weed species in eight cotton-producing states, including Mississippi [6,7], and has been observed to reduce cotton lint up to 54% [5]. Palmer amaranth decreases harvesting proficiency to 2.4% when the weed is present at a density of 3260 weeds ha−1 [8]

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