Influence of Rhynchosporium alismatis on seed production and viability of the rice paddy weed Damasonium minus (starfruit).

Infection of inflorescence stalks by the mycoherbistat Rhynchosporium alismatis caused significant reductions in seed weight and viability in the rice weed Damasonium minus. Seed weight was reduced by 49% when 80% of the stalk was infected. Numbers of nodes and florets per plant were not affected. The fungus was seedborne at low levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]