Effect of field dodder (Cuscuta campestris Yunck.) on the anatomical parameters of alfalfa

Abstract

The effects of field dodder on the anatomical changes in alfalfa plants were examined under controlled conditions. Experiment included the following variants: non-infested alfalfa plants (control); infested alfalfa plants (untreated) and infested plants treated with propizamyde. Propizamyde application rates were 3000 g A.I. ha-1 and 4000 g A.I. ha-1. The following anatomical parameters were analysed: 1) stem - thickness of epidermis and cortex, diameter of stem and central cylinder; 2) leaf - thickness of adaxial and abaxial epidermis, thickness of parenchyma and spongy tissue, thickness of mesophyll and the diameter of the bundle sheath cells. Plants infested by field dodder had lower values of the majority of anatomical parameters, compared to non-infested plants. Reductions in the last assessment ranged from 34% to 51% for stem and 27% - 51% for leaf. Anatomical parameters of alfalfa stems and leaves had significantly higher values in non-infested plants and infested plants treated with propizamyde.

Uticaj viline kosice na anatomske osobine lucerke ispitivan je u kontrolisanim uslovima. Praćene su sledeće varijante: - nezaražene biljke lucerke - kontrola; zaražene biljke lucerke i zaražene biljke lucerke tretirane propizamidom. Propizamid je primenjen u količinama od 3000 i 4000 g A.I. ha-1. Mereni su sledeći anatomski parametri: 1) list - debljina epidermskih ćelija lica i naličja lista, debljina parenhimskog i sunđerastog tkiva, debljina mezofila i prečnik ćelija omotača provodnih snopića; 2) stablo - debljina epidermisa, debljina primarne kore stabla, prečnik stabla i prečnik centralnog cilindra. Vilina kosica je kod zaraženih i herbicidom netretiranih biljaka lucerke prouzrokovala značajnu redukciju merenih anatomskih parametara stabla (34-51%) i lista (27-51%) u odnosu na nezaražene biljke, dok su u tretmanima sa primenom propizamida na zarazene biljke vrednosti merenih anatomskih parametara stabla i lista bile značajno veće nego kod zaraženih-netretiranih biljaka.