The Speargrass (Imperata cylindrica (L) Beauv.) menace in Ghana: Incidence, farmer perceptions and control practices in the forest and forest-Savanna transition Agro-ecological Zones of Ghana

Bolfrey-Arku, G.; Onokpise, O. U.; Carson, A. G.; Shilling, Donn G.; Coultas, C.C.

doi:10.4314/wajae.v10i1.45713

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…in pastures (Orr et al 1997). For small holder farmers in many tropical countries, such as Ghana and Laos, burning is the dominant form of clearing vegetation and controlling weeds on land before sowing crops (Bolfrey-Arku et al 2006;Roder et al 1997). Slash-and-burn agriculture, with upland rice as the major crop, is the predominant land use system in the hilly areas of Laos (Roder et al 1997).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed Germination Ecology of Itchgrass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis)

2011

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Itchgrass is a weed of many crops throughout the tropics and one of the most important grass weeds of rainfed rice. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory and screenhouse to determine the effects of light, alternating day/night temperatures, high temperature pretreatment, water stress, seed burial depth, and rice residue on seed germination and seedling emergence of itchgrass in the Philippines. Two populations were evaluated and the results were consistent for both populations. Germination in the light/dark regime was greater at alternating day/night temperatures of 25/15 C than at 35/25, 30/20, or 20/10 C. Light was not a requirement for germination, but a light/dark regime increased germination by 96%, across temperature and population. A 5-min high temperature pretreatment for 50% inhibition of maximum itchgrass germination ranged from 145 to 151 C with no germination when seeds were exposed to ≥ 180 C. The osmotic potential required for 50% inhibition of maximum germination was −0.6 MPa for itchgrass, although some seeds germinated at −0.8 MPa. Seedling emergence was greatest for seeds placed on the soil surface, and emergence declined with increasing soil burial depth; no seedlings emerged from seeds buried at 10 cm. The addition of rice residue to soil surface in pots at rates equivalent to 4 to 6 Mg ha−1reduced itchgrass seedling emergence. Since seedling emergence was greatest at shallow depths and germination was stimulated by light, itchgrass may become a problem in systems where soil is cultivated at shallow depths. Knowledge gained in this study could contribute to developing components of integrated weed management strategies for itchgrass.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed Germination Ecology of Itchgrass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis)

2011

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“…Different methods of treatment have been used to improve testosterone deficiency including testosterone replacement therapy at a cost of numerous side effects, thus requiring other potential drug candidates from plants [14]. The grass Imperata cylindrica is not only easily available but is mostly seen as a noxious weed [15], and proper utilization will increase the arsenal of plants with potential value as drug candidates for the treatment of testosterone deficiency especially due to diabetes mellitus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the Androgenic Effect of Different Imperata Cylindrica Extracts on Diabetic Wistar Rats

Nwokike

Ghasi

Ogbonna³

et al. 2021

EJMP

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This was an experimental study that evaluated the effect of aqueous, methanol and chloroform root extracts of Imperata cylindrica on serum levels of testosterone in male Wistar rats. Shade dried Imperata cylindrica roots were pounded and crude extracts prepared using distilled water, methanol and chloroform. Diabetes mellitus was induced with alloxan monohydrate and the diabetic rats were divided into six groups (n=8) and kept in separate cages. Group A rats were Non-Diabetic Rats Treated With Distilled Water. In Group B were placed Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats Treated with Distilled Water. Groups C, D and E contained Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats Treated with 200 mg/Kg body weight water, chloroform and methanol Imperata cylindrica root extracts in the given order. Group F was the Positive Control with Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats Treated with Glibenclamide [0.5 mg/kg body weight]. This treatment was carried out for 28 days sequentially. An analysis of the serum obtained from the rats after 28 days indicate that the extracts increased testosterone levels to varying degrees with the methanol extract producing the highest activity of 27.42 percent. This increase is from 3.23±0.04 ng/ml at baseline to 4.45±0.11 ng/ml after 28 days (p 0.0001). The increase due to aqueous extract was equally very statistically significant (p 0.0001) as the baseline concentration of testosterone, 3.35±0.08 ng/ml was increased by 23.70% to 4.39±0.32 ng/ml. The chloroform extract proved to be the least active of the extracts as it only increased the testosterone level by 11.76% from 3.15±0.19 ng/ml at baseline to 3.57±0.09 ng/ml after 28 days (p=0.0213). This was about two and half times lower than the methanol extract that elicited highest activity among the extracts and about four times less than the effect produced by the Group F rats treated with 0.5 mg/kg body weight of glibenclamide. The testosterone levels of Group F rats after 28 days increased to the levels seen in the normal control group that did not receive alloxan, from 3.17±0.12 to 5.51±0.25 ng/ml, a 42.47% change. This result indicates that methanol is the best extractant of the three solvents analyzed.

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“…It has colonised many areas in Latin America, tropical Asia, and some parts of West Africa due to its ability to propagate through both sexual and asexual means, among other adaptive characteristics (Chikoye et al, 2000;King and Grace, 2000;Sellers et al, 2015). It is known to cause a lot of injuries to roots and tubers in Sub-Saharan African countries, which affects crop quality (Bolfrey-Arku et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Storage rot of seed yam resulting from speargrass injuries

Aidoo¹,

Arthur²,

Bolfrey-Arku³

et al. 2020

Afr. Crop Sci. J.

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Postharvest rot due to injury is a major contributing factor to the declining quality of stored seed yams (Dioscorea spp.). Among the several known injuries, the piercing effect of speargrass rhizomes has become a serious constraint for yam production in Ghana. The objective of this study was to assess injuries on seed yams resulting from piercing of speargrass rhizomes and their effects on postharvest rots in Ghana. Eighty farmer fields from Mem, Watro, Asanteboa and Abour in the Atebubu-Amantin Municipal in the Bono East Region of Ghana were screened for speargrass incidence and injury on harvested tubers, for laboratory analysis of pathogens in 2016 and 2017. The tubers were sorted into four categories of seed yam based on weight. Thirty seed yams each of two selected white yam cultivars (Dente and Kpamyo) with visible speargrass rhizome-pierced-tubers (VSRPT) and non-speargrass rhizome pierced healthy tubers (NSRPHT) were randomly selected and stored in a ban for weekly assessment of rot. The rotten tissues from the localised area of VPSRT were subjected to pathological investigations in the laboratory. The incidence of injury seemingly increased with increasing tuber weight. It was 0% for < 100 g samples and averagely 14% for > 1 kg samples, irrespective of cultivars and locations. Incidence of rot from NSRPHT sample was observed 5 weeks after storage (WAS) for both cultivars; and 2 WAS from the VSRPT sample and 40% higher than NSRPHT at 8 WAS. Eight and six known rot pathogens were isolated from the rotten tissues of VSRPT of Dente and Kpamyo, respectively. Injury from the piercing of speargrass rhizome significantly contributed to hastening of tuber rots; while tuber injury increased with increasing speargrass density. Appropriate management of speargrass is essential for commercial seed yam growers to reduce tuber damage which affects yam quality, storage and marketing. Key words: Dioscorea, postharvest, rot pathogen, speargrass rhizome

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The Speargrass (Imperata cylindrica (L) Beauv.) menace in Ghana: Incidence, farmer perceptions and control practices in the forest and forest-Savanna transition Agro-ecological Zones of Ghana

Abstract: Surveys to determine farmers' practices, perceptions and the incidence of speargrass were conducted in the forest

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

Seed Germination Ecology of Itchgrass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis)

Seed Germination Ecology of Itchgrass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis)

Examining the Androgenic Effect of Different Imperata Cylindrica Extracts on Diabetic Wistar Rats

Storage rot of seed yam resulting from speargrass injuries

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