Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T17:47:03.907Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of Aminocyclopyrachlor Plus Metsulfuron on Tall Fescue Yield, Forage Quality, and Ergot Alkaloid Concentration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Trevor D. Israel
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996
Gary E. Bates
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996
Thomas C. Mueller
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996
John C. Waller
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996
G. Neil Rhodes Jr.*
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract

Most tall fescue in the United States is infected with a fungal endophyte which imparts certain advantages to the plant, such as drought tolerance, insect feeding deterrence, and enhanced mineral uptake. However, the endophyte also produces ergot alkaloids that are harmful to livestock and contribute to fescue toxicosis. Because the alkaloids are concentrated in seed and stems, a potential way to reduce the likelihood of fescue toxicosis is by suppressing seedhead formation with herbicides. Research was conducted from 2012 to 2014 using metsulfuron applied alone and in combination with other herbicides in spring to determine the growth response of tall fescue, effects on forage quality, and ergot alkaloid concentration. Clipping or metsulfuron applied alone or in combination with aminocyclopyrachlor or aminopyralid reduced seedhead density by 36 to 55% compared to the nontreated control. Treatments containing metsulfuron reduced spring harvest yield 35 to 61%, but no differences were observed in the summer or year-after harvests. The same treatments increased crude protein levels by 1.03 to 2.14% and reduced acid detergent fiber levels by 1.60 to 2.76% compared to the nontreated control at spring harvest. Treatments containing metsulfuron reduced ergot alkaloid concentration 26 to 34% at the spring harvest, but no differences were observed in summer-harvested forage. Results from this study indicate metsulfuron applied alone or in combination with aminocyclopyrachlor or aminopyralid can potentially reduce the severity of fescue toxicosis and improve forage quality.

La mayoría del pasto Schedonorus arundinaceus, en los Estados Unidos, está infectado con un hongo endófito lo que le brinda ciertas ventajas a la planta, tales como tolerancia a la sequía, repelencia de insectos plaga, y una absorción de nutrientes mejorada. Sin embargo, el endófito también produce esclerocios con alkaloids que son dañinos para el ganado y contribuyen a la toxicosis con S. arundinaceus. Debido a que los alkaloids están concentrados en las semillas y los tallos, una forma potencial de reducir la probabilidad de la toxicosis con S. arundinaceus es el suprimir la formación de inflorescencias con herbicidas. Se realizó una investigación desde 2012 a 2014 usando metsulfuron aplicado solo y en combinación con otros herbicidas en la primavera para determinar la respuesta del crecimiento de S. arundinaceus, los efectos en la calidad del forraje, y la concentración de alkaloids de esclerocios. La poda o la aplicación de metsulfuron solo o en combinación con aminocyclopyrachlor o aminopyralid redujeron la densidad de inflorescencias en 36 a 55% al compararse con el testigo sin tratamiento. Los tratamientos que contenían metsulfuron redujeron los rendimientos de cosecha en la primavera 35 a 61%, pero no se observaron diferencias en la cosecha de verano o cosechas en años posteriores. Los mismos tratamientos aumentaron los niveles de proteína cruda de 1.03 a 2.14% y redujeron los niveles de fibra detergente ácida de 1.6 a 2.76% al compararse con el testigo sin tratamiento en la cosecha de primavera. Los tratamientos que contenían metsulfuron redujeron la concentración de alkaloids de esclerocios de 26 a 34% en la cosecha de primavera, pero no se observaron diferencias en la cosecha de forraje de verano. Los resultados de este estudio indican que metsulfuron aplicado solo o en combinación con aminocyclopyrachlor o aminopyralid pueden potencialmente reducir la severidad de la toxicosis con S. arundinaceus y mejorar la calidad del forraje.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Associate Editor for this paper: Kevin Bradley, University of Missouri.

References

Literature Cited

Aiken, GE, Bransby, DI, McCall, CA (1993) Growth of yearling horses compared to steers on high and low endophyte infected tall fescue. J Equine Vet Sci 13:2628 Google Scholar
Aiken, GE, Goff, BM, Witt, WW, Kagan, IA, Sleugh, BB, Burch, PL, Schrick, FN (2012) Steer and plant responses to chemical suppression of seedhead emergence in toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue. Crop Sci 52:960969 Google Scholar
Aiken, GE, Strickland, JR (2013) Forages and pastures symposium: managing the tall fescue–fungal endophyte symbiosis for optimum forage-animal production. J Anim Sci 91:23692378 Google Scholar
Anonymous (2014) DuPont Streamline herbicide label. Wilmington, DE: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. 17 pGoogle Scholar
Ball, DM, Collins, M, Lacefield, GD, Martin, NP, Mertens, DA, Olson, KE, Putnam, DH, Undersander, DJ, Wolf, MW (2001) Understanding Forage Quality. Publication 1–01. Park Ridge, IL: American Farm Bureau Federation. 20 pGoogle Scholar
Barker, DJ, Sulc, RM, Bultemeier, TL, McCormick, JS, Little, R, Penrose, CD, Samples, D (2005) Contrasting toxic-endophyte contamination between endophyte-free and nontoxic-endophyte tall fescue pastures. Crop Sci 45:616625 Google Scholar
Belesky, DP, Stuedemann, JA, Plattner, RD, Wilkinson, SR (1988) Ergopeptine alkaloids in grazed tall fescue. Agron J 80:209212 Google Scholar
Blouin, DC, Webster, EP, Bond, JA (2011) On the analysis of combined experiments. Weed Technol 25:165169 Google Scholar
Bradley, KW, Hagood, ES Jr., Love, KP, Heidel, RD (2004) Response of biennial and perennial weeds to selected herbicides and prepackaged herbicide combinations in grass pastures and hay fields. Weed Technol 18:795800 Google Scholar
Bransby, DI, Schmidt, SP, Griffey, W, Eason, JT (1988) Heavy grazing is best for infected fescue. Ala Agric Exp Stn Highlights Agric Res 35:12 Google Scholar
Buckner, RC, Powell, JB, Frakes, RV (1979) Historical development. Pages 18 in Buckner, RC, Bush, LP, eds. Tall Fescue. Agronomy Monograph 20. Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America Google Scholar
Bush, LP, Buckner, RC (1973) Tall fescue toxicity. Pages 99112 in Matches, AG, ed. Antiquality Components of Forages. CSSA Special Publication 4. Madison, WI: Crop Science Society of America Google Scholar
Carmer, SG, Nyquist, WE, Walker, WM (1989) Least significant differences for combined analysis of experiments with two- or three-factor treatment designs Agron J 81:665672 Google Scholar
Dernoeden, PH (1990) Comparison of three herbicides for selective tall fescue control in Kentucky bluegrass. Agron J 82:278282 Google Scholar
Derr, JF (1989) Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) control with metsulfuron. Weed Technol 3:381384 Google Scholar
Ferrell, JA, Sellers, BA, MacDonald, GE, Kline, WN (2009) Influence of herbicide and application timing on blackberry control. Weed Technol 23:531534 Google Scholar
Fribourg, HA, Waller, JC (2005) Neotyphodium research and application in the USA. Pages 322 in Roberts, CA, West, CP, Spiers, DE, eds. Neotyphodium in Cool-Season Grasses. Ames, IA: Blackwell Publishing Professional Google Scholar
Funk, CR, White, RH, Breen, JP (1993) Importance of Acremonium endophytes in turf grass breeding and management. Agric Ecosyst Environ 44:215232 Google Scholar
Glenn, S, Rieck, CE, Ely, DG, Bush, LP (1980) Quality of tall fescue affected by mefluidide. J Agric Food Chem 28:391393 Google Scholar
Goff, BM, Aiken, GE, Witt, WW, Sleugh, BB, Burch, PL (2012) Steer consumption and ergovaline recovery from in vitro digested residues of tall fescue seedheads. Crop Sci 52:14371440 Google Scholar
Goff, BM, Aiken, GE, Witt, WW, Williamson, JA, Flynn, ES, Burch, PL (2014) Timing and rate of chaparral treatment affects tall fescue seedhead development and pasture plant densities. Forage Grazinglands DOI: Google Scholar
Hill, NS, Agee, CS (1994) Detection of ergoline alkaloids in endophyte-infected tall fescue by immunoassay. Crop Sci 34:530534 Google Scholar
Hoveland, CS (1993) Importance and economic significance of the Acremonium endophytes to performance of animals and grass plant. Agric Ecosyst Environ 44:312 Google Scholar
Johnson, MC, Dahlman, DL, Siegel, MR, Bush, LP, Latch, GCM, Potter, DA, Varney, DR (1985) Insect feeding deterrents in endophyte-infected tall fescue. Appl Environ Microbiol 49:568571 Google Scholar
Malinowski, DP, Belesky, DP, Hill, NS, Baligar, VC, Fedders, JM (1998) Influence of phosphorus on the growth and ergot alkaloid content of Neotyphodium coenophialum-infected tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Plant Soil 198:5361 Google Scholar
Malinowski, DP, Brauer, DK, Belesky, DP (1999) Neotyphodium coenophialum endophyte affects root morphology of tall fescue grown under phosphorus deficiency. J Agron Crop Sci 183:5360 Google Scholar
Moyer, JL, Kelley, KW (1995) Broadleaf herbicide effects on tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) seedhead density, forage yield, and quality. Weed Technol 9:270276 Google Scholar
Payne, KK, Sleugh, BB, Bradley, KW (2010) Impact of herbicides and application timing on weed control, yield, and nutritive value of tall fescue pastures and hayfields. Weed Technol 24:515522 Google Scholar
Read, JC, Camp, BJ (1986) The effect of the fungal endophyte Acremonium coenophialum in tall fescue on animal performance, toxicity, and stand maintenance. Agron J 78:848850 Google Scholar
Reynolds, JH, Krueger, WA, Walker, CL (1993a) Effects of clethodim on seedhead density, forage yield, and quality of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). Weed Technol 7:751755 Google Scholar
Reynolds, JH, Krueger, WA, Walker, CL, Waller, JC (1993b) Plant growth regulator effects on growth and forage quality of tall fescue. Agron J 85:545548 Google Scholar
Roberts, CA, Andrae, JA (2005) Public education on tall fescue toxicosis. Pages 361379 in Roberts, CA, West, CP, Spiers, DE, eds. Neotyphodium in Cool-Season Grasses. Ames, IA: Blackwell Publishing Professional Google Scholar
Roberts, CA, Andrae, JG (2010) Fescue toxicosis and management. Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America. 16 pGoogle Scholar
Rottinghaus, GE, Garner, GB, Cornell, CN, Ellis, JL (1991) HPLC method for quantitating ergovaline in endophyte-infested tall fescue: seasonal variation of ergovaline levels in stems with leaf sheaths, leaf blades, and seed heads. J Agric Food Chem 39:112115 Google Scholar
Sather, BC, Roberts, CA, Bradley, KW (2013) Influence of metsulfuron-containing herbicides and application timings on tall fescue seedhead production and forage yield. Weed Technol 27:3440 Google Scholar
Smith, H, Whitelam, GC (1997) The shade avoidance syndrome: multiple responses mediated by multiple phytochromes. Plant Cell Environ 20: 840844 Google Scholar
Stuedemann, JA, Hoveland, CS (1988) Fescue endophyte: history and impact on animal agriculture. J Prod Agric 1:3944 Google Scholar
Turner, KE, Paterson, JA, Kerley, MS, Forwood, JR (1990) Mefluidide treatment of tall fescue pastures: forage quality. J Anim Sci 68:34063411 Google Scholar
West, CP, Izekor, E, Turner, KE, Elmi, AA (1993) Endophyte effects on growth and persistence of tall fescue along a water supply gradient. Agron J 85:264270 Google Scholar
Witt, WW (2009) Tall fescue seed head suppression with metsulfuron plus aminopyralid. Page 152 in Proceedings of the 49th Annual Meeting of the Weed Science Society of America. Lawrence, KS: Weed Science Society of America Google Scholar