Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T06:50:41.935Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Fungal infection and soybean competition induce plastic responses in velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) growth and reproductive output

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Jacob N. Barney ,
Antonio DiTommaso ,
Hameed A. Baloch  and
Alan K. Watson
Jacob N. Barney
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
Hameed A. Baloch
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Science, Macdonald Campus of McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, PQ H9X 3V9 Canada
Alan K. Watson
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Science, Macdonald Campus of McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, PQ H9X 3V9 Canada
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The historic maternal environment; the identity of competing, neighboring plants; and biotic stresses, such as fungal disease and herbivory, interact to influence the competitive ability, reproductive output, and plasticity of weed populations. A weed capable of altering its phenotype in response to environmental factors is better able to compete for resources in agroecosystems, thereby reducing crop yields and contributing more seeds to the seed bank. Velvetleaf is a highly competitive annual weed in many North American cropping systems, exhibiting a high degree of phenotypic plasticity in response to biotic and abiotic factors. We examined the effects of seed size (small and large), competitive environment (with and without soybean), and stress level (none = no treatment, moderate = pathogen inoculation, high = pathogen plus herbicide) on velvetleaf allometry and reproductive output during three field seasons. Only under the high-stress treatment was velvetleaf biomass, height, and reproductive output compromised (> 15% each), and these traits were further reduced with soybean competition. Soybean competition alone reduced velvetleaf biomass (> 50%), height (25%), and seed output (50%), but effects of competition varied with stress level. Velvetleaf plants that originated from large seeds (≥ 10 mg) generally outperformed plants originating from small seeds (< 10 mg) except under the high-stress treatment. These findings suggest that velvetleaf life-history traits and reproductive output in the current generation are a function of both present and historic factors. Management strategies for this species should involve tactics that not only reduce its competitive ability (e.g., biomass, height) but also decrease its seed production via synergistic stressors such as increased crop competitiveness, reduced-rate herbicide applications, and pathogen infection.

Keywords

Velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medic. ABUTHsoybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Bayfield’Resource allocationphenotypic plasticitybiocontrolpathogenmaternal effectsseed size
Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 54 , Issue 5 , October 2006 , pp. 883 - 890
Copyright
Copyright © 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.)

References

Literature Cited

Agrawal, A. A. 2001. Phenotypic plasticity in the interactions and evolution of species. Science. 294:321–326.Google Scholar
Ahn, B., Paulitz, T., Jabaji-Hare, S., and Watson, A. 2005. Enzyme responses of Abutilon theophrasti in an enhanced biocontrol system. BioControl. 50:803–817.Google Scholar
Akey, W. C., Jurik, T. W., and Dekker, J. 1990. Competition for light between velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) and soybean (Glycine max). Weed Res. 30:403–411.Google Scholar
Akey, W. C., Jurik, T. W., and Dekker, J. 1991. A replacement series evaluation of competition between velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) and soybean (Glycine max). Weed Res. 31:63–72.Google Scholar
Alkio, M., Schubert, A., Diepenbrock, W., and Grimm, E. 2003. Effect of source–sink ratio on seed set and filling in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L). Plant Cell Environ. 26:1609–1619.Google Scholar
Baloch, H. A., DiTommaso, A., and Watson, A. K. 2001. Intrapopulation variation in Abutilon theophrasti seed mass and its relationship to seed germinability. Seed Sci. Res. 11:335–343.Google Scholar
Begonia, G. B., Aldrich, R. J., and Salisbury, C. D. 1991. Soybean yield and yield components as influenced by canopy heights and duration of competition of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik). Weed Res. 31:117–124.Google Scholar
Cobb, A. 1992. Herbicides and Plant Physiology. London: Chapman and Hall. 176 p.Google Scholar
Dekker, J. and Meggitt, W. F. 1983. Interference between velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], I: growth. Weed Res. 23:91–101.Google Scholar
Devine, M., Duke, S. O., and Fedtke, C. 1993. Herbicidal inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport. Pages 113–140 in Devine, M., Duke, S. O., and Fedtke, C. eds. Physiology of Herbicide Action. London: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
DiTommaso, A. and Watson, A. K. 1995. Impact of a fungal pathogen, Colletotrichum coccodes on growth and competitive ability of Abutilon theophrasti . New Phytol. 131:51–60.Google Scholar
DiTommaso, A. and Watson, A. K. 1997. Effect of the fungal pathogen, Colletotrichum coccodes, on Abutilon theophrasti height hierarchy development. J. Appl. Ecol. 34:518–529.Google Scholar
DiTommaso, A., Watson, A. K., and Hallett, S. G. 1996. Infection by the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum coccodes affects velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)–soybean competition in the field. Weed Sci. 44:924–933.Google Scholar
Ernande, B., Dieckmann, U., and Heino, M. 2004. Adaptive changes in harvested populations: plasticity and evolution of age and size at maturation. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 271:415–523.Google Scholar
Garbutt, K. and Bazzaz, F. A. 1987. Population niche structure: differential response of Abutilon theophrasti progeny to resource gradients. Oecologia (Berl.) 72:291–296.Google Scholar
Gotlieb, A. R., Watson, A. K., and Poirier, C. 1986. First report of an isolate of Colletotrichum coccodes which results in severe anthracnose of velvetleaf. Plant Dis. 71:281.Google Scholar
Gross, K. L. 1984. Effects of seed size and growth form on seedling establishment of six monocarpic perennial plants. J. Ecol. 72:369–387.Google Scholar
Higgins, R. A., Stanforth, D. W., and Pedigo, L. P. 1984. Effects of weed density and defoliated or undefoliated soybeans (Glycine max) on velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) development. Weed Sci. 32:511–519.Google Scholar
Lee, T. D. and Bazzaz, F. A. 1981. Effects of defoliation and competition on growth and reproduction in the annual plant Abutilon theophrasti . J. Ecol. 68:813–821.Google Scholar
Lindquist, J. L., Maxwell, B., Buhler, D. D., and Gunsolus, J. L. 1995. Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) recruitment, survival, seed production and interference in soybean (Glycine max). Weed Sci. 43:226–232.Google Scholar
Maranon, T. and Grubb, P. J. 1993. Physiological basis and ecological significance of the seed size and relative growth rate relationship in Mediterranean annuals. Funct. Ecol. 7:591–599.Google Scholar
Nurse, R. E. and DiTommaso, A. 2005. Corn competition alters the germinability of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) seeds. Weed Sci. 53:479–488.Google Scholar
Paul, N. D. and Ayres, P. G. 1987. Effects of rust infection of Senecio vulgaris on competition with lettuce. Weed Res. 27:431–441.Google Scholar
Radosevich, S. R., Holt, J. S., and Ghersa, C. 1997. Weed Ecology: Implications for Management. 2nd ed. New York: J Wiley. 608 p.Google Scholar
Rees, M. 1996. Evolutionary ecology of seed dormancy and seed size. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 351:1299–1308.Google Scholar
Rendon, B. and Nunez-Farfan, J. 2000. Population differentiation and phenotypic plasticity of wild and agrestal populations of the annual Anoda cristata (Malvaceae) growing in two contrasting habitats. Plant Ecol. 156:1–9.Google Scholar
Schlichting, C. D. 1986. The evolution of phenotypic plasticity in plants. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 17:667–693.Google Scholar
Sugiyama, S. and Bazzaz, F. A. 1997. Plasticity of seed output in response to soil nutrients and density in Abutilon theophrasti: implications for maintenance of genetic variation. Oecologia (Berl.) 112:35–41.Google Scholar
Sugiyama, S. and Bazzaz, F. A. 1998. Size dependence of reproductive allocation: the influence of resource availability, competition and genetic identity. Funct. Ecol. 12:280–288.Google Scholar
Susko, D. J. and Lovett-Doust, L. 2000. Patterns of seed mass variation and their effects on seedling traits in Alliaria petiolata (Brassicaceae). Am. J. Bot. 87:56–66.Google Scholar
Swanborough, P. and Westoby, M. 1996. Seedling relative growth rate and its components in relation to seed size: phylogenetically independent contrasts. Funct. Ecol. 10:176–184.Google Scholar
Warwick, S. I. and Black, L. D. 1988. The biology of Canadian weeds, 90: Abutilon theophrasti . Can. J. Plant Sci. 68:1068–1085.Google Scholar
Watson, A. K., Gotlieb, A. R., and Wymore, L. A. 1986. Interactions between a mycoherbicide, Colletotrichum coccodes, and herbicides for control of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic). Weed Sci. Soc. Am. Abstr. 26:52–53.Google Scholar
Weinig, C. 2000a. Differing selection in alternative competitive environments: shade-avoidance responses and germination timing. Evolution. 54:124–136.Google Scholar
Weinig, C. 2000b. Limits to adaptive plasticity: temperature and photoperiod influence shade-avoidance responses. Am. J. Bot. 87:1660–1668.Google Scholar
Weinig, C. 2000c. Plasticity versus canalization: population differences in the timing of shade-avoidance responses. Evolution. 54:441–451.Google Scholar
Weinig, C. 2005. Rapid evolutionary responses to selection in heterogeneous environments among agricultural and nonagricultural weeds. Int. J. Plant Sci. 166:641–647.Google Scholar
Weinig, C. and Delph, L. F. 2000. Phenotypic plasticity early in life constrains developmental responses later. Evolution. 55:930–936.Google Scholar
Westoby, M., Leishman, M. R., and Lord, J. 1996. Comparative ecology of seed size and dispersal. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 351:1309–1318.Google Scholar
Wymore, L. A., Poirier, C., Watson, A. K., and Gotlieb, A. R. 1988. Colletotrichum coccodes, a potential bioherbicide for control of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti). Plant Dis. 72:534–538.Google Scholar
Wymore, L. A. and Watson, A. K. 1989. Interaction between a velvetleaf isolate of Colletotrichum coccodes and thidiazuron for velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) control in the field. Weed Sci. 37:478–483.Google Scholar
Yeh, P. J. and Price, T. D. 2004. Adaptive phenotypic plasticity and the successful colonization of a novel environment. Am. Nat. 164:531–542.Google Scholar