Excellence in Research: An investigation of the effects of Nicandra physalodes on the growth and development of weeds

人们发现，有毒杂草会对作物生产产生负面影响，导致产量下降。对杂草的物理管理，如锄地和手工拔除通常是耗时的。使用除草剂管理杂草会导致杂草对它们产生抗药性。除了抗性之外，除草剂还会污染地下水。因此，需要一种环境友好、成本效益高的综合杂草管理方法。利用植物次生化合物防治杂草的研究对提高植物生产力具有重要意义，因此，本研究将促进植物生物学和农业知识的发展。可以采用生物防治的方法来管理基库尤草（Pennisetum clandestinum）、Echinochloa cross -galli （Echinochloa cross -galli）和意大利黑麦草（Lolium multiflorum）。教师和学生将进行详细的研究，以了解Nicandra physalodes如何影响杂草的生长，而作物的生长不受影响。这项拟议中的研究将为一所历史悠久的黑人大学的本科生提供研究和培训机会，并为少数族裔学生提供更广泛的STEM参与机会。学生将接受指导，研究的某些方面将作为植物解剖学、植物生理学和生态学课程的本科研究经验。拟议研究的结果将在会议上发表，并发表在同行评议的期刊上。当地农民也可能从这项研究项目的成果中受益。根据美国农业部的说法，P. clandestinum（基库尤草）是一种与豆科植物竞争的联邦政府列出的有毒杂草。它是一种多年生草，种子可以休眠很长时间。它也可以从根茎发育，容易在土壤表面定植，生长速度快。谷草是一种一年生、快速生长的杂草，与水稻竞争。多花草（意大利黑麦草）是一年生或二年生杂草，与谷类作物竞争。本课题的作者观察到，茄科植物中含有生物碱的Nicandra physalodes可用于管理单子叶草。该研究的假设是，在Nicandra physalodes中发现的生物碱会抑制P. clandestinum (Kikuyu grass)， E. cross -galli （baryard grass）和L. multiflorum（意大利黑麦草）的生长和发育。包括教师和学生在内的研究人员将在不同的环境条件下，如温度和土壤ph的变化，研究physalodes N.对三种有毒杂草的形态、观察、发育和生长影响，并预计当三种杂草表现出生长抑制时，细胞分裂将受到影响。研究小组还将调查当杂草在physalodes存在下生长时所表达的任何染色体畸变。该研究还将包括从physalodes中提取的化合物的研究，这些化合物在抑制这三种杂草的生长中起重要作用。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Noxious weeds have been found to negatively impact crop production, which results in reduced yields. Physical management of weeds such as hoeing, and hand-pulling are usually time-consuming. Managing weeds using herbicides can lead to the weeds developing resistance to them. In addition to resistance, the herbicides can contaminate underground water. Thus, there is a need for an environmentally friendly, cost-effective integrated weed management approach. Studies on weed control using secondary compounds from plants are significant in plant productivity, hence, this proposed study will advance knowledge in plant biology and agriculture. The biological control approach to manage Pennisetum clandestinum (Kikuyu grass), Echinochloa crus-galli (barnyard grass), and Lolium multiflorum (Italian ryegrass) can be used. Faculty and students will conduct a detailed study in understanding how Nicandra physalodes affects the growth of weeds while crop growth remains unaffected. The proposed study will enhance research and training opportunities for undergraduate students at a Historically Black University and offer broader participation in STEM for minority students. Students will be mentored, with some aspects of the research used as course-based undergraduate research experience in plant anatomy, plant physiology, and ecology classes. The results from the proposed study will be presented at conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. Local farmers might also benefit from the outcomes of this research project.According to the United States Department of Agriculture, P. clandestinum (Kikuyu grass) is a federally listed noxious weed that is competitive against legumes. It is a perennial grass whose seeds can lie dormant for a long time. It can also develop from rhizomes, easily colonize the soil surface, and grow fast. E. crus-galli (barnyard grass) is an annual, fast-growing weed competing against rice. L. multiflorum (Italian ryegrass) is an annual or biennial weed that competes with cereal crops. The authors of this proposed project have observed that Nicandra physalodes from the Solanaceae, a plant that contains alkaloids, can be used to manage monocotyledonous grasses. The hypothesis for the proposed study is that alkaloids found in Nicandra physalodes will inhibit the growth and development of P. clandestinum (Kikuyu grass), E. crus-galli (barnyard grass), and L. multiflorum (Italian ryegrass). The investigators, including the faculty and the students, will examine the morphological, observable, development, and growth effects of N. physalodes on the three noxious weeds under different environmental conditions such as changes in temperature and the soil pH. Also, cell division is expected to be affected when the three weeds display growth inhibition. The research team will also investigate any chromosome aberrations expressed when the weeds are growing in the presence of N. physalodes. The proposed study will also include the investigation of the compounds that will be extracted from the N. physalodes, which play an important role in the inhibition of the growth of these three weeds.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.