Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The potential of foxtail millet as a trap crop for sunflower broomrape

Acta Physiologiae Plantarum Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Cite this article

Abstract

Heavy infestation of large areas in China by the root parasitic sunflower broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) constitutes a major threat to sunflower production. This study was conducted to investigate the potential of foxtail millet as a trap crop for the management of sunflower broomrape (SB). To assay the ability of foxtail millet to stimulate germination of SB seeds, the rhizosphere soil of six foxtail millet cultivars cultured in various sand/soil ratios and fertilizer levels were employed to directly induce SB germination. Among all sand/soil treatments, Hong Guzi grown in a 1:1 sand/soil ratio induced the highest germination of SB (30.1%). Phosphorus resulted in a small but significantly higher germination of SB compared with the control without any fertilizer, while in contrast, nitrogen greatly suppressed the germination inducing capacity of foxtail millet even at concentrations as low as 28 mg kg−1 soil (based on N). Cropping rotation experiment was undertaken to quantify the effect of foxtail millet on SB infection in a subsequent sunflower crop. All foxtail millet rotation treatments reduced broomrape infection and gave higher shoot and flower disk dry mass of sunflowers than the control grown without a fore-rotating crop. These results suggest that efficacious cultivars of foxtail millet reduce SB parasitism and increase sunflower yields and that using foxtail millet as trap crop is probably an effective way to reduce the broomrape weed problem in China, especially in the dry, infertile, and sandy soils of the Loess Plateau.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

References

  • Abebe G, Sahile G, Al-Tawaha A (2005) Evaluation of potential trap crops on Orobanche soil seed bank and tomato yield in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. World J Agric Sci 1:148–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Aflakpui GK, Gregory P, Froud-Williams R (1998) Effect of temperature on seed germination rate of Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. Crop Protect 17:129–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Menoufi O (1989) Crop rotation as a control measure of Orobanche crenata in Vicia faba fields. In: Proceedings of the international workshop on Orobanche research, Obermarchtal, pp 241–247

  • Al-thahabi SA (2006) Small broomrape (Orobanche minor) management using wheat (Triticum aestivum) as a false host. Dissertation, Oregon State University

  • Ayongwa G, Stomph T, Emechebe A, Kuyper T (2006) Root nitrogen concentration of sorghum above 2% produces least Striga hermonthica seed stimulation. Ann Appl Biol 149:255–262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barker ER, Press MC, Scholes JD, Quick WP (1996) Interactions between the parasitic angiosperm Orobanche aegyptiaca and its tomato host: growth and biomass allocation. New Phytol 133:637–642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bartlett MS (1937) Some examples of statistical methods of research in agriculture and applied biology. Suppl J R Stat Soc 4:137–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bertin C, Yang X, Weston LA (2003) The role of root exudates and allelochemicals in the rhizosphere. Plant Soil 256:67–83

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bouwmeester HJ, Roux C, Lopez-Raez JA, Becard G (2007) Rhizosphere communication of plants, parasitic plants and AM fungi. Trends Plant Sci 12:224–230. doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2007.03.009

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • China Agriculture Statistical Yearbook (2013) National Bureau of statistics of China. China Statistics, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Dale H, Press MC (1998) Elevated atmospheric CO2 influences the interaction between the parasitic angiosperm Orobanche minor and its host Trifolium repens. New Phytol 140:65–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dong SQ, Ma YQ, Wu HW, Shui JF, Hao ZQ (2012) Stimulatory effects of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on seed germination of Orobanche minor Sm. Allelopath J 30:247–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Emechebe A, Ellis-Jones J, Schulz S, Chikoye D, Douthwaite B, Kureh I, Tarawali G, Hussaini M, Kormawa P, Sanni A (2004) Famers’ perceptiom of the Striga problem and its control in northern Nigeria. Exp Agric 40:215–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) (2011) The state of world fisheries and aquaculture 2009. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Fate G, Chang M, Lynn DG (1990) Control of germination in Striga asiatica: chemistry of spatial definition. Plant Physiol 93:201–207

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Aparicio M, Flores F, Rubiales D (2009) Recognition of root exudates by seeds of broomrape (Orobanche and Phelipanche) species. Ann Bot 103:423–431. doi:10.1093/aob/mcn236

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Aparicio M, Westwood JH, Rubiales D (2011) Agronomic, breeding, and biotechnological approaches to parasitic plant management through manipulation of germination stimulant levels in agricultural soils. Botany 89:813–826. doi:10.1139/b11-075

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer NH, Weidenhamer JD, Bradow JM (1989) Dihydroparthenolide and other sesquiterpene lactones stimulate witchweed germination. Phytochemistry 28:2315–2317. doi:10.1016/s0031-9422(00)97974-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hearne SJ (2009) Control–the Striga conundrum. Pest Manag Sci 65:603–614

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hibberd JM, Quick WP, Press MC, Scholes JD (1998) Can source–sink relations explain responses of tobacco to infection by the root holoparasitic angiosperm Orobanche cernua? Plant Cell Environ 21:333–340

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jamil M, Rodenburg J, Charnikhova T, Bouwmeester HJ (2011) Pre-attachment Striga hermonthica resistance of new rice for Africa (NERICA) cultivars based on low strigolactone production. New Phytol 192:964–975. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03850.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jing W, Chao C, Yazhen L, Na D, Haiyan W (2015) Present situation and prospect of the parasitic weed sunflower broomrape research. Jiangsu Agric Sci 43:144–147 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Joel DM, Chaudhuri SK, Plakhine D, Ziadna H, Steffens JC (2011) Dehydrocostus lactone is exuded from sunflower roots and stimulates germination of the root parasite Orobanche cumana. Phytochemistry 72:624–634. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.01.037

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Joel DM, Gressel J, Musselman LJ (2013) Parasitic Orobanchaceae: parasitic mechanisms and control strategies. Springer Science & Business Media, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kannan C, Zwanenburg B (2014) A novel concept for the control of parasitic weeds by decomposing germination stimulants prior to action. Crop Protect 61:11–15. doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2014.03.008

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kebreab E, Murdoch A (1999) Modelling the effects of water stress and temperature on germination rate of Orobanche aegyptiaca Seeds. J Exp Bot 50:655–664

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kebreab E, Murdoch A (2001) Simulation of integrated control strategies for Orobanche spp. based on a life cycle model. Exp Agric 37:37–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kureh I, Kamara A, Tarfa B (2006) Influence of cereal-legume rotation on Striga control and maize grain yield in farmers’ fields in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. J Agric Rural Dev Trop 107:41–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Wu S (1996) Traditional maintenance and multiplication of foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.) landraces in China. Euphytica 87:33–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, He H, Vitali M, Visentin I, Charnikhova T, Haider I, Schubert A, Ruyter-Spira C, Bouwmeester HJ, Lovisolo C (2015) Osmotic stress represses strigolactone biosynthesis in Lotus japonicus roots: exploring the interaction between strigolactones and ABA under abiotic stress. Planta 241:1435–1451

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Granados F, Garcia-Torres L (1996) Effects of environmental factors on dormancy and germination of crenate broomrape (Orobanche crenata). Weed Sci 44:284–289

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Raez JA, Matusova R, Cardoso C, Jamil M, Charnikhova T, Kohlen W, Ruyter-Spira C, Verstappen F, Bouwmeester H (2009) Strigolactones: ecological significance and use as a target for parasitic plant control. Pest Manag Sci 65:471–477. doi:10.1002/ps.1692

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • López-Ráez JA, Charnikhova T, Gómez-Roldán V, Matusova R, Kohlen W, De Vos R, Verstappen F, Puech-Pages V, Bécard G, Mulder P (2008) Tomato strigolactones are derived from carotenoids and their biosynthesis is promoted by phosphate starvation. New Phytol 178:863–874

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ma YQ, Lang M, Dong SQ, Shui JF, Zhao JX (2012) Screening of some cotton varieties for allelopathic potential on clover broomrape germination. Agron J 104:569–574. doi:10.2134/agronj2011.0372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma YQ, Jia JN, An Y, Wang Z, Mao JC (2013) Potential of some hybrid maize lines to induce germination of sunflower broomrape. Crop Sci 53:260–270. doi:10.2135/cropsci2012.03.0197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mabrouk Y, Zourgui L, Sifi B, Belhadj O (2007) The potential of Rhizobium strains for biological control of Orobanche crenata. Biologia 62:139–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nefzi F, Trabelsi I, Amri M, Triki E, Kharrat M, Abbes Z (2016) Response of some chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes to Orobanche foetida Poir. parasitism. Chil J Agric Res 76:170–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parker C (2009) Observations on the current status of Orobanche and Striga problems worldwide. Pest Manag Sci 65:453–459

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parker C (2013) The parasitic weeds of the Orobanchaceae. In: Parasitic Orobanchaceae. Springer, pp 313–344

  • Parker C, Hitchcock AM, Ramaiah KV (1977) The germination of striga species by crop root exudates; techniques for selecting resistant crop cultivars. In: Proceedings of the Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society 6th conference. Weed Science Society, Asian-Pacific, Jakarta, pp 67–74

  • Pujadas-Salva AJ, Velasco L (2000) Comparative studies on Orobanche cernua L. and O. cumana Wallr. (Orobanchaceae) in the Iberian Peninsula. Bot J Linn Soc 134:513–527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raju P, Osman M, Soman P, Peacock J (1990) Effects of N, P and K on Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze seed germination and infestation of sorghum. Weed Res 30:139–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riley D, Barber SA (1969) Bicarbonate accumulation and pH changes at the soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) root-soil interface. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 33:905–908. doi:10.2136/sssaj1969.03615995003300060031x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riley D, Barber SA (1970) Salt accumulation at the soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) root-soil interface. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 34:154–155. doi:10.2136/sssaj1970.03615995003400010042x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ross KC, Colquhoun JB, Mallory-Smith CA (2009) Small broomrape (Orobanche minor) germination and early development in response to plant species. Weed Sci 52:260–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rubiales D, FernÁNdez-Aparicio M, Wegmann K, Joel DM (2009) Revisiting strategies for reducing the seedbank of Orobanche and Phelipanche spp. Weed Res 49:23–33. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3180.2009.00742.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sato D, Awad AA, Chae SH, Yokota T, Sugimoto Y, Takeuchi Y, Yoneyama K (2003) Analysis of strigolactones, germination stimulants for Striga and Orobanche, by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. J Agric Food Chem 51:1162–1168

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shi B, Chen G, Zhang Z, Hao J, Jing L, Zhou H, Zhao J (2015) First report of race composition and distribution of sunflower broomrape, Orobanche cumana, in China. Plant Dis 99:291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sunderland N (1960) The production of the Striga and Orobanche germination stimulants by maize roots I. The number and variety of stimulants. J Exp Bot 11:236–245

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang QY, Zhang CX (2013) Data processing system (DPS) software with experimental design, statistical analysis and data mining developed for use in entomological research. Insect Sci 20:254–260. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7917.2012.01519.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tarfa B, Kurch I, Kamara A, Maigida D (2006) Influence of cereal-legume rotation on soil chemical properties, crop yield and Striga control. J Agron 5:362–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor A, Martin J, Seel W (1996) Physiology of the parasitic association between maize and witchweed (Striga hermonthica): is ABA involved? J Exp Bot 47:1057–1065

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Venturi V, Keel C (2016) Signaling in the rhizosphere. Trends Plant Sci 21:187–198

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wan SQ, Jiao YP, Kang YH, Jiang SF, Tan JL, Liu W, Meng J (2013) Growth and yield of oleic sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under drip irrigation in very strongly saline soils. Irrig Sci 31:943–957

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie XN, Yoneyama K, Yoneyama K (2010) The strigolactone story. Annu Rev Phytopathol 48:93–117

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ye XX, Zhang M, Dong SQ, Ma YQ (2016) Conditioning duration and agents involved in broomrape seeds responding to germination stimulants. Plant Growth Regul. doi:10.1007/s00425-007-0600-5

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoneyama K, Xie XN, Kusumoto D, Sekimoto H, Sugimoto Y, Takeuchi Y, Yoneyama K (2007) Nitrogen deficiency as well as phosphorus deficiency in sorghum promotes the production and exudation of 5-deoxystrigol, the host recognition signal for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and root parasites. Planta 227:125–132. doi:10.1007/s00425-007-0600-5

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zehhar N, Labrousse P, Arnaud M-C, Boulet C, Bouya D, Fer A (2003) Study of resistance to Orobanche ramosa in host (oilseed rape and carrot) and non-host (maize) plants. Eur J Plant Pathol 109:75–82

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W, Ma YQ, Wang Z, Ye XX, Shui JF (2013) Some soybean cultivars have ability to induce germination of sunflower broomrape. PLoS One 8:e59715. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059715

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang M, Ma YQ, Zhong W, Jia XT, Wu DR, Yu R, Ye XX (2015) N–P–K ratio affects exudation of germination stimulants and resistance of tobacco seedlings to broomrapes. Plant Growth Regul 76:281–288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China

    Xiaoxin Ye, Rui Yu & Yongqing Ma

  2. College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China

    Jie Chen

  3. School of Chemistry, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Christopher S. P. McErlean

  4. Institute of Plant Nutrition and Environmental Resources, Henan Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China

    Meng Zhang

  5. The State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China

    Yongqing Ma

Authors
  1. Xiaoxin Ye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jie Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Christopher S. P. McErlean
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Meng Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Rui Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yongqing Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yongqing Ma.

Ethics declarations

Funding

This study was supported by the National Science and Technology Support Program (2011BAD31B05).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Communicated by M. J. Reigosa.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 13 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ye, X., Chen, J., McErlean, C.S.P. et al. The potential of foxtail millet as a trap crop for sunflower broomrape. Acta Physiol Plant 39, 1 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-016-2300-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-016-2300-x

Keywords

search

Navigation