Family Poaceae Research Articles

Pengukuran Aktivitas Nitrat Reduktase (ANR) Pada Tanaman Poaceae Secara In vivo

Corn, rice, and sugarcane are included in the Poaceae family which have high economic value as staple foods. Nitrate reductase plays a role in reducing nitrate to ammonia. The nitrate reductase activity testing can help biotechnology studies, in this case, fertilizer production or organic waste treatment, because the nitrate reductase enzyme can be used to convert nitrate into more useful nitrogen compounds. The purpose of this study was to analyze the activity of nitrate reductase (ANR) from the leaves of the Poaceae family, namely corn, rice, and sugarcane. In vivo ANR measurements were carried out using the spectrophotometric method with two types of spectrophotometers, namely the Vis/UV Spectrophotometer, Genesys10UV, and Visible Spectrophotometer, with a wavelength of 540 nm. This study concludes that rice had the highest ANR of 0.1503 µmol/gram leaf weight/hour of incubation. The increase in nitrate reductase activity indicates that the energy for nitrate reduction also increases and provides a large capacity for synthesizing amino acids, proteins, or total N assimilation.

Ecological Survey on Species of Poaceae Family Present in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Campus Awka, Anambra State

An ecological survey was done on the species of poaceae family present in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka campus. Data was collected from eight different zones of the campus which was randomly divided for adequate coverage and proper representation. Species dominance, percentage cover of species, abundance and diversity of poaceae species were recorded. The result of the study showed that a total of 24 poaceae species were identified in the study area; Eleusine indica had the highest species abundance across the eight zones, with a total frequency of 36 and a total average cover of 28.59, while Sporobulus pyramidalis is the second most abundant with a frequency of 35 and Pennisetum polystachion is the third most abundant with a frequency of 25. The result went further to show the various distributions of the poaceae species across the different zones. Eleusine indica had a relative abundance of 19.4%, followed by Sporobulus pyramidalis (16%) and Pennisetum polystachion (13.5%). More so, Andropogon gayanus had a relative abundance of (8.1%) while Andropogon tectorum, Brachiaria falcifera, Dactyloctenium aegyptium and Digistaria horizontalis as well as Eragrostis tenella, Eragrostis tremela, Panicum maximum and Pennisetum violaccum all had the lowest relative abundance of 0.5 % each. The result of Shannon Wiener index for species of poaceae family in the study area was 2.59 and this showed that there is high diversity of species of poaceae family in the study area which invariably indicates a great potential for utilization in conservation and ecological purposes.

Comprehensive Study of Si-Based Compounds in Selected Plants (Pisum sativum L., Medicago sativa L., Triticum aestivum L.).

This review describes the role of silicon (Si) in plants. Methods of silicon determination and speciation are also reported. The mechanisms of Si uptake by plants, silicon fractions in the soil, and the participation of flora and fauna in the Si cycle in terrestrial ecosystems have been overviewed. Plants of Fabaceae (especially Pisum sativum L. and Medicago sativa L.) and Poaceae (particularly Triticum aestivum L.) families with different Si accumulation capabilities were taken into consideration to describe the role of Si in the alleviation of the negative effects of biotic and abiotic stresses. The article focuses on sample preparation, which includes extraction methods and analytical techniques. The methods of isolation and the characterization of the Si-based biologically active compounds from plants have been overviewed. The antimicrobial properties and cytotoxic effects of known bioactive compounds obtained from pea, alfalfa, and wheat were also described.

A Comparative Study on the Characteristics of Seeds and Phytomass of New High-Potential Fodder and Energy Crops

The purpose of this research is to capitalise on the potential of non-traditional plant species in the Republic of Moldova from the families Asteraceae (cup plant Silphium perfoliatum; cardoon Cynara cardunculus), Fabaceae (fodder galega Galega orientalis, sand sainfoin Onobrychis arenaria), Hydrophylaceae (phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia), Malvaceae (curly mallow Malva crispa; Virginia mallow Sida hermaphrodita) and Poaceae (perennial sorghum Sorghum almum, pearl millet Pennisetum glaucum). The study presents the research results on the seed properties (dimensional parameters, structure, friability, apparent specific mass, mass of 1000 seeds) and on the phytomass quality of the above-mentioned plants. The obtained results demonstrate that the criterion of dimensional proportionality Kdp, proposed in this paper, effectively reflects the structure of the seeds; the seeds of new crops (except phacelia) have high friability (angle of repose α ≤ 33° and angle of static friction on steel α1 ≤ 27.8°, on wood α1 = 34.7°, on enamelled surface α1 = 30°). The natural fodder from the researched species is characterised by a crude protein content of 9.0–23.4%, dry matter digestibility of 56.0–66.5%, digestible energy load of 11.16–12.95 MJ kg−1, metabolizable energy of 9.16–10.63 MJ kg−1, net energy for lactation of 5.18–6.76 MJ kg−1, and relative feed value RFV = 74–129. The biochemical biomethane potential from studied vegetal substrates is 297–353 l kg−1 VS.

Contrasting patterns in phylogenetic and biogeographic factories of invasive grasses (Poaceae) across the globe

Grasses (Family Poaceae) are among the most successful invasive plants in the world. Here we evaluate phylogenetic and biogeographic patterns of emergence of naturalized and invasive species among grasses globally. In our data, circa 19% of the grasses are currently catalogued as invasive and almost 38% are listed as naturalized; these are among the highest ratios for single families of organisms. Remarkably, most tribes of grasses contain numerous naturalized and invasive species, suggesting that the invasion success is rooted broadly in ancestral traits in the Poaceae. Moreover, the probability of invasiveness is positively related to the diversification rates in the family also suggesting a link with recent radiation events. The phylogenetic distribution of the invasive condition is neither strongly conserved nor purely random. Phylogenetic clumping levels also vary between Poaceae subclades. We postulate that this diffuse clumping could be partially attributed to the expression of labile traits that contribute to species invasiveness. In addition, floristic regions (biomes and biogeographic realms) have different proportions of invasive species, with the temperate Palearctic region having the highest ratio of invasive vs. non-invasive species. The phylodiversity of aliens across regions is also variable in space. Comparison of alien phylodiversity levels across biogeographic realms and biomes reveals regions producing highly restricted invasive lineages and others where the diversity of aliens exported is no different from global mean diversity levels in grasses. Elucidating the evolutionary patterns and drivers of invasiveness is useful for understanding and managing invasions, with the low phylogenetic structure of alien grasses warning of their overall high invasiveness potential.

Nutritional and Nutraceutical Potentials of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a Poaceae family perennial grass that yields essential oil. The prefix ‘lemon’ refers to the odour, which is mostly owing to the presence of citral, a cyclic monoterpene. It is a rapidly growing and native to South India and Sri Lanka that is now widely cultivated throughout tropical America and Asia. The essential oil is used medicinally which is derived from freshly cut and slightly dried leave. Lemongrass has recently gained global prominence due to its extensive industrial applications. It also contains a significant amount of flavonoids, essential oils, phenolic compounds, and other phytochemical constituents that have pharmacological properties such as anti-obesity, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-nociceptive, anti-oxidants, anti-diarrheal, and anti-inflammatory properties that may improve health. Numerous studies reported that it might possess the excellent health potentials to cure various communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Evaluation of Phragmites australis for Environmental Sustainability in Bahrain: Photosynthesis Pigments, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn Content Grown in Urban Wastes

Modern urban societies generate tremendous amounts of hazardous wastes, including toxic organics and metals. Toxic metals harm plants and pose a risk to human health; examples of them are copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), palladium (Pb), and cadmium (Cd). Wetland plants are excellent for the ecological restoration of toxic metal-affected environments. Phragmites australis (common reed) belongs to the family Poaceae and is a broadly distributed wetland grass that is native to Bahrain, Europe, and America. P. australis shows a high content of chlorophyll. This study aimed to assess percentages of water, chlorophyll, and toxic metal content using acetone extraction; the calculation of the concentrations was performed according to the equations proposed by Lichtenthaler and the percentage of water content was calculated. After the metal exposure, the reed plants were digested, and their total mineral analysis was accomplished by atomic absorption spectroscopy; statistical analysis was conducted by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. The results revealed that the immature stage showed the highest chlorophyll a (mean 1641.5 (µg/g)) carotenoids (mean 359.75 (µg/g)) and total chlorophyll (mean 2183.93 (µg/g)), and the mature flowering stem had the highest chlorophyll b (mean 676.45 (µg/g)). The mature flowering stem stage showed the highest Pb (mg/L) and Cd (mg/L) values; on the other hand, Cu was the highest in the fully elongated non-flowering stage (0.108 mg/L), and the highest Zn content was found in the immature stage (mean 2.083). Owing to its growth in contaminated environments, P. australis can be considered a potential source of phytonutrients; higher concentrations were mostly available in the immature and mature flowering stages, with a favorable immature stage. The use of such marginal wetland plants may be very useful in reducing the pollution burden of urban built environments. These plants offer a green and sustainable solution for the disposal of waste from urban areas. Hence, further planning and execution of such a green solution are pivotal for creating environmental sustainability.

Artificial hybridization techniques in small millets-A review.

Small millets are nutri-rich, climate-resilient food and fodder crops. They include finger millet, proso millet, foxtail millet, little millet, kodo millet, browntop millet, and barnyard millet. They are self-pollinated crops and belong to the family Poaceae. Hence, to widen the genetic base, the creation of variation through artificial hybridization is a prerequisite. Floral morphology, size, and anthesis behavior cause major hindrances in recombination breeding through hybridization. Manual emasculation of florets is practically very difficult; therefore, the contact method of hybridization is widely followed. However, the success rate of obtaining true F1s is 2% to 3%. In finger millet, hot water treatment (52°C) for 3 to 5min causes temporal male sterility. Chemicals such as maleic hydrazide, gibberellic acid, and ethrel at different concentrations aid in inducing male sterility in finger millet. Partial-sterile (PS) lines developed at the Project Coordinating Unit, Small Millets, Bengaluru are also in use. The percent seed set in crosses derived from PS lines ranged from 27.4 to 49.4, with an average of 40.10%. In proso millet, little millet, and browntop millet, apart from contact method, hot water treatment, hand emasculation, and the USSR method of hybridization are also followed. A newly developed modified crossing method known as the Small Millets University of Agricultural Sciences Bengaluru (SMUASB) method in proso and little millets has a success rate of 56% to 60% in obtaining true hybrids. Hand emasculation and pollination under the greenhouse and growth chamber in foxtail millet with a success rate of 75% seed set is suggested. In barnyard millet, hot water treatment (48°C to 52°C) for 5min followed by the contact method is often practiced. Kodo millet being cleistogamous, mutation breeding is widely followed to create variation. Most commonly, hot water treatment is followed in finger millet and barnyard millet, SMUASB in proso, and little millet. Although no specific method is suitable for all small millets, it is essential to identify a trouble-free technique that produces maximum crossed seeds in all the small millets.

Seasonal Diet Variation of (Tetracerus quadricornis) Four-horned Antelope in Rangayyanadurga Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka, Southern India

In the ecosystem, the four-horned antelope were selective feeders by browsing and grazing plant species in different compositions. These species have adaptable characteristics to feed on nutritious parts of available shrubs and trees in their habitat. The study was conducted through fecal analysis studies on the diet of four-horned antelopes in Rangayyanadurga four-horned Antelope Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka, Southern India. The study identified 95.7% of the plant species that occurred in the pellet sample, with 4.30% remaining unidentified. The percentage occurrence of dicots in the pellet sample was 80.85%, while monocots had a minimum occurrence of 19.15%. In point of growth forms, trees accounted for 34.52%, shrubs for 19.15%, herbs for 19.10%, grasses for 19.14%, and climbers for 3.5%. The Poaceae family had the highest composition percentage of occurrence in the diet with 19.13%, followed by Fabaceae at 17.53% in the diet of four-horned antelope. The study concluded that antelopes were adaptable in nature when it comes to the matter of food and survival, picking out the nutritious food that they need as available in nature. The composition of plant species in the diet helps in understanding the food habits and habitats of the four-horned antelope, which is essential for conservation and management in their natural habitat. This study provides valuable knowledge of the food habits and habitats of four-horned antelopes for further studies in this area.

FLORISTIC COMPOSITION OF INDIGENOUS VEGETATION OF NAMAL VALLEY, MIANWALI - PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

The floristic survey of selected sites of Namal valley, Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan began in 2016 until 2019 for documenting of wild species in the valley, which continues from the Salt Range. The research explored the unobserved vegetation of Namal valley, which has a unique biodiversity extended along its six ecological sites. Indigenous species totaled 188, distributed across discovered 152 genera and 54 families during the reporting period. The significant primary family based on species demonstration was Poaceae, having 25 genera and 39 species. Poaceae family has Asteraceae following it, having 17 genera and 18 species, and then by Fabaceae (10 genera, 15 species). The most dominating vegetation was of herbaceous type (79%). The study reported a total of 28 species of shrubs, with only 12 species of trees identified during this research from selected sites. Experimental results of five nominated plants (Grewia tenax, Pentatropis spiralis, Pulicaria edmondsonii, Ruellia nudiflora, and Tephrosia purpurea) showed that these plants differed considerably in terms of phytochemical concentration. Saponin concentration was minimal in all plants, except Ruellia nudiflora (1.7%). Tannins concentration was higher in Tephrosia purpurea (3.75%) and Pulicaria edmondsonii (3.11%) than in the other three plants. Quantitative results of free amino acids reflected that 11 amino acids were present in Grewia tenax. It was noticeable that proline was the highest amino acid (1.004 mg/ml) of the separated free amino acids, whereas isoleucine was the lowest (0.008 mg/ml) in the amino acid concentration. This checklist consists of updated systematic families and plant names that will provide a handy starting point for further ecological and bio-prospective research of the area under study.

Relationships of the competitor, stress tolerator, ruderal functional strategies of grass species with lifespan, photosynthetic type, naturalization and climate.

Grass species (family Poaceae) are globally distributed, adapted to a wide range of climates and express a diversity of functional strategies. We explored the functional strategies of grass species using the competitor, stress tolerator, ruderal (CSR) system and asked how a species' strategy relates to its functional traits, climatic distribution and propensity to become naturalized outside its native range. We used a global set of trait data for grass species to classify functional strategies according to the CSR system based on leaf traits. Differences in strategies in relation to lifespan (annual or perennial), photosynthetic type (C3 or C4), or naturalisation (native or introduced) were investigated. In addition, correlations with traits not included in the CSR classification were analyzed, and a model was fitted to predict a species' average mean annual temperature and annual precipitation across its range as a function of CSR scores. Values for competitiveness were higher in C4 species than in C3 species, values for stress tolerance were higher in perennials than in annuals, and introduced species had more pronounced competitive-ruderal strategies than native species. Relationships between the CSR classification, based on leaf traits, and other functional traits were analyzed. Competitiveness was positively correlated with height, while ruderality was correlated with specific root length, indicating that both above- and belowground traits underlying leaf and root economics contribute to realized CSR strategies. Further, relationships between climate and CSR classification showed that species with competitive strategies were more common in warm climates and at high precipitation, whereas species with stress tolerance strategies were more common in cold climates and at low precipitation. The findings presented here demonstrate that CSR classification of functional strategies based on leaf traits matches expectations for the adaptations of grass species that underlie lifespan, photosynthetic type, naturalization and climate.

The critical periods of weed control on the weed species composition, morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics responses of black seed (Nigella sativa L.)

A field experiment was conducted to the determine the critical period of weed control and its effect on the weed composition, the yield components, seed yield, oil yield, oil content, and the major secondary metabolites accumulation in the black seed (Nigella sativa L.). Two treatment series: weed-free (WF) and weed-infested (WI) periods, were performed from the seed emergence of the black seed until its maturity. The plots were kept weed-free for 0, 14, 28, 42, 56 and 70 days after emergence of the black seed and vice versa. In the weed community composition, 19 species from 14 families were recorded in the studied experimental field. Among the weeds, the Poaceae family (5) had the highest number of species, followed by the Fabaceae family (2). The major species were Avena sterilis L., Rapistrum rugosum L. (All), and Convolvulus arvensi L. during the harvesting of black seed. Results also revealed that the seed yield, yield components, seed oil content, and oil yield of the black seed significantly decreased due to the longer periods of WI or shorter periods of WF. In this study, weed-black seed competition periods promoted the total alkaloid and total phenolic accumulation, compared to WI periods, which indicated the plant's defensive response against the stress caused by the weeds. However, the decrease in seed yield and oil content indicates the insufficient levels of these compounds to cope with the weed stress. This study also concluded that the highest seed yield was obtained by keeping the plots WF from 42 or 70 days after emergence of the black seed to prevent yield loss higher than 10%. Therefore, this period could be the critical period of WF in the black seed.

Rapid differentiation of soil and root microbiomes in response to plant composition and biodiversity in the field

Research suggests that microbiomes play a major role in structuring plant communities and influencing ecosystem processes, however, the relative roles and strength of change of microbial components have not been identified. We measured the response of fungal, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF), bacteria, and oomycete composition 4 months after planting of field plots that varied in plant composition and diversity. Plots were planted using 18 prairie plant species from three plant families (Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Asteraceae) in monoculture, 2, 3, or 6 species richness mixtures and either species within multiple families or one family. Soil cores were collected and homogenized per plot and DNA were extracted from soil and roots of each plot. We found that all microbial groups responded to the planting design, indicating rapid microbiome response to plant composition. Fungal pathogen communities were strongly affected by plant diversity. We identified OTUs from genera of putatively pathogenic fungi that increased with plant family, indicating likely pathogen specificity. Bacteria were strongly differentiated by plant family in roots but not soil. Fungal pathogen diversity increased with planted species richness, while oomycete diversity, as well as bacterial diversity in roots, decreased. AMF differentiation in roots was detected with individual plant species, but not plant family or richness. Fungal saprotroph composition differentiated between plant family composition in plots, providing evidence for decomposer home-field advantage. The observed patterns are consistent with rapid microbiome differentiation with plant composition, which could generate rapid feedbacks on plant growth in the field, thereby potentially influencing plant community structure, and influence ecosystem processes. These findings highlight the importance of native microbial inoculation in restoration.

Will climate change favor exotic grasses over native ecosystem engineer species in the Amazon Basin?

Several anthropic disturbances, including deforestation, fires, the building of roads and dams, have intensified in Amazon in last decades. These disturbances contribute to an increase in the occurrence and intensity of extreme events, such as more frequent floods and more severe droughts, due to climate change. Along the Amazonian rivers, aquatic herbaceous plants, mainly of the Poaceae family, are very abundant and produce up to three times more biomass than the adjacent flooded forests, and some are considered ecosystem engineers given their structuring role in these environments. Invasive grasses have spread through the Neotropics and are gradually entering the Amazon via the Arc of Deforestation. These invasive species often attain high coverage, suppress other species, and become dominant in both disturbed and pristine habitats. The aim of this study was to establish the current and future distribution patterns of two native ecosystem engineer species (Echinochloa polystachya and Paspalum fasciculatum) and two invasive species (Urochloa brizantha and Urochloa decumbens) in the Amazon Basin. To predict the future climate, we used three scenarios, namely SSP1–2.6, SSP3–7.0 and SSP5–8.5 for the years 2040, 2080 and 2100, to project climatically suitable areas. The current climatically suitable range for the native ecosystem engineer species was estimated at 33–35% of the Amazon Basin, while the invasive ones have a range of 53–84% in potential climatically suitable areas. A decrease in the areas of suitability of the two ecosystem engineer species, E. polystachya and P. fasciculatum, was observed in all scenarios and years, while only the invasive U. brizantha showed an increase in suitable areas in all years. These results raise concerns about the invasion of grasses with high aggressive potential that could result in the exclusion of native ecosystem engineer species and their ecological roles.

Assessment of the genetic diversity of red fescue in the Western region of Ukraine

Red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) is a perennial plant of the cereal family (Poaceae), which is used as a fodder and lawn crop. Despite substantial research, the number of high-yielding varieties adapted to specific soil and climatic conditions is insufficient. Therefore, the examination of the genetic diversity of red fescue plants is the main stage in the creation of new varieties. The purpose of the study was to evaluate samples based on the main economic-biological characteristics and divide them into three groups of ripening for further use in breeding as a source of valuable traits. The study used general scientific (analysis, synthesis, experiment, description, observation, and comparison), field (phenological observations and accounting), and statistical methods. According to the results of the study, populations of different ecological and geographical origins created by different breeding methods were similar. The coefficients of variation in the parameters of the main features were in the range of 0.34-8.02% and depended on the biological and ecological characteristics of the samples. According to the duration of the growing season, the samples were divided into early-ripening (16 pcs.), medium-ripening (20 pcs.), and late-ripening (12 pcs.). When clustering by eight features, all samples were divided into three clusters. In the early-ripening group, substantial correlations were established between the duration of the growing season and 1000 grain weight, between plant height and seed yield, and between dry matter yield and leaf colour intensity. Positive associations between dry matter yield and regrowth intensity, between 1000 grain weight and leaf colour intensity were observed in the middle-ripening group. In the late-ripening group, reliable relationships were identified between plant height and tillering intensity, seed yield and 1000 grain weight, seed yield and leaf colour intensity, and dry matter yield and leaf colour intensity. The results obtained will be used in further breeding work when creating varieties of red fescue of various ripening groups with improved seed productivity, suitable for fodder and lawn use

ARUNDO DONAX L.: A SCIENTIFIC UPDATE

Arundo donax L. belongs to the family Poaceae. It has been found in the Mediterranean, North Africa, India and Pakistan. It grows in hilly locations in India. It grows up to 2100-2440 m in the Himalayas. Commonly, A. donax L. is known as Giant Reed in English and Narakata in Hindi. Traditionally it is used in the treatment of dropsy and cancer. It is the active ingredient of an Ayurveda formulation, “Virataradi Kashaya,” which is used in the treatment of urinary calculi, retention of urine and abdominal pain in homeopathy A. donax L. is used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. A. donax L. contains many beneficial phytoconstituents such as protein, fat, total carbohydrate, fibers, lignin, α-cellulose, hemicelluloses, alkaloids (tryptamine, bufotenidine, gramine and arundamine), etc. A. donax L. has been found to possess many pharmacological properties like antibacterial and antifungal effects, anthelmintic effects, antifeedant activity, antiproliferative effect, effect on milk production and fattening performance, central nervous effect, hypotensive effect, antispasmodic effect, anti-acetylcholine effect, uterine stimulant effect and neuromuscular blocking activity. It is an essential ingredient of herbal expectorants. This review might be a vital tool for researchers who seek to work in this area.

New Insights on Alternative Hosts of Xanthomonas vasicola pv. vasculorum, the Causal Agent of Bacterial Leaf Streak of Maize

Bacterial leaf streak (BLS) of maize (Zea mays), caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas vasicola pv. vasculorum (Xvv), was first reported in Brazil in 2018. In this study, we evaluated 52 species of cultivated plants, cover crops, forage, and grasses that are used in succession or crop rotation with maize, and weeds with natural occurrence in maize-producing regions, to determine their potentials as alternative hosts for Xvv. We investigated (i) the pathogenicity of Xvv based on symptom development, (ii) epiphytic colonization of the bacterium in asymptomatic plants, and (iii) bacterial colonization in plant tissues using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in symptomatic and asymptomatic species. Ten species, all belonging to the Poaceae family, presented symptoms after Xvv infection, including Avena sativa (cvs. IPR Afrodite and IPR Esmeralda), A. strigosa (cv. IPR 161), Hordeum vulgare (cv. BRS Cauê), Oryza sativa (cv. IPR 117), Brachiaria brizantha (Brizantha and cv. Marandu), Digitaria horizontalis, D. insularis, Echinochloa colonum, Eleusine indica, and Sorghum arundinaceum. Furthermore, epiphytic colonization by Xvv was observed in 23 asymptomatic species. Scanning micrographs revealed that Xvv cells and their aggregates were distributed throughout the leaf surface. In addition, bacterial colonization in the intercellular tissues of the substomatal chambers of white oat, black oat, and maize was observed across the tissue fractures. Despite showing typical symptoms of Xvv infection, SEM examination revealed evidence of Xvv colonization only on the leaf surface of rice. In asymptomatic species, such as rye, sorghum, and millet, a low number of bacterial cells were found on the leaf surface. However, no evidence of internal tissue colonization was observed in millet fractures, suggesting that Xvv survives only epiphytically in this species.

Efficacy of Herbicides, Their Effects on Rice Yield Under Saturated Soil Condition

This study was carried out in containers which were placed outdoor to evaluate the efficacy of different herbicides with different mixtures on weed growth suppression in rice and their effects on rice grain yield under saturated soil water regime in two consecutive seasons (cropping season and off season) at the Universiti Putra Malaysia Farm, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia during 2016 to 2017. Eight combinations of different herbicides, viz. T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7 and T8 along with weed free and non-weeded treatments were used in the study following a RCBD. Weed composition in the experimental containers and their summed dominant ratio (SDR) at 60 days after planting were recorded from non-treated containers. Naturally grown eleven weed species mainly under the families of Poaceae, Cyperaceae and Pontederiaceae were found in the experimental containers. Based on the SDR values the dominant weed species were Monochoria vaginalis, Echinochloa crus-galli, and Fimbristylis miliacea in both the seasons. Results revealed that four herbicide treatments viz. Pretilachor fb Bentazon/MCPA (T1), Pretilachor+Pyribenzoxim fb Bentazon/MCPA (T2). Bispyribac-sodium fb Bentazon/MCPA (T2), Fenoxaprop+Ethoxysulfuron (T3), fb Bentazon/MCPA (T7) were superior in their effectiveness for weed control in both seasons and gave better rice grain yield with high economic return. Bangladesh J. Bot. 52(1): 37-44, 2023 (March)

First report of ryegrass cyst nematode, Heterodera mani, in Tasmania, Australia.

Cyst nematodes of the genus Heterodera are a major group of sedentary plant parasites causing a significant economic impact, restricting production and market access globally (Moens et al. 2018). The ryegrass cyst nematode Heterodera mani is in the Avenae group and is found predominantly in pastures and grasslands in Europe, California, and South Africa. It was first described by Mathews (1971) from Northern Ireland. Known hosts are grasses (family Poaceae), principally Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass), but also Dactylis glomerata (cat grass) and Festuca pratensis (meadow fescue) (Subbotin et al. 2010). Mowat (1974) reported that H. mani causes negligible damage to the yield of L. perenne in pot trials; however, Maas & Brinkman (1982) determined that it may cause significant damage to spring and autumn-sown perennial ryegrass in field conditions. During a routine examination for potato cyst nematode from a farm near Mawbanna in north-west Tasmania, Australia, several pale to dark brown Heterodera cysts were extracted that were lemon shaped with the presence of a small vulval cone at the posterior end and a distinct neck. The J2 (n=20) stylet length ranged from 24-26 µm with round knobs deeply concave anteriorly, hyaline tail length was 37-42 µm, true tail length ranged from 59-68 µm and total body length varied from 526-559 µm. All the above characters match those described for H. mani (Subbotin et al. 2010). To verify this identification, DNA was extracted from five individual J2 juveniles from a single cyst using QIAamp DNA micro kit (Qiagen®), and two gene regions amplified: internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal RNA (ITS-rRNA) with primer pair AB28 and TW81 and cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) with primer pair JB3 and JB5 (Bowles et al. 1992; Curran et al. 1994; Derycke et al. 2005). One PCR reaction contained 10 µM (1 µl each) of each primer, 12.5 µl of OneTaq® DNA Polymerase and 5 µl of DNA template with a final volume of 25 µl. PCR products were sent for purification and Sanger sequencing at Macrogen (Seoul, Rep. of Korea). All resulting sequences were trimmed, aligned, and analysed using Geneious Prime® 2022.0.1 (www.geneious.com). Five ITS sequences (accessions ON402852-ON402856) and five CO1 sequences (accessions ON402857-ON402861) were submitted to GenBank. These ITS sequences were very similar to each other and exhibited 99.16-100% similarity with that of H. mani isolate from Hamminkeln, Germany (AY148377) (Subbotin et al. 2018). The CO1 sequences exhibited 98.96-100% similarity with that of H. mani isolate from Washington, USA (MG523097) (Subbotin et al. 2003). Obtained sequences were mapped to reference sequences downloaded from NCBI GenBank and maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees were calculated. Due to the lack of further living nematode material, pot experiments were not performed. Such experiments are not feasible in Tasmania currently and transfer of live nematode material to the Australian mainland presents logistic and legal issues. However, morphological and molecular evidence for species determination of H. mani was unequivocal and contributes to the list of cyst nematode species present in Australia. This is the first detection of H. mani in Australia and is a range extension of the species from North America, Africa, and Europe to Australia. The nematode may cause damage to perennial ryegrass in Australia, however, impact on yield still needs to be investigated.

First insight into the phylogeny of fine-leaved Festuca in the Altai Mountain Country based on genome-wide genotyping.

Festuca is one of the largest genera within the Poaceae family. Molecular phylogenies demonstrate that Festuca s.l. comprises two groups: broad- and fine-leaved species. The latter is the species-richest and taxonomically complicated group due to being paraphyletic. Here, we provide the first insight into the phylogeny of 17 fine-leaved species of Altai fescues. Based on genome-wide genotyping, the examined taxa were divided into three markedly differentiated clusters. The first cluster comprises species from the F.rubra complex, the second cluster includes the F. brachyphylla complex, and the third cluster contains taxa from the groups F.ovina, F.valesiaca, and F.kryloviana. Importantly, we detected a complex genetic pattern within the groups of F.valesiaca and F.kryloviana. Moreover, our findings underline a discrepancy between morphological and molecular data for some species distributed within the Altai Mountain Country. We suggest that in order to validate the current findings on the fine-leaved fescues, additional comprehensive research including morphological, karyological, and molecular methods is required. Nonetheless, our work provides a baseline for further investigations on the genus and studies on the floral diversity of Asia.