‘Wilmington’ and ‘Pensacola’ cultivars of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) were found to exhibit a differential level of tolerance to certain triazine herbicides. Pensacola was more susceptible to postemergence treatments of atrazine [2 - chloro - 4 - (ethylamino) - 6 - (isopropylamino) -s - triazine], simazine [2 - chloro - 4,6 - bis (ethylamino) - s-triazine], and cyanazine {2 - [ [4 - chloro - 6 - (ethylamino) -s - triazin - 2 - yl] amino] - 2 - methylpropionitrile} than Wilmington. Injury to Pensacola was noted as early as 2 weeks after the application of 2.4 kg/ha atrazine and cyanazine, whereas similar injury to Wilmington was not observed until later than 4 weeks after the treatment date. Results of 14C-atrazine treatments indicated that Wilmington bahiagrass accumulated approximately twice as much 14C-atrazine: peptide conjugate as the Pensacola cultivar.

There were usually no significant differences in weed and crop yields between plots receiving aerial and ground applications of herbicides. Where differences were found, aerial application was the more effective.

Estimates indicate that 30% of land surface globally is affected by soil acidity, influencing agricultural production. Application of lime increases soil pH and improves crop growth. We tested the hypothesis that liming will reduce rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin) growth by improving the competitive ability of the crop. Experiments at Merredin and Wongan Hills in Western Australia indicated that application of lime in previous years reduced L. rigidum density, biomass, and seed production in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crops in 2018. At Merredin, L. rigidum seed production in 2018 was reduced from 9,390 to 2,820 seeds m−2, and wheat tiller number and yield was increased, following lime application of 0 to 6,000 kg ha−1 in 2016. At Wongan Hills, lime application of 4,000 kg ha−1 in 1994 reduced seed production in the 2018 wheat crop from 4,708 to 1,610 seeds m−2, and application of 3,000 kg ha−1 of lime in 2014 reduced seed production from 3,959 to 921 seeds m−2 in 2018. Again, lime increased wheat tiller number, but not yield. A screen house experiment (in controlled conditions) indicated that lime application increased the initial growth of both L. rigidum and wheat seedlings. This supports the conclusion that reduced L. rigidum growth and seed production in the field resulted from increased competitive ability of the crop, rather than any direct and detrimental impact of lime on L. rigidum growth. Incorporation of lime reduced initial emergence of L. rigidum in controlled conditions, with L. rigidum seeds at a uniform depth, and in the field experiments in situations of high weed density, with seeds buried by the incorporation process. Nationally, the revenue loss from residual L. rigidum in crop is A$93 million per year. The current research confirms that application of lime will increase the competitive ability of crops growing in regions with acidic soils.

Monuron [3-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea] and neburon [1-n-butyl-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methylurea] were applied to a sandy loam soil which was planted to several crops in southern California. Monuron at 2, 4, and 8 lb/A and neburon at 2 lb/A were below phytotoxic levels by 12 months. Neburon at 4 lb/A persisted at phytotoxic levels for over 16 months, and at 8 lb/A for over 24 months.

Gamma radiation of 3 megarads (Mrad) achieved complete sterilization in Newe Ya'ar clay soil, without affecting subsequent growth of oats (Avena sativa L., var. Mulga) in the irradiated soil. N,N-dimethyl-2,2-diphenylacetamide (diphenamid) in aqueous solution or mixed within Newe Ya'ar soil was detoxified by irradiation with 3 Mrad.

The interaction of 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid], substrate, and calcium on eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.) was determined. The effectiveness of 2,4-D was twice as great on plants grown on a substrate containing soil as it was on plants grown on a sand substrate. The presence of calcium chloride in sand culture during the period of 2,4-D uptake caused comparable or greater increases than sand culture without calcium in the effectiveness of 2,4-D. Possible differences in effectiveness of field treatments were calculated to be 48% greater at the highest natural concentrations of calcium than at the lowest concentrations in water of the Tennessee Valley. Calcium concentration and substrate altered the effectiveness of 2,4-D on eurasian watermilfoil.

Optimum conditions for leafy spurge control with sulfometuron were determined. Absorption and translocation of 14C-sulfometuron to roots in leafy spurge averaged 11 and 0.1% of applied herbicide, respectively, and were not affected by growth stage. Absorption and translocation increased to 40 and 4%, respectively, of applied 14C-sulfometuron when the relative humidity remained at 90 and 95% for at least 72 h after treatment Absorption and translocation of 14C-sulfometuron to the roots were similar at 18/14 and 24/20 C and when 14C-sulfometuron was applied with picloram or 2,4-D. Absorption of 14C-picloram was greater but 14C-2,4-D absorption was less when applied with sulfometuron compared to picloram or 2,4-D applied alone. Sulfometuron plus picloram applied during the fall regrowth stage provided better leafy spurge control than either herbicide applied alone. The combination treatment would be useful especially in areas where grass injury was acceptable in order to extend the fall treatment season by 2 to 3 wk compared to present practices.

I would like to start with a premise, then discuss a bit of history as it applies to agriculture and food production, then relate food production to a country's total economy, and lastly, relate the profession of a weed scientist to a country's capacity to produce food.

I have enjoyed close and direct association with four different Land Grant Colleges. At the fourth, I served 20 years on the staff and became 50 years of age, giving me the privilege of retiring. If my comments appear critical of Land Grant Colleges as recently administered, these comments are intended to serve as constructive criticism. Contributions of the Land Grant Colleges are basic to our total United States welfare. Our society and our way of life continue to need these contributions. Perhaps the goals and objectives should be changed, but the contributions are still strongly needed.

Three-day-old soybean seedlings were treated with acifluorfen via liquid culture [50 μM in dark, 1 μM in light (200 μE·m–2·s–1)]. Root elongation in the dark was inhibited only slightly (6%) after 96 h. In the light, acifluorfen inhibited root elongation after 48 h; after 96 h, inhibition was 32%. Hypocotyl length was not affected in either the light or dark. Soluble hydroxyphenolic content per axis was unaffected in the dark but was reduced by about 13 to 25% at 24 to 96 h in the light. Extractable phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.5) activity per axis was unaltered by herbicide in the dark. A brief transient increase in PAL activity (4 to 24 h) in axes of light-grown seedlings in the presence of acifluorfen was followed by reduced enzyme levels compared to light-grown controls at 72 and 96 h. Although light is required for maximal herbicide action, there was no effect on anthocyanin or chlorophyll accumulation or on the chlorophyll a/b ratio in hypocotyls or light-grown seedlings.

The effect of alachlor [2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)acetanilide] and gibberellic acid (GA3) on increase in length of corn (Zea mays L.) epicotyl segments and the interactions between alachlor (0, 5 × 10-6, 5 × 10-4, 4.4 × 10-4, and 5 × 10 M) and GA3 (0, 1 × 10-6, 2.8 × 10-4, and 1 × 10-4 M) were investigated. Alachlor significantly inhibited growth of these segments while GA3 usually increased growth. GA3 in combination with alachlor caused a significant increase in growth compared to alachlor alone resulting in growth comparable to that occurring in untreated tissues. The magnitude of GA3 induced growth in the presence of alachlor depended upon the concentrations of the herbicide and GA3 employed. Alachlor was, however, able to inhibit the GA3 induced growth. The maximum degree of growth inhibition resulted from exposure of the segments to alachlor with or without GA3 from the start of incubation. This inhibition decreased as the exposure to alachlor was delayed. Alachlor started inhibiting growth in the presence of GA3 after the first 9 hr of incubation and after the first 21 hr of incubation in the absence of GA3.

Hydrilla is one of the most serious aquatic weed problems in the United States, and fluridone is the only U.S. Environment Protection Agency (USEPA)–approved herbicide that provides relatively long-term systemic control. Recently, hydrilla biotypes with varying levels of fluridone resistance have been documented in Florida. Several biotypes of hydrilla varying in resistance levels were maintained in 950-L tanks under ambient sunlight and day-length conditions from September 2004 to September 2005 in absence of fluridone. Phenotypic measurements were performed during this 1-yr period to monitor differences in growth and reproductive physiology. All fluridone-resistant biotypes (except R3) were growing at the same rate or greater than the susceptible hydrilla. These data suggested that there are no deleterious effects on growth and reproductive physiology because of development of fluridone resistance. Aggressive spread of fluridone-resistant dioecious hydrilla in aquatic ecosystems can severely affect hydrilla management and, consequently, cause substantial and long-lasting ecological and economic problems throughout the southern United States.

Mesotrione is an effective herbicide for volunteer potato control but is not selective in several crops, including onion and carrot. Studies were conducted in 2006 to evaluate the effectiveness of wiper-applied mesotrione for control of volunteer potato in a potato crop. Surprisingly, nontreated potatoes growing adjacent to mesotrione-treated plants exhibited bleaching symptoms resembling mesotrione injury. Additional field trials confirmed injury to nontreated plants growing within 26 cm of potatoes treated with mesotrione applied with a wiper at 0.25, 0.5, and 1% (v/v) solutions. Greenhouse bioassays confirmed that mesotrione applied to potato leaves moved down through the plant and was exuded into perlite potting medium in sufficient quantities to injure potato plants that were exposed to the leachate from the perlite pots. In tracer studies, 52% of 14C-labeled mesotrione applied to potato leaves was absorbed into the potato plant by 15 d and 15% of the absorbed 14C-mesotrione was exuded into the soil and soil leachate. Mesotrione applied to potato by the wick application method has potential to injure neighboring susceptible plants from root uptake of exuded mesotrione.

The competitive ability of annual round-leaved mallow was determined in spring wheat and lentil at Indian Head and Regina, Saskatchewan, in 1985 and 1986 using paired quadrats. Significant biomass and seed yield loss occurred in three of four tests in lentil and two of three tests in spring wheat. Differences in numbers of wheat tillers produced between weedy and weed-free plots were found in three of four tests. A two-variable model comprised of early season crop density loss and round-leaved mallow biomass best accounted for the majority of variation in crop yield loss for both lentil and wheat, and tiller density loss in wheat. In 1985 at Indian Head, where no yield loss occurred for either wheat or lentil, round-leaved mallow had been seeded immediately before the crop. Greater yield losses occurred at Regina, in the presence of an older, well-established infestation. In the years and locations with the greatest crop yield losses, round-leaved mallow emerged before the crop causing poor crop emergence. At Regina in 1986, crop yield losses were more than 60% in wheat and 90 to 100% in lentil because of large differences in crop density between weed-free and weedy subplots. Round-leaved mallow exhibited great variability in growth, producing more biomass per plant, more capsules per plant, and more capsules per gram of biomass in the less competitive crop, lentil, than in wheat. Density and biomass of round-leaved mallow were not correlated; with a density of 200 plants m−2, round-leaved mallow biomass in wheat ranged from 100 to 500 g m−2; while in lentil, from 200 to as high as 1000 g m−2, approximately double the range found in wheat. The type of round-leaved mallow infestation (newly seeded or well-established) and environmental conditions (mainly early season precipitation) account for differences between sites and between years.

Soybean and ivyleaf morningglory were grown alone and together to quantify water use and growth after treatment with soil-applied chlorimuron plus metribuzin, imazaquin, or no herbicide. Soybean water consumption was 22 ml pot−1 day−1 or more when grown alone or with another soybean, regardless of herbicide treatment. Ivyleaf morningglory grown alone or with another ivyleaf morningglory consumed ≥ 32 ml water pot−1 day−1 when no herbicide was applied. Treatment with chlorimuron plus metribuzin or imazaquin reduced ivyleaf morningglory water consumption to ≤ 4 ml pot−1 day−1. Water use was reduced with either herbicide when soybean and ivyleaf morningglory were grown together, indicating little or no water consumption by ivyleaf morningglory. Ivyleaf morningglory height, root length, leaf area, and dry matter were reduced by imazaquin or chlorimuron plus metribuzin. Soybean leaf area was also reduced by herbicide treatment or the presence of another plant. Soybean biomass was not reduced in any planting combination, except when two soybean were grown together and treated with imazaquin. Nontreated ivyleaf morningglory partitioned more biomass into the shoots than roots. Ivyleaf morningglory responded to herbicide treatment by partitioning more biomass into roots.

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate effects of sicklepod planting depths and chlorimuron, imazaquin, and metribuzin incorporation depths on sicklepod seedling emergence and growth. There was 35 and 90% sicklepod seedling emergence from 0- and 2-cm planting depths, respectively, in untreated soil 26 days after planting; emergence decreased with each additional increment below 2 cm. Chlorimuron at 63 g ai ha reduced the number of plants present 11 days after planting at 1- and 2-cm planting depths except when unincorporated. However, deeper sicklepod planting required chlorimuron incorporation to at least 6 cm for maximum reduction of plants. Imazaquin at 140 g ai ha was not as effective as chlorimuron, but a reduction in the number of plants was noted at 1- and 2-cm planting depths when imazaquin was incorporated to 4, 6, or 8 cm. Metribuzin at 420 g ai ha consistently reduced the number of plants at all incorporation depths except when unincorporated but had little effect on emergence. Chlorimuron and imazaquin reduced sicklepod dry weight most for all planting depths when incorporated 4 to 10 and 6 to 10 cm, respectively. Metribuzin reduced sicklepod biomass at all incorporation depths.

In common milkweed, the development of subterranean root buds on excised root segments, following emergence from the parent root, is characterized by development of nodes and internodes followed by internode expansion. Transverse sections of root buds reveal that bicollateral vascular bundles as well as leaf traces and gaps are well developed in buds from 3-month-old plants. Strands of xylem and phloem connect the parent root and root bud in both inhibited and noninhibited root buds. Pitted primary tracheary elements, characteristic of developmentally advanced primary xylem, are present in these traces. The occurrence of a well-developed vascular system throughout the root bud and between the parent root and bud provides evidence that retardation of growth of inhibited root buds in common milkweed is not caused by anatomical constraints.

Accurate weed population estimation and yield loss prediction are important components of integrated weed management. Field experiments using Italian ryegrass as a weed in broccoli were conducted from 1994 to 1997 to compare weed density to other methods of weed population estimation, to evaluate the performance of weed population estimates in yield description models, and to study the affect of environmental variability on the predictive ability of models. A strong linear relationship was obtained between Italian ryegrass density and direct leaf area (r 2 = 0.60 to 0.99). For Italian ryegrass, density and estimates of canopy from the optical device (crosswire device) had a hyperbolic relationship with high coefficients of determination (r 2 > 0.72). Both direct leaf area and canopy estimates described broccoli yield as well as or better than Italian ryegrass density. The Li-Cor LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyzer (PCA) provided poor estimates of Italian ryegrass population (r 2 from 0.00 to 0.63) that failed to describe broccoli yield. No relationship was observed between estimates of light interception through the plant canopy obtained with the Li-Cor LI-191-S Line Quantum Sensor (LQS) and either Italian ryegrass density or broccoli yield. The low performance of the PCA and lack of performance of the LQS were likely due to the smaller size of the plants and larger gaps in the plant canopy caused by wide bed spacing. At similar densities, Italian ryegrass competition with broccoli was stable from year to year. Under high Italian ryegrass density, water supply affected competition. This may limit construction of robust yield prediction models, especially in areas where water is mainly from rainfall.

A shielded, tractor-mounted sprayer for research plots is described. Advantages of this sprayer for research plots are reduced spray drift, rapid and thorough cleaning between herbicide treatments, adequate mixing of herbicide suspensions, rapid and accurate herbicide application, and facilitating plots large enough to take yield data with a combine.

This research studies whether photoprotection mechanisms are able to counterbalance the short-term effect of two herbicides, acifluorfen methyl (AFM) and paraquat (PQ), that generate photo-oxidative stress in different subcellular locations. Duckweed plants grown under three light intensities (high-, medium-, and low light), and consequently expressing three levels of photoprotection, were exposed to both herbicides under the same light regime. Oxidative damage induced by AFM originated mainly from the cytosolic accumulation of protoporphyrin IX, leading to a process of plasma membrane disruption, a progressive and slow degradation of ascorbate and photosynthetic pigments, and glutathione accumulation. As most photoprotective mechanisms (antioxidants and xanthophylls-cycle-related energy dissipation) operate mainly within the chloroplast, these systems were unable to protect plants from AFM damage irrespective of the level of light acclimation. Paraquat effects developed more rapidly and to a greater extent than AFM in treated plants. Irrespective of the light intensity, the same sequence of degradation was observed: ascorbate followed by glutathione, α-tocopherol, pigments, and membrane disruption. In PQ-treated plants the generation of oxidative stress occurred mainly in the chloroplast, and cellular damage developed more slowly in highly photoprotected plants (high light); in fact, electrolyte leakage can be used as a marker for PQ tolerance. The effects of both herbicides indicate that the xanthophyll cycle is an early protective mechanism and confirms the central role of ascorbate in early photoprotection response. High levels of lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant contents did not lead to attenuated phytotoxicity of acifluorfen methyl and thus are not the basis to explain differential susceptibilities among duckweed plants.

Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of fall and spring pre-plant incorporated applications of trifluralin (α,α,α-tri-fluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine) and metribuzin [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazine-5(4H)-one] alone and in combinations on crop tolerance, seed yield, and weed control in fababeans (Vicia faba L. ‘Diana’). Trifluralin applied either in the fall or the spring resulted in acceptable control of green foxtail [Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.] and wild oat (Avena fatua L.) while metribuzin resulted in excellent control of wild mustard [Brassica kaber (DC.) L.C. Wheeler var. pinnatifida (Stokes) L.C. Wheeler]. In 2 out of 3 yr, a tank-mixture of trifluralin plus metribuzin applied in the fall at 1.4 and 0.4 kg/ha, respectively, resulted in significantly larger seed yield than the same combination applied at 1.1 and 0.3 kg/ha in the spring. Although the fall treatments generally resulted in higher seed yields, there was no consistent difference in weed densities between fall and spring applications. In both field and growth room studies, trifluralin reduced the injury to fababeans from metribuzin. A postemergence application of metribuzin in the spring at 0.3 kg/ha following a fall-application of trifluralin resulted in good wild mustard control but caused considerable crop damage. Dinoseb (2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol) and bentazon [3-isopropyl-1H-2,1,3-benzothiadiazin-4(3H)-one 2,2dioxide] controlled wild mustard effectively with no injury to the crop.