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Context: Herbicide-resistant annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum ; ARG) is a major weed of commercial significance globally, including no-till wheat-based production systems in south-eastern Australia. Aims: To compare the cost-effectiveness of different crop sequences and intensities of weed management to control ARG in rainfed grain production. Methods: Two on-farm studies in southern New South Wales, Australia, compared the effect of combinations of 3-year crop-sequence options (continuous wheat, 1- or 2-years of break crops), conservative or aggressive weed-control measures, hay cuts, legume brown manure (BM), and/or weed-free winter fallow on in-crop ARG infestations and soil seedbanks. Gross margins were calculated for each combination of treatments to compare system economic performance. Key results: Double-breaks consisting of two consecutive broadleaf crops, or canola–cereal hay, were frequently the most profitable and effective ARG control strategies. Single canola or lupin crops, BM, cereal hay, and fallow all significantly reduced subsequent in-crop ARG and seedbank numbers compared with continuous wheat. Aggressive in-crop control measures in wheat were more expensive than those applied to break crops. Gains in ARG control could be lost by a single year of poor weed control. Conclusions: High levels of control (>95%) over three consecutive seasons are required to reduce ARG seedbanks, and this is most cost-effectively achieved with diverse crop sequences. Implications: Farmers with high populations of ARG can reduce seedbanks by growing three crops sequentially that achieve complete weed seed control. This must be followed with ongoing high levels of control in subsequent years to keep ARG seedbanks low. The paper reports the outcomes of two on-farm experiments that aimed to identify the most cost-effective strategies to control herbicide-resistant annual ryegrass in rainfed, no-till, wheat-based farming systems in southern NSW. The studies linked efficacy of annual ryegrass control with the relative profitability of combinations of different crop sequences and agronomic management. The results showed that three consecutive years of >95% weed control by using diverse crops are required to cost-effectively reduce annual ryegrass seedbanks in soil to manageable levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Bacterial wilt, caused by Xanthomonas translucens pv. graminis (Xtg), is a serious disease of economically important forage grasses, including Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). A major QTL for resistance to Xtg was previously identified, but the precise location as well as the genetic factors underlying the resistance are yet to be determined. To this end, we applied a bulked segregant analysis (BSA) approach, using whole‐genome deep sequencing of pools of the most resistant and most susceptible individuals of a large (n = 7484) biparental F2 population segregating for resistance to Xtg. Using chromosome‐level genome assemblies as references, we were able to define a ~300 kb region highly associated with resistance on pseudo‐chromosome 4. Further investigation of this region revealed multiple genes with a known role in disease resistance, including genes encoding for Pik2‐like disease resistance proteins, cysteine‐rich kinases, and RGA4‐ and RGA5‐like disease resistance proteins. Investigation of allele frequencies in the pools and comparative genome analysis in the grandparents of the F2 population revealed that some of these genes contain variants with allele frequencies that correspond to the expected heterozygosity in the resistant grandparent. This study emphasizes the efficacy of combining BSA studies in very large populations with whole genome deep sequencing and high‐quality genome assemblies to pinpoint regions associated with a binary trait of interest and accurately define a small set of candidate genes. Furthermore, markers identified in this region hold significant potential for marker‐assisted breeding strategies to breed resistance to Xtg in Italian ryegrass cultivars more efficiently. Significance Statement: Elucidating the genetic control of phenotypic traits in highly heterozygous, outbreeding plant species is laborious as it requires phenotyping and genotyping of a large number of individuals. Using 7484 individuals of an Italian ryegrass population, bulked segregant analysis, and whole genome deep sequencing of pools, we identified a 300 kb genomic region harboring promising candidate genes for resistance to bacterial wilt, an important target trait in forage grass breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acidic soils of western Newfoundland require liming for successful production of most crops. Locally sourced paper mill waste wood ash (WA) and paper sludge (SL) have potential as cheaper alternatives to limestone (LIME). Two greenhouse experiments evaluated WA and SL as liming and soil conditioning amendments for annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) production. At 55 days after seeding, soil pH in WA (6.2 and 6.3) and wood ash and paper sludge (WASL) (6.0 and 6.3) were not different from that in LIME (6.0 and 6.5) for Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. However, pH in SL was 0.4 and 0.3 points lower than in LIME. Compared to LIME, WA, SL, and WASL produced 31%–52% and 57%–74% greater biomass yield in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. N uptake was greater in WA (60 and 129 kg N ha−1) and WASL (51 and 97 kg N ha−1) compared to LIME (40 and 85 kg N ha−1), in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. SL did not differ from LIME in Experiment 1, but reduced N uptake by 57% in Experiment 2. The results show significant potential of WA as an alternative amendment for liming and yield improvement of annual ryegrass grown in NL podzolic soils. However, SL has limited potential due to the risk of increasing N immobilization and residual soil mineral N when growing conditions are limiting. Combining SL with WA or biochar seemed to alleviate these risks. Overall, the adoption of these amendments for field production systems warrants serious consideration, following supplemental field studies to determine optimal application rates and timing. Core Ideas: The podzolic soils of Newfoundland have low pH and fertility, hence require liming.Locally sourced wastes, such as paper mill wood ash (WA) and sludge (SL), could be used as liming and nutrient sources.WA was equivalent to limestone (LIME) in improving and sustaining optimal soil pH.WA produced 52% and 74% greater annual ryegrass yield than conventional LIME application in podzolic soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT) is an often-fatal poisoning of livestock that consume annual ryegrass infected by the bacterium Rathayibacter toxicus. This bacterium is carried into the ryegrass by a nematode, Anguina funesta, and produces toxins within seed galls that develop during the flowering to seed maturity stages of the plant. The actual mechanism of biochemical transformation of healthy seeds to nematode and bacterial gall-infected seeds remains unclear and no clear-cut information is available on what type of volatile organic compounds accumulate in the respective galls. Therefore, to fill this research gap, the present study was designed to analyze the chemical differences among nematode galls (A. funesta), bacterial galls (R. toxicus) and healthy seeds of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) by using direct immersion solid-phase microextraction (DI-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The method was optimized and validated by testing its linearity, sensitivity, and reproducibility. Fifty-seven compounds were identified from all three sources (nematode galls, bacterial galls and healthy seed), and 48 compounds were found to be present at significantly different (p < 0.05) levels in the three groups. Five volatile organic compounds (hexanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester), (carbonic acid, but-2-yn-1-yl eicosyl ester), (fumaric acid, 2-ethylhexyl tridec-2-yn-1-yl ester), (oct-3-enoylamide, N-methyl-N-undecyl) and hexacosanoic acid are the most frequent indicators of R. toxicus bacterial infection in ryegrass, whereas the presence of 15-methylnonacosane, 13-methylheptacosane, ethyl hexacosyl ether, heptacosyl acetate and heptacosyl trifluoroacetate indicates A. funesta nematode infestation. Metabolites occurring in both bacterial and nematode galls included batilol (stearyl monoglyceride) and 9-octadecenoic acid (Z)-, tetradecyl ester. Among the chemical functional group, esters, fatty acids, and alcohols together contributed more than 70% in healthy seed, whereas this contribution was 61% and 58% in nematode and bacterial galls, respectively. This study demonstrated that DI-SPME is a valid technique to study differentially expressed metabolites in infected and healthy ryegrass seed and may help provide better understanding of the biochemical interactions between plant and pathogen to aid in management of ARGT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is little information on the effect of interaction between grazing intensity and nitrogen fertilization on the productive characteristics of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam). The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of grazing intensity and nitrogen fertilization on the productive characteristics of ryegrass pasture in a crop-livestock integration system. Methods: A randomized complete block experimental design with a 2×2×5 factorial arrangement was used, with three replications. The study factors were two management grass heights, low height (LH=10 cm) and high height (HH = 25 cm), two different nitrogen fertilization times (NP = nitrogen applied to pasture and NG = nitrogen applied to grains crop) and five evaluation periods. Result: The forage mass was higher at higher handling heights and with lower stocking rate (HH = 3995 kg DM ha-1). The forage density tended to be higher in the plots with lower grass height and nitrogen fertilization (LH = 193.5 and NP = 184.7 kg DM ha-1 cm-1). The highest accumulation rate (AR) and forage production (FP) was observed in managed pastures with HHNP (AR = 120.4 kg DM ha-1 day-1; FP = 18471 kg DM ha-1). The management of grass with HHNP provided higher forage mass, higher accumulation rate and higher dry matter production in ryegrass pasture, due to an adequate stocking rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological indicators are often used to evaluate the effect of management practices on soil health. However, determining which indicators can detect changes in soil health after implementation of conservation practices and how these indicators relate to plant growth in grass seed production systems remains unclear. The goal of this study was to explore the relationships between management practice history, soil health metrics, plant growth, and soil microbial communities in annual ryegrass grown under greenhouse conditions. Soils were collected from 12 annual ryegrass [Lolium multiflorum (L.) Husnot] fields managed under conventional (till/bale) or conservation (no‐till/full straw) management practices, with three silt loams and three silty clay loams collected for each practice. Annual ryegrass was grown for 5 months on each of the 12 soils in a greenhouse. Soils with a history of conservation management improved the majority of the carbon cycling‐related metrics for the silt loam soils. Management practices had no effect on seed yield, however, conservation management significantly improved aboveground biomass in silty clay loam soils. Contrasting management practices resulted in distinct microbial communities, making them sensitive indicators of changes in soil conditions. Soil health and plant metrics were positively associated with the microbial communities in soils under conservation management. Total C and organic matter were positively correlated to plant parameters in silt loams, while few indicators were correlated to plant metrics in silty clay loams. These results highlight the complex interplay between microbial communities, soil health, and plant growth and the importance of considering inherent soil properties like texture. Core Ideas: The relationship between management practices and soil health and yield outcomes were influenced by soil texture.Biological soil health indicators and yield metrics were positively correlated in silt loam soils.Microbial communities were a sensitive indicator of changes in management practices.Microbial communities in no‐till were positively correlated to yield and soil health metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread practice of using high doses of nitrogen to increase unit area yield in annual ryegrass introduces ecological and economic problems. This research was carried out over two years and aimed to determine the potential forage yield and quality of annual ryegrass by applying manure, humic acid, and low doses of nitrogen fertilizer, within the framework of sustainable forage crop cultivation. The study was carried out from 2020 to 2022 with three replications according to the randomized block split plots experimental design. According to the study results, the highest values were achieved with combinations that included manure application, and even higher values were observed when manure was applied along with low doses of humic acid and nitrogen. The M20 + H20 + N100 treatment yielded the highest fresh yield, dry matter, and crude protein. The treatments with manure, humic acid, and nitrogen fertilizer had varying effects on the ADF and NDF content of annual ryegrass, resulting in fluctuating values. In conclusion, 20 t manure, 20 L humic acid, and 100 kg ha−1 N application can be suggested for sustainable and higher dry matter production with good quality for annual ryegrass cultivation under semi-humid climatic conditions. The results obtained from this research hold promise for sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies with dairy cows receiving mixed ration and grazing annual pastures, which have low tiller density, are scarce. This study examined the effect of partial replacement of a total mixed ration (TMR) with annual temperate pasture. Treatments were ad libitum TMR (TMR100), 75% ad libitum TMR + ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum 'Maximus') (pTMR75), and 50% ad libitum TMR + ryegrass (pTMR50). Twelve multiparous Holstein and F1 Jersey x Holstein cows were divided into six groups (experimental units), taking account of milk production (26.6 ± 4.55 kg/day), days-in-milk (129 ± 50.8) and body weight (546 ± 30.6 kg). Treatments were compared using two 3 x 3 Latin square arangements, comprising three 21-day periods (measurements during final 5 days). Herbage DM intake increased from 4.8 kg/day with pTMR75 to 6.7 kg/day with pTMR50. Total DM intake decreased from 19.4 kg/day (TMR100), to 18.1 and 15.8 kg/day (pTMR75 and pTMR50, respectively). Milk production, energy corrected milk production (ECM), and milk fat content were similar between treatments, averaging 25.6, 28.4 kg/day and 44.6 g/ kg, respectively. Ryegrass pastures were able to replace up to 50% of TMR offered to mid lactation dairy cows with no adverse effects on ECM production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potted Italian ryegrasses (Lolium multiflorum L.) were used to investigate the effect of ammonia-oxidizing bacterial (AOB) strain that coexisted in rhizosphere soil on Italian ryegrass regrowth. The results showed that the isolated and screened AOB strain (S2_8_1) had 100% similarity to Ensifer sesbaniae. The inoculation of S2_8_1 on day 44 before defoliation caused its copy number in rhizosphere soils to increase by 83–157% from day 34 before defoliation to day 14 after defoliation compared with that in Italian ryegrass without S2_8_1 inoculation, indicating that S2_8_1 coexisted permanently with Italian ryegrass. The coexistence promoted the delivery of root-derived cytokinin to leaves and to increase its cytokinin concentrations; thus, the Italian ryegrass regrowth accelerated. During the 14-day regrowth period, the S2_8_1 coexistence with Italian ryegrass caused its leaf and xylem sap cytokinin concentrations, rhizosphere soil nitrification rates, net photosynthetic rates, and total biomass to increase by 38%, 58%, 105%, 18%, and 39% on day 14 after defoliation, respectively. The inoculation of S2_8_1 on day 2 before defoliation also increased the regrowth of Italian ryegrass. Thus, the coexistence of AOB with Italian ryegrass increased its regrowth by regulating the delivery of cytokinins from roots to leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ctenopharyngodon idella (grass carp) is one of the most widely produced herbivorous species worldwide. However, forage feeding is not well studied in this species. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding a diet based on Lolium multiflorum (ryegrass) on the growth performance and fatty acid composition in the meat of juvenile C. idella. For this purpose, juveniles were fed two different diets for 120 days: i) grains and their by-products (GD) and ii) Lolium multiflorum (PD). At 60 and 120 days of feeding, the weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion rate, protein efficiency, viscerosomatic index and condition factor were determined. The fatty acid profile and lipid nutritional indices of the meat were measured at 120 days. The GD group exhibited higher weight gain, specific growth rate and condition factor than the PD group. The GD group also had a higher conversion rate at the expense of greater fat content and elevated viscerosomatic index. The greater viscera development may explain the higher weight gain in the GD group. Healthy fatty acids, such as Alpha-linolenic, eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic fatty acids, were more elevated in the PD group while linoleic fatty acid (LA) was lower. Hence, LA induced a decrease in the n-6/n-3 ratio. In addition, hypercholesterolemic and atherogenetic saturated fatty acids were lower in the PD. This variation reduced the atherogenic, thrombogenicity and peroxidability indices. Therefore, better nutritional quality in the meat compensated for the lower growth of the fish on the PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Quick Wash (QW) treatment extracts phosphorus (P) from manure and municipal sludge (MS), producing an organic acidified by-product with adequate nitrogen (N):P ratio to meet crop N requirements. Yet, data on crop response to N using QW by-products are lacking. We evaluated the response of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and potential N leaching in sandy soil to N applications using raw wastes, their corresponding QW by-products, and ammonium sulfate (AMS) fertilizer. Treatments included a control (no amendment added), raw and acid-washed chicken litter, dairy and swine manure, MS, and AMS at 100, 200, and 400 kg N ha−1. We found no significant differences in annual ryegrass yield and N uptake between the raw and acidified organic QW by-products. However, ryegrass produced 4–30% more biomass with AMS than organic amendments. The total residual soil inorganic N under AMS treatments ranged between 6.3 and 67.9 mg pot−1 and accounted for 5–17% of the total N applied, but it was <1% for all the organic amendments. We found no differences in soil N leaching between raw and acid-washed forms of each organic soil amendment. Our results indicated that acidified organic QW by-products can improve environmental quality by substantially reducing the amount of applied P with no penalties for crop yield losses compared to raw manure and MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biostimulants are becoming more prevalent in the production of forage and turfgrasses. Many can be classified as natural biostimulants, including humic acids (HA), fulvic acids (FA), protein hydrolysates (PHs) and seaweed extracts (SWE), in addition to chitosan, silicon, inorganic compounds, beneficial fungi, bacteria and synthetic biostimulants. The article reviews recent research on the effects of biostimulants in the cultivation of forage grasses (perennial ryegrass, annual ryegrass, Festulolium, Kentucky bluegrass, annual bluegrass, orchard grass and timothy-grass) and turfgrasses (perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, red fescue and creeping bentgrass). Literature analysis suggests that biostimulants enhance the quality of grasses, augment their tolerance to environmental stresses, facilitate nutrient uptake and improve the visual aspect of grasses. While biostimulants cannot replace fertilisers, they can significantly improve crop effectiveness in utilising the nutrients present in the fertilisers. This paper also briefly describes the legal and regulatory status of biostimulants with a focus on the EU and PL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Production of small ruminants, specifically hair sheep, has increased in recent years and has resulted in an increased presence of hair sheep in feedlots for finishing. In 2017, the United States banned the use of antibiotic growth promoters. This ban has resulted in an interest in non-medicated feed additives, such as yeast, to aid in growth promotion. While hair lambs tend to take longer to reach an adequate finishing weight, the utilization of a yeast fermentation product may aid as a natural growth promoter in the feedlot. Additionally, interest in grass-based finishing systems has grown, but there are limited data on using stored cool-season forages as the base of the diet. Based on the results of this experiment, the inclusion of a yeast fermentation product can improve the feedlot performance and carcass texture of hair lambs in a feedlot with an annual ryegrass-hay-based diet. Hair sheep production has increased in recent years, which has resulted in an increased presence in feedlots. Additionally, grass-based finishing systems for ruminant animal production have increased. Data are limited for finishing hair lambs on diets based on cool-season hay. The objective was to evaluate a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) on the feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of Katahdin lambs offered an annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)-hay-based diet. Twenty-four Katahdin lambs (21.5 ± 2.5 kg BW) were assigned to either the control (CON) or the yeast-supplemented group (SCFP) in a completely randomized design. Lambs were offered a 14% crude protein total mixed ration diet based on annual ryegrass hay. The SCFP group also received the yeast supplement in their diet. Lambs in the SCFP group had a higher final body weight (p < 0.01) and ADG (p = 0.01). Less maximum and total energy were required to cut SCFP lamb meat compared to CON lamb meat (p < 0.03). Results from this study indicated that SCFP supplementation may prove to be beneficial in hair lamb finishing diets. Future research will need to specifically evaluate the use of these products in hair lambs with a larger sample size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytostabilization on sulfidic mine tailings is not yet commonly implemented in the field, making it a crucial area of focus for future reclamation efforts. This greenhouse study aimed to explore cost-effective amendments on metal(loid) immobilisation and identify grass species candidates for phytostabilization. This research found that (1) wheatgrass (Pascopyrum) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) are suitable candidates for phytostabilization, and (2) it is cost-effective to reuse wastes of bauxite residue and compost to promote phytostabilization effectiveness. Compost should be carefully evaluated for phytostabilizing Zn in tailings since the Accumulation Factor and Translocation Factor of all selected species are large than 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extended waterlogging (WL) conditions in heavily manured soils can change soil phosphorus (P) dynamics. We assessed the effects of soil moisture regimes (field capacity (FC) and WL) and P rates on (i) dry matter (DM) yield and P offtake of ryegrass, (ii) changes in soil Fe3+, Fe2+, and soil P, and (iii) risk of P leaching. The treatments were tested in a four-month greenhouse experiment using intact soil columns and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum). The DM yield and P offtake were lower under WL compared with FC. The concentration of Fe3+ was 1984 mg kg−1 (0–30 cm) under FC, but 1213 mg kg−1 at 0–5 cm and 2024 mg kg−1 at 25–30 cm depth under WL. The concentration of Fe2+ was 244 mg kg−1 (0–30 cm) under FC, but 2897 at 0–5 cm and 687 mg kg−1 at 25–30 cm under WL. The water extractable P (Pw) was 12.7 mg kg−1 at 0–5 cm and 9.5 mg kg−1 at 25–30 cm under FC, but 8.6 mg kg−1 at 0–5 cm and 10.5 mg kg−1 at 25–30 cm under WL. The P saturation index (PSI) was 27.2% at 0–5 cm and 17.4% at 25–30 cm under FC, but averaged 11.9% at 0–30 cm under WL. We can conclude that extended WL associated with flooding creates reducing conditions in the soil, thus decreasing the concentration of Fe3+, but increasing the concentrations of Fe2+ and the solubility of P which can exacerbate the risk of P loss with runoff and leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ryegrass cyst nematode, Heterodera mani, is reported from Western Australia for the first time. Cysts were recovered from soil samples collected on a broadacre cropping property near the town of Esperance. The production area is dominated by cereal/oilseed rotation and a species of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is a common weed issue in these paddocks. Morphometrics of cysts and second stage juveniles (J2s) from the Western Australian population were consistent with data from other reports of this species. Sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene region were generated and matched those of H. mani from previous reports. Sequences of the large subunit ribosomal RNA (28S rRNA) were produced for H. mani for the first time. Although interspecific variation is relatively low for this gene in the Heterodera avenae species complex, our analyses indicate that 28S gene sequences sufficiently differentiate H. mani from other H. avenae-group members. Lolium rigidum is likely the host for the H. mani population discovered, although this requires further confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping perennial legumes with trees can reduce Nitrogen (N) losses, due to the high amount of N accumulated in stable forms in the soil and permanent soil cover during the whole year. Although N cycling improvement in mature agroforestry systems (AFS) was well documented, there is a lack of knowledge regarding systems in transition to AF. In this work, we studied the association of two perennial forage crops, namely ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.), with 1-year old poplars, to evaluate: (i) the agronomic performance of sulla and ryegrass with vs. without intercropped poplar trees; (ii) the N-fixing ability of sulla in association with trees; (iii) the N transfer effect from sulla and growth promoting effect on poplar; and finally (iv) the nitrate leaching reduction due to the presence of poplar trees associated to forage crops. The layout was arranged in a two-factor randomized complete blocks design (RCB) with three replicates. The first factor tested (crop species) implied two different swards, namely sulla and ryegrass. The second factor (cropping system) included two different systems: PAST i.e., a pastoral system without trees, and SIPAST, i.e., a silvo-pastoral system with one poplar tree row beside the sward. Sulla resulted more productive than ryegrass when associated with trees (+35%). No clear trend was observed about the tree influence on N-fixation in sulla, but the amount of N fixed resulted higher in in sulla grown in the SIPAST near the trees (+35%). Poplar plants, even in the first year after planting, resulted effective yet in reducing the nitrate flux from the crops towards ditches. Further investigations are needed to study other swards in young AF and better understand the N dynamics; in particular, it could be worth to assess the nutrient flux in the soil solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, ryegrass straw agricultural residue (Lolium multiflorum L.) was employed as an adsorbent material to remove methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solutions. Four adsorbents were produced using phosphoric acid and pyrolysis as activating agents. The samples were analyzed with TGA, FTIR, SEM, and XRD techniques. A rapid adsorption of the MB was obtained with the ryegrass treated with 40% H3PO4, reaching equilibrium in 2 min. Moreover, a maximum adsorption capacity of 80.79 mg g−1 and a removal efficiency of 99% were achieved. The results demonstrate a good performance of adsorbents from ryegrass for removing dye contaminants, such as methylene blue, from the aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil microorganisms play a vital role in increasing the availability of phosphorus (P) for plants through mineralization of organic P and solubilization of precipitated P compounds. In this two-year study, we analyzed several P-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) of the genus Bacillus and their consortiums for the ability to release soluble P from apatite concentrates of various grinding degrees using ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) as a model plant. The effects were accessed by analyzing plant growth and nutrient assimilation. The greatest effect on root system development and plant biomass accumulation (dry weight) was observed for the apatite concentrate of standard grinding in combination with Bacillus megaterium BI14 and Bacillus subtilis BI2 and Bacillus velezensis BS89 strains. Although the introduction of apatite concentrates led to an increase in the content of total strontium in soil, the levels of strontium did not exceed the maximum allowable concentration, and the accumulation of mobile strontium by plants was unchanged; importantly, the use of tested PSMs led to a decrease in the strontium content in the green biomass of ryegrass. Our results indicate that biologized apatite concentrates in combination with PSMs represent promising fertilizers that can provide a source of soluble P to be readily assimilated by plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aerial part distribution and arrangement can significantly affect the forage resource's use, both for the leaves and seeds harvesting. This work aimed to verify the structure derived from different times of pasture use and the subsequent seeds production in a long-cycle ryegrass cultivar. Weekly assessments of number and length of living leaves, elongation of the internodes, tillering, plants' height, structural components (leaf, stem, flower, and dead material), seeds yields components, and seeds yield, to determine the pasture structure along its production cycle. The ryegrass cv BRS Ponteio pasture had its structure significantly modified just after 150 days (thermal sum: 1303 degrees-days) from seeding without the defoliation. Defoliation during the vegetative period did not alter the plants' structure until the seeds' production. Defoliation just after the beginning of the internodes' elongation caused a significant tillering growth, which maintained the high seeds production potential, without plants lodging, besides promoting a more significant leaves harvesting. Subsequent pasture use determined predominant stems and flower harvesting, compared to the leaves, and the significant reduction of the production seeds and potential seeds production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research demonstrated that the interval between defoliation treatments based on the leaf stage is a promising tool for the management of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) pasture. The use of this tool, which is based on the physiological status of the plant, could also benefit the seed production. We assessed the effects of the time of defoliation based on leaf stage on seed yield and quality of annual ryegrass cut to three residual stubble heights (RSH) (50%, 25% and 0% of plant height pre-defoliation) and a second defoliation applied to certain treatments based on the leaf stage of the plant regrowth (two or three leaves per tiller). Higher defoliation intensities (lower RSH) increased the amount of harvested forage to 4.0 t DM ha-1. Moderate defoliation (50%) undertaken at the 3-leaf stage combined with intense defoliation (25% and 0%) at the 2-leaf stage resulted in the highest seed yields (1.8 t ha-1). However, lower RSH reduced mean seed weight and physiological seed quality, which was also associated with lower seed starch and protein content. Accelerated ageing (AA) tests were used to compare seed vigour between treatments. A second defoliation at the 3-leaf stage plus intense defoliation (RSH 0%) resulted in seed lots with a high rate of lipid peroxidation after the AA test, followed by lower catalase activity, germination, and seedling growth. The combination of a second defoliation at the 3-leaf stage and the retention of higher RSH (50%) promoted a greater proportion of leaf blades in the stubble, with a strong positive correlation with seed production and vigour. Antioxidant enzyme activity after the AA test is an important marker of annual ryegrass seed quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a shortage of information about the ryegrass crop (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), especially regarding the suitable sowing rate. Thus, the present work aimed to determine the most adequate sowing rate for tetraploid ryegrass cultivars. A tetraploid ryegrass population was sown at different densities: 150, 300, 600, 900, 1200, 1500, 1800 seeds/m². The number of plants per m², percentage of soil cover, leaf yield and green and dry forage yield were evaluated. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. To observe the behavior of the pasture at different densities for each cut, regression analysis was performed, through which it was possible to verify that the sowing rate has greater influence on the initial cut of the crop. In all the variables analyzed by regression, only the second cut presented a linear trend favorable to the increase in density. In the other cuts, an increase was observed, both in the height of plants and in the yield variables, up to the density of 1500 seeds/m², with a subsequent fall to the highest density, indicating that higher densities may be detrimental to pasture yield. Therefore the density of 1500 seeds/m² is the most suitable for tetraploid ryegrass cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic relatedness and diversity of 62 cultivars and breeding lines of tetraploid Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.; 39 accessions) and its interspecific hybrids, Festulolium (18 accessions), and hybrid ryegrass (Lolium × hybridum Hausskn.; 5 accessions), mainly from Japan, were revealed based on 2,824 genome‐wide allele frequencies obtained by the genotyping by random amplicon sequencing‐direct (GRAS‐Di) method using bulk genomic DNA testing. Genomic composition of each accession was estimated according to the occurrence of 77,373 unique GRAS‐Di sequences in the reference population consisting of diploid Italian ryegrass, meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). The high correlation coefficient (0.98) between the fescue‐specific reads ratio and the previously obtained f‐ratio of genomic in situ hybridization in Festulolium cultivars suggests the usefulness of this simple method. Both cluster analysis based on Nei's standard genetic distance (DST) and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that groups were formed largely by species. However, the complex heritage of Lolium‐Festuca (Festulolium) materials could not be determined by species registration or breeding history alone. Some Festulolium accessions were closely related to Italian ryegrass, whereas some defined as Italian ryegrass may actually be interspecific hybrids. The high genetic diversity of Festulolium compared to Italian ryegrass and hybrid ryegrass revealed by PCA seems due to the wide range of fescue‐specific read ratios (0.04–33.0%). Tetraploid Italian ryegrass did not show clear structural differentiation, but some genetic relationships attributable to breeding history were demonstrated. Mean pairwise DST of tetraploid Italian ryegrass cultivars was significantly lower than that of diploids. Tetraploids and diploids could be separated by PCA plot. Although mean expected heterozygosities of tetraploid and diploid cultivars were not significantly different, the results suggest that the utilization of diploid genetic resources is effective in maintaining and increasing the genetic diversity of breeding populations of tetraploid Italian ryegrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) cultivars vary widely in their persistence; there are very early heading annual types as well as very late heading, summer‐survival types that survive for 2 or 3 years. Hybrid cultivars that survive in summer temperatures are bred using genes of a similar species (Festuca) in combination with Lolium. It is hypothesized that commercial summer‐survival cultivars of Italian ryegrass include Festuca genome fragments. In this report, we investigated the genomic constitution of five summer‐survival cultivars using the genomic in situ hybridization technique. Two out of the five cultivars contained Festuca genome fragments, confirming that summer‐survival cultivars may include Festuca genome fragments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genome of the major agricultural weed species, annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) was assembled, annotated and analysed. Annual ryegrass is a major weed in grain cropping, and has the remarkable capacity to evolve resistance to herbicides with various modes of action. The chromosome-level assembly was achieved using short- and long-read sequencing in combination with Hi-C mapping. The assembly size is 2.44 Gb with N50 = 361.79 Mb across 1,764 scaffolds where the seven longest sequences correspond to the seven chromosomes. Genome completeness assessed through BUSCO returned a 99.8% score for complete (unique and duplicated) and fragmented genes using the Viridiplantae set. We found evidence for the expansion of herbicide resistance-related gene families including detoxification genes. The reference genome of L. rigidum is a critical asset for leveraging genetic information for the management of this highly problematic weed species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The implementation of polyphytic pastures composed of grasses and legumes is an important component of agricultural systems in temperate zones, since grazing pastures which can reduce feed costs--are a viable option for small-scale dairy systems (SSDS). Objective: To evaluate the continuous grazing of dairy cows in Festulolium pastures associated with annual and perennial ryegrass and with clover in two farmrs. Methodology: Two experiments were carried out. The first experiment was established in the municipality of Almoloya of Juárez using eight cows that were divided into two groups of four; the cows grazed on two pastures with Festulolium associated with annual ryegrass and they were fed with 3.6 kg DM/cow/day of commercial concentrate, for 16 weeks. The second experiment was carried out in the Northwest of State of Mexico; six multiparous cows grazed on two pastures, under a cross over design arrangement; one pasture features Festulolium cv Spring Green and the other, annual ryegrass. Milk and body condition ere measured every 3 and 12 d, respectively. Variables from both experiments were analyzed using a split-plot experimental design. Results: Neither experiment recorded significant differences for the net accumulation of forage, the height of the pastures, and their chemical composition (P=0.05). No significant differences between treatments (P=0.05) were recorded regarding the yields and chemical composition of the milk. Study Limitations/Implications: The study of mixed pastures can be an alternative for feeding grazing cows, helping to reduce costs in SSDS. Findings/Conclusions: Festulolium/annual ryegrass pastures with white clover are a viable forage alternative for small-scale dairy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizosphere microorganisms can help plants absorb nutrients, coordinate their growth, and improve their environmental adaptability. Coumarin can act as a signaling molecule that regulates the interaction between commensals, pathogens, and plants. In this study, we elucidate the effect of coumarin on plant root microorganisms. To provide a theoretical basis for the development of coumarin-derived compounds as biological pesticides, we determined the effect of coumarin on the root secondary metabolism and rhizosphere microbial community of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). We observed that a 200 mg/kg coumarin treatment had a negligible effect on the rhizosphere soil bacterial species of the annual ryegrass rhizosphere, though it exhibited a significant effect on the abundance of bacteria in the rhizospheric microbial community. Under coumarin-induced allelopathic stress, annual ryegrass can stimulate the colonization of beneficial flora in the root rhizosphere; however, certain pathogenic bacteria, such as Aquicella species, also multiply in large numbers in such conditions, which may be one of the main reasons for a sharp decline in the annual ryegrass biomass production. Further, metabolomics analysis revealed that the 200 mg/kg coumarin treatment triggered the accumulation of a total of 351 metabolites, of which 284 were found to be significantly upregulated, while 67 metabolites were significantly downregulated in the T200 group (treated with 200 mg/kg coumarin) compared to the CK group (control group) (p < 0.05). Further, the differentially expressed metabolites were primarily associated with 20 metabolic pathways, including phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, etc. We found significant alterations in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and purine metabolism pathways (p < 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences between the rhizosphere soil bacterial community and root metabolites. Furthermore, changes in the bacterial abundance disrupted the balance of the rhizosphere micro-ecosystem and indirectly regulated the level of root metabolites. The current study paves the way towards comprehensively understanding the specific relationship between the root metabolite levels and the abundance of the rhizosphere microbial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The incorporation of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.; RG), a winter manure, could partly replace chemical N and reduce N loss during the succeeding rice seasons, but little is known about its impact on greenhouse gas emission. This study investigated the effect of different RG-urea substitution ratios (0% RG and 100% urea, 25% RG and 75% urea, 50% RG and 50% urea, 75% RG and 25% urea, 100% RG and 0% urea,) on net C and N mineralization, CH4 and N2O emissions in a paddy soil. Methods: Gas samples for CH4 and N2O fluxes were collected by using a closed chamber and determined by chromatograph method. Net C and N mineralization from the incorporated RG residue were tested by a mesh bag method. Results: Net C and N mineralization from RG followed a single exponential decay model, with 95.5%-97.8% of the original C and 98.7%-99.3% of N released during 192 days. The RG-urea substitution ratio increased CH4 emission, but was negatively correlated with N2O emission. In comparison with 0% substitution, global warming potential (GWP) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) were not significantly different for the 25% and 50% RG substitutions, but were significantly higher for the 75% and 100% substitutions (P < 0.05). Soil redox, C and N remaining in litter residue were key characteristics explaining CH4 emission, while NH4+-N and NO3−-N were correlated with N2O emission. Conclusion: The increased GWP by CH4 emission after RG incorporation could be offset by N2O reduction when RG-urea substitution ratio was 50% or less. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing productivity and resource efficiency through sustainable intensification of grazing systems impose new challenges on crops and livestock. The sustainability of world agriculture is threatened by the degradation of ecosystem services anthropogenic interventions such as reduced biological diversity, water and air pollution, and loss of soil quality. The search for technologies that increase animal productivity with economic and environmental sustainability is necessary. The aim was to determine whether productive systems based on African Bermuda grass, overseeded in rows with annual ryegrass and black oat, would present better beef cattle performance by irrigation and/or inclusion of forage legumes in the grazing systems. We used 72 steers, 24 in each of the 3 years of evaluation, distributed in 12 paddocks under rotational stocking. Each paddock had four sub-paddocks. The experiment was completely randomized in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, using irrigation and legumes as factors. Production and chemical composition of pastures and animal performance were evaluated for 3 years in winter, spring, and summer. The irrigation provided promising results in spring, with a higher stocking rate (2194 vs 1254 kg/ha) and live weight gain per area (5.24 vs 2.81 kg/ha/day) in the second year due to water restriction. The forage legumes with irrigation provided a higher average daily gain in the summer than the non-irrigated pasture with legumes. Here we show for the first time that in long-term results (3 years), the pastures with legumes showed a high live weight gain per area (1556 vs 1452 kg/ha/year), and in the third year, the highest difference for the stocking rate in the summer (4134 vs 3311 kg/ha). Legumes or irrigation do not change the pasture's nutritional compounds. The use of forage legumes benefits the grazing system with long-term results. Irrigation, conversely, allows for positive responses during periods of water deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A process of plant recovery after drought cessation is a complex trait which has not been fully recognized. The most important organ associated with this phenomenon in monocots, including forage grasses, is the crown tissue located between shoots and roots. The crown tissue is a meristematic crossroads for metabolites and other compounds between these two plant organs. Here, for the first time, we present a metabolomic and lipidomic study focused on the crown tissue under drought and recovery in forage grasses, important for agriculture in European temperate regions. The plant materials involve high (HDT) and low drought-tolerant (LDT) genotypes of Festuca arundinacea , and Lolium multiflorum/F. arundinacea introgression forms. The obtained results clearly demonstrated that remodeling patterns of the primary metabolome and lipidome in the crown under drought and recovery were different between HDT and LDT plants. Furthermore, HDT plants accumulated higher contents of primary metabolites under drought in the crown tissue, especially carbohydrates which could function as osmoprotectants and storage materials. On the other hand, LDT plants characterized by higher membranes damage under drought, simultaneously accumulated membrane phospholipids in the crown and possessed the capacity to recover their metabolic functions after stress cessation to the levels observed in HDT plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum; ARG) is often overseeded into bahiagrass (Paspulum notatum Fluegge) sod to provide early spring forage and extend the grazing season. Ryegrass cultivar selection for beef producers in the U.S. southeast is a major management decision, but most data available through state variety testing programs evaluate cultivar performance only from cultivated conventional seedbeds. Most producers do not consider the possible effect of ARG selection on total yield and nutritive value when overseeding into a sod compared to conventional management. Twenty ARG cultivars were planted into conventionally prepared seedbeds and overseeded into established bahiagrass plots. Forage dry matter, nutritive value, and bahiagrass suppression indexes were collected in 2019 and 2020 to determine the effects of ARG cultivar on these variables. Cultivar did not significantly affect dry matter, nutritive value, or bahiagrass suppression when overseeded. Seasonal yield of ARG decreased up to 55% in the overseeded plots and nutritive value generally decreased when compared to conventionally planted stands. Though ARG cultivars offered no apparent advantage or disadvantage to performance when overseeded, differences between planting methods were less apparent in later harvests. Considering the overseeding method involved little sod prep other than a no-till drill, it was concluded that more intense sod preparation may have led to more dynamic results among ryegrass cultivars in the fall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overseeding is an essential management practice for turf cultivation in winter. Warm-season turfgrasses must be overseeded with cool-season turfgrass in the fall to provide green colour and maintain suitable playing surfaces by preventing wear on the dormant warm-season turfgrass throughout the winter months. The cool-season turfgrass species selected for overseeding affect the success or failure of the process in different ways via interaction with environmental conditions. A 2-year research study was conducted at the experimental areas of the Field Crops Department, Agriculture Faculty, Ege University in Izmir/Turkey during 2016-2018. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the overseeding performances of seashore paspalum cv. Sea Spray with different ryegrass (Lolium) species (diploid perennial ryegrass cv. Sun, tetraploid perennial ryegrass cv. Tetragreen, annual ryegrass cv. Axcella, intermediate ryegrass cv. TransAm), and determine the most suitable seeding rates (50, 75, 100 g m–2) for the Mediterranean climate. In the study, the evaluation of turf performance traits such as color, visual turf quality, cover, fall and spring transition was conducted in both years. Additionally, some football playing quality traits, including ball rebound, force reduction, and vertical deformation were measured during the research periods. According to the results, tetraploid perennial ryegrass cv. Tetragreen and diploid perennial ryegrass cv. Sun generally performed better than the others. Concerning the overseeding rate, 75 or 100 g m–2 applications are recommended as the most suitable for obtaining good turfgrass quality and football playability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ryegrass is a promising crop for the development of meadow farming in the world. More than 1000 cultivated varieties widely used in feed production have been developed, based on the main species — perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and annual one (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). Development and implementation of the modern methods of plant varietal and species identification are of great importance. In recent years, molecular markers have been successfully used for these purposes, which increase the accuracy of the breeding material evaluation at a significant reduction of time and labor costs. The aim of this study was to assess the discriminatory potential of the new SCoT marking technique for the identification of Russian perennial (Lolium perenne L.) and annual (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) ryegrass varieties. Results: Out of the total number of the tested SCoT-primers, 8 polymorphic ones were selected, which demonstrates the high stability and reproducibly amplified DNA fragments. These primers generated 107 PCR products, where 37 were found to be polymorphic. The average number of amplicons per primer was 13. The size of the PCR products varied from 349 to 2718 bp (see Table 3). The polymorphic ratio of the tested markers was 30.8%. The marker SCoT-06 was characterized by the maximum number of PCR products and the highest level of polymorphism (50%). The effective number of alleles (ne) ranged from 1.35 to 1.58 with a mean of 1.48 per locus. The average value of the PIC and Shannon index (I) were 0.35 and 0.46, respectively. The unique PCR fragments were revealed for the identification of tested varieties. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that the level of genetic diversity between ryegrass species (59%) was more than between varieties within a species (41%). Based on binary matrix data, clustering and PCoA analysis (see Figs. 1 and 2) of the samples were carried out that divided them into two groups according to species. Conclusions: We found a set of markers that can be useful tools for ryegrass varieties identification. The level of intravarietal polymorphism turned out to be higher than the differences between varieties because of the possible significant heterogeneity of the varietal material. The information obtained can be used in breeding programs to create improved ryegrass varieties adapted to Russian climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Lolium rigidum Gaudin (annual ryegrass) has remained the most problematic weed of crop production in Australia for more than 20 years. There is some evidence that this weed species can rapidly adapt to management practices including delayed crop sowing. Aims: Studies were undertaken to determine genetic variation for seed dormancy within L. rigidum populations and its association with genes involved with gibberellic acid and abscisic acid synthesis. Methodology: Populations of L. rigidum were grown in pots to select low and high dormancy cohorts. Seeds produced by these cohorts from each population were assessed for variation in seed dormancy. Seeds of high and low dormancy cohorts were concurrently assessed for seed dormancy and expression of LrABA1 and LrGA20ox genes, using quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Presence of differences greater than two-fold in seed dormancy between populations from the same farm indicated in situ selection for seed dormancy, most likely in response to management. Low and high dormancy cohorts of all populations maintained clear differences in seed dormancy in both years of assessment. Differences in seed dormancy between low and high dormancy cohorts were significantly correlated with LrABA1 and LrGA20ox gene expression. Conclusions: This investigation has provided clear evidence of the presence of genetic variation for seed dormancy within L. rigidum populations. Implications: The presence of genetic variation for seed dormancy in L. rigidum populations will allow this weed to adapt rapidly to changes in weed management practices such as delayed sowing of crops. Lolium rigidum is one of the most problematic weeds of cereal crops in southern Australia. Seed dormancy of different L. rigidum populations was analysed, and genes responsible for the control of seed dormancy were identified. Findings from our research enhance understanding of the genes involved in regulating seed dormancy, their expression over time, and how loss of dormancy is associated with changes in gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weeds are a major impediment to crop and pasture production and profitability in Australian farming systems, and knowledge of their occurrence is vital in devising weed management solutions. This study examined the relationships between weed and crop species from observations made during surveys of randomly selected fields in grain and/or pasture production. Between 2013 and 2017, 996 fields across New South Wales (NSW) were surveyed to record the occurrence and density of weed species. Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) (69% of fields), wild oats (Avena spp.) (60%), and sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus) (34%) were the most common species identified, with a total of 65 weed species recorded to be occurring in NSW cropping fields. Densities of occurring weeds were low, at one plant per square metre or less. Multiple species of wild oats were recorded, with their occurrence varying between survey regions; for example, Avena sterilis subsp. ludoviciana was more prevalent in the north and Avena fatua in the south. Differences in weed species occurrence were noted between this survey and those previously conducted in NSW, with marked increases in annual ryegrass and sowthistle, and this is attributed to the change in crop production practices between survey periods. The study of variable distribution patterns of weed species across cropping systems allows for informed decision-making regarding weed management research and development planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is a major weed of crop production in southern Australia that readily develops resistance to herbicides. Resistance increases both yield losses and control costs associated with this species. Aims: This study aimed to gauge the extent and distribution of resistance to herbicides in L. rigidum across south-eastern Australian grain production systems by collecting seed from randomly selected fields. Methods: A total of 1441 weed populations were collected through random surveys conducted over 5 years across 13 agricultural regions of four states with these samples then tested for resistance to eight herbicides from six modes of action. Key results: Resistance to diclofop-methyl and sulfometuron-methyl was most common, being present in 64% and 63% of populations respectively. Glyphosate resistance was present in 4% of populations collected. Only 15% of populations collected were susceptible to all herbicides tested. Large differences in resistance occurred between the 13 regions surveyed with resistance to diclofop-methyl ranging from 15% to 86% of populations and sulfometuron-methyl from 12% to 96%. Resistance to post-emergent herbicides tended to be higher than pre-emergent herbicides. Multiple resistance was common with 60% of populations collected having resistance to two or more herbicide modes of action. Conclusions: There were significant differences in the extent of multiple resistance in L. rigidum populations collected from individual regions suggesting that the rates of resistance evolution have differed between regions. Implications : The high incidence of herbicide resistance in L. rigidum populations randomly collected from south-eastern Australian cropping fields highlights the need for the adoption of additional weed control practices to mitigate the impact of this species on grain production systems. Herbicide resistant weeds are a major threat to crop production, with annual ryegrass being the major species of concern in Australia. Surveys of south-eastern Australia conducted over a 5 year period found over 60% of populations were resistant to two or more herbicide groups and only 15% of ryegrass populations were susceptible to all tested herbicides. The high level of resistance found across south-eastern Australia highlights the need for farmers to adopt non-herbicide practices, in conjunction with herbicides, to control this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 50% of agricultural land is threatened by water erosion in the Czech Republic. With respect to soil erosion, maize (Zea mays L.) belongs to the most problematic crops; one of the possibilities to increase protection against erosion is intercropping. In this study, we attempted to find out the effects of individual intercrops and their mixtures (sown 4--6 weeks after sowing maize) or a mixed culture (maize plus lupine) on the soil losses and surface runoff in the period 2019--2021. The study was realised in a sugar beet growing region (Haplic Luvisol); a field rainfall simulator was used. From the used variants with Lolium perenne L., Trifolium repens L., Vicia villosa Roth, Lolium multiflorum Lam., Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Triticum aestivum L. or a mixture (Vicia villosa plus a Trifolium hybrid diploid), the variants with Lolium perenne, Lolium multiflorum, Vicia villosa or Vicia villosa plus the Trifolium hybrid diploid, established between the maize rows (hybrid maize, cultivar Walterinio) on May 27, were the most efficient in case of both the soil losses and runoff reductions in the year 2019. For example, Triticum aestivum between the maize rows mostly reduced the soil losses and the surface runoff was similar (or higher) compared with the control (maize without any intercrop). The variant with Trifolium repens had mostly higher (or similar) soil loss values (compared with the control); in this variant, the runoff was lower compared with the control. We proved our hypothesis with regards to the higher reduction in the soil losses than with the runoff in the variant with Lolium perenne. The results from the years 2020 (the used variants with Lolium multiflorum, Secale cereale L., Trifolium incarnatum L., Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth., Lolium multiflorum plus Trifolium incarnatum, Lolium multiflorum plus Vicia pannonica Crantz) and 2021 (the variants with Lolium multiflorum, Lolium multiflorum -- early sowing, Secale cereale, Trifolium incarnatum, Phacelia tanacetifolia, Lolium multiflorum plus Trifolium incarnatum, a mixed culture = maize plus Lupinus albus L.) showed the variants with Trifolium incarnatum, the mixture (Lolium multiflorum plus Trifolium incarnatum), Phacelia tanacetifolia (in the year 2020) or the mixture (Lolium multiflorum plus Trifolium incarnatum) and a mixed culture (maize plus Lupinus albus) (2021) had the most positive effect -- the soil loss and surface runoff values were lower when the maize was > 2 m compared with the maize < 1 m. The results obtained in the period 2019--2021 showed the grasses were the most efficient in decreasing the soil losses when the maize was < 1 m and when the maize was > 2 m with the used mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Zealand pastures largely comprising Lolium ryegrass species (Poales: Poaceae) are worth $19.6B and are subject to major pest impacts. A very severe pest is the Argentine stem weevil Listronotus bonariensis (Kuschel) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). This has been previously suppressed by the importation biological control agent, Microctonus hyperodae Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). However, this suppression has recently declined and is subject to investigation. It has been hypothesised that grass type influences the parasitism avoidance behaviour by the weevil and thus parasitism rates. This study explored the hypothesis using three common pasture grasses: a diploid Lolium perenne x Lolium multiflorum hybrid ryegrass (cv. Manawa), a tetraploid Italian ryegrass L. multiflorum Lam. (cv. Tama), and a diploid perennial ryegrass L. perenne L. (cv. Samson). The described laboratory-based microcosm methodology determined the extent of weevil avoidance behaviour on each of these three grasses when subjected to the parasitoid. Such reaction was gauged by the extent of reduced weevil on-plant presence and feeding compared to the control populations. In the absence of the parasitoid, the hybrid cv. Manawa ryegrass is as highly favoured by the weevil as the tetraploid cv. Tama. On diploid cv. Samson, feeding is considerably less. In the presence of the parasitoid, weevils on the tetraploid cv. Tama plants showed little avoidance activity in response to the parasitoid and it can be argued that the benefits of staying on this plant outweighed the possibility of parasitism. Conversely and surprisingly, in the parasitoid's presence, weevils on diploid cv. Manawa showed very strong avoidance behaviour leading to levels of exposure similar to those found on the less-preferred diploid cv. Samson. These findings reflect how weevil parasitism rates have declined in most Lolium grasses, particularly diploids, since the 1990s, but not in the tetraploid L. multiflorum. This contribution supports the hypothesis that the decline in weevil parasitism rates has been the result of rapid evolution arising from parasitoid-induced selection pressure and the countervailing effect of the nutritional quality of the host plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Festulolium are hybrids obtained by inter crossing of species from the genera Festuca and Lolium. Initially, idea was to combine Festuca tolerance to abiotic stresses and edaphic and climatic adaptability with Lolium high yield, digestibility and compatibility with intensive grasslands management. All Festulolium cultivars of the predominant contribution of Lolium genome (Lolioid type) are productive, with high quality and digestible forage, but their areal of cropping is limited according to Lolium drought susceptibility. Persistency and productivity of 15 different Lolioid Festulolium cultivars and 6 standard Festuca and Lolium species cultivars were investigated in a moderate continental climate in Kruševac, Serbia. Plots in the trial (7,5m2 ) were completely randomized, each in 3 replications. Summer persistency was analyzed by evaluation of ground cover reduction after summer periods in the second and third years. Concerning hybrid combination, best persistency (38.5% of coverage reduction in the third year) was determined for hybrid between Lolium multiflorum x Festuca arundinacea var. glaucescens even though there was only one cultivar of this type. The majority of cultivars were Lolium multiflorum x Festuca pratensis hybrids (8) and they showed residual coverage between 30 and 52%. At the end of the third year of the study, the highest dry matter yield was determined for hybrids Lolium multiflorum x Festuca gigantea and Lolium multiflorum x Festuca pratensis type. The general conclusion is that most cultivars suffered from severe stand density reduction after the first year of cutting and therefore had a lower dry matter yield compared to Festuca control cultivars, but showed significantly better persistency and higher values for dry matter yield in comparison with Lolium cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is an important forage and suffers negative interference from weeds, like annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.). The competition of annual bluegrass with ryegrass can interfere with crop growth and reduce the amount of forage for animal feed. We aimed to evaluate the interference of annual bluegrass in ryegrass crops through the differentiation of niche and establishment. Two experiments were carried out testing different competition strata (shoot, root, and both) and ryegrass establishment with or after annual bluegrass, with increasing populations of annual bluegrass (0, 35, 139, 279, 419 plants m-iables were plant height, height length of the root system, stem diameter, and fresh weight of shoot and root systems of ryegrass. The negative interference of growing populations of annual bluegrass occurred when in competition for the shoot and root systems of ryegrass. The fresh weight of shoots and roots were impacted when competing for the same strata. Ryegrass, established after the population of annual bluegrass, showed less competitive capacity. The negative interference of annual bluegrass in ryegrass is greater when the plants fully compete for the resources of the environment, and when the ryegrass establishes after the competitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'FL4XR16' (Reg. no. CV‐289, PI 699961) tetraploid forage‐type annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is a synthetic cultivar selected for mid‐late maturity, high dry matter (DM) yield, and resistance to gray leaf spot (GLS). In spring 2016, a nursery of 'FL Red' experienced a high incidence of GLS, and 50 highly disease resistant individual plants were replanted and intercrossed. Seed from this intercross was used to establish a half‐sib nursery in fall 2016. The nursery was subsequently rogued for uniform maturity, and the remaining plants were allowed to intercross to produce the base population FL4XR16 in spring 2017. The base population went through one additional cycle of selection for uniformity. Seed harvested from this final selection cycle or a later isolated increase of this population was used to establish DM yield experiments at Citra, FL, and Tifton, GA, in 2018–2019; at Hague, FL, and Tifton in 2019–2020; and at Hague in 2020–2021 for a total of five location‐years. FL4XR16 was not significantly different in DM yield from the top entry in a given test in four of these five experiments. Maturity ratings at Gainesville, FL, show that FL4XR16 was mid‐late in maturity. The locations of evaluation for this cultivar have primarily been in the Coastal Plains region of the United States, but considering its pedigree, it is expected to perform well across the southern U.S. annual ryegrass growing region. Production and marketing rights for FL4XR16 have been granted to Smith Seed Services, Halsey, OR. Core Ideas: FL4XR16 is a new tetraploid annual ryegrass cultivar with high dry matter yields and resistance to gray leaf spot.FL4XR16 tetraploid annual ryegrass has mid‐late maturity.FL4XR16 tetraploid annual ryegrass offers producers new options for a disease‐resistant cultivar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we analyzed the fermentation quality, microbial community, and metabolome characteristics of ryegrass silage from different harvests (first harvest-AK, second harvest-BK, and third harvest-CK) and analyzed the correlation between fermentative bacteria and metabolites. The bacterial community and metabolomic characteristics were analyzed by singlemolecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS), respectively. After 60 days of ensiling, the pH of BK was significantly lower than those of AK and CK, and its lactic acid content was significantly higher than those of AK and CK. Lactiplantibacillus and Enterococcus genera dominate the microbiota of silage obtained from ryegrass harvested at three different harvests. In addition, the BK group had the highest abundance of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (58.66%), and the CK group had the highest abundance of Enterococcus faecalis (42.88%). The most annotated metabolites among the differential metabolites of different harvests were peptides, and eight amino acids were dominant in the composition of the identified peptides. In the ryegrass silage, arginine, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate biosynthesis had the highest enrichment ratio in the metabolic pathway of KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Valyl-isoleucine and glutamylvaline were positively correlated with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. D-Pipecolic acid and L-glutamic acid were positively correlated with Levilactobacillus brevis. L-phenylalanyl-Lproline, 3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(2-methoxybenzoyloxy) oxane-2-carboxylic acid, and shikimic acid were negatively correlated with Levilactobacillus brevis. In conclusion, this study explains the effects of different harvest frequencies on the fermentation quality, microbial community, and metabolites of ryegrass, and improves our understanding of the ensiling mechanisms associated with different ryegrass harvesting frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate forage mass, morphological, and chemical composition of diploids and tetraploids Italian ryegrass cultivars in hydromorphic soil. Eight ryegrass cultivars were evaluated in a two-years completely randomised trial with four plots per cultivar. Forage production was recorded, and samples were collected to evaluate morphological and chemical composition. The contrasts methodology was used to verify differences between diploid and tetraploid cultivars. Compared to tetraploids, the diploids had the greatest number of cuts and the largest accumulation of forage in the second year, highlighting the better adaptation of cultivars in hydromorphic soils. Tetraploid ryegrass increased leaves and reduced stem and inflorescence proportion relative to diploid ryegrass. Tetraploid cultivars had lower DM, organic matter, and acid detergent fibre content than diploid cultivars. However, there was no significant difference between cultivars associated with their ploidy for the neutral detergent fibre and estimated total digestible nutrients. Additionally, only in the second year, tetraploid had lower crude protein content than diploid ones. Tetraploid ryegrass showed be less tolerant to periods of water stress due to flooding, characteristic of hydromorphic soils, resulting in less forage production than diploid ryegrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, it was aimed to determine the effect of microbial inoculants and molasses on the quality and in vitro digestibility of the silages ensiled from the cultivation of different proportions of ryegrass-Hungarian vetch mixtures grown in Central Anatolian conditions. For this purpose, 5% molasses and 10 g/ton (1.25 x 1011 CFU/g) inoculant were added to silages of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) containing 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica L.), under laboratory conditions. The prepared silages were opened at the end of 60 days and their physical analysis, chemical contents, fermentation parameters, in vitro digestibilities using rumen inocula obtained from cannulated Holstein cow, and energy levels were determined. In the study, it was determined that the microbial inoculant increased the lactic acid level significantly (p < 0.05). In vitro digestibility of organic matter and energy values increased in silages containing 60% HV compared to other silages and with both additives (p < 0.05). The neutral detergent fiber levels increased in mixtures containing 40% and 60% Hungarian vetch (p < 0.05). The increase in the vetch ratio affected the external appearance of the silages negatively (p < 0.05), and the physical properties were adversely affected by the inoculant (p < 0.05). As a result, it was determined that Hungarian vetch can be mixed with ryegrass up to 80% with and without inoculant and molasses additive to obtain high-quality silage. But the highest digestibility values were obtained when Hungarian vetch was mixed at a 60% level. It would be more appropriate to prefer molasses to avoid undesired changes in physical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cinmethylin, a pre‐emergence herbicide inhibiting fatty acid thioesterase activity, has recently been introduced to Australian cereal cropping for the control of Lolium rigidum Gaud. (annual ryegrass). To date, there have been no confirmed cases of cinmethylin resistance identified in this species, but some populations exhibit reduced sensitivity to this herbicide. To explore the mechanism which contributes to reduced sensitivity of annual ryegrass to cinmethylin, the extent and nature of cinmethylin metabolism, using carbon‐14 (14C)‐labelled herbicide, were analysed in three reduced‐sensitivity annual ryegrass populations, alongside a susceptible population and cinmethylin‐tolerant wheat as controls. Results: All samples showed the same metabolite profile, with the extent of production of a specific water‐soluble metabolite being correlated to the level of herbicide sensitivity. Application of the cytochrome P450 inhibitor phorate caused a decrease in water‐soluble metabolite production as well as seedling growth in the presence of cinmethylin, indicating that reduced cinmethylin sensitivity in annual ryegrass could be wholly or partially due to oxidative modification of cinmethylin. Conclusion: Because annual ryegrass has the potential to metabolize cinmethylin in the same way as wheat, careful stewardship is required to ensure the longevity of this herbicide. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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