In eight of nine trials spanning 5 yr, relative yield of semidwarf hard red spring wheat (yield expressed as a percent of estimated weed-free yield) decreased linearly as Canada thistle shoot density increased when measured in late July to early August in the northern Great Plains. Differences between yield loss assessment (YLA) equations could not be distinguished statistically between no-tillage and chisel-plowed production systems. Multiple linear regression equations of relative wheat yield versus wheat density plus Canada thistle shoot density accounted for more variability in YLA equations than simple linear regression equations of wheat yield versus Canada thistle shoot density alone. Estimated weed-free wheat yield and negative slope (b) for yield loss assessment equations increased as cumulative growing-season (April to August) rainfall increased. Thus, relative wheat yield was decreased more by increasing Canada thistle density (slope b became more negative) in years of greater growing-season rainfall.

Solid phase extraction (SPE) procedures were used to determine the recoveries of herbicides typically used in containerized ornamental plant production from water samples. Recoveries from C18 cartridges and disks were compared for each of 12 herbicides with variations in elution solvent and volume of elution solvent tested. Recoveries for nine of the herbicides from the cartridges and disks using acetone as an elution solvent were not affected by SPE matrix. Fluazifop recovery was greater with the disks, while napropamide and oxadiazon recoveries were greater with cartridges. Both cartridges and disks yielded low recoveries (23 to 47%) of benefin and prodiamine. Changing the elution solvent from acetone to acetonitrile resulted in 10% improvement for the recovery of benefin and a three- to four-fold increase in recovery of prodiamine. Acetonitrile decreased recoveries of napropamide, oryzalin, oxadiazon, oxyfluorfen, and pendimethalin from cartridges. For the disks, oxyfluorfen, prodiamine, and trifluralin had increased recovery, while fluazifop, oxadiazon, and simazine had decreased recovery with acetonitrile as the elution solvent. Increasing the amount of acetone eluting solvent increased the recovery of prodiamine and oxyfluorfen while decreasing the recovery of fluazifop, pendimethalin, simazine, and trifluralin. Binding capacities of oryzalin on cartridges and disks averaged 13.2 and 7.8 mg, respectively. The advantage of the disk lies in the greater volume of water that can be processed, while the higher cost and greater variability are disadvantages. Cartridge extraction yielded good recoveries with lower standard deviations, and used less organic solvent. Selection of an SPE extraction method depends upon the herbicides under evaluation, expected levels, and the water volume being processed. Both SPE techniques offer advantages over traditional liquid-liquid extraction methods such as reduced requirements for organic solvent and sample preparation.

The increasing use of synthetic chemicals for pest control in rice has become an overwhelming economical border, and more important, it could pose a serious threat of the environment. In addition, the extensive use of synthetic herbicides has been the cause for the evolution of herbicide-resistant barnyardgrass worldwide. This weed species is the most competitive weed in rice after the red rice. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the combination effects of aqueous sunflower leaf extracts with lower rate of pretilachlor on barnyardgrass emergence and growth in Marang (sandy loam) and Seberang (silt loamy) soil series under glasshouse conditions. Interestingly, the ED95 values (rate that causes 95% inhibition) of pretilachlor for emergence and shoot fresh weight (SFW) of barnyardgrass were reduced by 79 and 82%, respectively, when being mixed with sunflower leaf extracts in Marang series. In contrast, the addition of sunflower leaf extracts increased ED95 value of pretilachlor in Seberang series. Rice seedlings at 4 and 8 d after sowing (DAS) were found to be tolerant to this mixture treatment. However, root growth of rice seedlings were inhibited at 0 and 2 DAS. These results suggest that sunflower leaf extracts have potential to reduce rate of pretilachlor for inhibiting emergence and growth of barnyardgrass without injuring rice seedlings in rice fields depending on soil types and growth stage of rice.

The objectives of this study were to model the influence of herbicides, wilt disease, and mechanical treatments on velvetleaf population dynamics, annualized net return (ANR), and economic optimum threshold (EOT) in a 20-yr rotation involving alternate years of corn and soybean. Mechanical treatments were interrow cultivation in corn and rotary hoeing in soybean. Herbicides at a quarter (¼×) rate or lower did not reduce velvetleaf seed banks without mechanical treatments in the absence of wilt. Herbicides at full (1×) and half (½×) rates decreased velvetleaf seed banks 95% within 6 and 20 yr, respectively, when there was no wilt. Herbicides at ½× rates with mechanical treatments reduced the seed bank 95% in only 10 yr, but mechanical treatments did not increase the rate of seed bank decline with 1× rates. Wilt infection had to occur annually to reduce velvetleaf seed banks as effectively as herbicides at 1× rates alone. ANR was maximized with herbicides at reduced rates, even though they were not as effective at reducing seed banks as were 1× rates. The herbicide rate required to maximize ANR increased as the initial velvetleaf seed bank density increased. Mechanical treatments and wilt decreased the herbicide rate required to maximize ANR. In fact, wilt infection increased the ANR of herbicides at reduced rates. The EOT was 0.55 and 0.4 seedlings m−2 when velvetleaf was managed with herbicides at 1× and ½× rates, respectively. Mechanical treatment had no effect on EOT, but wilt increased the EOT. Herbicides at reduced rates should only be used to manage velvetleaf in fields with a low seed bank density when integrated with mechanical treatments or when the field has a history of wilt. Herbicides should be used at 1× rates when fields have a large velvetleaf seed bank and when integrated management practices are not used.

Henbit is increasing in abundance in western Canada, and control recommendations are largely limited to herbicides. Increased knowledge of henbit biology may allow the development of more integrated control programs. A controlled environment study was conducted to determine the combined effect of various soil temperature and soil water levels on the emergence of henbit. Henbit emerged at soil temperatures ranging from 5 to 25 C, but the highest emergence of 81 to 83% occurred at 15 to 20 C. Henbit emergence declined as soil water content decreased. The interaction of cool and dry soils caused the greatest inhibition of henbit emergence. At progressively lower soil water levels of −0.03, −0.28, −0.53, −0.78, −1.03, and −1.53 MPa, henbit emergence was 78, 61, 64, 40, 38, and 11% at 10 C, respectively. Rate of henbit emergence was affected less by soil water than by soil temperature. A decrease in soil water content from −0.03 to −1.53 MPa increased the time to reach 50% emergence (ET50) by 1 to 5 d, whereas a decrease in temperature from 25 to 5 C increased the time to reach ET50 by 13 to 16 d. The implications of these results in terms of improved management of henbit are discussed.

No-tillage field studies were conducted in 1999 and 2000 at Columbia, MO, to determine the interaction of grass weed interference and side-dressed N fertilization on corn and weed growth, corn yield, and the N content of the soil and plant biomass at various intervals early in the growing season and at harvest. Ammonium nitrate (112 kg N ha−1) was applied before planting. A herbicide was applied to the entire experimental area before planting to control winter vegetation and to reduce broadleaf weed emergence. A mixture of large crabgrass, giant foxtail, and barnyardgrass was allowed to reinfest the experiment after corn planting and was sprayed with glyphosate when the weeds were 8, 15, 23, or 31 cm tall. Each removal date treatment was duplicated; one series received 45 kg N ha−1 side-dressed when the corn was approximately 60 cm tall, and the other series received no additional N. Corn dry weight and the N content of the corn biomass early in the growing season were similar between the weed-free control and treatments with grass interference up to 23-cm height. Side-dressed N applications before grass weeds were controlled did not increase the early-season N content of the corn biomass in 1999, but the N content of the grass weeds increased by 11 kg ha−1. In 2000, side-dressed N increased the N content of the corn and grass biomass by 13 and 18 kg ha−1, respectively. This suggests that grass weeds should be controlled before the side-dressed N applications to ensure that the N applied can be used by the corn rather than by the grass weeds. Grass weed interference beyond 15-cm height reduced corn yield by at least 1.13 Mg ha −1 and N content in the corn biomass at corn harvest by at least 30 kg ha−1.

Many advances in disciplines such as chemistry, biochemistry, plant breeding, genetics, engineering, and others have been applied in a positive manner to improve knowledge in weed science. The emerging field of genomics is likely to have a similar positive effect on our understanding of weeds and their management in various plant agriculture systems. Genomics involves the large-scale use of molecular techniques for identification and functional analysis of complete or nearly complete genomic complements of genes. Commercial application of genomics has already occurred for improvement in certain crop input and output traits, including improved quality characteristics and herbicide and insect resistance. Additional commercial applications of genomics in weed science will be identification of genes involved in a crops' competitive ability. Genes controlling early crop shoot emergence, rapid early-season leaf and root development for fast canopy closure, production of allelochemicals for natural weed control, identification of novel herbicide target sites, resistance mechanisms, and genes for safening crops against specific herbicides can and will be identified. Successful crop improvement in these areas using the tools of genomics will dramatically affect weed–crop interactions and improve crop yields while reducing weed problems. In relation to improved basic knowledge of weeds and the resulting ability to improve our weed management techniques, genomics will offer the weed science community many new and exciting research opportunities. Scientists will be able to determine the genetic composition of weed populations and how it changes over time in relation to agricultural practices. Identification of genes contributing to weediness, perennial growth habit, herbicide resistance, seed and vegetative structure dormancy, plant architecture and morphology, plant reproductive characters (outcrossing and hybridization, introgression), and allelopathy will be identified and utilized with high-throughput DNA sequencing and other genomics-based technologies. Using genomics to improve our understanding of weed biology by determining which genes function to affect the fitness, competitiveness, and adaptation of weeds in agricultural environments will allow the development of improved management strategies. This review provides a summary of the various plant genomic research methods being used. Information is provided concerning the current state of molecular research in various areas of weed science and specific genomic research currently being conducted at Purdue University using transfer DNA (T-DNA) activation tagging to generate large populations of mutated plants that can be screened for genes of importance to weed science.

P32 was injected into the soil at specific locations to allow determination of the phosphorus uptake pattern of Phaseolus vulgaris (snap bean), Amaranthus retroflexus (pigweed), and Setaria viridis (green foxtail). All species absorbed phosphorus primarily from the top 6 inches of soil. Bean absorbed phosphorus from a zone of relatively small volume. Pigweed roots showed the greatest amount of lateral spread and foxtail roots the deepest soil penetration.

One, two, three, or four plants of each of the above-mentioned species were grown 6 inches from a test bean plant to evaluate the effects of associated plants on the phosphorus uptake of the test bean. The effects observed were quite different for the three species studied.

Kochia is a weed found in many sunflower fields across the Northern Great Plains. There is limited information about the ability of sunflower plants to compete with kochia, specifically when the weed grows both in the crop row and in the inter-row space, as in zero tillage systems that rely solely on herbicides to manage weeds. An experiment was conducted over seven site–yr, from 2009 to 2011, to determine the effect of kochia density and relative time of kochia seedling recruitment on sunflower growth and development, yield and seed quality. Kochia seed was broadcast on the soil surface at six densities, into sunflowers planted in 75-cm rows, either at the same time as the sunflower crop was planted (early weed seedling recruitment), or when the sunflowers were at the four-leaf stage (late weed seedling recruitment). When kochia plants emerged at the same time as the sunflowers, yield was reduced by up to 76% and sunflower head diam was reduced in four site–yr, stem diam was reduced in three site–yr, height was reduced in two site–yr and the number of leaves per sunflower plant was reduced in two site–yr The 5% action threshold for early emerging kochia was four kochia plants m−2 in the combined site–yr analysis. Additionally, early recruiting kochia seedlings reduced sunflower seed size and seed weight at two and three site–yr, respectively. Kochia plants that emerged after the four-leaf stage of the sunflower crop did not affect sunflower growth and development, yield, or seed quality. To reduce the potential for yield and seed quality losses, sunflower growers should be proactive with respect to managing kochia in sunflowers, particularly when the kochia plants emerge at about the same time as the sunflowers.

In Australia, glyphosate is widely used in glyphosate-tolerant crops and fallows to control weeds such as common sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus L.). It has been hypothesized that glyphosate at sublethal doses, as a consequence of herbicide drift, may have a stimulatory effect on S. oleraceus growth. In 2017, pot trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of low doses of glyphosate on growth and seed production of this weed at the Weed Science Screenhouse Facility at the University of Queensland, Australia. At the 4- to 5-leaf stage (3-wk-old rosette), plants were treated with low doses of glyphosate (0 [control], 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 800 g ae ha−1), and their responses were recorded until plant maturity. The study was repeated after completion of the first experimental run. An additional glyphosate dose (2.5 g ha−1) was added in the second run. The low doses of glyphosate (<40 g ha−1) caused a significant increase in S. oleraceus plant height and number of leaves compared with the no-glyphosate treatment. The highest stimulatory effect was observed at 5 g ha−1. At 5 g ha−1 glyphosate, S. oleraceus seed production increased by 154% and 101% in the first and second experimental runs, respectively, compared with the no-glyphosate treatment. The results of this study suggest that the sublethal doses of glyphosate produced hormetic effects on growth and seed production of S. oleraceus that changed the dynamics of weed–crop competition.

Cowpea witchweed [Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke] is a primary constraint of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] production in West Africa. Previously, seven S. gesnerioides races were classified based upon host specificity and genotypic profiling. Because race number and distribution are dynamic systems influenced by gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection, a thorough investigation of S. gesnerioides diversity and the effectiveness of known sources of resistance in cowpea is needed to develop varieties with durable and broad-spectrum Striga resistance. In this study, we screened seven cowpea lines against 58 unique S. gesnerioides populations collected from across nine West African countries. Individuals from 10 S. gesnerioides populations were genotyped with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. We identified six races of S. gesnerioides based on their parasitism of the seven cowpea lines with known differential resistance genotypes. No cowpea line was resistant to all 58 Striga populations and none of the Striga populations were able to overcome the resistance of all seven lines. A novel race, SG6, of the parasite collected from Kudu, Nigeria, was found to overcome more cowpea resistance genes than any previously reported race. SSR analysis indicates that Striga populations are highly differentiated and genetic relatedness generally corresponds with geographic proximity rather than their host compatibility. Due to the dearth of broad-spectrum resistance found among Striga-resistant cowpea lines, there exists a need to stack multiple Striga resistance genes in order to confer broad-spectrum and durable resistance.

Response of flax, canola, field pea, sunflower, field corn, lentils, and common buckwheat to soil residues of CGA-131036 and chlorsulfuron applied at 22 g ai ha–1 was determined on two soil types at Morden, Manitoba. on a fine sandy loam with a pH of 7.4 and 4.5% organic matter, the length of time required before crops showed no phytotoxicity from CGA-131036 residues was: sunflower 4 yr; canola and common buckwheat 3 yr; flax 2 yr; field pea and field corn 1 yr. on a clay loam with a pH of 6.5 and 5.3% organic matter, the corresponding duration was: lentil, canola, and sunflower 3 yr; flax and field pea 1 yr. Chlorsulfuron residues persisted somewhat longer than CGA-131036 residues on the sandy loam but not on the clay loam.

Bromacil (5-bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyluracil), glyphosate (N-phosphonomethylglycine), picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid), simazine [2-chloro-4,6-bis (ethylamino)-s-triazine], and hexazinone [3-cyclohexyl-6-(dimethylamino)-1-methyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione] were evaluated at four application rates and five application dates, May 1, June 1, July 1, August 1, and September 1, for their ability to control seven herbaceous, forest ground covers, hayscented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula (Michx.) Moore), New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis L.), short husk grass (Brachyelytrum erectum Schreb.), bracken fern [Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn var. latiusculum (Desv.) Underw.], wild oat grass (Danthonia compressa Aust.), rough goldenrod (Solidago rugosa Mill.), and flattop aster (Aster umbellatus Mill.) without residual effects on black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) seed stored in the forest floor, or on survival and growth of natural or planted black cherry seedlings. Control of most of the target species depended on the date and rate of application. Simazine had no herbicidal effect on these extremely acid (pH 3.9 to 4.4) Allegheny Plateau sites. None of the herbicides interfered with germination of black cherry seed stored in the forest floor or with establishment of seedlings. Bromacil applied at 22.4 kg/ha, picloram, at 9.0 kg/ha, and hexazinone at 13.4 kg/ha reduced survival, or growth, or both, of black cherry seedlings planted in a forest opening. Glyphosate was the most economical herbicide that met the control criteria. Application of 1.1 kg/ha between August 1 and September 1 produced acceptable control of all target species for at least 3 yr.

To broaden the spectrum of herbicides useful in potato production, the bxn gene for bromoxynil resistance, which encodes a nitrilase specific for bromoxynil, was introduced into ‘Lemhi Russet’ potato by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. In GR50 studies, transformed potato clones were at least 70-fold more resistant to bromoxynil than the untransformed control. Resistance was due to rapid metabolism of bromoxynil to 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, followed by conjugation to polar compounds. In yield trials, the best performing transgenic clones had total tuber yields equal to the untreated, untransformed control, but U.S. No. 1 tuber yields were 15 to 30% lower than the untreated, untransformed control. Tubers from three out of four transgenic clones had specific gravities, percent solids, and fry color similar to or better than the untreated, untransformed control. The data suggest that lower U.S. No. 1 yields in the transgenic clones were due to somaclonal variation and that expression of the bxn transgene had no consistent, detrimental effect on internal tuber quality.

Hydrilla [Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle ♯ HYLLI] was cultured in flowing water in outside aquaria on rooting media differing in fertility and texture. Nutrient content was determined for rooting media at the beginning of the experiment and for plant tissues at harvest. Growth, as measured by rates of stem elongation, areal coverage of aquaria by plants, and biomass accrual, was highly related to N-, P-, and K-fertility of rooting media. Rooting media were the most important source of phosphorous since water supplies were not adequate to support plant growth. There was evidence of P-deficiencies in plants grown on infertile rooting media. Both N and K were adequately supplied from either water, rooting media, or both. Production of plant biomass was most closely related to P-levels in tissues which were closely related to supplies in rooting media. Pretest soil N (comparable to preestablishment conditions) was best related to biomass production, indicating that growth and establishment of hydrilla may be predictable through assessment of hydrosoil fertility. The need for sampling and analytical procedures to assess fertility is emphasized.

Goatsrue, a perennial legume, is an exotic noxious weed currently found in the United States only in Cache County, Utah. It infests irrigated pastures, alfalfa fields, and noncropland areas. In order to compare their responses to temperature, goatsrue and alfalfa were grown in artificially illuminated controlled-environment chambers in 16 day/night temperature regimes ranging from 15/4 to 36/25 C. Growth analysis was used to evaluate effects of temperature on dry matter accumulation, leaf area production, and biomass allocation. Both species grew best at day/night temperatures of 22/25, 29/ 18, and 29/25 C. Leaf appearance rates were linearly related to mean daily temperature. Goatsrue produced fewer but larger leaves and a greater total leaf area than alfalfa. Biomass partitioning to leaves was greater in goatsrue, whereas partitioning to stems was greater in alfalfa. Response of vegetative dry matter production to temperature closely paralleled response of leaf area duration in both species. Alfalfa generally had a higher net assimilation rate, but the greater leaf area duration of goatsrue resulted in greater dry matter accumulation in this species after 50 d of growth. Overall responses to temperature were similar in the two species. Thus it seems likely that goatsrue could become a much more widely distributed weed in alfalfa.

Differences in susceptibility of sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) to preemergence application of ethofumesate [(±)-2-ethoxy-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethyl-5-benzofuranyl methanesulfonate], pyrazon [5-amino-4-chloro-2-phenyl-3(2H)-pyridazinone], and TCA (trichloroacetic acid) were evaluated in several combination treatments. Exposure of plants to ethofumesate severely decreased epicuticular wax deposition on leaf surfaces. Separation of epicuticular wax into major components by gas-liquid chromatography indicated that ethofumesate decreased deposition of alkanes and sec-ketones, but increased the percentage of long-chain waxy esters. TCA also decreased deposition of alkane and ketone components, but not of waxy esters. Waxes were unaffected by pyrazon. Greater foliar absorption of 14C-ethofumesate, 14C-desmedipham [ethyl m-hydroxycarbanilate carbanilate (ester)], and 14C-ethofumesate + 14C-desmedipham was observed in plants that received preemergence treatments of ethofumesate plus TCA compared to pyrazon or a control.

Vegetative cover of weeds was determined in 84 agricultural fields representing a number of crops in Alaska. Multivariate statistical techniques were used with weed, soil, and management data to determine if weed vegetation was related to particular environmental and management variables. Field age was the variable that best explained the variation in vegetation composition. In fields recently cleared, native species were most important, being replaced by introduced weed species with increasing field age. Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.) was an exceptional native species that persisted under cultivation. Total weed cover was low in the first few years of cultivation, but increased as introduced species such as common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), common chickweed [Stellaria media (L.) Cyrillo], quackgrass [Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.], and foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum L.) became more prevalent. A number of introduced species such as hempnettle (Galeopsis tetrahit L.) and Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum L.) were restricted to just a few fields, emphasizing the importance of using weed-free seed and other management practices to minimize the spread of introduced weeds.

Any plant not sown from seed is often labeled a weed in improved pastures of New Zealand. Most improved pastures are a mix of perennial ryegrass and white clover but generally are infested with broadleaf weeds. Changes in forage production due to individual weeds were determined using measurements of perennial ryegrass and white clover before and after dairy cattle, beef cattle, or sheep grazing under, near, and far from individual plants of six rosette-forming weed species throughout a growing season. The larger weeds, bull thistle and musk thistle, reduced the amount of forage utilized 42 and 72%, respectively, in beef cattle– and sheep-grazed hill-country pastures. Forage production under and near Canada thistle, hedge mustard, broadleaf plantain, and hairy buttercup in a dairy pasture was greater (136, 140, 178, and 450%, respectively) than in the control areas. Although the dairy pasture was grazed following recommended grazing procedures, our results indicate that this grazing system was not maximizing forage yield potentials of perennial ryegrass and white clover and that these weeds served as an indicator that the pasture was being overgrazed.

Increased soybean seed cost has generated recent interest in reducing seeding rates to improve economic returns. However, low seeding rates result in reduced established plant stands with slower canopy development, and canopy development is an important element of integrated weed management (IWM). Field studies were conducted in 2012 and 2013 in Wisconsin to determine the trade-off between reduced seeding rates and PRE residual herbicide use for POST herbicide exposure. Soybean was planted in mid May in 38-cm-wide rows at five seeding rates ranging from 148,200 to 469,300 seeds ha−1. A PRE application of metolachlor plus fomesafen was made to half of the plots. One of two POST herbicide programs were sprayed at the V4 soybean growth stage to determine whether blending herbicide-resistant (HR) and non-HR soybean cultivars could be a practical alternative to reduce soybean seed expenses while maintaining the potential benefit of weed suppression before the POST herbicide application. An increase in seeding rate did not reduce the density or size of weeds exposed to the POST herbicide, and furthermore, end-of-season weed density and biomass were not influenced. In contrast, the use of a PRE herbicide reduced total weed density and biomass before POST application by 93 and 95%, respectively, in both years. In 2012, the season was dry early and harvest stands of 161,100 and 264,100 plants ha−1 produced 95% of the maximum yield for the PRE and no-PRE treatments, respectively. The difference was not repeated in 2013 with adequate early season rainfall. In conclusion, PRE herbicide use produced maximum yield with fewer plants per hectare by limiting early season weed competition and reduced weeds exposed to POST herbicide application thus contributing to HR management (HRM). In contrast, higher plant densities generated within the seeding rate range of this study did little to improve IWM or HRM.