False Indigo Research Articles

Uncovering the fungus responsible for stem and root rot of false indigo: pathogen identification, new disease description, and genome analyses.

Calonectria spp. can cause destructive diseases on forestry crops, legumes like soybean and peanut, and ornamentals. Species of Calonectria affecting ornamental plants are not well characterized or understood, though they have been widely documented as an issue in the ornamental industry. This research focused on the molecular identification, pathogenicity validation, and genome analysis of a Calonectria sp. isolate recovered from ornamental blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) plants showing disease symptoms of crown and root rot in a commercial nursery in Virginia. The fungus on B. australis was identified as C. fujianensis (Nectriaceae, Hypocreales), a member of the C. colhuonii species complex using multilocus sequencing. Pathogenicity tests were fulfilled by inoculating C. fujianensis conidia on B. australis seedlings, confirming a causal relationship between this pathogen and the disease symptoms observed. A 62.7 Mb high-quality hybrid genome assembly generated using Illumina and Nanopore data was obtained, contained in 16 contigs, four of which were complete chromosomes. A total of 750 effectors were found in the genome, similar to cutinase and pectinase virulence factors described from other Calonectria species' genomes. Characterization of this novel disease of B. australis advances our understanding of Calonectria as an important but poorly studied group of plant pathogens.

Development, bioactive and sensory analysis of the honey-filled chocolate pralines infused with ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea L.) extract

Chocolate is consumed largely worldwide and it is known as one of the most craved foods. The market of chocolate products is growing steadily and is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. The aim of the present study was to formulate chocolate pralines with enriched sensory and bioactive attributes by incorporating different types of honey (false indigo, buckwheat, rapeseed, mandarin and sage) and ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea L.) extract as ingredients of the filler. The honey samples were subjected to physico-chemical analysis, sugar analysis using the HPLC-RID methodology, as well as to evaluation of antioxidant capacity. The bioactive and sensory properties and sugar composition of the formulated pralines were determined. Bioactive characterization included the determination of phenolic profile by HPLC-PAD methodology. Buckwheat honey showed the most pronounced antioxidant capacity with the value of 3.21 and 2.06 µmol Trolox/g dmb, determined by ABTS and DPPH assays, respectively, while the lowest values were measured for mandarin honey (0.41 and 0.32 µmol Trolox/g dmb). Specific bioactive compounds of cocoa: epicatechin, theobromine and caffeine, were detected in all formulated chocolate pralines, as well as the most predominant phenolic compounds of ground ivy: chlorogenic, caffeic, rosmarinic acid and rutin. Such enriched bioactive composition contributed to the pronounced antioxidant capacity of chocolate pralines. Finally, chocolate pralines prepared with mandarin honey were sensory evaluated as the sweetest and gained the highest scores for the overall acceptability.

Phosphorus enrichment enabled Amorpha fruticosa to invade on the floodplain of the Tagliamento River, Italy

The North American nitrogen-fixing shrub Amorpha fruticosa (false indigo) is an aggressive invader of riverine habitats in Europe, though the reasons for its success are poorly understood. We hypothesized that its spread on the floodplain of the Tagliamento River in Northern Italy was enabled by anthropogenic phosphorus (P) enrichment. To investigate this hypothesis, we surveyed seed production at different locations along the river and performed a growth chamber experiment in which seedlings of three common floodplain shrubs (A. fruticosa, Salix eleagnos and Buddleja davidii) were grown at 10 levels of both nitrogen (N) and P. As a bioassay of N and P availabilities, we analyzed concentrations of these nutrients in Salix eleagnos leaves collected at different positions along the river. P availability was significantly higher in the lower reaches of the river, where A. fruticosa was abundant, than at its upstream limit. Numbers of A. fruticosa seeds per inflorescence increased strongly in a downstream direction and there was a trend for higher seed weight. In the growth experiment, A. fruticosa was more P-demanding than the other species, producing little biomass and no rhizobial nodules at low P. It also exhibited greater plasticity than the other species in both root mass fraction and ratio of longest root length to root mass. We conclude that anthropogenic P enrichment enabled A. fruticosa to invade what was originally a very oligotrophic environment. This N2-fixing shrub exhibits greater phenotypic plasticity than native S. eleagnos, giving it a competitive advantage under conditions of high P availability.

The complete chloroplast genome of the threatened Napa False Indigo Amorpha californica var. napensis Jeps. 1925 (Fabaceae) from Northern California, USA

Amorpha californica var. napensis Jeps. 1925, the Napa false indigo, is a threatened shrub endemic to northern California. Here the complete chloroplast genome of topotype material of var. napensis was assembled and characterized to contribute to the bioinformatics, systematics, and conservation of this variety. The chloroplast genome (GenBank accession OK274088) is 158,294 base pairs (bp) in length, encodes 130 genes including 85 protein-coding, 37 tRNA, 8 rRNA, and shows a high-level of gene synteny to other Papilionoideae. Phylogenetic analysis fully resolved var. napensis in a clade with A. fruticosa L. and A. roemeriana Scheele, sister to the Dalbergieae. The newly sequenced chloroplast genome shows that the genetic differences between var. napensis and Amorpha californica Nutt. var. californica are greater than the variation observed between var. napensis and many other Amorpha spp. sequences deposited in GenBank. These data suggest that var. napensis should be elevated to full species rank.

Propagation of Herbaceous and Woody Perennials in Submist and Overhead Mist Systems

Abstract Submist aeroponic propagation systems apply mist to the bases of cuttings, rather than from overhead. These systems improve rooting in some plant species and reduce water usage compared to overhead mist systems. Submist systems, which were supplemented with infrequent overhead mist, were used to propagate stem cuttings collected from six plant species: bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana Walter), purple smoke false indigo (Baptisia australis x B. alba ‘Purple Smoke'), threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata L.), panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata Siebold), sweetgale (Myrica gale L.), and ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius (L.) Maxim ‘Diablo'). The submist systems were compared to traditional overhead mist with a solid propagation medium. Rooting was better in overhead mist for cuttings of threadleaf coreopsis and purple smoke false indigo. Rooting was comparable between systems for all other species (bluestar, panicle hydrangea, sweetgale, and ninebark). In the submist systems, water usage was reduced by 67% compared to overhead. This is probably due to reduced evaporative water loss and more targeted application of water directly to cuttings, resulting in less water lost on the ground or benchtops. Species used in this study: Amsonia tabernaemontana Walter, Baptisia australis x B. alba ‘Purple Smoke', Coreopsis verticillata L., Hydrangea paniculata Siebold, Myrica gale L., Physocarpus opulifolius (L.) Maxim ‘Diablo'. Chemicals used in this study: KIBA (potassium salt of indole-3-butyric acid).

Cytotoxic Effects of Trifolium pratense, Baptisia australis, and Rubus idaeus Extracts on CHO-K1 Cells

The cytotoxic effects of red clover, blue false indigo, and red raspberry plant extracts were evaluated on CHO-K1 cells. The hormone-dependent CHO-K1 cells are ovarian cells derived from Chinese hamsters. Trifolium pratense (red clover) extracts were obtained from the blossoms and leaves of the red clover plant. Baptisia australis (blue false indigo) extracts were obtained from the roots, stems, and leaves of the blue false indigo plant. Rubus idaeus (red raspberry) extracts were prepared from the fruits of the red raspberry plant. Two methods, soxhlet and microwave assisted extractions, were utilized and evaluated for their effectiveness in producing phyto extracts. Methanol was the solvent used in both methods. In all experiments, the CHO-K1 cell line was exposed to the different extracts for a period of 48 hours. An MTS assay was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the cytotoxic capabilities of each extract at different concentrations on the CHO-K1 cell line. After the collection of all the data, the 1:1 combination of red clover and red raspberry extracts, obtained via soxhlet extraction, yielded the most potent cytotoxic effects on the CHO-K1 cell line.

A Novel Chinese Honey from Amorpha fruticosa L.: Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Capacity In Vitro.

False indigo (Amorpha fruticosa L., A. fruticosa) is the preferred tree indigenous for windbreak and sand control in Northwest China, while information on nutritional and bioactive characteristics of its honey is rare. Herein, 12 honey of Amorpha fruticosa L. (AFH) were sampled in Northwest China and the nutritional composition was determined. Sixteen mineral element and ten dominant polyphenols content were identified and quantified by ICP-MS (Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) and HPLC-QTOF-MS (High performance liquid chromatography-Quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry), respectively. Moreover, AFH demonstrated high levels of DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity (IC50 100.41 ± 15.35 mg/mL), ferric reducing antioxidant power (2.04 ± 0.29 µmol FeSO4·7H2O/g), and ferrous ion-chelating activity (82.56 ± 16.01 mg Na2EDTA/kg), which were significantly associated with total phenolic contents (270.07 ± 27.15 mg GA/kg) and ascorbic acid contents (213.69 ± 27.87 mg/kg). The cell model verified that AFH exhibited dose-dependent preventive effects on pBR322 plasmid DNA and mouse lymphocyte DNA damage in response to oxidative stress. Taken together, our findings provide evidence for the future application of AFH as a potential antioxidant dietary in food industry.

INaturalist is an Unexploited Source of Plant-Insect Interaction Data

The aim of this study was to assess whether it is possible to extract useful interaction data between flowers and visiting insects using photographs from citizen science. Ultimately the longer-term aim is to understand possible impacts of invasive species on pollination networks. We used data from iNaturalist (https://www.inaturalist.org), GBIF (https://www.gbif.org), and GLOBI (https://www.globalbioticinteractions.org). From iNaturalist, we used photographs to extract flower visitation interactions. GBIF data were used for plant and pollinator occurrences, and GLOBI was used for information about known interactions between plants and pollinators. For this study we selected four plant species: Oxalis pes-caprae (Bermuda buttercup), Cirsium vulgare (spear thistle) Amorpha fruticosa (false indigo) and Lantana camara (common lantana). These species are relatively common, frequently photographed and known to be attractive to insects. All of these species are also considered invasive in different parts of world. We found that over 60% of all photographs identified as a picture of a bee (Apoidea) also showed a flower that the insect was visiting. Thirty-nine percent of butterflies (Papilionoidea) were photographed on a flower and 38% of Syrphidae. Currently, there are about 170,000 pictures of bees; 700,000 butterflies and 50,000 Syrphidae on iNaturalist from all over the world. This means there is a vast untapped resource of insect-plant interaction data on iNaturalist just waiting for exploitation. iNaturalist provides a standardized and cost-efficient enhancement to specimen collection, and it can be easily adapted for specific research goals. However, the relatively high rate of photographs without both species identifications (plant and visitor) highlights the importance of investing in resources to promote this approach and the importance of determining the identity of all species in a photograph.

Applicability of invasive alien plants in controlling harmful organisms of cultivated plants

With a rapid growth invasive alien plants cause a lot of problems not only to indigenous varieties of plants, but also for people, as they are often the cause of many health problems, such as allergies, and they also contribute to greater economic loss. Plant protection is an activity which, on the basis of appropriate scientific knowledge by means of various methods and an economical manner, protects cultivated plants from harmful organisms. In Slovenia, as well as worldwide, the use of pesticides in plant protection programmes is the most widespread method due to price and other benefits. Researchers are looking for new, environmentally more acceptable ways of protecting plants against harmful organisms due to adverse environmental effects of pesticides, their non-target activity, the occurence of resistance to pesticides, and increasingly stringent environmental policies. One such measure is also the study of plant extracts in the suppresing of economically important harmful organisms. In a review article, we focused on the literature review of the usefeulness of plant extracts of several invasive alien plant species in plant protection: knotweeds (Fallopia japonica [Houtt.] Ronse Decr), F. x bohemica (Chrtek & Chrtková) Bailey), goldenrods (Solidago canadensis L., S. gigantea Aiton), stag's-horn sumac (Rhus typhina L.), tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima [Mill.] Swingle), false indigo (Amorpha fruticosa L.) and stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens [L.] Greuter), which we are studying within the project ApPLAuSE.

18-year grass hedge effect on soil water loss and soil productivity on sloping cropland

Grass hedges planted along the contour of slope cropland can greatly reduce water and soil loss, but the effect of long-term grass hedge cultivation on soil productivity is unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the temporal and spatial characteristics of soil thickness, soil fertility and grain yield on the slope croplands with long-term grass hedge cultivation. Four grass hedges, vetiver (Vetiveria ziaaniodes), false indigo (Amsopha fruticose), alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and Chinese alpine rush (Eulaliopisi binata), were grown for 18 years on slope croplands in the purple-soil area of Sichuan province, China. Maize was planted in the alley between the grass hedges. The results showed that the plots with grass hedges decreased runoff by 50.1%–60.7% and soil loss by 82%–91.6% compared with the control plots without grass hedges. The vetiver hedge was the most effective in reducing soil loss among the four grass hedges. The soil thickness increased 7–31cm in the upslope position above the grass hedges and decreased 7.5–34.5cm in the downslope position below the grass hedges compared to those at the beginning of the experiment 18 years ago. A series of less slope gradient terraces were gradually built after grass hedge planted. The gradient decrease rate was higher in the first 9 years, and the rate became lower in the next 9 years after grass hedge planted. The soil on and above the grass hedges had higher organic matter content (SOM) than the soil below the grass hedges. The maize yield had a positive correlation with SOM and soil thickness. The maize yields in the grass hedge treatments were 0%–11.3% less than that in the control. Water, nutrient and sunlight competition was the main impact factor negatively affecting the maize yield, and grass hedges retained soil thickness benefits for increasing maize yields. In addition, the grass hedges occupied space otherwise used for crop cultivation, so the plot maize yields in the grass hedge treatments were 12.7%–22.8% less than that in the control. To ensure crop production and environmental quality, it was recommended that grass hedges should be applied on slope cropland with serious soil erosion. In addition, grass species with higher soil and water conservation efficiency, smaller canopy, lower demand for water and nutrients should be selected, such as vetiver grass hedge.

Seed Bank of Amorpha fruticosa L. on Some Ruderal Sites in Serbia

Amorpha fruticosa L. (Fabaceae), known as indigo bush, false indigo bush, false indigo and desert false indigo, is deciduous shrub (1-6 m tall). The woody weed species A. fruticosa has a high environmental adaptability and is present in different environmental conditions. In Vojvodina region (Northern Serbia), it is mostly present near irrigation channels and river banks, especially in alluvial or marshy areas. Since A. fruticosa is continually spreading near river banks, the aim of research was to determine seed bank composition near the Danube River. In 2014, soil sampling was performed at localities with high population of A. fruticosa (3-4 plants at age over two years and 10-14 plants at age 1-2 years). Soil samples were taken from two localities (Futog and Sangaj) with alluvial sandy soil and chernozem near the Danube River. Each sample was sieved through a system of copper sieves of various diameters. After the separation of seeds from samples, they were identified. Significant presence of A. fruticosa seeds (1,914 seeds/m²) was established in a layer of 0-10 cm. In the same soil layer, the significant presence of seeds of Stellaria media (L.) Vill. and Urtica dioica L. were also established. Seeds of A. fruticosa were not found in soil layers 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm. The invasive weed species A. fruticosa produces a large number of seeds in two cycles. The majority of the seeds stay in the upper soil layer, being dispersed by water (hydrochory).

Taxon specific response of carabids (Coleoptera, Carabidae) and other soil invertebrate taxa on invasive plant Amorpha fruticosa in wetlands

False indigo (Amorpha fruticosa L.) is an invasive exotic plant introduced to Europe in the early eighteenth century. Its spread has been rapid, particularly in disturbed wetland habitats, where it forms dense impermeable monospecific stands and modifies habitat conditions. The impact of A. fruticosa on native plant communities has been well analyzed, however knowledge concerning the possible effects on soil invertebrates and particularly carabid beetles is completely lacking. This study analyzed the impact of an A. fruticosa invasion on carabid beetles and other soil invertebrates. Soil fauna was sampled by pitfall traps at natural habitats, initially colonized by A. fruticosa, and habitats largely invaded by A. fruticosa. In total 2,613 carabid beetles belonging to 50 species and 72,166 soil invertebrates were collected. The invasion of A. fruticosa strongly affected the carabid beetle species composition, which clearly differed between all studied sites. Widespread euritopic carabid beetle species showed positive responses to A. fruticosa invasion, while the activity density of open habitat species strongly declined. Mean individual biomass was significantly higher at invaded sites due to increased incidence of large carabids (genus Carabus Linne, 1758). Carabid beetle activity density and abundance of soil invertebrates were considerably higher at invaded sites than in natural sites. Conversely, the impact of A. fruticosa on carabid beetle species richness and diversity was less pronounced, most likely due to immigration from adjacent habitats. Changes in carabid beetle species composition and abundance of soil invertebrates were most likely due to changes in vegetation structure and microclimate. The results suggest that A. fruticosa invasion considerably affected carabid beetles, an insect group that is only indirectly related to plant composition. Therefore, severe future changes can be expected in invertebrate groups that are closely related to plant composition, since A. fruticosa cannot be completely removed from the habitat and covers relatively large areas.

Favorable fragmentation: river reservoirs can impede downstream expansion of riparian weeds

River valleys represent biologically rich corridors characterized by natural disturbances that create moist and barren sites suitable for colonization by native riparian plants, and also by weeds. Dams and reservoirs interrupt the longitudinal corridors and we hypothesized that this could restrict downstream weed expansion. To consider this "reservoir impediment" hypothesis we assessed the occurrences and abundances of weeds along a 315-km river valley corridor that commenced with an unimpounded reach of the Snake River and extended through Brownlee, Oxbow, and Hells Canyon reservoirs and dams, and downstream along the Snake River. Sampling along 206 belt transects with 3610 quadrats revealed 16 noxious and four invasive weed species. Ten weeds were upland plants, with Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) restricted to the upstream reaches, where field morning glory (Convolvulus arvensis) was also more common. In contrast, St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) was more abundant below the dams, and medusahead wildrye (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) occurred primarily along the reservoirs. All seven riparian species were abundant in the upstream zones but sparse or absent below the dams. This pattern was observed for the facultative riparian species, poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) and perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), the obligate riparian, yellow nut sedge (Cyperus esculentus), the invasive perennial, reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), and three invasive riparian trees, Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), false indigo (Amorpha fruticosa), and tamarisk (Tamarix spp.). The hydrophyte purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) was also restricted to the upstream zone. These longitudinal patterns indicate that the reservoirs have impeded the downstream expansion of riparian weeds, and this may especially result from the repetitive draw-down and refilling of Brownlee Reservoir that imposes a lethal combination of drought and flood stress. The dams and reservoirs may also interrupt hydrochory, the downstream flow of seeds and clonal fragments. We thus conclude that with some operational patterns, dams and reservoirs can impede the downstream expansion of riparian weeds.

Palatability and nutritive value of native legumes

Native perennial legumes have potential for use as components of grazing systems. Palatability affects forage utilization by grazing livestock, but relative palatability of native legumes is unknown. We determined the palatability of these native legumes of the Fabaceae family based on relative leaf consumption: false indigo ( Amorpha fruticosa L.), Illinois bundleflower ( Desmanthus illinoensis (Michx.) MacMill. ex B.L. Rob. & Fernald), blue wild indigo ( Baptisia australis (L.) R. Br.), wild senna ( Senna hebecarpa (Fernald) Irwin & Barneby), and purple prairie clover ( Dalea purpurea Vent.); compared with temperate forage legumes (Fabaceae): alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) and birdsfoot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus L.). Purple prairie clover and Illinois bundleflower were among the most palatable native legumes each year and were readily consumed by grazing sheep ( Ovis aries L. [Bovidae]). False indigo, a shrub, was the least palatable native legume. The leafiness, plant maturity, and nutritive value of leaves varied among legumes but were not associated with palatability. Sheaffer CC, Wyse DL, Ehlke NJ. 2009. Palatability and nutritive value of native legumes. Native Plants Journal 10(3): 224–231.

Characterization of 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers for Georgia false indigo (Amorpha georgiana Wilbur var. georgiana), an endangered species, and their utility in other dwarf Amorpha L. species

In order to facilitate the addition of a genetic component to conservation management plans for Georgia false indigo (Amorpha georgiana var. georgiana), a rare legume of the southeastern USA, 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed. No gametic disequilibrium was detected among locus pairs, but observations for five of the loci significantly deviated from expected Hardy-Weinberg proportions. Cross-species testing was successful and demonstrated the utility of the majority of the markers in congeners Amorpha georgiana var. confusa and Amorpha herbacea. The results also suggested that A. georgiana var. confusa is tetraploid rather than diploid.

The influence of Desert False Indigo, Amorpha fruticosa, and three arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi on the growth of Populus ussuriensis seedlings

The influence of Desert False Indigo, Amorpha fruticosa, on the growth of Populus ussuriensis seedlings inoculated with three arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) fungi (Glomus mosseae, Glomus intraradices, Glomus sinuosa) was studied using the nylon net method. The results showed that all three AM fungi infected P. ussuriensis seedlings and G. intraradices and also G. mosseae infected A. fruticosa. The AM fungi promoted growth of P. ussuriensis and Desert False indigo seedlings. Moreover, under co-cultivation with A. fruticosa, the biomass of P. ussuriensis increased significantly. The concentration of nitrogen in P. ussuriensis grown with A. fruticosa and the concentration of soluble nitrogen in the rhizosphere were also higher than when grown alone. Hypha were found on the two plant seedlings inoculated with G. mosseae and G. intraradices, suggesting that AM fungi may transport nutrients from seedlings of A. fruticosa to the rhizosphere of P. ussuriensis seedlings, which may have promoted the growth of P. ussuriensis. The AM fungi played a critical role on the effect of A. fruticosa on growth of P. ussuriensis.

Nitrogen competition in contour hedgerow systems in subtropical China

Contour hedgerow agroforestry has been studied for soil erosion control and soil fertility improvement in subtropical China. However, below-ground competitive and complementary interactions between tree hedges and crops have received relatively little attention in the scientific literature. A field experiment was conducted to explore the effects of a leguminous shrub hedge, false indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) and a non-legume gramineous hedge, vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides), on the growth of soybean (Glycine max). Pot experiments were also carried out to determine the effect of below-ground interactions on nitrogen uptake between two contour hedgerow agroforestry with a 15N isotope method and root partition, i.e., a sheet barrier, a mesh barrier and no barrier. The results showed that the relative disadvantage of intercropping, expressed as land equivalent ratio, were 0.96/0.97 for the A. fruticosa–soybean system and 0.99 for the vetiver–soybean system, based on the dry matter (DM) production and N acquisition. Both area-adjusted yield and N content of soybean were significantly decreased in two intercropping treatments compared to those in the sole soybean treatment. The DM production of soybean, for example, was decreased by 10% and 5% under A. fruticosa and vetiver, respectively, when compared to the sole soybean. The intercropping disadvantage was mainly due to interspecific competitive interaction. The result was proved by lower yields and biomasses adjacent to the hedgerows. The 15N-based estimates of N uptake, in the vetiver–soybean system, of soybean with mesh separation (6.11 mg pot−1) was lower than that (13.85 mg pot−1) with no root separation, for vetiver the higher 15N uptake was observed in no root separation (13.90 mg pot−1). In the A. fruticosa–soybean system, the lower 15N uptake of soybean (1.53 mg pot−1) and A. fruticosa (6.42 mg pot−1) were observed in no root separation. It is concluded that the growth of soybean was unexpectedly suppressed in two intercropping systems. The growth of A. fruticosa was clearly suppressed due to below-ground interactions, yet the growth of vetiver was improved to a great extent.

Evaluation of Diversity among North American Accessions of False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa L.) for Forage and Biomass

False indigo (Amorpha fruticosa L.) is a perennial leguminous shrub native to North America. The species could potentially be used for livestock forage, biomass energy, reclamation of degraded environments, or as green manure. Future work with the species will depend upon knowledge of available accessions. Our objectives were to determine (1) the range of diversity among accessions, (2) the correlations among traits across locations, and (3) the distribution of variation among accessions. We studied 21 accessions grown at two locations and a subset of 15 accessions grown at a third location. We measured 47 morphological, agronomic, and phenological traits. All traits were influenced by accession in at least one location (p < 0.05). The mean dry matter (DM) biomass yield of accessions in August ranged from 53 to 1515 g plant−1 and was correlated across locations. False indigo had a high second-year leaf concentration, averaging 660 g kg−1 DM at one location in August. Forage quality of false indigo leaves was high, with average crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations in July of 205, 226, and 235 g kg−1, respectively. Accession means of forage quality traits were poorly correlated across locations, indicating that it would be difficult to improve forage quality through selection. Diversity among accessions was often related to geographic origin. The two southern accessions were distinct from all other accessions, indicating that accessions from distant geographic regions will likely contribute valuable diversity to a plant breeding program.

Seeding rate affects establishment of native perennial legumes in the upper midwestern US

In Minnesota, perennial native legumes (Fabaceae) differed in population and yield response to seeding rates of 14, 67, 135, 275, and 538 pure live seeds (PLS)/m2 (1.3, 6.3, 12.5, 25, and 50 PLS/ft2) when seeded in cultivated seedbeds with little bluestem (Schizachryium scoparium (Michx.) Nash [Poaceae]). Average seeding-year populations were greatest for Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis (Michx.) MacM. ex B.L. Robins. & Fern.) (131 plants/m2); intermediate and similar for false indigo (Amorpha fruticosa L.), wild blue indigo (Baptisia australis (L.) R. Br), and wild senna (Senna hebecarpa (Fern.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby) (average of 72 plants/m2); and least for purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea Vent) (27 plants/m2). Seeding-year populations of all legumes increased linearly as seeding rate increased. Second-year biomass yield of legumes in mixture with little bluestem ranged from 1.1 Mg/ha(0.5 tons/ac) for purple prairie clover to 5.6 Mg/ha (2.5 tons/ac) for Illinois bundleflower.

Establishment of Acanthoscelides pallidipennis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) feeding in seeds of the introduced legume Amorpha fruticosa, with a new record of its Eupelmus parasitoid in Japan.

A North American bruchid beetle Acanthoscelides pallidipennis (Motschulsky) was newly found on Kyushu Island, Japan, the larvae of which feed in seeds of introduced false indigo (or indigobush), Amorpha fruticosa L. (Fabaceae: Astragaleae). The morphological characters of the Japanese population were similar to those of introduced populations in Korea and China and of native populations in Texas. Plant quarantine records indicated that the introduction of A. pallidipennis was due to recent introductions of A. fruticosa seeds from China and/or Korea as soil cover on cut slopes. The proportions of seeds eaten by A. pallidipennis in three consecutive years (1997‐1999) in Fukuoka, located in the northern part of Kyushu Island, were as high as 56.0% for the overwintered generation and 92.0% for the first generation feeding in the dry seeds of previous years. No parasitoid emergence was observed in the first two years. In 1999, however, Eupelmus sp. (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) had parasitized the overwintered generation at an extremely low level, which is the first record of a parasitoid of A. pallidipennis in Japan. Time lags required for parasitoids to use introduced phytophagous insects are reviewed. The ability of Eupelmus sp. and its host to overwinter and the short lag between our first observations of each of the two species in Japan may indicate a joint introduction of the parasitoid with its host.