Seed production and seedling emergence of three broadleaf weed species were evaluated following glyphosate application at initial seed set, mid seed fill, and physiological maturity. In greenhouse experiments averaged across glyphosate rates of 0.42, 0.63, and 0.84 kg ae ha−1, Xanthium strumarium 100-bur weight and burs per plant were reduced at least 69 and 70%, respectively, for application at initial fruit set compared with later applications, and seedling emergence was 3% of the nontreated check. Glyphosate application at initial seed set reduced Sesbania exaltata 100-seed weight 73%, seed per plant 86%, and seedling emergence 94%. Senna obtusifolia 100-seed weight, seed per plant, and seedling emergence were reduced 46, 83, and 66%, respectively, when glyphosate was applied at initial seed set. In field experiments, X. strumarium and S. exaltata seed production were reduced only when glyphosate was applied at initial seed set. Compared with the nontreated check, seedling emergence following initial seed set application was reduced 82% for X. strumarium and 94% for S. exaltata. S. obtusifolia response in the field was inconsistent with no reductions in seed per plant or seedling emergence observed the first year. The second year, initial seed set application reduced seed per plant 88% and seedling emergence 72%.

Common ragweed is one of the most important weeds in the soybean-producing areas of the United States and Canada. Recently, glyphosate-resistant (GR) biotypes have been reported in 15 states and one Canadian province. Reducing the proliferation of GR common ragweed biotypes is complicated by the high fecundity and complex seed germination behavior exhibited by this species. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of late herbicide applications for reducing seed production, seed weight, and seed viability of a GR common ragweed biotype. Herbicide treatments included: water control, glyphosate, 2,4-D, dicamba, 2,4-D plus glyphosate, and dicamba plus glyphosate. Treatments were applied at the appearance of male flower buds (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemical industry scale [BBCH] 51) or at the early female flowering stage (BBCH 61 to 63). At BBCH 51, 2,4-D or dicamba applied alone or in a tank mix with glyphosate reduced seed production by an average of 80%. Conversely, seed production following these same treatments applied at BBCH 61 to 63 was not significantly different from when glyphosate was applied alone. At this stage of development, all herbicide treatments reduced seed viability relative to the control; however, treatments containing 2,4-D or dicamba resulted in significantly lower viability than when glyphosate was applied alone. These results suggest that the application of tank mixes containing 2,4-D or dicamba have the potential to limit seed production of GR common ragweed when applied on or before BBCH 51. The development of new technologies that facilitate the in-crop application of tank mixes containing 2,4-D or dicamba may therefore be an effective option for limiting population establishment, seedbank replenishment, and future spread of glyphosate-resistant alleles.

Annual wild soybean characterized by low 100-seed weight (100SW), high protein content (PRC) and low oil content (OIC) may have favourable exotic genes/alleles for broadening the genetic base of the cultivated soybean. To evaluate the wild alleles/segments, a chromosome segment substitution line population comprising 151 lines with N24852 (wild) as the donor and NN1138-2 (cultivated) as the recurrent parent was analysed using single-marker analysis, interval mapping, inclusive composite interval mapping and mixed linear composite interval mapping. On 14 segments of ten chromosomes, 17 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified, with two segments each containing two QTL for 100SW and OIC and one segment containing two QTL for PRC and OIC, respectively. All the seven wild alleles/segments for 100SW were associated with negative effects and three were associated with positive effects, but one was associated with a negative effect for PRC, and five were associated with negative effects, but one was associated with a positive effect for OIC. Except Satt216 and Sat_224 for 100SW, the identified QTL/segments have been reported from cultivated soybean mapping populations. The detected wild segments may provide materials for further characterization, cloning and pyramiding of the alleles conferring the seed-quality traits.