Tolpyralate is a new Group 27 pyrazolone herbicide that inhibits the 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase enzyme. In a study of the biologically effective dose of tolpyralate from 2015 to 2017 in Ontario, Canada, tolpyralate exhibited efficacy on a broader range of species when co-applied with atrazine; however, there is limited published information on the efficacy of tolpyralate and tolpyralate+atrazine relative to mesotrione and topramezone, applied POST with atrazine at label rates, for control of annual grass and broadleaf weeds. In this study, tolpyralate applied alone at 30 g ai ha−1 provided >90% control of common lambsquarters, velvetleaf, common ragweed, Powell amaranth/redroot pigweed, and green foxtail at 8 weeks after application (WAA). Addition of atrazine was required to achieve >90% control of wild mustard, ladysthumb, and barnyardgrass at 8 WAA. Tolpyralate+atrazine (30+1,000 g ai ha−1) and topramezone+atrazine (12.5+500 g ai ha−1) provided similar control at 8 WAA of the eight weed species in this study; however, tolpyralate+atrazine provided >90% control of green foxtail by 1 WAA. Tolpyralate+atrazine provided 18, 68, and 67 percentage points better control of common ragweed, green foxtail, and barnyardgrass, respectively, than mesotrione+atrazine (100+280 g ai ha−1) at 8 WAA. Overall, tolpyralate+atrazine applied POST provided equivalent or improved control of annual grass and broadleaf weeds compared with mesotrione+atrazine and topramezone+atrazine.

Tolpyralate is a new 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting herbicide for POST weed management in corn; however, there is limited information regarding its efficacy. Six field studies were conducted in Ontario, Canada, over 3 yr (2015 to 2017) to determine the biologically effective dose of tolpyralate for the control of eight annual weed species. Tolpyralate was applied POST at six doses from 3.75 to 120 g ai ha−1 and tank mixed at a 1:33.3 ratio with atrazine at six doses from 125 to 4,000 g ha−1. Regression analysis was performed to determine the effective dose (ED) of tolpyralate, and tolpyralate+atrazine, required to achieve 50%, 80%, or 90% control of eight weed species at 1, 2, 4, and 8 wk after application (WAA). The ED of tolpyralate for 90% control (ED90) of velvetleaf, common lambsquarters, common ragweed, redroot pigweed or Powell amaranth, and green foxtail at 8 WAA was ≤15.5 g ha−1; however, tolpyralate alone did not provide 90% control of wild mustard, barnyardgrass, or ladysthumb at 8 WAA at any dose evaluated in this study. In contrast, the ED90 for all species in this study with tolpyralate+atrazine was ≤13.1+436 g ha−1, indicating that tolpyralate+atrazine can be highly efficacious at low field doses.

Studies were conducted under controlled growth conditions to determine whether differential absorption, translocation, or metabolism was the basis for the differential response of grain sorghum hybrids to mesotrione. Mesotrione-tolerant (‘Dekalb DKS35-70’) and mesotrione-susceptible (‘Pioneer 84G62’) grain sorghum hybrids were treated with 14C-labeled mesotrione. At 1 d after treatment (DAT), absorption was 7% in both hybrids; at 7 DAT, however, absorption remained nearly steady in Pioneer 84G62 but increased to 12% in Dekalb DKS35-70. Translocation of 14C-mesotrione in sorghum hybrids was similar with less than 30% of the absorbed herbicide translocated out of the treated leaf by 7 DAT. A distinct metabolite of 14C-mesotrione was separated in both hybrids at 3 DAT. The amount of mesotrione parent compound that remained in Pioneer 84G62 and DKS35-70 was 72 and 65%, respectively. Dekalb DKS35-70 had significantly less mesotrione at 3 DAT than Pioneer 84G62 did, but the amount of mesotrione was similar for both hybrids at 5 and 7 DAT. Rapid metabolism of mesotrione may help explain the differential response of grain sorghum hybrids.

Field and greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate mesotrione alone and in combinations with low rates of atrazine and bentazon for control of yellow and purple nutsedge. Mesotrione alone at rates of 105 to 210 g ai/ha controlled yellow nutsedge 43 to 70%. Mixtures of mesotrione with atrazine at 280 g ai/ha did not always improve yellow nutsedge control over that by mesotrione alone, but increasing atrazine to 560 g ai/ha in these mixtures generally provided more consistent control of yellow nutsedge. Mesotrione at 105 g ai/ha mixed with bentazon at 280 or 560 g ai/ha controlled yellow nutsedge 88% or greater which was similar to control from the standard halosulfuron at 36 g ai/ha. Mesotrione, atrazine, and bentazon alone did not control purple nutsedge. Mixtures of mesotrione plus bentazon, however, did improve control of purple nutsedge over either herbicide applied alone, but this control was not considered commercially acceptable.

Field experiments were conducted in 2001, 2002, and 2003 to evaluate PRE applications of mesotrione at 150, 230, and 310 g ai/ha alone, and in mixtures with S-metolachlor at 1,070 g ai/ha and atrazine at 560 and 1,120 g ai/ha in corn. Corn injury was 11 to 18% with all treatments in 2002 when 3.2 cm of rainfall occurred within 10 d after PRE applications, but no injury was observed in 2001 and 2003 when rainfall was 0 and 1.1 cm within 10 d after PRE applications, respectively. Rainfall following PRE herbicide applications also influenced weed control, where weed control was generally poor with all herbicide treatments in 2001. Mesotrione at 150 g/ha controlled common lambsquarters and smooth pigweed at least 95% in 2002 and 2003, but control was 70% or less in 2001. PRE mesotrione at rates of 230 or 310 g/ha controlled common ragweed at least 83% in 2002 and 2003, but control exceeded 88% with mixtures of mesotrione at rates greater than 150 g/ha plus S-metolachlor plus atrazine at 560 g/ha. Morningglory species (ivyleaf morningglory, pitted morningglory, and tall morningglory) were not consistently controlled by mesotrione alone. In 2002 and 2003, mixtures of all mesotrione rates plus S-metolachlor plus atrazine at 1,120 g/ha controlled morningglory species at least 90%. Corn treated with mesotrione at any rate plus S-metolachlor plus atrazine at 1,120 g/ha consistently produced high yields. It is concluded that control with this three-way mixture would be most consistent with a minimum rate of mesotrione at 230 g/ha and atrazine at 1,120 g/ha.

Field studies were conducted in Arkansas in 1999, 2000, and 2001 to evaluate mesotrione applied preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) for weed control in corn grown in the Mississippi Delta region of the United States. Mesotrione was applied PRE (140, 210, and 280 g/ha) alone and POST (70, 105, and 140 g/ha), alone or in tank mixtures with atrazine (280 g/ha). Standard treatments for comparison were S-metolachlor/atrazine PRE and S-metolachlor plus atrazine PRE followed by atrazine POST. All PRE treatments controlled velvetleaf, pitted morningglory, entireleaf morningglory, prickly sida, and broadleaf signalgrass 95% 2 wk after emergence (WAE). Mesotrione controlled velvetleaf 89% or more 4 and 6 WAE. Control of morningglory species by mesotrione POST averaged 92% 6 WAE. Prickly sida was controlled at least 90% by all treatments 4 WAE. Mesotrione applied alone PRE and POST controlled broadleaf signalgrass 83 to 91% 4 WAE. All treatments controlled broadleaf signalgrass less than 90% 6 WAE, except treatments that contained S-metolachlor, which gave 94% or greater control. Corn yield ranged from 10.5 to 12.4 Mg/ha and did not differ among treatments. Mesotrione PRE and POST provided excellent control of broadleaf weeds, but S-metolachlor was needed for broadleaf signalgrass control.

The selection of herbicide-resistant weeds in grain sorghum production has prompted researchers to explore alternative herbicides to prevent, delay, and manage herbicide-resistant weed biotypes. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to evaluate the differential response of sorghum hybrids to POST application of mesotrione. In a greenhouse experiment, 85 sorghum hybrids were treated with 0, 52, 105, 210, and 315 g ai/ha mesotrione when plants were at the three- to four-leaf collar stage. Sorghum response ranged from susceptible to tolerant sorghum hybrids. ‘Pioneer 84G62’, ‘Pioneer 85G01’, and ‘Triumph TR 438’ were the three most susceptible, whereas ‘Dekalb DKS35-70’, ‘Frontier F222E’, and ‘Asgrow Seneca’ were the three most tolerant hybrids. One week after treatment (WAT), the mesotrione rate causing 50% visible injury ranged from 121 to 184 and 64 to 91 g/ha in the most tolerant and susceptible hybrids, respectively. Mesotrione dose–response studies were conducted under field conditions on four sorghum hybrids. One WAT, injury symptoms were greater (up to 23%) in Pioneer 85G01 than in Asgrow Seneca (< 14%). However, all plants appeared normal by the end of the growing season. In addition, sorghum yields were not reduced by mesotrione treatments as verified by correlation coefficient analysis.

Field studies were conducted in 1999, 2000, and 2001 to investigate weed control and crop safety with preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) applications of mesotrione alone and in tank mixtures with acetochlor and atrazine. Corn injury was less than 4% with all mesotrione treatments in 1999 and 2001, but it was 8 to 20% in 2000, when rainfall was 3.1 cm 7 d after PRE applications. Mesotrione PRE at 0.16 and 0.24 kg ai/ha did not adequately control most broadleaf weeds or giant foxtail. Tank mixtures of mesotrione plus acetochlor controlled smooth pigweed and giant foxtail but did not adequately control common ragweed, common lambsquarters, or morningglory species. Control by tank mixtures of mesotrione plus atrazine at 0.56 kg ai/ha was frequently low and varied with rainfall after PRE applications. All weed species were controlled 80% or more by mesotrione plus acetochlor PRE or atrazine plus acetochlor PRE followed by mesotrione POST at 0.11 kg/ha.

Studies were conducted to determine if altered absorption, translocation, or metabolism were the basis for the reduction in sulfonylurea herbicide efficacy on foxtail species when mesotrione was mixed with a sulfonylurea herbicide. Green foxtail and yellow foxtail plants were grown in the greenhouse and treated at the four-leaf stage with 14C-labeled nicosulfuron or rimsulfuron, applied alone or with mesotrione or mesotrione + atrazine. Absorption of nicosulfuron was greater in green foxtail and yellow foxtail 7 d after treatment (DAT) when applied alone, compared with absorption when mixing the herbicide with mesotrione or mesotrione + atrazine. When nicosulfuron was applied alone, 9% more of the nicosulfuron in green foxtail was translocated at 7 DAT, as compared with when nicosulfuron was applied in combination with mesotrione or mesotrione + atrazine. Translocation of nicosulfuron in yellow foxtail, however, was similar when nicosulfuron was applied alone or in combination with mesotrione or mesotrione + atrazine. The addition of mixing rimsulfuron with mesotrione did not reduce the absorption of rimsulfuron in green foxtail 7 DAT, but the addition of mesotrione + atrazine resulted in a 20% decrease in rimsulfuron absorption 7 DAT compared with absorption of rimsulfuron applied alone. Yellow foxtail absorption of rimsulfuron at 7 DAT was decreased by 11 or 20% when mixed with mesotrione or mesotrione + atrazine, respectively. Application of rimsulfuron alone resulted in 6% more herbicide being translocated to the treated tiller in green foxtail at 7 DAT, compared with an application of mesotrione + atrazine and rimsulfuron. Translocation of rimsulfuron in yellow foxtail was similar when applied alone or in combination with mesotrione or mesotrione + atrazine. Nicosulfuron and rimsulfuron metabolism in foxtail species was similar when applied alone or in combination with mesotrione or mesotrione + atrazine.

Field experiments were conducted at Belleville, Colby, Hays, Hesston, Garden City, and Manhattan, KS, to determine grain sorghum response to POST application of mesotrione at three application timings. Mesotrione was applied at 52, 105, 157, and 210 g ai/ha in combination with 280 g ai/ha atrazine to grain sorghum at heights of 5 to 8, 15 to 20, and 30 cm, which correspond to early POST (EPOST), mid-POST (MPOST), and late POST (LPOST), respectively. All mesotrione rates caused injury at all application timings. Overall, grain sorghum injury from mesotrione was greatest at 1 wk after treatment (WAT); plants partially recovered from injury by 4 WAT. Mesotrione applied EPOST injured grain sorghum more than when applied at MPOST and LPOST timings. The EPOST application injured grain sorghum 19 to 88%, whereas injury from MPOST and LPOST application was 1 to 66% and 0 to 69%, respectively, depending on rate. Mesotrione injury was least at Belleville and most at the Hesston and Garden City (irrigated) sites regardless of growth stage. Correlation coefficient analyses indicated that observed mesotrione injury symptoms were not well correlated with grain sorghum yield; thus, mesotrione injury to grain sorghum did not influence grain yield. However, initial grain sorghum injury was severe, and this will likely be a major concern to producers.