Bertholdsson, Nils-Ove
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to identify traits in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that are related to the competitive ability of the crop and to determine their importance. Weed biomass 1-2 weeks prior to ear emergence was used as a measure of genotypic differences in competitiveness against weeds. Crop trait measurements comprised early crop biomass, early shoot length, straw length, heading and maturity. Early crop biomass 1-2 weeks prior to ear emergence was used as a overall trait for the various characters related to early vigour. Besides these morphological traits, the potential allelopathic activity of the tested cultivars was determined using an agar-based bioassay with ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) developed for screening of non-specific allelopathic weed control. In both barley and wheat, multiple regression analysis revealed that early crop biomass and potential allelopathic activity were the only parameters that significantly contributed to competitiveness. In barley, early crop biomass explained 24 to 57 % of the observed genotypic variance across four years and allelopathic activity explained 7 to 58 %. In combination, they explained 44 to 69 % of the observed genotypic variance. In wheat, the corresponding percentages were lower: 14 to 21 % for early biomass, 0 to 21 % for allelopathic activity and 27 to 37 %. for the combination. Model predictions suggested that new cultivars with increased early vigour and allelopathic activity, offer a potential to further reduce weed interference
Keywords
Allelopathy; barley; weed competition
Published in
Weed Research
2005, volume: 45, pages: 94-102
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Agricultural Science
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/17450