Tsang, Kwok On. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-165). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.i / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.vii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xiv / LIST OF TABLES --- p.XX / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- "Mikania micrantha, a problematic weed around the world" --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Current situation --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Properties of M micrantha --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Control methods of M. micrantha --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1.3.1 --- Manual removal --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1.3.2 --- Chemical control methods --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.3.3 --- Biological control methods --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2 --- Parasitic plants --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Introduction --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Modes of parasitism --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Biology of Cuscula spp. --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- Seed germination --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- I lost detection and parasitism --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.3.3 --- Reproduction --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.3.4 --- Impacts on hosts --- p.21 / Chapter 1.3 --- Previous researches on the control of M. micrantha by cuscuta --- p.23 / Chapter 1.4 --- Research significance --- p.25 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Knowledge gap --- p.25 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Experimental objectives and significance --- p.26 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Thesis layout --- p.28 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- Germination biology of Cuscuta japonica --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- "Cuscuta seeds collection, treatment and storage" --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Imbibition --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Germination --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Emergence --- p.36 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Germination dynamics --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Statistical analysis --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Imbibition test --- p.38 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Germination test --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Emergence test --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Germination dynamic --- p.43 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.44 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Seed dormancy --- p.44 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Germination requirements --- p.48 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Emergence ability --- p.51 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Germination dynamics --- p.52 / Chapter 2.5 --- Conclusions --- p.54 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- Life cycle of C. japonica --- p.55 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.55 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.57 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Site description --- p.57 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Data collection --- p.62 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.64 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.71 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Life cycle of C. japonica in Dragon's Back and its implication --- p.71 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Life cycle of (\ japonica in Shan Tong Road and Yau King Lane --- p.74 / Chapter 3.5 --- Conclusions --- p.80 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- Effect of infestation by C. japonica and C. campcstris on the growth of M. micrantha --- p.82 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.82 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.84 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Sites description --- p.84 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Plant materials --- p.85 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Infestation --- p.86 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Harvest of plant materials --- p.87 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Chlorophyll extraction and concentration determination --- p.87 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Measurements --- p.88 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Statistical analysis --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- "Changes in length of stem, leaf size and number of leaves" --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Changes in biomass of hosts and parasites --- p.94 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Changes in the chlorophyll concentration --- p.97 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.99 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Cuscuta as a strong sink to the host --- p.99 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Growth of cuscuta and comparison of its influence on M micrantha --- p.104 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusions --- p.106 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- Effect of C. japonica infestation on the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes of M. micrantha --- p.107 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.107 / Chapter 5.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.110 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Plant materials --- p.110 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Infestation --- p.111 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Harvest of plant materials --- p.111 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Measurement of enzyme activity --- p.112 / Chapter 5.2.4.1 --- Reagent preparation --- p.112 / Chapter 5.2.4.2 --- Extraction method --- p.112 / Chapter 5.2.4.3 --- Enzyme activity determination --- p.113 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results --- p.115 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- SOD activity --- p.115 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- CAT activity --- p.116 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- POD activity --- p.117 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussion --- p.1 19 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Changes in SOD activity --- p.120 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Changes in CAT and POD activity --- p.122 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Effects and implications of the changes in the activities of the anti-oxidative enzymes --- p.123 / Chapter 5.5 --- Conclusions --- p.124 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- Host range of C. japonica --- p.126 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.126 / Chapter 6.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.130 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Field study --- p.130 / Chapter 6.2.1.1 --- Site description --- p.130 / Chapter 6.2.2.2 --- Data collection --- p.130 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Greenhouse study --- p.131 / Chapter 6.2.2.1 --- Site description --- p.131 / Chapter 6.2.2.2 --- Plants selection --- p.131 / Chapter 6.2.2.3 --- Experimental setup --- p.132 / Chapter 6.2.2.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.133 / Chapter 6.3 --- Results --- p.133 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Field study --- p.133 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Greenhouse study --- p.137 / Chapter 6.4 --- Discussion --- p.138 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- Field study --- p.138 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- Greenhouse study --- p.140 / Chapter 6.4.3 --- Implications on application --- p.141 / Chapter 6.5 --- Conclusions --- p.143 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- General Summary and Conclusions --- p.144 / REFERENCES --- p.147 / APPENDIX A --- p.166 / APPENDIX B --- p.173 / APPENDIX C --- p.176