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Effect of the pre‐emergence bioherbicide Phomopsis convolvulus on seedling and established plant growth of Convolvulus arvensis
Author(s) -
Susanne Vogelgsang,
A. K. Watson,
Antonio DiTommaso,
K. Hurle
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
weed research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-3180
pISSN - 0043-1737
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3180.1998.00088.x
Subject(s) - convolvulus , bioherbicide , seedling , biomass (ecology) , biology , horticulture , germination , agronomy , botany , weed
The effects of the fungal pathogen Phomopsis convolvulus Ormeno on seedling and established plant performance of Convolvulus arvensis L. were compared under both controlled and field conditions. Under a controlled environment, a granular barley formulation of the fungal inoculum that had been applied on to the soil surface of pots containing pre‐germinated C. arvensis seeds resulted in above‐ground biomass reductions of up to 87%. However, application of the fungus to established plants that had been cut to ground level produced biomass reductions (43%) that were nearly half of those obtained for seedlings. In a parallel field experiment conducted over two growing seasons, application of P. convolvulus resulted in dramatic above‐ground biomass reductions for both seedlings and established plants. In one trial, biomass reductions of up to 100% and 98%, respectively, were obtained. C. arvensis coverage within field plots was closely correlated with above‐ground biomass. Findings in this study indicated that P. convolvulus may provide effective control of C. arvensis when applied pre‐emergence.