Effect of plant density on competitiveness of Brassica napus, Sinapis alba and S. arvensis under water stress conditions.

Under Mediterranean climate, oilseed rape is subjected especially to the competition of weeds with respect to water. Herbicides registered for this crop do not effectively control species of the same family, in particular Sinapis alba and Sinapis arvensis. Moreover, there are no results of the effect of plant density on the competitiveness of these species. The purpose of this experiment was to determine if the competitiveness of the species varies according to the total density. The experiment was carried out in pots under greenhouse conditions, according to a replacement series method. Plant densities tested were 2, 4 and 8 plants per pot. The results of the replacement series diagram and those of relative crowding coefficients showed that Brassica napus was the most competitive, whatever the density is. This classification is explained primarily by leaf area. Indeed, the intraspecific competition due to B. napus has affected more its leaf area than the interspecific competition. Conversely, the intraspecific competition due to S. arvensis has less affected its leaf area than the interspecific competition. Regarding S. alba, the intraspecific competition effect was less severe than the interspecific competition effect due to B. napus and more severe than the interspecific competition effect due to S. arvensis on S. alba

Competitiveness and dry matter allocation of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and two mustards (Sinapis alba L. and S. arvensis L.) under water stress conditions.

In Morocco, oilseed rape is commonly exposed to mustards competition which are not totally controlled by herbicides. To understand the competitiveness of each species, growth parameters should be studied notably dry matter allocation. The objective of this study was to confirm the competitiveness of oilseed rape with regard to Sinapis alba and S. arvensis and to investigate how the dry matter is allocated. A pot experiment was undertaken with a quartz sand as substrate. Two plant densities were tested (one and two plants). The binary density was either a monoculture or a mixture. Half the pots were maintained at field moisture capacity and the other half was irrigated up to 70% of its water holding capacity. Dry matter allocation of each species at density two was compared to that of the same species at density one. Results of replacement series diagrams and those of the relative crowding coefficient (based on total dry matter) showed that Brassica napus was more competitive than S. alba. S. arvensis was the least competitive. Under competition, B. napus irrigated at water holding capacity allocated more dry matter to stem when compared to its dry matter at density one. Under the same condition, when reducing water supply, B. napus allocated more dry matter to leaves. In case of S. alba, dry matter percent in leaves and roots were respectively low and high in normally irrigated plant and inversely under water shortage. S. arvensis allocated high and low dry matter percent respectively to root than to leaves when sufficiently irrigated. But no clear tendency was noticed under water shortage, for this species.

Critical period of weed control in oilseed rape in two Moroccan regions.

The determination of critical period of weed control in oilseed rape is necessary to know the weed control period. To determine the critical period, two fields experiments were carried out during 1995-96 growth season in Loukkos and Saïs regions at two oilseed densities (D1 = 24 and D2 = 36 plants m(-2)). Ten treatments corresponding to plots left weed free or weeded plots until four leaves, flowers bud, flowering, puds formation, and maturity stages of oilseed rape were tested. Density and biomass of weeds were determined at each oilseed stages. Results showed that weed density and biomass were higher in Saïs than in Loukkos sites. For a 10% yield loss, critical period of weed control in Loukkos was from 458 to 720 degree days after emergence (D degrees AE) and from 480 to 720 D degrees AE in oilseed conducted at densities D1 and D2, respectively. In Saïs, critical period of weed control was from 474 to 738 D degrees AE and from 468 to 675 D degrees AE in oilseed conducted at D1 and D2, respectively. It was concluded that the length of the critical period of weed control in oilseed rape grain yield seems to be dependant of the level of the infestation.

Effect of water stress on the agressiveness of oilsseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and two mustards (Sinapis alba L. and S. arvensis L.).

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), a winter sown crop, may compete for water especially with Brassicaceae weeds. Investigating plant competition under water stress conditions is necessary for achieving a good yield in a Mediterranean climate characterized by a scarse water availability. This experiment was carried out to study the competiveness of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) with two brassicaceae weeds (Sinapis alba L. and S. arvensis L.). Species were grown at a density of two plants per bucket either in monoculture or as a binary mixture under water stress conditions in a greenhouse. Results of monoculture showed that B. napus had the highest shoot dry matter. Shoot dry matter of B. napus was more reduced by intraspecific competition than by interspecific competition due to S. arvensis. Shoot dry matter of S. alba in monoculture was higher than in mixture with S. arvensis, but more reduced in mixture with B. napus. In case of S. arvensis, shoot dry matter was more reduced by interspecific competition than by intraspecific competition. Agressivity based on grain yield showed, that B. napus was the most agressive species followed by S. alba. This agressivity did not change by the imposed water stress.

[Effect of monensin on the growth and secretion of exopolysaccharides in Botrytis cinerea Pers. and Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc]. / Influence de la monensine sur la croissance et la sécrétion des exopolysaccharides chez le Botrytis cinerea Pers. et le Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.

The addition of various concentrations of monensin (1,5, and 10 micrograms/mL) to the culture medium inhibits the fungal growth and perturbs exopolysaccharides secretion, provoking a decrease of production in Botrytis cinerea and an increase in Sclerotium rolfsii. The ionophore induces also modifications in both polymer composition and structure. New monomers were observed in the two species and a decreased branching rate for Sclerotium rolfsii. These modifications show that monensin affects the enzymes responsible for normal wall synthesis and therefore vesicular traffic.

Effect of Previous Nitrate Deprivation on (15)N-nitrate Absorption and Assimilation by Wheat Seedlings.

Nitrate uptake and assimilation were examined in intact 18 days old wheat (Triticum aestivum, cv Capitole) seedlings either permanently grown on nitrate (high-N seedlings) or N-stressed by transfer to an 0 N-solution for the final 7 days (low-N seedlings). The N-stressed seedlings were characterized by a lower organic N content (2.5 mg instead of 4.9 mg per seedling) and an increased root dry weight. The seedlings received (15)NO(3)K for 7 h in the light. Nitrate uptake was 2.8 times higher in low-N than in high-N seedlings. The assimilation rate was 35 and 16 µmol NO(3)(-)·(h-1)· g(-1) dry weight respectively. Partitioning of NO(3)(-) to reduction and assimilation was the very same in both kinds of seedlings. The results support the view that 50 % of the nitrate reduction in Triticum aestivum, cv Capitole could be achieved in the roots. The present observations are interpreted as evidence that factors closely associated with the seedling N-status may have a major role in regulating NO(3)(-) uptake and assimilation. In low-N seedlings, the high amount of carbohydrates in roots may add its stimulus to the specific inducing effect of nitrate whereas in high-N seedlings, excess of nitrate or amino-acids may set the pace by negative feedback control.