Register      Login
Australian Journal of Botany Australian Journal of Botany Society
Southern hemisphere botanical ecosystems
RESEARCH ARTICLE

The reproductive biology of the introduced root holoparasite Orobanche ramosa subsp. mutelii (Orobanchaceae) in South Australia

Jane Prider
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia, PO Box 1671, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. Email: jprider@internode.on.net

Australian Journal of Botany 63(5) 426-434 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT14134
Submitted: 23 June 2014  Accepted: 12 February 2015   Published: 8 May 2015

Abstract

An understanding of the timing and constraints on seed production is necessary for the successful control of many invasive plant species. In the present study, we investigated the reproductive traits of the annual root holoparasite, Orobanche ramosa L. subsp. mutelii (F.W.Shultz) Cout. (branched broomrape), which occurs in the western Murray mallee area of South Australia. Flowering stems emerge above the ground from early September. Each flower spike has from 2 to 24 flowers and the first flower opens on the base 8 days after emergence and senesces 6 days later. An additional flower opens acropetally every 1–2 days. The species is autogamous and self-pollination can occur before anthesis. Mature seeds were observed from 9–10 days after flower senescence and capsules dehisced 12 days later. Although each plant is in flower only for an average of 20 days, in large populations or multi-branched plants, the flowering period extends over several weeks, with a peak in mid-October. Seed production in sampled populations was highly variable, ranging from 1000 to over 200 000 per plant. Large plants with several branching stems produced the most seeds, although capsules produced per stem and seeds per capsule were also variable. There is a brief window of opportunity for control of O. ramosa subsp. mutelii after it emerges above the soil surface and before it sets seed.

Weedy root parasites such as Orobanche ramosa can have devastating impacts on host crops, but are difficult to control because most growth occurs underground. We identified key characters that contribute to the success of this introduced plant, including self-pollination, rapid maturation of the reproductive stages and high seed output. Vigilance is required so that plants can be controlled before they set seed.

Additional keywords: branched broomrape, invasive plants, seed production, weed.


References

Abbes Z, Kharrat M, Pouvreau JB, Delavault P, Chaibi W, Simier P (2010) The dynamics of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) parasitism by Orobanche foetida. Phytopathologia Mediterranea 49, 239–248.

Carter RJ, Cooke DA (1994) Broomrape (Orobanche spp.) is a threat to broadleaved crops in Australia. Plant Protection Quarterly 9, 586–590.

Carter RJ, Barker W, Csurhes S (1996) International trade and parasitic crop weeds: implications of the current status of witchweed and broomrape in Australia. In’Proceedings of the eleventh Australian weeds conference, 30 September to 3 October 1996, Melbourne, Australia’. (Ed. RCH Shepherd) pp. 89–92. (Weed Science Society of Victoria: Melbourne)

Chater A, Webb D (1972) Orobanche L. In ‘Flora Europea’. (Eds T Tutin, V Heywood, N Burges, D Moore, D Valentine, S Walters, D Webb) pp. 286–294. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK)

Crawley MJ (2007) ‘The R book.’ (John Wiley & Sons: Chichester, UK)

Cubero JI, Moreno MT (1991) Chromosome numbers and reproduction in Orobanche. In ‘Proceedings of the 5th international symposium of parasitic weeds, Nairobi, Kenya, 24–30 June 1991’. pp. 298–302. (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center: Nairobi, Kenya)

Díaz SJ, Norambuena MH, López-Granados F (2006) Characterization of the holoparasitism of Orobanche ramosa on tomatoes under field conditions. Agricultura Tecnica 66, 223–234.

Eizenberg H, Colquhoun J, Mallory-Smith CA (2004) The relationship between temperature and small broomrape (Orobanche minor) parasitism in red clover (Trifolium pratense). Weed Science 52, 735–741.
The relationship between temperature and small broomrape (Orobanche minor) parasitism in red clover (Trifolium pratense).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXnvFegtL4%3D&md5=2ed9f9b432cb7795591b12c5e2d34ceaCAS |

Eizenberg H, Hershenhorn J, Ephrath JH, Kanampiu F (2013) Chemical control. In ‘Parasitic Orobanchaceae: parasitic mechanisms and control strategies’. (Eds D Joel, J Gressel, L Musselman) pp. 415–432. (Springer-Verlag: Berlin)

Ghersa CM, Holt JS (1995) Using phenology prediction in weed management: a review. Weed Research 35, 461–470.
Using phenology prediction in weed management: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gibot-Leclerc S, Sallé G, Reboud X, Moreau D (2012) What are the traits of Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel that contribute to the success of its biological cycle on its host Brassica napus L.? Flora 207, 512–521.
What are the traits of Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel that contribute to the success of its biological cycle on its host Brassica napus L.?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gibot-Leclerc S, Dessaint F, Reibel C, Le Corre V (2013) Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel populations differ in life-history and infection response to hosts. Flora 208, 247–252.
Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel populations differ in life-history and infection response to hosts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Holm L, Doll J, Holm E, Pancho JV, Herberger JP (1997) ‘World weeds: natural histories and distribution.’ (John Wiley & Sons: New York)

Joel D (2013) Seed production and dispersal in the Orobanchaceae. In ‘Parasitic Orobanchaceae: parasitic mechanisms and control strategies’. (Eds D Joel, J Gressel, L Musselman) pp. 143–146. (Springer-Verlag: Berlin)

Jones M (1991) Studies on the pollination of Orobanche species in the British Isles. In ‘Progress in Orobanche research’. (Eds K Wegmann, LJ Musselman) pp. 6–17. (Eberhard-Karls-Universitat: Tubingen Germany)

Keighery G (1984) Bud autogamy in Orobanche L. (Orobanchaceae). Western Australia Naturalist 16, 10–11.

Küster EC, Kühn I, Bruelheide H, Klotz S (2008) Trait interactions help explain plant invasion success in the German flora. Journal of Ecology 96, 860–868.
Trait interactions help explain plant invasion success in the German flora.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Labrada R (1994) Occurrence and control of Orobanche ramosa L. in Cuba. In ‘Biology and management of Orobanche’. (Eds AH Pieterse, JAC Verkleij, SJ ter Borg) pp. 604–610. (Royal Tropical Institute: Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Langston MA, Gaspari RA, Eplee RE (1985) Progress towards the eradication of Orobanche ramosa from Texas. In ‘Proceedings Southern Weed Science Society 38th annual meeting’. pp. 354. (Southern Weed Science Society: Houston, TX)

Linke KH, Sauerborn J, Saxena MC (1991a) Host-parasite relationships: effect of Orobanche crenata seed banks on development of the parasite and yield of faba bean. Angewandte Botanik 65, 229–238.

Linke KH, Schnell H, Saxena MC (1991b) Factors affecting the seed bank of Orobanche crenata in fields under lentil-based cropping systems in northern Syria. In ‘Proceedings of the 5th international symposium of parasitic weeds, Nairobi, Kenya, 24–30 June 1991’. (Eds JK Ransom, LJ Musselman, AD Worsham, C Parker) pp. 321–327. (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center: Nairobi, Kenya)

López-Granados F, García-Torres L (1991) Estimation of Orobanche crenata seed production. In ‘Progress in Orobanche research’. pp. 92–98. (Eberhard-Karls Universitat: Tubingen, Germany)

López-Granados F, García-Torres L (1999) Longevity of crenate broomrape (Orobanche crenata) seed under soil and laboratory conditions. Weed Science 47, 161–166.

Panetta FD, Lawes R (2007) Evaluation of the Australian branched broomrape (Orobanche ramosa) eradication program. Weed Science 55, 644–651.
Evaluation of the Australian branched broomrape (Orobanche ramosa) eradication program.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXhtlKktrrJ&md5=91585b8946b3e838bcd35cf57ad37168CAS |

Panetta FD, Cacho O, Hester S, Sims-Chilton N, Brooks S (2011) Estimating and influencing the duration of weed eradication programmes. Journal of Applied Ecology 48, 980–988.
Estimating and influencing the duration of weed eradication programmes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Parker C (2013) The parasitic weeds of the Orobanchaceae. In ‘Parasitic Orobanchaceae: parasitic mechanisms and control strategies’. (Eds D Joel, J Gressel, L Musselman) pp. 313–344. (Springer-Verlag: Berlin)

Pazy B (1998) Diploidization failure and apomixis in Orobanchaceae. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 128, 99–103.
Diploidization failure and apomixis in Orobanchaceae.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Prider J, Correll R, Warren P (2012) A model for risk-based assessment of Phelipanche mutelii (branched broomrape) eradication in fields. Weed Research 52, 526–534.
A model for risk-based assessment of Phelipanche mutelii (branched broomrape) eradication in fields.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pyšek P, Richardson DM (2007) Traits associated with invasiveness in alien plants: where do we stand? In ‘Biological invasions’. (Ed. W Nentwig) pp. 97–125. (Springer-Verlag: Berlin)

Pyšek P, Jarošík V, Pergl J, Randall R, Chytrý M, Kühn I, Tichý L, Danihelka J, Chrtek jun J, Sádlo J (2009) The global invasion success of central European plants is related to distribution characteristics in their native range and species traits. Diversity & Distributions 15, 891–903.
The global invasion success of central European plants is related to distribution characteristics in their native range and species traits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
         (b) R Core Team (2014) ‘R: A language and environment for statistical computing.’ (R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna, Austria) Available at: http://www.R-project.org/

Reuter BC (1986) The habitat, reproductive ecology and host relations of Orobanche fasciculata Nutt (Orobanchaceae) in Wisconsin. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 113, 110–117.
The habitat, reproductive ecology and host relations of Orobanche fasciculata Nutt (Orobanchaceae) in Wisconsin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rodríguez-Ojeda MI, Pérez-Vich B, Alonso LC, Fernández-Escobar J (2010) The influence of flowering plant isolation on seed production and seed quality in Orobanche cumana. Weed Research 50, 515–518.
The influence of flowering plant isolation on seed production and seed quality in Orobanche cumana.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rodríguez-Ojeda MI, Fernández-Martinez JM, Velasco L, Pérez-Vich B (2013) Extent of cross-fertilization in Orobanche cumana Wallr. Biologia Plantarum 57, 559–562.
Extent of cross-fertilization in Orobanche cumana Wallr.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Román B (2013) Population diversity and dynamics of parasitic weeds. In ‘Parasitic Orobanchaceae: parasitic mechanisms and control strategies’. (Eds DM Joel, J Gressel, LJ Musselman) pp. 345–356. (Springer Verlag: Heidelberg)

Satovic Z, Joel DM, Rubiales D, Cubero JI, Romãn B (2009) Population genetics in weedy species of Orobanche. Australasian Plant Pathology 38, 228–234.
Population genetics in weedy species of Orobanche.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Schneeweiss GM (2013) Phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary trends in Orobanchaceae. In ‘Parasitic Orobanchaceae: parasitic mechanisms and control strategies’. (Eds DM Joel, J Gressel, LJ Musselman) pp. 243–265. (Springer Verlag: Heidelberg)

Secomb N (2006) Defining the distribution of branched broomrape (Orobanche ramosa L.) by tracing the movement of potential vectors for the spread of seed. In ‘Proceedings of the fifteeenth Australian weeds conference, 24–28 September 2006, Adelaide, Australia’. pp. 614–617. (Weed Management Society of South Australia: Adelaide)

Thieret J (1971) The genera of Orobanchaceae in the southeastern United States. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 52, 404–434.

Toth P, Lukas J, Bouwmeester H (2013) Broomrape pollinators in the light of floral volatiles. In ‘12th world congress on parasitic plants, 15–20 July 2013’. (Eds J Scholes, D Cameron, K Yoneyama) pp. 56. (International Parasitic Plants Society: Sheffield, UK)

Verkleij JA, Egbers WS, Pieterse AH (1991) Allozyme variations in populations of Orobanche crenata from Syria. In ‘Progress in Orobanche research’. pp. 304–317. (Eberhard-Karlsa-Universitat: Tubingen, Germany)

Virtue J, Prider J, Williams A (2014) Host range of branched broomrape (Orobanche ramosa subsp. mutelii) in South Australia. Plant Protection Quarterly 29, 46–54.

Warren P (2010) Branched broomrape eradication program. Plant Protection Quarterly 25, 37–38.

Warren P, Morgan T (2013) ‘On property management of branched broomrape.’ (Government of South Australia: Adelaide)

Yoneyama K, Awad AA, Xie XN, Takeuchi Y (2010) Strigolactones as germination stimulants for root parasitic plants. Plant & Cell Physiology 51, 1095–1103.
Strigolactones as germination stimulants for root parasitic plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXptlalsLg%3D&md5=d019cfaffecd71504b46988aedcf61efCAS |