Analysis for total carbohydrate content was made on oven dried bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.) and smutgrass [Sporobolus poiretii (R. & S.) Hitchc.] storage tissue collected at 2, 4, 6, or 36 weeks after fall treatment and at 2, 4, or 6 weeks after fall and spring treatment with three herbicides at varying rates. Those species that survived either fall or fall and spring herbicide application exhibited an initial reduction in carbohydrate content, but it returned to a level comparable to that in the untreated plants in most instances within 6 weeks after treatment. Atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine] at 4.48 and 8.96 kg/ha and bromacil (5-bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyluracil) at 2.24 and 4.48 kg/ha resulted in carbohydrate reduction in bermudagrass and dallisgrass for no more than 6 weeks except where both fall and spring treatments were used. Smutgrass was controlled with these two herbicides within 2 weeks so that not enough live tissue was available for analysis. There was no carbohydrate reduction in bermudagrass with the 2.24, 4.48, or 8.96 kg/ha rates of MSMA (monosodium methanearsonate) beyond 2 weeks following treatment. The carbohydrate content of smutgrass was reduced up to 6 weeks after treatment with MSMA, and dallisgrass was controlled at all rates so that no carbohydrate analysis could be made.

Nine field trials were carried out during 1968 and 1969 to study selective weed control in sugarbeets (Beta vulgaris L.) by preemergence and postemergence applications. The trials were conducted at various regions of Israel, under a wide range of climatic and edaphic conditions. Among the preemergence treatments, the herbicide 1-methyl-3-(2-benzothiazolyl)-urea (hereinafter referred to as benzthiazuron) gave adequate weed control and selectivity to sugarbeets. However, when heavy infestation with grasses was present, an addition of isopropyl carbanilate (propham) was needed to increase the spectrum of weed control. A preemergence application of 1-butyl-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methylurea (neburon) on each side of the drill-row of sugarbeets together with an over-band application of benzthiazuron or 5-amino-4-chloro-2-phenyl-3(2H)-pyridazinone (pyrazon) improved weed control. Among postemergence treatments, a mixture of pyrazon and propham gave excellent broad-spectrum weed control. Applying this combination in an emulsion with a non-phytotoxic oil considerably improved weed control.

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.

Alachlor [2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)acetanilide] at 3.4 kg/ha, EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate) + R-25788 (N,N-diallyl-2,2-dichloroacetamide) at 4.5 + 0.4 and 9.0 + 0.8 kg/ha, vernolate (S-propyl dipropylthiocarbamate) + R-25788 at 4.5 + 0.4 and 9.0 + 0.8 kg/ha, metolachlor [2-chloro N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] at 1.7 and 3.4 kg/ha, and metolachlor + procyazine {2-[[4-chloro-6-(cyclopropylamino)1,3,5-triazine-2-yl] amino]-2-methylpropanenitrile} at 1.3 + 1.3 kg/ha were preplant incorporated. These herbicides controlled 95% or more of the barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.], common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), Powell amaranth (A. powellii S. Wats.), and yellow foxtail [Setaria lutescens (Weigel) Hubb.] without injuring sweetcorn (Zea mays L. ‘Golden Jubilee’) or reducing corn yields or quality. Similar results were obtained with preplant incorporated applications of butylate (S-ethyldiisobutylthiocarbamate) + R-25788 at 4.5 + 0.2 kg/ha followed by a postemergence application of the amine salt of 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] at 0.6 kg/ha. Metribuzin [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazin-5(4H)-one] at 0.3 and 0.6 kg/ha and metribuzin + alachlor at 0.6 + 2.2 kg/ha applied preplant and incorporated reduced corn stands, primary ear production, and corn yields significantly. None of the herbicides significantly affected total sugars, reducing sugars, soluble solids, moisture content, or succulence of the corn.

Concentrations of hexazinone and two metabolites in vegetation were determined for 2 yr after broadcast application of a 10% granular formulation of hexazinone at 2 and 4 kg ai ha−1 rates in August 1986 in a boreal forest. Prewinter concentrations of hexazinone in stems of trembling aspen, Saskatoon berry, and willow ranged from 0.02 to 0.05 μg−1 dry wt at 64 d after treatment (DAT). Absorption of hexazinone accelerated during spring thaw (1987), and residues in foliage of several woody and herbaceous species peaked during May to July. Patterns of accumulation of hexazinone and its metabolites varied with the species. Foliar concentrations diminished significantly by the end of the first growing season in 1987 (372 DAT) and were undetectable or extremely low at the end of the second growing season in 1988 (707 DAT). Based on the highest residue concentrations detected in several plant species, it is estimated that wildlife would ingest a maximum of 16, 28, and 24 mg of hexazinone, metabolite A, and metabolite B, respectively, for every kg of dry matter consumed. Reported LD50 values suggest that application of hexazinone at the 4 kg ai ha−1 rate or less poses no toxicological threat to wildlife.

California arrowhead is a broadleaf weed widespread in water-seeded rice. Bensulfuron is the only herbicide currently available for use throughout the California rice growing region that provides complete control of California arrowhead; however, resistance to bensulfuron has been detected in California arrowhead and in several other weed species. Growers have herbicide alternatives for weed species other than California arrowhead but continue to use bensulfuron year after year for control because they believe California arrowhead reduces rice yields. However, damage thresholds have not been determined for this weed, and the crop may be able to tolerate relatively high California arrowhead densities. In this work, the damage thresholds for California arrowhead were determined in field and greenhouse experiments. Water-seeded rice was grown in mixture with California arrowhead in a 1992 greenhouse experiment and in field experiments in 1992 and 1998. Rice tiller density and grain yields were not affected by California arrowhead densities up to 200 plants m−2 in any year. Rice was taller than California arrowhead throughout the growing season in all experiments, and the weed senesced well before rice maturity. The ability of the crop to overtop the weed and grow weed-free during the latter part of the season may explain why California arrowhead is such a weak competitor with water-seeded rice. The results suggest that growers may be able to tolerate California arrowhead densities up to 200 plants m−2 without detectable yield losses. Implications for weed management are discussed.

Experiments were conducted at three locations to evaluate the efficacy of fall and spring herbicide treatments for vegetation control and enhancement of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) establishment. on a sward dominated by quackgrass [Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.], fall and spring glyphosate [N- (phosphonomethyl) glycine] treatments were equally effective in reducing competition from quackgrass and in establishing alfalfa. on a mixed grass sward, spring and fall glyphosate treatment resulted in similar alfalfa yields with early spring seeding; however, alfalfa yields were lower with delayed seeding on fall-treated plots, compared with spring treatment, because of greater weed competition. Pronamide [3,5-dichloro(N-1,1-dimethyl-2-propynyl) benzamide] applied in the fall controlled perennial grasses, and when it was followed by paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium ion) in the spring controlled broadleaf weeds as well, resulting in greater alfalfa yields compared with pronamide alone. Alfalfa established more slowly in the paraquat-treated and check plots, than in glyphosate-treated plots.

Spring parsley [Cymopterus watsonii (Coult. & Rose) Jones] was examined for phototoxicity by chick (Gallus domesticus, Arbor Acre 50 x Vantress hybrid) bioassay, after treatment with 2,4,-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram), and an approximate 4 to 1 mixture of 2,4-D and picloram. Spring parsley leaves treated with picloram and picloram-2,4-D were much less phototoxic to chicks than controls 4 weeks after treatment. When treatment was followed by warm weather, leaves treated with 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T were not phototoxic 4 weeks after treatment at the highest single dose that could be administered.

Field experiments were conducted in 1996 and 1997 to evaluate the effect of EPTC (S-ethyl dipropyl carbamothioate) plus ethalfluralin at 2.4 plus 0.83 kg ai ha−1, rotary hoeing, in-row cultivation, rotary hoeing plus in-row cultivation, and dry bean canopy on weed seedling emergence. Cumulative weed emergence in 1996 and 1997 was similar in cropped and noncropped areas. Herbicides were more effective than mechanical cultivation in reducing weed emergence 91% in 1996 and 88% in 1997. Weed emergence was similar in both rotary hoed area and cultivated area in 1996 but weed emergence was 44% lower in rotary hoed plots than in cultivated plots in 1997. The Gompertz equation did not adequately predict weed seedling emergence in the untreated control and with in-row cultivation in 1996. Initial weed seedling emergence was observed at about 120 growing degree-days with 3 to 9% cumulative emergence among treatments. In 1997, the Gompertz equation adequately described weed seedling emergence in plots with or without disturbed soil. Weed emergence was first observed at 80 growing degree-days with 6 to 16% cumulative emergence among treatments. Predicted percent weed emergence closely approximated observed emergence in 1996 and 1997. Rotary hoeing plus in-row cultivation reduced maximum percent emergence rate 37% on an average. The greater maximum percent emergence rate obtained with in-row cultivation suggests that this treatment increased weed seedling emergence in 1997. On average, weed seedling emergence in the untreated check was lower in cropped areas than in noncropped areas, implying a competitive effect by the dry bean crop. Although weed seedling emergence occurred throughout the growing season, more weed seedlings emerged in June and early July than in late July and August.

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.

A norflurazon-resistant mutant has been isolated from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii that showed a three-fold factor of resistance over wild type cultures. In comparison to wild type cultures, the mutant showed better retention of chlorophylls and carotenoids when grown in light in the presence of norflurazon. When grown in the dark, chlorophyll losses were similar, while carotenoid losses were lower than in the wild type cultures. Higher levels of phytoene accumulated in the wild type cultures in the presence of norflurazon than in the resistant cultures. The resistant cultures also showed cross tolerance to EMD-IT 5914, a herbicide with a similar mode of action. Norflurazon resistance in this alga appears to arise from alterations in the target enzyme phytoene desaturase.

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.

Four flower-color phenotypes were observed in a population of musk thistle (Carduus thoermeri Weinm.). This plant has been commonly referred to as C. nutans L. The four phenotypes were: purple corolla and purple pollen, pink corolla and white pollen, white corolla and purple pollen, and white corolla and white pollen. In four generations, 177 self-pollinated individuals of these four phenotypes produced 2123 progeny plants that were classified. Results support the hypothesis that three independent gene pairs were involved in determining the four flower phenotypes. The gene pairs have been designated P/p, W/w, and Pi/pi. It was postulated that all three dominant alleles, P, W, and Pi, must be present to produce both purple corollas and purple pollen. The p allele prevents color development in both corollas and pollen; the w allele eliminates color in corollas but does not affect pollen color; and the pi allele dilutes corolla color from purple to pink and eliminates pollen color. Height measurements of progenies of self-pollinated plants indicated that decreased plant height was associated with inbreeding. On the basis of the evidence presented, the musk thistle plants used in these experiments appear to belong to a single species.

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.

Soybean yield gain over the last century has been attributed to both genetic and agronomic improvements. Recent research has characterized how breeding efforts to improve yield gain have also secondarily impacted agronomic practices such as seeding rate, planting date, and fungicide use. To our knowledge, no research has characterized the relationship between weed–soybean interference and genetic yield gain. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to determine whether newer cultivars would consistently yield higher than older cultivars under increasingly competitive environments, and whether soybean breeding efforts over time have indirectly increased soybean competitiveness. Field research was conducted in 2014, 2015, and 2016 in which 40 maturity group (MG) II soybean cultivars released between 1928 and 2013 were grown season-long with three different densities of volunteer corn (0, 2.8, and 11.2 plants m−2). Soybean seed yield of newer cultivars was higher than older cultivars at each volunteer corn density (P<0.0001). Soybean seed yield was also higher in the weed-free treatment than at low or high volunteer corn seeding rates. However, soybean cultivar release year did not affect late-season volunteer corn shoot dry biomass at either seeding rate of 2.8 or 11.2 seeds m−2. The results indicate that while soybean breeding efforts have increased yield potential over time, they have not increased soybean competitiveness with volunteer corn. These results highlight the importance of other cultural practices such as planting date and crop row spacing for weed suppression in modern soybean production systems.

Two Louisiana sugarcane cultivars (interspecific hybrids of the genus Saccharum) CP 52–68 and L 60-25 were sprayed with herbicides commonly used for preemergence and postemergence control of johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.) and other weeds. The preemergence weed control treatments of 3-tert-butyl-5-chloro-6-methyluracil (terbacil) at 1.8 kg/ha and (2,3,6-trichlorophenyl)acetic acid (fenac) at 5 kg/ha were compared to a mixture of sodium salt of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) at 11 or 19 kg/ha plus 2-(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)propionic acid (silvex) at 3.4 kg/ha (control). Herbicides were applied after planting in the fall, reapplied the following spring (after sugarcane emerged), and applied again in the second spring on the stubble crop (after sugarcane emerged). In the stubble crop the sodium salt of 2,2-dichloropropionic acid (dalapon) at 0, 5, or 10 kg/ha was applied as a postemergence spray over the top of sugarcane. In the factorial arrangement each cultivar received all combinations of the preemergence x postemergence treatments.

Terbacil did not injure either cultivar, but fenac injured both enough to reduce the yield of sugar in plant cane by about 10% as compared to the TCA plus silvex control. Stubble crop yields were not affected by fenac or terbacil. CP 52–68 was more tolerant to dalapon treatments than L 60–25. Both cultivars tolerated dalapon at 5 kg/ha relatively well although the yield of L 60–25 was reduced by about 5%. However at 10 kg/ha, dalapon reduced yields of CP 52–68 and L 60–25 by about 10 and 18%, respectively. Combinations of preemergence and postemergence treatments did not interact to reduce yields more than the combined effects of each treatment.

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.

Egyptian broomrape (Phelipanche aegyptiaca Pers.) is a root-parasitic weed that severely damages many crops worldwide, including tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). In Israel, the management protocol used for P. aegyptiaca in open-field tomato includes PPI sulfosulfuron at 37.5 g ai ha−1 to the top 10-cm soil layer. The objective of this study was to investigate the co-effect of sulfosulfuron application timing and variable degradation rate in soil on the control efficacy of P. aegyptiaca in tomato. Degradation of sulfosulfuron (80ng g−1 soil) at a temperature of 15C, measured in soil samples from three farms using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, followed a first-order kinetics with variable degradation rate constant among sites (0.008 to 0.012 d−1). Incubation at 25 C increased sulfosulfuron degradation rate constant by a factor of 2 to 2.7 in soils from the different sites, with a similar degradation rate order among soils. A higher degradation rate in the soil resulted in a shorter period of residual activity, measured using a sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.] bioassay. Phelipanche aegyptiaca management in open-field tomatoes was investigated in five independent field experiments. Sulfosulfuron soil concentration throughout the growing season (following preplant incorporation of 37.5 g ha−1) was calculated from laboratory-measured degradation rates, which were corrected to represent the effect of recorded temperatures at each field. At the end of the tomato growing season, control efficacy of P. aegyptiaca varied among experiments (70.4% to 100%) and positively correlated with predicted sulfosulfuron concentration at the critical period for seedling control (R2=0.67). The current study confirms that sulfosulfuron is degraded in soil to nonphytotoxic metabolites and that rapid degradation rates would result in reduced injury to P. aegyptiaca seedling and, consequently, lower control efficacy.