Echinochloa is a very widespread genus of plants in the grass family and tribe Paniceae.Palisot de Beauvois, Ambroise Marie François Joseph. 1812. Essai d'une Nouvelle Agrostographie 53 in LatinFlora of China Vol. 22 Page 515 稗属 bai shu Echinochloa P. Beauvois, Ess. Agrostogr. 53. 1812. Flora of Pakistan Some of the species are known by the common names barnyard grass or cockspur grass.Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Echinochloa US Department of Agriculture plants profile, Echinochloa P. Beauv., cockspur grass
Some of the species within this genus are millets that are grown as cereal or fodder crops. The most notable of these are Japanese millet (E. esculenta) in East Asia, Indian barnyard millet (E. frumentacea) in South Asia, burgu millet (E. stagnina) in West Africa, and channel millet (E. turneriana) in arid and semi-arid inland Australia. Collectively, the members of this genus are called barnyard grasses (though this may also refer to E. crus-galli specifically), and are also known as barnyard millets or billion-dollar grasses.
When not grown on purpose, these grasses may become a nuisance to farmers. In particular, common barnyard grass (E. crus-galli) is notorious as a weed. (2001): Response of two rice cultivars to the competition of Echinochloa crus-galli. International Rice Research Institute Notes 26(2): 36-37. PDF fulltext It is not easily suppressed with living mulches such as velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens var. utilis). (2001): The use of allelopathic legume cover and mulch species for weed control in cropping systems. Agronomy Journal 93(1): 27-36. PDF fulltext Early barnyard grass (E. oryzoides) is a well-known example of Vavilovian mimicry: the plants have evolved to resemble rice (Oryza), enabling them to escape weeding more easily. (1983): Mimicry in Plants. Scientific American 257(3): 76-83.
Among the plant pathogens that affect this genus are the sac fungus Cochliobolus sativus, which has been noted on common barnyard grass, and rice hoja blanca virus. Both affect many other grass species, in particular most important cereals, and Echinochloa weeds may serve as a reservoir. The fungi Drechslera monoceras and Exserohilum monoceras have been evaluated with some success as potential biocontrol agents of common barnyard grass in rice fields. More research is necessary, however, because they may not be host-specific enough to be of practical use. (2001): Preliminary evaluation of potential pathogenic fungi as bioherbicides of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) in China. International Rice Research Institute Notes 26(2): 36-37. PDF fulltext Insect pests include Atherigona falcata, the barnyard millet shoot fly.
Species SpeciesThe Plant List search for EchinochloaBiota of North America Program 2013 county distribution mapsGould, F. W., M. A. Ali & D. E. Fairbrothers. 1972. A revision of Echinochloa in the United States. American Midland Naturalist 87(1): 36–59
Formerly included see Acroceras, Axonopus, Brachiaria, Oplismenopsis, Oplismenus, Panicum, Pseudechinolaena, Setaria, Urochloa
References
External links
Plants for a Future: E. crus-galli. Lost Crops of Africa: Volume 1: Grains, Chapter 14: Wild Grains. Alternative Field Crops Manual: Millets.