Effects of nonchemical weed control on weed and seedbank demography in ridge-tilled fields were simulated to examine long-term effects on weed population dynamics. Ridge tillage entails active seedbank management, including removal of much of the seedbank from the crop growth zone (ridge) to the interridge zone (furrow) at planting, and other seedbank manipulations. Dynamics of simulated yellow foxtail and velvetleaf populations were sharply sensitive to the rate of seed removal from the ridge. Variation in winter seed survival, ridge plant demography (emergence, survival, and seed production), and seed survival in the furrow after removal from the ridge also had strong effects on simulated dynamics. To prevent rapid population growth in a simulated corn-soybean rotation, very effective control of seedlings emerging with each crop was necessary to offset seed production from seedlings emerging after ridge rebuilding in corn years. Dynamics of both species were highly sensitive to cultivation efficiency. Effective “rescue” weed control must be available to prevent sharp increases in weed seedbanks during years when cultivation is ineffective.

Studies were conducted to investigate the uniformity of epicuticular wax deposition on leaf blades of johnsongrass. Johnsongrass leaves grown under drought stress had greatly increased epicuticular wax weights compared to leaves from plants with adequate moisture, but relative humidity (95% vs. 40 ± 5%) had little effect on wax deposition. Wax weights decreased as leaves matured. Sections of lower leaf surfaces of young johnsongrass leaves tended to have more wax than sections of upper leaf surfaces, but weights were nearly equal on upper vs. lower leaf surfaces of older leaves. The narrow side of asymmetrical johnsongrass leaf blades often had more wax per unit area than the wide side. The area over the midvein contained more wax per unit area than either the narrow or wide side of the leaf blade. Greatest wax concentrations on individual leaves were over the midvein area near the leaf apex. Leaf blades of johnsongrass had more wax per unit area than leaves of corn or grain sorghum.

Effects of a crude preparation of a phytotoxin from Pseudomonas fluorescens strain D7 (D7) on various physiological processes were evaluated in roots of downy brome seedlings. Cell division, respiration, and synthesis of protein, RNA, and DNA were not inhibited or only slightly inhibited under treatment conditions that caused substantial inhibition of root elongation. Significant inhibition of each of these processes was detected by known inhibitors included in each study to verify sensitivity of the procedures used. Disruption of lipid synthesis and membrane integrity by the crude phytotoxin preparation was significant and might account for inhibition of root elongation. Additional studies on these two possible target sites were conducted with partially purified phytotoxin. In intact roots, incorporation of [14C]acetate and [14C]malonic acid into lipophilic fractions was reduced by 50% or greater during a 1-h treatment with concentrations between 10 and 100 μg ml−1 of the partially purified phytotoxin preparation. In a membrane integrity study, a similar treatment increased radioactivity efflux 250% from seedlings preloaded with scyllo-[R-3H]inositol. Additionally, disruption of lipid synthesis and membrane integrity by the partially purified phytotoxin was dose dependent. Collectively, these findings indicate that the D7 phytotoxin may inhibit downy brome root elongation through its effects on lipid synthesis and membrane integrity.

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the selectivity and inhibitory activity of BAS 517 using whole seedlings or root tips of corn and soybean. Effects of BAS 517 on the morphology of corn root tips were examined as well. Etiolated corn seedlings showed high sensitivity to BAS 517; soybean seedlings were not affected. Growth inhibition of corn varied with concentrations of BAS 517 and incubation time. Radicles of corn were more sensitive than mesocotyls and coleoptiles. Root meristems were the first to show symptoms (reddening tissue followed by cessation of root growth). Results using root tips were similar to those using whole seedlings. However, root tips appeared to be more sensitive than whole seedlings. Concentrations of 0.1 and 10 μM of BAS 517 caused severe vacuolization of cells in the 0.2-cm root tip of corn. A pattern of decreasing injury from epidermal cells toward the centers of roots was observed.

In greenhouse experiments, conidia of Colletotrichum truncatum applied in an invert emulsion formulation controlled hemp sesbania 100% in the absence of a dew treatment. In field experiments, hemp sesbania control averaged 95 and 97% in 1989 and 1990, respectively, when this formulation was applied to hemp sesbania seedlings using tractor-mounted, air-assist nozzles. This level of weed control was comparable to that achieved from the herbicide acifluorfen. These results indicate that C. truncatum has excellent potential as a mycoherbicide for controlling hemp sesbania and that this potential can be augmented by formulating the pathogen as an invert emulsion.

Photosynthesis decreased 32% in quackgrass infected with rust. Photoassimilate transport in rust-infected quackgrass, assessed by autoradiography, was less than that of control (no rust) leaves 35 min after exposure to 14CO2. Greenhouse-grown quackgrass height, foliar and rhizome dry weights, rhizome length, and bud numbers decreased 11, 25, 28, 19, and 21% in rust-infected plants, respectively, compared to control plants. Foliar and rhizome biomass decreased 31 and 39%, respectively, in field-grown rust-infected plants. Rhizome bud death 48 h after treatment (HAT) in both control and rust-infected plants increased as glyphosate rate increased from 0.13 to 1 kg ae ha−1; however, control plant bud death was significantly greater than that of rust-infected plants.

Extensive field and greenhouse studies were done to characterize varietal response of three recently commercialized sulfonylurea corn herbicides: nicosulfuron, primisulfuron, and thifensulfuron. Most of the 94 varieties tested were highly tolerant to these herbicides. The 37 inbreds represented all major inbred families now used in hybrid seed production as well as several sensitive experimentals. Twenty-one defined hybrids from these inbreds as well as 36 commercially coded hybrids were also tested. Sensitive inbreds produced tolerant hybrids when crossed with tolerant inbreds. Sensitive hybrids occurred when both parents were sensitive. Genetic analysis of sensitive by tolerant crosses showed that sensitivity is controlled by a single recessive gene. Nicosulfuron had the widest corn safety margin and fewest sensitive varieties. Dose response analysis showed varieties can vary more than 40 000-fold in sensitivity. Only corn varieties with the AHAS-modified XA-17 gene showed any change in enzyme sensitivity. This gene overcame sensitivity to sulfonylureas, even when the organophosphate insecticide terbufos was present. Thus, breeders have three options to eliminate sulfonylurea sensitivity: backcross sensitive inbreds with tolerant, always use at least one tolerant hybrid parent, or use the XA-17 gene.