Hostname: page-component-cb9f654ff-hn9fh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-08-04T19:25:36.987Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of Sphacelotheca holci Infection on Morphology and Competitiveness of Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Cheo L. Massion  and
Steven E. Lindow
Cheo L. Massion
Affiliation:
Dep. Plant Pathol., Univ. California, Berkeley, CA 94720
Steven E. Lindow
Affiliation:
Dep. Plant Pathol., Univ. California, Berkeley, CA 94720
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Teliospores of Sphacelotheca holci Jack. [= S. cruenta (Kuhn.) Potter] infected johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. # SORHA) systemically after inoculation of cut stems in greenhouse studies. A preliminary host range test in the greenhouse revealed that no infection occurred on four varieties of sorghum (S. vulgare L.) and three cultivars of sudangrass (S. Sudanese L.). Infected johnsongrass plants grown in the greenhouse exhibited reduced vegetative growth and altered morphological characteristics compared to healthy johnsongrass plants. The aboveground biomass and lateral rhizome expansion of smutted johnsongrass field transplants were significantly lower than that of uninfected plants. Significant correlations between fraction of johnsongrass stems infected and plant weight, and basal area of plants were observed in field studies. Corn (Zea mays L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) grown in competition with johnsongrass, and johnsongrass infected with S. holci reduced the aboveground biomass and rhizome length of johnsongrass plants significantly, compared to that of uninfected johnsongrass plants grown alone in greenhouse studies. Uninfected johnsongrass plants also exhibited higher plant weight than infected plants when both were grown in competition with alfalfa, regardless of the alfalfa planting density in the greenhouse or when measured after 3 months in field trials.

Keywords

Mycoherbicidebiological weed controlintegrated pest managementplant competitionalfalfasmutSORHA

Information

Type
Weed Biology and Ecology
Information
Weed Science , Volume 34 , Issue 6 , November 1986 , pp. 883 - 888
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Literature Cited

1. Banks, P. A. and Tripp, T. N. 1983. Control of johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) in soybeans (Glycine max) with foliage applied herbicides. Weed Sci. 31:628–633.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. C.M.I. Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria. Spacelotheca cruenta No. 71, S. reiliana No. 73, S. sorghi No. 74. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, The Eastern Press Ltd., London, England.Google Scholar
3. Fisher, G. W. 1953. Pages 129–151 in Manual of the North American Smut Fungi. The Ronald Press Co. 343 pp.Google Scholar
4. Groves, R. H. and Williams, J. D. 1975. Growth of skeleton weed (Chondrilla juncea L.) as affected by growth of subterranean clover (Trifolium subteraneum L.) and infection by Puccinia chondrillina . Bubak & Syd. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 26: 975–983.Google Scholar
5. Halisky, P. M. 1965. Physiological specialization and genetics of the smut fungi. III. Bot Rev. 31:114–150.Google Scholar
6. Holm, L. G., Plucknett, D.L., Pancho, J. V., and Herberger, J. P. 1977. The World's Worst Weeds: Distribution and Biology. Univ. Press of Hawaii, Honolulu.Google Scholar
7. Horowitz, M. 1972. Seasonal development of established johnsongrass. Weed Sci. 20:392–395.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. Horowitz, M. 1973. Spatial growth of Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. Weed Sci. 13:200–208.Google Scholar
9. Johnston, C. O., Lefebvre, C. L., and Hansing, E. D. 1938. Observations on loose smut of johnsongrass. Phytopathology 28:151–152.Google Scholar
10. Lolas, P. C. and Coble, H. B. 1980. Johnsongrass (S. halepense) growth characteristics as related to rhizome length. Weed Res. 20:205–210.Google Scholar
11. Luttrell, E. S., Craigmiles, J. P., and Harris, H. B. 1964. Effect of loose kernel smut on vegetative growth of johnsongrass and sorghum. Phytopathology 54:612.Google Scholar
12. McWhorter, C. G. 1961. Morphology and development of johnsongrass plants from seeds and rhizomes. Weeds 9:558–562.Google Scholar
13. McWhorter, C. G. 1971. Growth and development of johnsongrass ecotypes. Weed Sci. 19:141–147.Google Scholar
14. McWhorter, C. G. and Baldwin, F. 1981. Advances in johnsongrass control. Weeds Today 12:12–15.Google Scholar
15. Tarr, S.A.J. 1962. Pages 218–234 in Diseases of Sorghum, Sudan Grass and Broom Corn. The Commonwealth Mycological Inst., Kew, Sussex, England.Google Scholar
16. TeBeest, D. O. and Templeton, G. E. 1985. Mycoherbicides: Progress in the biological control of weeds. Plant Dis. 69:6–10.Google Scholar
17. Templeton, G. E. and Smith, R. J. Jr. 1974. Biocontrol of northern jointvetch. Rice J. 77:29–30.Google Scholar
18. Templeton, G. E. and Smith, R. J. Jr. 1977. Managing weeds with pathogens. Pages 167–176 in Horsfall, J. G. and Cowling, E. B., eds. Plant Disease: An Advanced Treatise. Vol. I. Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar
19. Templeton, G. E. and TeBeest, D. O. 1979. Biological weed control with mycoherbicides. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 17: 301–310.Google Scholar
20. Walker, L. and Boyette, D. 1985. Biocontrol of sicklepod in soybeans with Alternaria cassiae . Weed Sci. 33:212–215.Google Scholar