Methiozolin is an isoxazoline herbicide that selectively controls annual bluegrass in cool-season turf and may control roughstalk bluegrass, another weedy Poa species that is problematic in many turfgrass systems. However, the majority of research to date is limited to evaluating methiozolin efficacy for annual bluegrass control in creeping bentgrass putting greens. Research was conducted comparing various application regimes of methiozolin and other herbicides for long-term roughstalk bluegrass control in creeping bentgrass golf fairways. Methiozolin-only treatments did not injure creeping bentgrass or reduce normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI) at 2 golf course locations based on 20 evaluation dates over a 2.5-yr period. The 2.5-yr average turf quality generally declined as roughstalk bluegrass control increased due to transient turf cover loss. At 1 yr after last treatment, methiozolin at 1500 g ai ha-1 applied four times in fall reduced roughstalk bluegrass cover 85%. This was equivalent to methiozolin at 1000 g ha-1 applied four times in fall, but greater than low rates of methiozolin applied four times in spring or twice in fall and spring. Amicarbazone, primisulfuron, and bispyribac-sodium alone either did not effectively reduce roughstalk bluegrass cover, or did so at the expense of increased creeping bentgrass injury. Results of this study suggest that methiozolin alone or tank-mixed with amicarbazone or primisulfuron is an effective long-term approach for selectively controlling roughstalk bluegrass in creeping bentgrass.

Two separate experiments were conducted in 2015 and 2016 in Citra, FL to investigate the effects of preplant application timing of 2,4-D and dicamba on sesame stand and yield. Nonlinear regression analysis was performed to determine the application timing that caused 10% stand or yield reduction (GR10) compared to the nontreated control (NTC) and expressed as d before planting (DBP; longer intervals indicate more injury). Likewise, regression analysis was used to determine sesame stand that resulted in 10% yield reduction (YR10) expressed as plants m−1 row. Stand measured 3 wk after planting (WAP) revealed 2,4-D applied at 0.53 kg ae ha−1 to be the least injurious treatment to sesame stand (GR10=6.4 DBP). Conversely, dicamba at 1.12 kg ha−1 produced a GR10 of 15.7 DBP for sesame stand at 3 WAP. 2,4-D applied at 0.53 and 1.06 kg ha−1 and dicamba applied at 0.56 kg ha−1 had the lowest GR10 for yield of 2, 3.7, and 3 DBP, respectively. Dicamba applied at 1.12 kg ha−1 proved to be the most injurious treatment to yield, which produced a GR10 value of 10.3 DBP. To simulate possible stand losses associated with dicamba or 2,4-D and the subsequent effect on yield, a separate experiment was conducted in which sesame was thinned to various plant densities and yield was recorded to determine the relationship between plant stand and seed yield. The regression analysis of these data was then compared to that of the experiment treated with 2,4-D and dicamba to separate any physiological effects of the herbicides that would lead to yield reduction from yield effects due to stand loss only. Rate constants were compared and no statistical differences were detected between herbicide and non-herbicide treatments, suggesting that yield reductions that occur from preplant applications of 2,4-D and dicamba were purely due to stand reductions.

Broadleaves, grasses, and nutsedge species are persistent problems with limited management options for strawberry growers in Florida. Field experiments were conducted in 2015-2016 (year 1) and 2016-2017 (year 2) at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Balm, FL, to evaluate weed control and strawberry tolerance to herbicides applied through the drip irrigation. 2940 g ai ha-1 EPTC, 105 g ai ha-1 flumioxazin, 570 g ai ha-1 fomesafen, 52 g ai ha-1 halosulfuron, 3585 g ai ha-1 napropamide, oxyfluorfen 560 g ai ha-1, and 1070 g ai ha-1S-metolachlor were applied through a single drip tape at 7 or 14 d prior to transplanting. Halosulfuron was the most injurious herbicide, causing 18 and 46% injury at 35 d after transplanting (DATP) in year 1 when the herbicide was applied 7 and 14 d prior to transplanting, respectively. However, strawberry plants recovered from the initial injury and there was no reduction in total berry yield. None of the other herbicides evaluated elicited significant crop injury nor reduced berry yield. Averaged over application timings, EPTC, fomesafen, and napropamide suppressed yellow nutsedge emergence to 49, 64, and 41% of the nontreated control, respectively. Flumioxazin, fomesafen, and halosulfuron suppressed black medic emergence to 55, 52, and 55% of the nontreated control, respectively. None of the herbicides evaluated adequately suppressed Carolina geranium. Overall, results suggest that the evaluated herbicides with the exception of halosulfuron are safe for use on strawberry and would give growers an alternative management option. Drip-applied herbicides permit application closer to the transplant date and would be helpful as part of a weed control program for weed suppression.

Poor annual bluegrass control was reported in golf course roughs following treatment with prodiamine (1120 gaiha−1) and glyphosate (840 gaeha−1) during hybrid bermudagrass dormancy. Research was conducted to determine if this annual bluegrass phenotype was resistant to both prodiamine and glyphosate and to determine the efficacy of herbicide mixtures for controlling this phenotype in the field. In PRE or POST dose-response experiments, 9 to 31 times more prodiamine or glyphosate was needed to control (or reduce dry biomass of) this resistant phenotype by 50% compared to an herbicide-susceptible phenotype. Moreover, glyphosate-susceptible plants accumulated 50% more shikimic acid (898 mgkg−1) 6 d after treatment than those resistant to glyphosate (394 mgkg−1). October (fall) applications of herbicide mixtures containing trifloxysulfuron, simazine, S-metolachlor, or mesotrione controlled this resistant annual bluegrass phenotype 84 to 98% in April (spring), with no differences detected among treatments. Our findings document the second instance of annual bluegrass evolving multiple resistance in a managed turfgrass system. However, several herbicide mixtures can be used to effectively manage this resistant phenotype.

Field studies were conducted to determine the effect of metam sodium and S-metolachlor applied through drip irrigation on yellow nutsedge, common purslane, bell pepper, and tomato (injury and yield) in plasticulture. Treatments consisted of weed-free, weedy, S-metolachlor alone at 0.85 kg ha-1, methyl bromide, metam sodium (43, 86, 176, and 358 kg ai ha–1) alone, and metam sodium (43, 86, 176, and 358 kg ai ha–1) followed by S-metolachlor at 0.85 kg ha–1. Metam sodium and S-metolachlor was applied preplant 2 wk before and 2 wk after transplanting (WAT) through drip irrigation, respectively. No injury was observed to bell pepper and tomato from metam sodium alone, or metam sodium fb S-metolachlor treatments. With the exception of yellow nutsedge density 15 WAT in bell pepper, herbicide program did not influence yellow nutsedge and common purslane density at 4 and 6 WAT and bell pepper and tomato yield. At 15 WAT, yellow nutsedge density was lower in treatments that received metam sodium fb S-metolachlor compared to those treatments that only received metam sodium. Drip-applied metam sodium at 176 and 358 kg ha–1 in both bell pepper and tomato provided similar control of common purslane, and yellow nutsedge, produced comparable yields, and failed to elicit any negative crop growth responses when compared to MeBr. In conclusion, metam sodium at 176 and 358 kg ha–1 fb S-metolachlor 0.85 kg ha–1 is an effective MeBr alternative for season long weed control in plasticulture bell pepper and tomato.

The citrus yield in Brazil is not ranked among the best in the world, potentially due to inadequate management by citrus growers. The low adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) techniques and the improper application of herbicides are also well-known problems. Thus, this study evaluated the use of CA techniques, and two Urochloa species (ruzi grass and signal grass) were used as cover crops. Two different types of mowers (ecological, EM; conventional, CM) launched the mowed biomass into different positions within a young Tahiti acid lime orchard (up to four years old). In addition, the integration of glyphosate into this management system was evaluated, with (GLY) and without (NO GLY) glyphosate application. This experiment was conducted across three growing seasons (2011-2014), in Mogi Mirim, São Paulo State, Brazil. The cover crop biomass yields and the effects of the mowing treatments, weed density, vegetative growth and fruit yields of the Tahiti acid lime trees were evaluated. In terms of major results, signal grass produced higher biomass yield values (up to 64%) than ruzi grass; EM promoted higher mowed biomass values in the intra-row (up to 5.1 ton ha−1, 9.0 times higher than CM), and a higher canopy volume (up to 33% than CM). These results were enhanced when ruzi grass was associated with the EM (56% lower weed density; 126% higher fruit yield than CM) and with GLY (52% higher fruit yield than NO GLY); and EM with GLY (43% lesser weed density and 107% higher fruit yield than NO GLY). Overall, ruzi grass was a good cover crop because it provided less competition for the citrus trees, EM provided a mulch layer in the intra-row of the citrus trees, and associated with GLY, these approaches could provide options for an integrated and more sustainable weed management, primarily for young Tahiti acid lime orchards.

Vaseygrass is an invasive, perennial C4-grass commonly found on roadsides in areas with poorly drained soils. Due to its upright growth habit and seedhead production, vaseygrass can impair motorist sightlines and subsequently, require increased management inputs to maintain vegetation at an acceptable height. Two field experiments were conducted from 2012 to 2015 on North Carolina roadsides to evaluate the effect of mowing and mowing timing with respect to applications of various herbicides on vaseygrass control. Both experiments evaluated clethodim (280 g ai ha–1), foramsulfuron+halosulfuron+thiencarbazone-methyl (44+69+22 g ai ha−1), imazapic (140 g ai ha−1), metsulfuron+nicosulfuron (16+59 g ai ha−1), and sulfosulfuron (105 g ai ha−1) with a nonionic surfactant at 0.25% v/v. Experiment one focused on the effect of mowing (routinely mowed or nonmowed) and herbicide application timing (fall-only, fall-plus-spring, or spring-only), while experiment two focused on pre-herbicide application mowing intervals (6, 4, 3, 2, 1, or 0 wk before treatment [WBT]). From experiment one, routine mowing reduced vaseygrass cover in nontreated plots 55% at 52 wk after fall treatment (WAFT), suggesting this cultural practice should be employed where possible. Additionally, routine mowing and herbicide application season affected herbicide efficacy. Treatments providing >70% vaseygrass cover reduction at 52 WAFT included routinely mowed fall-only clethodim and fall-plus-spring imazapic, and fall-plus-spring metsulfuron+nicosulfuron across mowing regimens. Within clethodim, mowing vaseygrass 2 or 1 WBT resulted in the lowest cover at 40 (1 to 2%) and 52 (4 to 6%) wk after treatment (WAT) compared to other intervals, which aligns with current label vegetation height at treatment recommendation. Vaseygrass persisted across all treatments evaluated through 52 WAT, suggesting eradication of this species will require inputs over multiple growing seasons.

Carinata is a new biofuel crop that was recently introduced in the southeastern USA as a winter crop. This crop is competitive after canopy closure, but there is a need for weed control options at earlier growth stages. Field experiments were conducted from 2014 to 2016 to determine the safety of several PRE and POST herbicides in carinata. Pendimethalin at 1080 g ai ha−1 applied preplant incorporated (PPI) and PRE caused no carinata injury, or plant density and yield reductions. S-metolachlor was also safe at 694, 1070, 1390, and 2780 g ai ha−1 applied at PRE, 3 d after planting (DAP) and at the 2- to 6-leaf stage. Flumioxazin at 72 g ai ha−1 applied PRE was highly injurious on carinata preventing its establishment. Among the POST herbicides evaluated, clopyralid at 210 g ae ha1 and clethodim at 136 g ai ha−1 caused minor injury to carinata but did not reduce yield compared to the nontreated control. Acifluorfen at 420 g ai ha−1, bentazon at 840 g ai ha−1, and carfentrazone at 18 g ai ha−1 applied POST to carinata caused 75 to 100% injury. Under stressful conditions (i.e. high summer temperatures) all POST herbicides caused more injury than under more favorable conditions for growth in Florida (i.e. winter). The present study identified pendimethalin, S-metolachlor, clopyralid and clethodim as potential herbicides for weed control in carinata, and flumioxazin, acifluorfen, bentazon, and carfentrazone as herbicides that can be used to control volunteer carinata plants in rotational crops.

Field experiments were conducted at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, OH in 2002 and 2004 to evaluate the tolerance of tomato varieties to halosulfuron-methyl, a selective herbicide used for POST control of broadleaf weeds and nutsedge (Cyperus). POST herbicide treatments included halosulfuron-methyl at 0, 34.7 and 70 gaiha−1. Plots were evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 wk after treatment (WAT), and yield was recorded at the end of the season. Minimal crop injury was observed 1 and 3 WAT in plots treated with both halosulfuron-methyl rates only in 2002. Although the crop recovered from herbicide injury when treated with the lower rate at 6 WAT, ‘Ohio 8245’, ‘M82’, and ‘E6203’ showed injury at this interval when treated with halosulfuron-methyl at 70 g ha−1. No injury was observed with either rates in 2004. No significant yield reduction was observed in any of the varieties in the test plots. These results indicate that differential tolerance to halosulfuron-methyl does not exists among these tomato varieties with the exception of E6203 and M82.

With the release of dicamba-resistant crops, it is necessary to understand how technical and environmental conditions affect the application of dicamba. This study sought to evaluate drift from dicamba applications through flat-fan nozzles, under several wind speeds in a wind tunnel. Dicamba applications were performed through two standard (XR and TT) and two air induction (AIXR and TTI) 110015 nozzles at 0.9, 2.2, 3.6 and 4.9 ms−1 wind speeds. The applications were made at 276 kPa pressure and the dicamba rate was 561 g ae ha-1. The droplet spectrum was measured using a laser diffraction system. Artificial targets were used as drift collectors, positioned in a wind tunnel from 2 to 12 m downwind from the nozzles. Drift potential was determined using a fluorescent tracer added to solutions, quantified by fluorimetry. The air induction TTI nozzle produced the lowest percentage of dicamba drift at 2.2, 3.6 and 4.9 ms−1 wind speeds at all distances. Dicamba spray drift from XR, TT and AIXR nozzles increased exponentially as wind speed increased, whereas from TTI nozzle drift increased linearly as wind speed increased. Drift did not increase linearly as the volume percentage of droplets smaller than 100 µm and wind speed increased.

2,4-dimethylamine salt (2,4-D) is a selective broadleaf herbicide commonly applied to turfgrass systems, including athletic fields, which can dislodge from treated vegetation. Building on previous research confirming 2,4-D dislodgeability is affected by management inputs, field research was initiated in 2014 and 2015 in North Carolina and Tennessee to quantify the effects of sprayer setup on dislodgeable 2,4-D foliar residue from hybrid bermudagrass, which is the most common athletic field playing surface in subtropical and tropical climates. More specifically, research evaluated dislodgeable 2,4-D foliar residue following spray applications (2.1 kg ae ha−1) at varying carrier volumes (187, 374, or 748 L ha−1) and nozzles delivering varying droplet sizes (fine=extended range [XR], coarse=drift guard, or extra coarse=air induction extended range [AIXR]). Overall, data suggest minimal 2,4-D dislodge occurs via soccer ball roll (3.6 m) outside the day of application; however, increasing carrier volume and droplet size can further decrease dislodgeable 2,4-D foliar residue. At 2 d after treatment (DAT), 3.87% of applied 2,4-D dislodged when applied at 187 L ha−1 compared to 2.05% at 748 L ha−1. Pooled over data from 1 to 6 DAT, 1.59% of applied 2,4-D dislodged following XR nozzle application compared to 1.13% with AIXR nozzle. While these are small numerical differences, dislodgeable residue was measured via one soccer ball roll, which is a repeated process within the sport and the additive effect of sprayer setup treatments can be employed by turfgrass managers to reduce potential human 2,4-D human exposure.

To evaluate the weed control provided by various combinations of PRE applications of napropamide (Nap) and POST applications of mesotrione (Mes) in newly planted and 1-yr-old cranberry vines, six 2-yr experiments were conducted during 2009-2012. Three sites were treated in the year of planting plus the subsequent year (called “new plantings”) and three sites were treated in their second year of growth plus the subsequent year (called “second-year plantings”). Ten treatments, delivered in 3,735 L ha−1 water, were administered each year: Nap at 3.36 kg ai ha−1 applied once, twice, thrice or once followed by (fb) one application of Mes at 210 g ai ha−1; Nap at 5.04 kg ha−1applied once, twice or once fb one application of Mes at 210 g ha−1; Mes at 210 g ha−1 applied once or twice; and nontreated. At new planting sites, plots receiving treatments other than a single Nap application had less total weed biomass compared to nontreated plots. At second-year plantings, all herbicide-treated plots had less total weed biomass than nontreated plots; in addition, plots receiving Mes-only treatments had less total weed biomass than Nap-only treatments. Correlation analysis indicated that monocot biomass production was the primary positive predictor for total weed biomass. Herbicides did not adversely affect cranberry biomass production but overall vine colonization was poor for four of the six sites indicating that other factors, including cultivar choice, planting method, and water management, may play a larger role in rapid cranberry vine colonization than the suppression of initial weed biomass. Given the complementary range of efficacy for Nap and Mes, a combination PRE-POST herbicide program of a low rate of Nap fb Mes may be the most cost-beneficial program in many instances. If cost is a limiting factor, applying a single application of Mes to a new planting should be included as a component of cranberry bed establishment since this practice consistently resulted in significantly less initial weed biomass compared to areas left nontreated.

Field studies were conducted in 2009 at Clinton, NC and 2014 at Pontotoc, MS to determine the influence of simulated glyphosate drip on sweetpotato yield and quality. Treatments consisted of three glyphosate solution (140 g ae L–1) drip volumes (0.16, 0.32 and 0.48 ml) by four application timings [(4 wk after transplanting (WAP); 6 WAP; 8 WAP; and 4 WAP followed by (fb) 6 WAP fb 8 WAP]. A non-treated check was included for comparison. Visual sweetpotato injury consisted of chlorosis at the shoot tips approximately 1 wk after treatment fb necrosis and stunting. At 6 WAP and 8 WAP, sweetpotato injury following glyphosate applied 4 WAP was 71 and 65%, respectively. Injury from glyphosate applied 4 WAP fb 6 WAP was 78%. Injury from glyphosate applied 6 WAP was 26% at 8 WAP. In 2009, jumbo, no. 1, canner, and marketable yield of the non-treated check were two to three times greater than glyphosate treatments (0.16, 0.32, 0.48 ml). Likewise, yield of the non-treated check was substantially greater than those treated with 0.16 to 0.48 ml glyphosate solution in 2014. In 2009 and 2014, sweetpotato yield of all grades increased as glyphosate application timing was delayed. In 2009, no. 1 yield from glyphosate 8 WAP (8,210 kg ha–1) was similar to the non-treated check. In 2009, there were no cracked storage roots in the non-treated check. However, sweetpotatoes receiving 0.16 to 0.48 ml glyphosate solution displayed 8 to 17%, 11 to 18%, 5 to 13%, and 11 to 16% cracking (by weight) in jumbo, no. 1, canner, and marketable storage roots, respectively. Compared to the non-treated check, glyphosate applied 4 WAP, 6 WAP, or 4 WAP fb 6 WAP fb 8 WAP had a greater percentage of cracked marketable sweetpotato storage roots.

Oregon’s Willamette Valley is the major cool-season, grass-seed-production area in the world. Roughstalk bluegrass (RB) is a weed in waterlogged, grass-seed-crop fields. Growth chamber and greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the influence of waterlogging on the germination and establishment of RB and tall fescue (TF). Oxygen deficiency resulted in a germination delay in both species, but was greater for TF. Oxygen deficiency at 20 and 30 C was greater for TF compared to RB. Simulated waterlogging for 28 d reduced aboveground biomass more for RB (58%) than for TF (46%), but did not influence seedling survival. Compared to TF, the influence of waterlogging on RB was greater during early establishment. These responses may help RB maintain its germination rate while reducing the damage caused by the accumulation of toxic fermentation-metabolites during waterlogging which benefits RB in competition with TF, especially under high temperatures.

Field studies were conducted in 2014 and 2015 at Pontotoc, MS to evaluate combinations of metam-potassium and S-metolachlor for yellow nutsedge control and sweetpotato crop response. Treatments consisted of a factorial of five metam-potassium rates (0, 149, 261, 372, and 484 kgha−1) by three S-metolachlor rates (0, 0.80, and 1.34 kgha−1). Additionally, a hand-weeded check was included for comparison. Crop injury was limited to ≤4% at 4 weeks after transplanting (WAP) and was transient. At 2 WAP yellow nutsedge control was 58, 74, and 76% in plots treated with S-metolachlor at 0, 0.80, and 1.34 kgha−1, respectively. Nutsedge control in all treatments decreased from 2 to 15 WAP. At 15 WAP, S-metolachlor at 0, 0.80, and 1.34 kg ha−1 provided 35, 68, and 70% yellow nutsedge control, respectively. Metam-potassium rate did not influence yellow nutsedge control after transplanting. Sweetpotato yields in the hand-weeded check were 4,640; 22,180; 7,180; 34,000; and 1,360 kgha−1 for jumbo, no. 1, canner, marketable, and cull grades, respectively. S-metolachlor applied at either 0.80 or 1.34 kgha−1 provided jumbo, no. 1, and marketable sweetpotato yields equivalent to the hand-weeded check. Canner and cull yields were not influenced by S-metolachlor rate. Metam-potassium rates used in the present study resulted in yields equal to or greater than the hand-weeded check.

Field experiments were conducted in 2008 and 2010 to determine crop tolerance and weed control efficacy of the POST herbicides bentazon, flumioxazin, and oxyfluorfen applied to direct-seeded dry bulb onions on organic soil. Postemergence application of oxyfluorfen at 0.071 kg ai ha−1 resulted in less than 20% onion injury when applied at the 2 and 4 onion leaf stages and provided good control of ladysthumb and common lambsquarters. Oxyfluorfen EC caused slightly higher visual injury than oxyfluorfen SC, but there was no difference in onion yield among the treatments. Application of flumioxazin at 0.036 of 0.072 kg ai ha−1 alone or in combination with pendimethalin ACS resulted in minimal onion injury and no yield reduction. Combining flumioxazin in a tank mix with pendimethalin EC, dimethenamid-P EC, or S-metolachlor EC resulted in significant onion injury and yield reduction. Flumioxazin plus S-metolachlor, dimethenamid-P, or pendimethalin improved ladysthumb control in one of two years. Bentazon applied at 0.56 kg ai ha−1 produced moderate onion injury and did not control yellow nutsedge adequately. Bentazon applied at 1.12 kg ai ha−1 provided good control of yellow nutsedge but caused serious onion injury and yield loss.

Turfgrass managers currently have few readily available means of evaluating herbicide resistance in annual bluegrass during the growing season. Research was conducted to determine if agar-based diagnostic tests developed for agronomic weeds could be used to reliably confirm herbicide resistance in annual bluegrass harvested from golf course turf. Annual bluegrass phenotypes with target-site resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS; R3, R7), enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS; R5), and photosystem II (PSII; R3, R4) inhibiting herbicides were included in experiments along with an herbicidal susceptible phenotype (S). Single tiller plants were washed free of soil and transplanted into autoclavable polycarbonate plant culture boxes filled with plant tissue culture agar amended with a murashigee-skoog medium and trifloxysulfuron (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 75, 100, or 150 μM), glyphosate (0, 6, 12, 25, 50, 100, 200, or 400 μM), or simazine (0, 6, 12, 25, 50, 100, 200, or 400 μM). Mortality in agar was assessed 7 to 10 days after treatment (depending on herbicide) and compared to responses observed after treating individual plants of each phenotype with trifloxysulfuron (28 g ai ha-1), glyphosate (1120 g ae ha-1), or simazine (1120 g ai ha-1) in an enclosed spray chamber. Fisher’s exact test (α = 0.05) determined that mortality in agar with 12.5 μM trifloxysulfuron and 100 μM glyphosate was not significantly different than treating whole plants via traditional spray application. Mortality with all concentrations of simazine in agar was significantly different than that observed after treating resistant and susceptible phenotypes via traditional spray application. Our findings indicate that an agar-based diagnostic assay can be used to detect annual bluegrass resistance to ALS- or EPSPS-inhibiting herbicides in less than 10 days; however, additional research is needed to refine this assay for use with PSII-inhibiting herbicides.

Prodiamine is a dinitroaniline herbicide labeled for PRE control of goosegrass in warm- and cool-season turfgrass. In 2013, several golf course roughs in Maryville, TN reported poor goosegrass control (< 20%) following prodiamine treatment at 1,120 g ai ha-1. We harvested suspected prodiamine-resistant (PR) and prodiamine-susceptible (S) goosegrass phenotypes from the field and exposed them to a range of increasing prodiamine concentrations in hydroponic culture. Exposure to prodiamine at 0.001 mM reduced root growth of the S phenotype to 11% of the non-treated check. By comparison, exposure to 0.001 mM prodiamine had minimal effect on the PR phenotype, as root growth was 94% of the non-treated check. Molecular analyses revealed that PR plants contained a threonine (Thr) to isoleucine (Ile) substitution at position 239 on the α-tubulin 1 (TUA1) protein. The substitution, found in all PR plants, is the mechanism of prodiamine resistance in this phenotype. In field studies, topramezone controlled PR goosegrass 72% to 89% by 50 d after treatment (DAT) compared to only 22% to 23% for foramsulfuron. Topramezone treatment injured bermudagrass 34% to 60% from 7 to 14 DAT; however, injury was≤6% 28 DAT and 0% by the end of the study. Our results indicate that POST applications of topramezone can control dinitroaniline-resistant goosegrass. In addition, we established an easy-to-use genotyping assay to quickly screen goosegrass phenotypes for a target-site mutation (Thr-239-Ile) on TUA1 associated with resistance to dinitroaniline herbicides such as prodiamine. Future research should work to expand this assay for use with other weed species and herbicidal modes of action.

The duration of the soil activity of an acetolactate synthase-(ALS) inhibiting herbicide which is currently under approval for sugar beet cultivation was determined in a field trial series in Germany in 2013 and 2014. The herbicide containing foramsulfuron (FSN; 50 g L−1) and thiencarbazone-methyl (TCM; 30 g L−1) was applied in different dosages (25+15, 37.5+22.5 and 50+30 g FSN+TCM ha−1) to the bare soil. Five weed species (rapeseed, common lambsquarters, wild chamomile, blackgrass, barnyardgrass) were sown at 5, 10, 15 and 20d after application. The duration of the soil activity was assessed by determining percent weed control in the treated plots. The longest duration was observed after applying 50+30 g FSN+TCM ha−1, but the influence of environment was much stronger than the dosage effect. The mean duration of soil activity was 10 to 15 d in 2013 and longer than 20 d in 2014. Differences among weed species in their response to the herbicide treatments were small.

Weed management in the organic Vidalia® sweet onion production system is largely dependent on multiple cultivations with a tine weeder. Earlier research suggested cultivation with a tine weeder did not predispose onion bulbs to infection during storage. Trials were conducted from 2012 through 2014 near Lyons, GA, to determine the interactive effects of cultivation, weed removal, and a biofungicide on weed densities, onion yield, grade, and diseases of stored onion. Cultivation twice or four times at biweekly intervals with a tine weeder reduced densities of cutleaf evening-primrose, lesser swinecress, and henbit compared with the noncultivated control, although weeds surviving cultivation were very large and mature at harvest. Cultivation generally improved onion yields over the noncultivated control, except in 2014, when baseline weed densities were high and weeds surviving cultivation were numerous. Weeds removed by hand weeding improved onion yields, but that effect was independent of cultivation. Four applications of a biofungicide derived from giant knotweed had no effect on onion yield. Cultivation had no effect on incidence of the fungal disease botrytis neck rot, with inconsistent effects on the bacterial diseases center rot and sour skin. Weed removal with hand weeding did not affect diseases of stored onion. The biofungicide had no effect on diseases of stored onion. These results demonstrate the limitations of cultivation when cool-season weed infestations are dense. With no interactions among main effects, weed control and onion yield response to cultivation and hand weeding are independent. Cultivation for weed control is much less costly than hand weeding. With no interaction between the cultivation and weed removal main effects, it is not necessary to supplement tine weeder cultivation with costly hand weeding.