Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) and climate change: the effect of CO2 concentration, temperature, and water deficit on growth and reproduction of two biotypes

Abstract

Climate change will have a considerable impact upon the processes that moderate weed invasion, in particular to that of parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.). This study evaluated the performance of two Australian biotypes of parthenium weed under a range of environmental conditions including soil moisture (100 and 50% of field capacity), atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO) concentration (390 and 550 ppm), and temperature (35/20 and 30/15 °C/day/night). Measurements were taken upon growth, reproductive output, seed biology (fill, viability and dormancy) and soil seed longevity. Parthenium weed growth and seed output were significantly increased under the elevated CO concentration (550 ppm) and in the cooler (30/15 °C) and wetter (field capacity) conditions. However, elevated CO concentration could not promote growth or seed output when the plants were grown under the warmer (35/20 °C) and wetter conditions. Warm temperatures accelerated the growth of parthenium weed, producing plants with greater height biomass but with a shorter life span. Warm temperatures also affected the reproductive output by promoting both seed production and fill, and promoting seed longevity. Dryer soil conditions (50% of field capacity) also promoted the reproductive output, but did not retain high seed fill or promote seed longevity. Therefore, the rising temperatures, the increased atmospheric CO concentration and the longer periods of drought predicted under climate change scenarios are likely to substantially enhance the growth and reproductive output of these two Australian parthenium weed biotypes. This may facilitate the further invasion of this noxious weed in tropical and sub-tropical natural and agro-ecosystems.

Effect of elevated carbon dioxide concentration on growth, productivity and glyphosate response of parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.)

“…Parthenium hysterophorus L. (commonly known as parthenium weed) is one such highly invasive plant species which has shown an exceptional ability to germinate, grow and reproduce under different climate change conditions such as high temperature, low soil moisture and elevated CO 2 . P. hysterophorus has invaded nearly 50 countries around the world where it causes uproductivity and quality losses in crops, pastures and livestock .…”

Distribution of Parthenium hysterophorus and one of its biological control agents (Coleoptera: Zygogramma bicolorata) in Nepal

“…Invasion by this species has resulted in the displacement of plant species (Timsina et al, 2011); an increase in health hazards to animals and people (McFadyen, 1995;Nyasembe et al, 2015); a reduction in agricultural productivity; and reduction in the quality of milk and meat (Adkins & Shabbir, 2014). Unfortunately, climate change is likely to enhance growth and reproductive output of this damaging weed (Nguyen et al, 2017).…”

Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus) competition with grain sorghum under arid conditions

“…Knezevic et al (1997) reported that redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) competition with sorghum at different densities, even at early growth stages, reduced the seed number per head resulting in significant yield loss. The early emergence, vigorous growth, high nutrient uptake capacity, ability to tolerate harsh conditions might have enabled parthenium weed to compete strongly with so-called competitive sorghum crop (Annapurna and Singh, 2003;Bajwa et al, 2016Bajwa et al, , 2017Bajwa et al, , 2018Nguyen et al, 2017). In addition, this weed produces and releases potent secondary metabolites/allelochemicals in its rhizosphere through which it inhibits the growth of neighbouring species (Belz et al, 2007;Singh et al, 2003).…”

“…Parthenium weed germinates, grows and reproduces under a wide range of environmental conditions (Bajwa et al, 2016(Bajwa et al, , 2018 due to its vigorous growth habit, strong competitive ability, high nutrient and moisture uptake ability and an allelopathic competence (Bajwa et al, 2016;Nguyen et al, 2017;Singh et al, 2003). It has been reported to cause severe growth reduction and yield loss in important grain crops, such as maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Safdar et al, 2015;Tamado et al, 2002).…”