Amino triazole (3–amino–1,2,4–triazole) is a chemical which causes chlorosis in many plants. In many cases chlorosis is followed by the death of the plant. It is not known definitely whether the synthesis of chlorophyll is inhibited or whether chlorophyll is destroyed. Generally, only new growth, in which the pigment is being formed, shows chlorosis. This suggests that chlorophyll synthesis is affected. The chlorosis has been shown to be proportional to the amount of amino triazole applied. In order to establish a basis for further work, evidence on the translocation and fate of the chemical in several different plants is presented here.

Late watergrass [Echinochloa phyllopogon (Stapf) Koso-Pol.] is one of the most persistent weeds in rice fields and shows resistance to some acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides, such as penoxsulam. Previous studies of E. phyllopogon’s herbicide resistance have focused on non–target site resistance mechanisms. In this study, E. phyllopogon populations from Heilong Jiang Province, China, that were possibly resistant to penoxsulam were used to identify the target site–based mechanisms of resistance. Population HSRH-520 showed a 25.4-fold higher resistance to penoxsulam than the sensitive population, HSRH-538. HSRH-520 was resistant to other ALS inhibitors, with resistance indexes ranging from 17.1 to 166. Target-gene sequence analysis revealed two different ALS genes in E. phyllopogon; a Pro-197-Ser substitution occurred in the ALS-2 gene of HSRH-520. In vitro activity assays revealed that the penoxsulam concentrations required to inhibit 50% of the ALS activity were 13.7 times higher in HSRH-520 than in HSRH-538. Molecular-docking tests showed that the Pro-197-Ser mutation reduced the binding affinity between ALS and ALS inhibitors belonging to the triazolopyrimidine, sulfonylaminocarbonyltriazolinone, and sulfonylurea families, and there were almost no effects on binding affinity when the ALS inhibitors were of the pyrimidinylthiobenzoate and imidazolinone families. Overall, the results indicated and verified that the Pro-197-Ser mutation leads to increased ALS activity by reducing the binding affinity of the inhibitor and ALS. This is the first report on the Pro-197-Ser mutation in the complete ALS gene of E. phyllopogon and will aid future research of target site–based resistance mechanisms of E. phyllopogon to ALS inhibitors.

One of the primary benefits of site-specific agricultural technologies is the potential to reduce the use of polluting inputs, thereby minimizing ecological damage. Weeds are often found in patches, so site-specific (field scale) management offers a straightforward opportunity to minimize ecological effects related to wasteful broadcast use of herbicides. Beyond possible efficiencies related to accurate targeting, site-specific technologies, through a process of parameterizing management decision models for each field, may improve ecological understanding of weed populations and thus encourage ecologically based management. This hypothesis was assessed with a simple model that combined economic injury–level prediction with a single parameter (growing season precipitation) to represent environmental variability. Model simulations of crop yield in response to weed density at a virtual farm and six surrounding regional experiment stations suggested that localized (on-farm field) parameter estimation may help to circumvent the variability associated with damage function extrapolation from small-plot experiments at experiment stations and thereby improve predictive accuracy for site-specific weed management (SSWM) strategies. Thus, remote sensing and SSWM technologies may allow producers to reduce the risk associated with the reduced use of purchased inputs and greater reliance on natural weed population–regulating mechanisms. Effective ecologically based weed management may be dependent on local parameterization of models.

Many conditions need to be satisfied for gene flow to occur between a transgenic crop and its weedy relatives. Flowering overlap is one essential requirement for hybrid formation. Hybridization can occur between canola and its wild relative, wild radish. We studied the effects of wild radish plant density and date of emergence, canola (glyphosate resistant) planting dates, presence of other weeds, and presence of a wheat crop on the synchrony of flowering between wild radish and canola (as a crop and volunteer). Four field experiments were conducted from 2000 to 2002 in St-David de Lévis, Québec. Flowering periods of wild radish emerging after glyphosate application overlapped with early-, intermediate-, and late-seeded canola 14, 26, and 55%, respectively, of the total flowering time. Flowering periods of early-emerging wild radish and canola volunteers in uncropped treatments overlapped from mid-June until the end of July, ranging from 26 to 81% of the total flowering time. Flowering periods of wild radish and canola volunteers emerging synchronously on May 30 or June 5 as weeds in wheat overlapped 88 and 42%, respectively, of their total flowering time. For later emergence dates, few flowers or seeds were produced by both species because of wheat competition. Wild radish density in canola and wild radish and canola volunteer densities in wheat did not affect the mean flowering dates of wild radish or canola. Increasing wild radish density in uncropped plots (pure or weedy stands) hastened wild radish flowering. Our results show that if hybridization is to happen, it will be most likely with uncontrolled early-emerging weeds in crops or on roadsides, field margins, and uncultivated areas, stressing the need to control the early flush of weeds, weedy relatives, and crop volunteers in noncrop areas.

A triazine-resistant (R) biotype of a Graminaceous weed, Brachypodium distachyon (= Trachynia distachya), was found in the lower Galilee area of Israel after repeated treatments of roadsides with simazine [2-chloro-4,6-bis (ethylamino)-s-triazine] and atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine]. It was not affected at levels up to 3.0 kg/ha of soil-incorporated atrazine or simazine. The (R) biotype was unaffected by atrazine, as ascertained by measuring whole-leaf and plastid fluorescences and the Hill reaction. The triazine-sensitive (S) biotype was inhibited in all these reactions. The data suggest that the (R) biotype has a plastid mode of resistance common to many weed species. The (R) biotype metabolized 14C-(ring)-atrazine more rapidly to both water-soluble and to chloroform-soluble compounds than the (S) biotype did, but that could not explain the immediate resistance at the plastid level. Probably there was evolution towards increased tolerance by detoxification as well as plastid level resistance.

Lower leaves of greenhouse-grown common cocklebur and velvetleaf were shaded to 5% of full light over a 12-d period while upper leaves remained exposed to full light to determine weed foliar and branching responses to partial shading similar to that encountered in soybean crops. Shading increased lower leaf senescence and specific leaf area, and decreased branch length and number of second-order leaves in both species compared to unshaded controls. Common cocklebur branched more extensively along the lower portion of its stem than velvetleaf under both shaded and unshaded conditions. Upper leaves of partially shaded velvetleaf were held in a more perpendicular position to the light source beginning 3 days after treatment (DAT) compared to upper leaves of unshaded plants. Shading of lower leaves caused an increase in upper (unshaded) leaf area beginning 3 and 6 DAT in velvetleaf and common cocklebur, respectively. Petiole length of upper leaves also increased in response to shading in both species. Total plant dry weight at 12 DAT was unaffected by shading in velvetleaf but was reduced 10% by shading in common cocklebur. While common cocklebur maintained greater lower shoot growth in the presence of shade than velvetleaf, there was a greater change in upper leaf angle by velvetleaf in response to shading than by common cocklebur. These results support previous field observations of apparent greater shade tolerance of common cocklebur compared to velvetleaf and indicate that both species have the ability to compensate for shading of lower leaves by altering upper shoot growth.

Three triazine-resistant biotypes of grass weeds, hood canarygrass (Phalaris paradoxa L. # PHAPA), ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.), and slender foxtail (Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. # ALOMY) were collected along roadsides on the coastal plain of Israel that had been treated repeatedly with s-triazine herbicides. Resistant biotypes (R) survived up to 4 kg ai/ha of atrazine [6-chloro-N-ethyl-N′-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine] applied pre-and postemergence, while susceptible (S) biotypes were killed by 0.25 kg/ha. R and S biotypes were equally sensitive to diuron [N′-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-N,N-dimethylurea]. Electron transport in chloroplasts isolated from R biotypes was not affected by atrazine, whereas in S biotypes electron transport was inhibited 50% by 0.4 to 1.0 μM atrazine. Chloroplasts from both biotypes were equally sensitive to diuron. These data indicate that the R biotypes have a plastidic mode of resistance to atrazine. In addition, seedlings of R biotypes exhibited resistance to triazinone herbicides. The R biotype of hood canarygrass was more tolerant to postemergence application of diclofop {(±)-2-[4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenoxy] propanoic acid}.

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate johnsongrass control in no-till grain sorghum with glyphosate treatments applied in mid-June, late July, and mid-September before planting grain sorghum the following spring. Mid-June applications provided the best johnsongrass control. Ammonium sulfate enhanced the activity of glyphosate for only the late-July applications. In separate experiments, herbicide systems comprised of fall applications of glyphosate and/or spring applications of foliar and residual herbicides were evaluated. Fall applications of glyphosate provided superior johnsongrass control and grain sorghum yields.

Evaluation and introduction of exotic plant pathogens for biological control of weeds in the United States takes place at the Plant Disease Research Laboratory (PDRL) in Frederick, MD. Pathogens of target weed species collected overseas are sent to PDRL and evaluated in a containment greenhouse for aggressiveness and specificity toward the target weed. Currently, rust fungi (Uredinales) are evaluated at PDRL for control of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esual L. #4 EPHES), musk thistle [Carduus nutans L. ssp. leiophyllus (Petrovic) Stoj. & Stef. # CRUNU (= C. thoermeri Weinm.)], and yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L. # CENSO). Determination of host range is central to the evaluation of potential pathogens, but some difficulty has been experienced in obtaining propagative material of important plant species, especially if the plant is threatened or endangered. A proposal is made to organize a seed bank to meet this need.

A 4-year study was initiated in 1997 to provide canola producers with information on the consequences of various rotational intervals with the use of new disease and herbicide-resistant canola varieties. The study was conducted at three locations in Alberta, Canada (Ellerslie, Strathmore, and Warburg). At each location, four canola rotations were established: continuous canola, and canola seeded in 1 of 2, 3, or 4 years. Canola varieties included the conventional varieties ‘AC Excel’ and ‘Quantum’, the glyphosate-resistant variety ‘Quest’, imidazolinone-resistant ‘45A71’, and a glufosinate-resistant hybrid, ‘Invigor 2153’. In the fourth year of the study, when canola was grown in all treatments, weed densities, weed species diversity, and evenness were determined preseeding and before and after in-crop herbicide application. Canola yield was greatest in the northern ecoregions of the Boreal Transition (Warburg) and Aspen Parkland (Ellerslie), and lowest in the Moist Mixed Grassland ecoregion (Strathmore). Weed populations increased and population diversity decreased and became less even where rotations were less diverse; in continuous canola and in the 1-in-4–year rotation. As expected, weed densities increased in poorly competitive, conventional canola varieties compared to herbicide-resistant varieties sprayed with their broader-spectrum herbicides. Where weed densities were high, variety/herbicide system became a critical factor affecting crop yield. Under these conditions, the herbicide-resistant varieties ‘Quest’ and ‘Invigor 2153’ typically outyielded the conventional varieties of ‘AC Excel’ and ‘Quantum’. Canola yield was highest when grown in a 1-in-3– or a 1-in-4–year rotation, although the 1-in-3–year rotation generally had lower weed densities, and allowed high-value canola to be grown more frequently in rotation.

Studies were conducted to evaluate the absorption, translocation, and metabolism of 14C–CGA-362622 when foliar-applied to purple and yellow nutsedge. Less than 53% of the herbicide was absorbed after 96 h. Both nutsedge species translocated appreciable amounts of herbicide (30%) out of treated leaves. Translocation was both acropetal and basipetal, with at least 25% transported basipetally. Neither nutsedge species translocated more than 4% of applied radioactivity to the tubers and roots. Most of the metabolites formed by the nutsedge species were more polar than 14C–CGA-362622 and averaged 69 and 61% of the radioactivity in purple and yellow nutsedge, respectively. The half-life of CGA-362622 was estimated at 4 h in both purple and yellow nutsedge.

Wild oat is a problematic weed species that requires new management techniques in the face of herbicide resistance; harvest weed-seed control (HWSC) may be an option. Wild oat demographic information was collected in long-term, rotational field studies in Lacombe, AB, Canada, in 2006 and 2007, and a periodic matrix model was parameterized using management extremes (no IPM, no herbicide to high IPM, and full herbicide). Population growth rates were calculated for each treatment and year. Prospective (elasticity) and retrospective (LTRE) analyses were conducted alongside a rearrangement of the model equation in which population growth rates were designated and the required proportion of newly shed seed survival that gives that growth rate was solved for. All populations had λ > 1 or increasing populations. Elasticity analyses indicated that λ was most-highly elastic to the overwinter seedbank (Esw = 1), followed by seedling survival, fecundity, and survival of newly shed seed (0.63 to 0.86 across treatments). The latter may be the most-accessible vital rate for management of herbicide resistant populations. LTRE exposed the stochasticity of wild oat population growth rates between years and their ability to take advantage of lapses in control. Decreasing the proportion of newly shed seeds (snew) that survives was the most-effective and available control strategy until reduced to 0.1 to 0.3 when the summer seedbank becomes more critical. When averaged across treatments, > 80% of newly shed seed must be eliminated to stop the population from growing, resulting in a stable population, but not a decline. Because of preharvest shattering, HWSC will likely not be effective enough alone to cause wild oat populations to decline. New management techniques for wild oat control that can be used in combination with HWSC and integrated weed management strategies are needed.

Persistence of the soil seed bank requires both dormancy and resistance to seed decay organisms. However, there is little or no information evaluating biochemical responses of dormant weed seeds to pathogens. Wild oat caryopses were incubated with four pathogenic fungal isolates to evaluate the response of the pathogen defense enzyme, polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Caryopsis PPO activity was induced by three Fusarium spp. isolates previously obtained from whole seeds incubated in the field whereas caryopsis PPO activity was decreased by a Pythium isolate. Fusarium avenaceum isolate F.a.1 caused the greatest PPO induction and was studied in more detail. When whole wild oat seeds were incubated on F.a.1, PPO activity was induced in seeds, hulls (lemma and palea), and caryopses. Incubation of whole seeds on F.a.1 gradually induced caryopsis PPO activity over an 8-d period, whereas incubation of caryopses on F.a.1 over a 4-d period caused a greater and more rapid induction of PPO activity. Very little PPO activity could be leached from untreated caryopses, but nearly all of the induced PPO activity in F.a.1-treated caryopses was readily leached when incubated in buffer. In Western blots, both untreated and F.a.1-treated leachates contained a ∼57-kilodalton (kD) protein, putatively the mature and relatively inactive form of PPO. However, lower molecular weight antigenic proteins between ∼52 and ∼25 kD were strongly induced in F.a.1-treated caryopses, with this induction being correlated with the increase in PPO activity. We hypothesize that dormant weed seeds possess biochemical defenses against pathogens and, more specifically, that proteolysis in the presence of fungal pathogens may release an activated form of PPO from the surface of wild oat caryopses and hulls.

Butylate (S-ethyl diisobutylthiocarbamate), EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate), vernolate (S-propyl dipropylthiocarbamate), diallate [S-(2,3-dichloroallyl)diisopropylthiocarbamate], CDEC (2-chloroallyl diethyldithiocarbamate), and chlorpropham (isopropyl m-chlorocarbanilate) at 0.1 kg/ha caused increased velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) populations in field plots. Butylate caused increased populations of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) at rates of up to 1.1 kg/ha. In the laboratory, each of the six herbicides caused increased velvetleaf seed germination, and butylate, EPTC, and CDEC caused increased common lambsquarters germination when seeds were exposed to herbicide vapors prior to germination. Germination of velvetleaf, common lambsquarters, and giant foxtail (Setaria faberii Herrm.) was also increased by butylate solutions over a wide range of concentrations. Maximum germination stimulation generally occurred between concentrations of 10-5 and 10-6 M butylate. Seedling injury and death also resulted from these concentrations of butylate. Butylate stimulation of seed germination could not be correlated with light requirements of seeds, but appeared to be an additional promotive factor. Ungerminated common lambsquarters seeds after butylate treatment were viable and responded to KCN and KNO3 in the same manner as control seeds which did not initially germinate in water. Butylate in combination with the antidote, R-25788 (N,N-diallyl-2,2-dichloroacetamide) stimulated germination of common lambsquarters.

Studies were conducted in 1977 and 1978 to evaluate the impact of surface irrigation water on the dissemination of weed seed in the North Platte River Project from May through September each year. Seventy-seven different plant species were found in irrigation water, with germination averaging 26%. Two to five times more weed seed were found in two irrigation canals than in the North Platte River. As water moved through the canals, the weed seed content of the water increased dramatically. The majority of seed collected was found floating on the water surface. Amounts of seed collected varied with time with the largest amounts being collected in June and July and gradually declining in August and September. Samples also were taken to determine the amount of seed entering the field with irrigation water during the growing season. During the 1978 growing season irrigation water disseminated 48,400 seed per ha in the sampled fields.

Technological advances in molecular biology have contributed substantially to our understanding of plant genetic diversity. Early studies of allozyme variation employing protein electrophoresis revealed that plant populations have high levels of genetic diversity, most of the variation at polymorphic loci is found within populations, and geographic range and breeding system explain the largest proportion of variation in genetic diversity. With the discovery of restriction endonucleases, the first DNA-based markers allowed the detection of variation in DNA sequences in plant population studies. More recently, techniques that utilize the polymerase chain reaction have allowed a more representative assessment of genetic variation in plants by screening multiple loci distributed throughout the genome. The analyses reveal sufficient polymorphism for the examination of fine-scale genetic differences among individuals. Information on plant genetic diversity is also emerging from studies of plant genome structure. Comparative genetic mapping studies of members of the Brassicaceae, Poaceae, and Solanaceae show that gene content is highly conserved between closely related species, although gene order on a chromosomal segment may differ between species. Comparative sequencing studies reveal higher degrees of diversity at the microstructural (less than 1 million base pairs) level than predicted at the genetic map level and suggest that genes are densely packed in gene-rich regions, rather than randomly distributed along chromosomes in species with large genomes. Sequencing of the entire genomes of rice and Arabidopsis thaliana will help identify genes controlling agronomically important traits, improve our understanding of genetic variation for fitness-related traits in wild plant populations including weed species, resolve evolutionary relationships among plant taxa, and potentially revolutionize current ideas on plant diversity and evolution.

The effect of glyphosate on growth and reproduction of two pathogenic fungi of green peas was evaluated in laboratory studies. Liquid and agar media containing 0 to 50 mM glyphosate were inoculated with two isolates each of Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi and Pythium ultimum. Mycelial growth and spore production of the fungi were inhibited or stimulated by glyphosate, depending on concentration. Glyphosate did not affect pathogenicity of F. solani f. sp. pisi. The effect of glyphosate on pathogenicity of P. ultimum was not determined. Under field conditions, glyphosate probably would not affect pathogenicity or survival of either fungus.

Translocation of 14C-labeled and toxicity of nonradiolabeled bentazon [3-isopropyl-1H-2,1,3-benzothiadiazin-(4)3H-one 2,2-dioxide] was determined for common cocklebur (Xanthium pensylvanicum Wallr.) and soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Significantly greater 14C-movement and herbicide toxicity occurred in common cocklebur growing in wet soil at field capacity than in dry soil near the wilting point. In common cocklebur there was a trend toward greater bentazon toxicity and 14C-translocation at high temperature (35 C) and high relative humidity (RH) (96%) than at low temperature (25 C) and low RH (35%). ‘Lee 68’ soybeans were injured less than 10% by bentazon under any environmental condition of this study. Translocation of 14C was primarily acropetal in both common cocklebur and soybeans. Herbicide movement was affected by leaf maturity with the greatest movement of 14C resulting from 14C-bentazon applied to the most mature common cocklebur leaf near the base of the shoot and to soybeans at the youngest fully expanded leaf near the apex of the shoot. Bentazon was more toxic and 14C translocation was greater in the soybean cultivar ‘Hurrelbrink’ than ‘Hill’ or Hill X Hurrelbrink cross.

Foliar absorption of imazaquin {ammonium salt of 2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid} following postemergence application was not necessary for control of sicklepod (Cassia obtusifolia L. # CASOB). Application of imazaquin to the soil resulted in control similar to application to the soil plus foliage. A 0.6-cm simulated rainfall 0.05 h after postemergence application of 140, 280, or 560 g ae/ha of imazaquin did not reduce sicklepod control. Foliar absorption was necessary for control with postemergence application of DPX-F6025 {ethyl ester of 2-[[[[(4-chloro-6-methoxypyrimidin-2-yl)amino]-carbonyl] amino] sulfonyl] benzoate}. Application of DPX-F6025 to the foliage resulted in control similar to application to the soil plus foliage. Sicklepod control resulting from postemergence application of 18 g ae/ha of DPX-F6025 was reduced when 0.6 cm of simulated rainfall was received 1 h after application but not when received 4 h after application. With application of 9 g/ha of DPX-F6025, simulated rainfall 24 h after application reduced control. Sicklepod control resulting from postemergence application of sublethal rates of imazaquin and DPX-F6025 was greater when plants were exposed to 3 or more days of 24/18 C day/night temperature than when grown at a continuous 32/24 C temperature. Exposure to low temperature for 3 days immediately before imazaquin application resulted in greater enhancement of control than did exposure for 3 days immediately after application. The reverse was found with DPX-F6025. Control obtained with both imazaquin and DPX-F6025 increased as the number of days of exposure to low temperature increased from 3 to 6. Enhancement of control with low temperature diminished as the herbicide application rate increased.

Laboratory studies were conducted to examine the leaf surface, epicuticular wax content, and spray droplet behavior on common lambsquarters, common purslane, and velvetleaf. Adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy, and leaf wax was extracted and quantified for all three weed species. The spread of 1-μl droplets of distilled water, primisulfuron solution (without surfactant), primisulfuron solution with a nonionic low foam wetter/spreader adjuvant (0.25% v/v), and with an organosilicone wetting agent (0.1% v/v) was determined on the adaxial leaf surfaces of each of the weed species. Glands and trichomes were present on both the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces of velvetleaf. Common purslane had neither glands nor trichomes on either side of the leaf. Common lambsquarters did not have any glands or trichomes, but it had globular bladder hairs on both adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces. Stomata were present on both adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces in all three weed species. Common purslane had a much lower number of stomata per unit area of leaf as compared with velvetleaf or common lambsquarters. Common lambsquarters had the highest epicuticular wax content on the leaf surface (274.5 μg cm−2), followed by common purslane (153.4 μg cm−2) and velvetleaf (7.4 μg cm−2). There were no significant variations in the spread of the 1-μl droplet of distilled water and primisulfuron (without adjuvant) among the species. Spread of primisulfuron droplets with surfactant was highest on the leaf surface of velvetleaf that had the lowest wax content. Droplet spread was greatest with organosilicone surfactant followed by the nonionic surfactant.