Field studies were conducted from 2003 through 2006 to evaluate bundleflower tolerance to several postemergence (POST) herbicides commonly used in pastures. All herbicides except imazapic, metsulfuron, and 2,4-DB injured bundleflower at least 88% when rated 4 wk after treatment (WAT). When rated 8 WAT, metsulfuron, picloram, and picloram plus 2,4-D injured bundleflower greater than 90%. Imazapic stunted bundleflower (10 to 35% injury) throughout the growing season. When rated 52 WAT, dicamba plus 2,4-D, picloram alone, and picloram plus 2,4-D injured bundleflower at least 97% in one of two years. Emergence of bundleflower with picloram-containing treatments ranged from 16 to 67% of the nontreated control, whereas emergence after dicamba-containing treatments ranged from 67 to 97%.

The annual Southern Weed Contest has been a valuable asset for training graduate students in the applied aspects of weed science since its inception in 1980. Recently, participation in the contest has declined, which spurred the need to assess the contest's utility. Past participants in the contest from 1980 through 2004 were surveyed (1) to determine their perception of the importance, impact, and need for a weed contest activity in the southern region; and (2) to determine whether participation in the contest is contingent upon availability of study material resources and level of emphasis placed on the contest at each university. A total of 88 of 134 electronic surveys was returned, with at least 1 survey from each of the 14 universities in the southern region. Most participants (93%) expressed having had a pleasurable experience in the contest. Fifty-five percent of the respondents indicated that the contest either “increased” or “may have increased” their employment opportunities. Ninety-two percent of the respondents indicated that they had access to “excellent” or “adequate” resources to prepare for the contest. Ninety-eight percent of the respondents felt that the contest is still needed. Faculty involvement in student preparation was closely linked to team performance in the contest. There were numerous ideas put forth to increase participation along with ways to make the contest more interesting and relevant with the changing times. With less than 25% of the graduate students in the southern region competing in the contest for the last 3 years, there is obviously a disconnect between the apparent benefits of participation and the number of students taking advantage of it. However, participation alone without preparation does little to instill within students the confidence and knowledge necessary to make the contest an enjoyable experience. Ultimately, the future of the Southern Weed Contest rests on weed science faculty involvement from each university in the southern region and on recruitment of graduate students.

Voucher specimens and herbarium collections provide the foundation for many aspects of research in the plant sciences. Available for study and verification by contemporary and future workers, voucher specimens promote reproducibility in scientific method because permanent records document identification, distribution, and interspecific and intraspecific variation of species. The utility and importance of voucher specimens and herbarium collections in supporting research in weed science are discussed, and the collection, preparation, documentation, storage, and shipment of voucher specimens are detailed.

Autoradiography is a radioisotope-based technique that allows absorbed and translocated herbicide to be visualized. Autoradiographs are traditionally produced with X-ray film and exposure times of several weeks. Phosphorescence imaging (PI) was investigated as an alternative autoradiography procedure. Smallflower morningglory plants were root-exposed to a series of 14C-atrazine concentrations, producing a series of increasing foliar radioactivity concentrations (i.e., dosage) that ranged from marginal to excessive with respect to autoradiography. Autoradiographs were subsequently produced from these 14C-atrazine-dosed plants using both the X-ray film and the PI technique. Autoradiographs from both techniques were of excellent quality and nearly identical when the dosage was ∼20 to 70 Bq/mg. However, PI produces an acceptable image in dosages either above or below this optimum range. A 1-d exposure time was sufficient with PI, and longer exposure times were not detrimental to image quality. In contrast, a 3-wk exposure time was required with X-ray film. Autoradiographs of selected herbicides are presented to further demonstrate the utility of PI.