Influence of cucumber mosaic virus infection on the growth response of Portulaca oleracea (purslane) and Stellaria media (chickweed) to nitrogen availability

The study characterized the influence of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) on the growth response of two annual weeds to nitrogen. Plants were grown individually along a N gradient from 4 to 32 mmol l(-1) and data were interpreted using growth analysis. Plant biomass increased with N concentration and was significantly higher for healthy than infected plants at the two highest N concentrations. Healthy plants of Portulaca oleracea L. were characterized by lower biomass allocation to leaves and higher biomass allocation to roots than infected plants; no change in biomass allocation was recorded for Stellaria media Vill. Relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR) and specific leaf area (SLA) of plants increased with increasing N concentration. Healthy plants of P. oleracea were characterized by a higher RGR and NAR and a lower SLA than infected plants, whereas healthy S. media had a higher RGR but a similar NAR and SLA or leaf weight ratio (LWR) compared with infected plants. The consequences of these results on the population dynamics of weeds and virus spread are discussed.