Field experiments were conducted in 1992 to 1993 and in 1995 to 1996 in Ibadan, Nigeria, to assess the effect of velvetbean and herbicides on maize (corn) and cogongrass growth and to assess regrowth of the weed 1 yr after treatment. In 1992 and 1995 cover cropping with velvetbean and imazapyr and glyphosate application reduced cogongrass density as much as the handweeded control. The smothering effect of velvetbean was equivalent to that of glyphosate at 1.8 kg/ha but was less than imazapyr even at the lowest rate of 0.5 kg/ha. Addition of adjuvant did not improve the efficacy of either herbicide. Maize grain yield was higher in velvetbean plots than in fallow plots dominated by cogongrass. Velvetbean and herbicide effects on cogongrass 1 yr later (1993 and 1996) followed a similar trend as observed in the year of application. Annual weed density was highest in glyphosate plots, followed by imazapyr, and least in plots previously seeded to velvetbean. Maize grain yield was higher in herbicide plots (average yield of 3,170 and 1,920 kg/ha in 1993 and 1996, respectively) than in velvetbean plots (2,800 to 1,180 kg/ha in 1993 and 1996, respectively) and handweeded plots (2,890 and 723 kg/ha in 1993 and 1996, respectively). In 1996 the lowest maize yield was in handweeded plots without velvetbean, suggesting that weeding four times suppressed cogongrass density and biomass, but was not sufficient to minimize the subsequent competition from annual weeds. Uncontrolled cogongrass reduced maize yield to zero. These studies suggest that planting velvetbean for cogongrass control may be a better alternative for farmers without the resources to purchase herbicides.

A field study was conducted in 1994 and 1995 to determine the efficacy of MON 12037 on purple nutsedge in a bermudagrass turf. The percentage of bermudagrass infested with purple nutsedge following a single application of MON 12037 decreased from 60 to 30% at 18 g ai/ha and to approximately 20% at 36, 54, and 72 g/ha. Regrowth of purple nutsedge occurred between 28 and 55 d after treatment (DAT) and was greatest at 18 g/ha. A second application of MON 12037 reduced purple nutsedge percent infestation similarly to one application. Tuber weight and number were not affected by either one or two applications of MON 12037; however, tuber viability decreased after two applications. These results suggest that when using MON 12037, a program of several years duration may be required to successfully manage purple nutsedge in a bermudagrass turf because viable tubers persist following two applications of MON 12037 in a season.

Legislatively mandated reductions in open field burning have increased grass seed growers reliance on herbicides to control seedling grasses in established stands of perennial species. In nonburned fields, a dense flush of seedling weeds and volunteer crop emerges with the onset of fall rains, and additional germination of some species occurs throughout the fall, winter, and spring. Because rainfall patterns in western Oregon are erratic during late summer and early fall, the choice of when to apply preemergence herbicides is difficult. Herbicides applied too early may dissipate before the rains arrive, whereas herbicides applied too late may not prevent germination and seedling establishment. Pendimethalin was least affected by a 3- to 4-wk exposure on dry soil waiting for rain, followed in order of increasing sensitivity by oxyfluorfen, metolachlor, and trifluralin. Most treatments controlled California brome less effectively than perennial ryegrass. Duration of 85% or greater control of subsequently oversown perennial ryegrass averaged 69 d for 2.2 kg/ha pendimethalin, 11 d for 0.42 kg/ha oxyfluorfen, and 4 d for 2.2 kg/ha metolachlor, and duration of 50% or greater control averaged 98, 33, and 18 d for the same treatments. Doubling of herbicide rates doubled the duration of control in 15 out of 27 cases but increased the duration only an average of 75% in the other 12 cases. Average time to doubling of weed populations over those occurring when herbicides and weed seeds were applied on the same day was 12, 10, and 11 d after application for pendimethalin, oxyfluorfen, and metolachlor, respectively. The similarity of these periods suggests that the major difference in performance of these herbicides with time was how close to complete control they had initially achieved. Pendimethalin was the superior preemergence herbicide for controlling California brome and perennial ryegrass in these established stands, but oxyfluorfen and metolachlor also were useful if applied near germination.

Phoma herbarum was evaluated as a potential biological control agent for dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) in turf. A preliminary controlled environment study identified selected adjuvants that enhanced disease severity by P. herbarum. Subsequently, these adjuvants were evaluated for disease enhancement under field conditions. Adjuvants evaluated included gluten flour, liposome, guar gum from ground guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), durum (Triticum durum), and pectin. Regression analysis revealed a significant (P = 0.05) increase in disease severity by P. herbarum when formulated with gluten Hour, guar gum, or durum semolina compared to treatment with 20% mycelium in potato (Solanum tuberosum) dextrose broth (PDB) alone. No phytotoxicity to dandelion was observed among the adjuvant controls.

Mature seed samples from 35 populations of Echinochloa were collected in fields of the Eastern Iberian Peninsula and evaluated for nine morphologic traits. Four kernels per population were separately assayed for four isozyme systems. Genetic variability components were studied by correspondence analysis and chi-square distance using the isozyme pattern as variables. Genetic uniformity was found within populations as would be expected from their autogamous mating system. Intraspecific isozyme variability covered a wide spectrum, from none in E. colonum to very high in E. oryzoides. All the populations of E. colonum clustered together based on morphometric and isozymatic characters, and also those of E. oryzicola, but were distinct from the populations of all other species. Populations of E. crus-galli, E. hispidula, and E. oryzoides clustered within species based on morphology, but did not cluster based on isozymatic characters, being mixed in the isozymatic dendrogram. Our results support the hypothesis that E. hispidula and E. oryzoides are infraspecific taxa of E. crus-galli. The large between-population genetic variability may explain the differential response to herbicides within a given species and indicate that weed specialists should study the differences in response to a wide spectrum of Echinochloa populations to several herbicides instead of testing many plants from a small number of populations.

Field experiments were conducted at one location in Georgia (1994) and at two locations in Alabama (1994 and 1995) to evaluate the effects of MSMA or DSMA plus pyrithiobac applied postemergence (POST) in cotton. Pyrithiobac at 0.07 kg ai/ha was applied POST alone or in combination with MSMA at 1.1 kg ai/ha or DSMA at 1.7 kg ai/ha at the pinhead square stage of cotton growth. Cotton was tolerant to the POST applications of pyrithiobac. Adding MSMA or DSMA to pyrithiobac injured cotton similar to MSMA or DSMA applied alone. Plant mapping data indicated that all treatments had no effect on height : node ratio, reproductive or vegetative node production, or square retention at the first or second fruiting position. Cotton maturity response to MSMA and DSMA ranged from no effect to delayed maturity. Adding DSMA to pyrithiobac increased Florida beggarweed and common cocklebur control over pyrithiobac applied alone in 1995 but did not increase control in 1994. Adding DSMA to pyrithiobac increased sicklepod control over pyrithiobac applied alone in the three site years it was rated in the Alabama tests. Where sicklepod is present, the addition of an arsenical herbicide to pyrithiobac will generally increase control but has the potential to delay maturity and decrease cotton yield equal to the arsenical herbicide applied alone.

Sulfonylurea resistance has been found in Japan, and four of the nine resistant weeds are in the genus Lindernia (Scrophulariaceae). To develop appropriate control methods for these resistant weeds, a rapid method to diagnose sulfonylurea-resistant weeds was improved and applied to common falsepimpernel (L. procumbens), two varieties of low falsepimpernel (L. dubia var. dubia and var. major), and azetogarashi (L. micrantha). Illumination is crucial for diagnosis in Lindernia spp., and treatment with 7.5 or 75 ng ai/ml thifensulfuron-methyl produced clear results.

Field studies were conducted at five locations in North Carolina and Virginia in 1996 and 1997 to evaluate weed control and peanut (Arachis hypogaea) response to diclosulam that was applied preemergence (PRE) and in systems with commercial standards. All plots received a preplant incorporated (PPI) treatment of ethalfluralin at 840 g ai/ha. Diclosulam controlled common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), eclipta (Eclipta prostrata L.), entireleaf morningglory (Ipomoea hederacea var. integriuscula Gray), ivyleaf morningglory [Ipomoea hederacea (L.) Jacq.], pitted morningglory (Ipomoea lacunosa L.), and prickly sida (Sida spinosa L.) as well as and frequently better than the commercial standards of acifluorfen plus bentazon applied postemergence (POST), paraquat plus bentazon early POST followed by (fb) imazapic POST, or imazapic POST. Systems with ethalfluralin PPI plus diclosulam PRE at 26 g ai/ha fb acifluorfen plus bentazon POST controlled a broader spectrum of weeds and yielded greater than systems of ethalfluralin PPI fb imazapic POST or ethalfluralin PPI fb acifluorfen plus bentazon POST. Peanut exhibited excellent tolerance to diclosulam PRE at 17, 26, or 35 g/ha.

Hydroponics and sand culture studies evaluated the effects of isoxaben rate (0.84, 1.69, and 3.39 kg/ha) and application type (root only, shoot only, and root plus shoot) on the growth of ajuga, wintercreeper, and dwarf burning bush. Similar responses were exhibited by the three species tested in both hydroponics and sand culture studies. Based on shoot weight reductions, dwarf burning bush was one to three times more sensitive than wintercreeper, which was the most tolerant of the three species, and ajuga was five to 20 times more sensitive than wintercreeper. Isoxaben applied to the root system at all three rates injured ajuga root tips and foliage and reduced root weight by approximately 40% and shoot weight by 20 to 30%. Isoxaben applications to ajuga foliage damaged the roots and leaves and caused over 30% reductions in shoot and root weights at the highest rate tested. Isoxaben applied to dwarf burning bush roots caused less than 20% shoot injury, reduced root weight by 8 to 18%, and reduced shoot weight by less than 10%. Application to dwarf burning bush foliage caused 20 to 30% injury, but only slight reductions in root and shoot weights were observed. No visible injury was observed in wintercreeper from any isoxaben application. However, root treatment reduced wintercreeper root weight by approximately 15%, and shoot treatment reduced shoot weight by 6 to 10% at the highest isoxaben rate tested. Application of isoxaben to both roots and foliage of wintercreeper resulted in similar reductions in shoot and root weights compared to root or shoot exposure alone. Shoot application to wintercreeper affected root growth, and root treatment reduced shoot growth.

Dithiopyr was applied to ‘Penneagle’ creeping bentgrass seedlings 2, 4, and 8 wk after emergence (WAE) in separate studies in the summers of 1992 and 1993 to determine seedling tolerance. Dithiopyr emulsifiable concentrate (IEC) was applied at 0.14, 0.28, 0.42, and 0.56 kg ai/ha, and granular (G) dithiopyr (0.1G) was applied at 0.14, 0.21, 0.28, and 0.42 kg/ha. Dithiopyr applied 2 WAE caused unacceptable injury regardless of rate or formulation. Injury was characterized by stunting of plants, leaf tip die-back, yellowing of older leaves, and a visible decline in quality. Injury increased with increasing rate. In 1992, the EC and G formulation of dithiopyr caused similar responses, whereas in the summer of 1993, the EC caused greater turf injury. Dithiopyr applied 4 WAE caused less injury than when applied 2 WAE, and injury was acceptable. Dithiopyr applied 8 WAE only slightly injured creeping bentgrass at the high rate for both formulations in both years.

Olive jift is a solid by-product of olive (Olea europea) oil processing. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate olive jift effect on broomrape (Orobanche spp.) infections on three crops. Soil—jift mixtures were used as potting medium in ratios of 1:0, 1:1, and 3:1 soil to jift. Broomrape seeds were evenly incorporated in the potting media at 0, 150, 300, 450, 600, 750, and 900 seeds/kg. Pots planted with faba bean or pea were inoculated with seeds of O. crenata Forsk., whereas pots planted with tomato were inoculated with seeds of O. lavandulacea Reichenb. Jift in soil reduced broomrape germination and infection on all three hosts regardless of inoculation densities. Pea was not infected with broomrape in jift-containing media at any inoculation density, whereas only sporadic broomrape infections were observed in faba bean and tomato grown in jift-mixed soils. Fresh and dry weights of all crops were not adversely affected by mixing jift with soil. These results suggest a possible use of jift as an inexpensive organic material for broomrape control.

Plant characteristics of red rice ecotypes obtained from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, including 11 strawhulled, five blackhulled, two goldhulled, and one brownhulled type, were evaluated under field conditions. Most ecotypes were uniform and stable but manifested considerable genetic variability. Red rice plants had pubescent leaves, were taller with lighter green color, and produced more tillers and panicles per plant than rice cultivars ‘Lemont,’ ‘Mars,’ and ‘Maybelle.’ Most ecotypes were highly susceptible to seed shattering starting about 14 d after anthesis when seed moisture was more than 25%. Seeds of most ecotypes were highly dormant at harvest. Rice cultivars had a larger flag leaf and more total leaf area per plant at anthesis and produced more seeds per panicle than red rice. Some red rice ecotypes had plant characteristics closely related to cultivated rice suggesting natural hybridization with rice.

Field studies at Arlington, WI, and LeSueur, MN, were conducted in 1996 and 1997 to evaluate tolerance of six sweet corn hybrids to RPA 201772 applied preemergence at 79 to 210 g/ha. Both years the most sensitive hybrid at the Wisconsin site was ‘Zenith,’ with yield reductions of 14 and 22% at 210 g/ha (twice the labeled rate). ‘Excellency,’ ‘Green Giant 43,’ and ‘Jubilee’ tolerated RPA 201772 at 158 g/ha or less. The least tolerant hybrids in Minnesota were ‘Green Giant 6′ and Jubilee, and the most tolerant hybrids were Green Giant 43 and ‘Rogers 9056.’ Injury from RPA 201772 increased as application dose increased. The greatest risk of injury from RPA 201772 appear to be with Green Giant 6, Zenith, and Jubilee, especially on coarser textured soils with low organic matter. Excellency, Green Giant 43, and Rogers 9056 appeared to be the most tolerant. Because of the differential hybrid response to RPA 201772 across sites and years, more hybrid response data needs to be generated before RPA 201772 is labeled in sweet corn.

Field studies were conducted in 1996 and 1997 at Belleville and Pawnee, IL, to evaluate single and sequential applications of glufosinate on tolerance of glufosinate-resistant corn and annual weed control. Glufosinate caused 0 to 13% corn injury 7 days after treatment (DAT) and 0 to 6% corn injury 28 DAT. Injury was characterized as stunting with glufosinate. Glufosinate at 400 to 1,200 g ai/ha did not reduce final corn height or grain yield. At Pawnee in both years and at Belleville in 1996, a single application of glufosinate at 400 g/ha controlled giant foxtail, velvetleaf, ivyleaf morningglory, and common lambsquarters 85 to 100%. At Belleville in 1997, sequential applications of glufosinate provided greater weed control (87 to 100%) than a single application (0 to 63%) because of weed emergence after application. Weed control with a single application of glufosinate or with nicosulfuron plus bromoxynil was similar at both locations. Height and grain yield of glufosinate-resistant corn were not different from that of glufosinate-susceptible corn (isoline of glufosinate-resistant corn).

Greenhouse and growth chamber experiments were conducted to evaluate primisulfuron phytotoxicity to downy brome (Bromus tectorum) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) as a function of herbicide placement, adjuvants, and environmental conditions. Primisulfuron rates needed to produce GR50 (50% growth reduction) values were 0.97 ± 0.57 and 8.07 ± 1.85 g/ha for downy brome and Kentucky bluegrass, respectively. Primisulfuron was applied to downy brome and Kentucky bluegrass at three placement sites: foliar, soil, and foliar plus soil. Foliar or foliar plus soil applications were more effective at reducing downy brome dry weights than the soil application of primisulfuron, whereas Kentucky bluegrass was injured more from the soil or foliar plus soil applications than from the foliar application of primisulfuron. Primisulfuron at 5 g/ha applied alone reduced downy brome dry weights by 5%, whereas when an adjuvant was added, dry weights were reduced by 52 to 83%. Primisulfuron was more phytotoxic to downy brome at alternating temperatures of 8 to 16 C and 16 to 24 C than at 0 to 8 C. Phytotoxicity of primisulfuron was less when downy brome plants were stressed for soil moisture after herbicide treatments than when the plants were not stressed or only stressed before treatment.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate sensitivity of red rice ecotypes from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to soil- and foliar-applied herbicides. Ecotype response to herbicides was variable. Molinate at 4.48 kg ai/ha controlled red rice ecotypes 92 to 100% and cultivars ‘Lemont,’ ‘Mars,’ and ‘Maybelle’ 39 to 63%. Red rice control with thiobencarb at 4.48 kg ai/ha was at least 89%. The tank mixture of fenoxaprop at 0.08 kg ai/ha plus fluazifop-P at 0.10 kg ai/ha controlled red rice and rice cultivars more than for either herbicide applied alone. Red rice and rice cultivar control with paraquat at 0.70 kg ai/ha was 83 to 100%. Blackhulled red rice TX 4 was less sensitive to paraquat and glufosinate than other ecotypes and cultivars. Glufosinate at 1.12 kg ai/ha was required to provide at least 94% control of ecotype TX 4.

Reduced-rate herbicide strategies, which rely on treatment of small weed seedlings, are not effective under all situations. The consistency of reduced-rate treatments may be improved by adjustments in application variables. Field experiments were conducted at Kalispell, MT, during 1994 and 1995 to determine the effects of carrier volume on the efficacy of reduced-rate imazamethabenz applications for wild oat control in barley. Imazamethabenz was applied to two- and four-leaf wild oat plants at 0.26 and 0.52 kg ai/ha in carrier volumes of 75, 150, and 225 L/ha. Wild oat control generally increased as carrier volume increased, regardless of imazamethabenz rate or wild oat growth stage. However, increasing carrier volumes had a greater positive effect on wild oat control when imazamethabenz was applied to two-leaf vs. four-leaf wild oat seedlings. Barley yield was most affected by the duration of wild oat interference, with the greatest yield being observed with the earliest application. Barley yield tended to increase as carrier volume increased in 1 of 2 yr. These results indicate that wild oat control with imazamethabenz can be enhanced by increasing carrier volume, providing more consistent wild oat control from reduced imazamethabenz rates.

Time of day at which a herbicide is applied can affect efficacy, and variability may be attributed to leaf angles at application. Spray interception by hemp sesbania (Sesbania exaltata), sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia), and prickly sida (Sida spinosa) under day and night conditions was quantified by measuring interception of a 2-M potassium nitrate solution. Following the night application, interception by prickly sida, hemp sesbania, and sicklepod was reduced 17, 67, and 70%, respectively. In a second study in the greenhouse, glyphosate was applied to hemp sesbania, pitted morningglory (Ipomoea lacunosa), prickly sida, and sicklepod at 6:00 and 11:00 A.M. and 4:00 and 9:00 P.M. Control of all species was dependent on the time of day treated, with night applications generally being less effective.

Seeds were collected from an imidazolinone-resistant (R) population of smooth pigweed near Marion, MD, and from an imidazolinone-susceptible (S) population near Painter, VA, and grown in the greenhouse. Acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme was extracted from both biotypes and assayed in the presence of CGA 152005, chlorimuron, halosulfuron, imazaquin, imazethapyr, nicosulfuron, primisulfuron, pyrithiobac, rimsulfuron, and thifensulfuron to determine if an altered ALS was the mechanism of resistance in the R biotype and to determine if this biotype was cross-resistant to other ALS inhibitor herbicides. The inhibitor concentration required to cause a 50% reduction in ALS activity (I50) was calculated for each herbicide. ALS from the R biotype was approximately 71-, 109,000-, and 9-fold more resistant to imazaquin, imazethapyr, and rimsulfuron, respectively, than that from the S biotype. ALS from the R biotype was approximately threefold more sensitive to pyrithiobac and thifensulfuron than that from the S biotype. R ALS was also slightly more tolerant to CGA 152005 and nicosulfuron and slightly more sensitive to primisulfuron and chlorimuron. ALS from both biotypes generally responded similarly to halosulfuron. Resistance in the R biotype was due to an altered form of ALS that is insensitive to the imidazolinone herbicides and rimsulfuron.

A field experiment was conducted for 2 yr near Scottsbluff, NE, to evaluate the growth and yield response of nine commercial sugarbeet cultivars to five postemergence herbicide mixtures applied two times. Sugarbeet cultivars varied in their response to herbicides. Three of the five postemergence herbicide mixtures reduced sugarbeet leaf area at 9 wk after planting (WAP), while two treatments had no significant effect. Root yield reductions from herbicide treatments ranged from 3 to 11% averaged over the nine cultivars. Two applications of desmedipham plus phenmedipham at 180 plus 180 g/ha reduced root yield 3% compared to untreated plots. Two applications of clopyralid at 100 g/ha, triflusulfuron at 18 g/ha, or ethofumesate at 160 g/ha plus desmedipham plus phenmedipham resulted in a 17, 29, and 22% reduction in leaf area at 9 WAR respectively, and a 6, 8, and 6% reduction in root yield, respectively, compared to untreated plots. Sethoxydim at 280 g/ha plus desmedipham plus phenmedipham did not cause additional sugarbeet injury.