Removing the epicuticular wax from mature pads (cladophylls) of Lindheimer pricklypear increased picloram absorption by four- to sixfold in the laboratory, while the addition of surfactant had little effect on absorption. Absorption decreased with increasing pH of the picloram solution, indicating that picloram diffused through the cuticle as the undissociated molecule. Picloram entered detached pads at the areoles more readily than through the surrounding cuticle. In the glasshouse, whole plants consisting of an old, mature pad supporting a young, growing pad absorbed picloram very slowly whether picloam was applied as a spray to old or young pads or to the soil. About 90 and 80% of the applied picloram remained on the waxy surface of old and new pads, respectively, and about 2% of the applied picloram was recovered from within the epicuticular wax after 30 days. Picloram concentrations within pads treated in the glasshouse were greater when the herbicide was applied to new pads (4.6 μg/g) than old pads (1.9 μg/g) after 30 days. More picloram was translocated basipetally from treated new pads to untreated old pads than in the opposite direction, but concentrations in untreated pads were low (<1 μg/g). Little picloram was absorbed by roots, compared to pads, and little was translocated into or out of roots. These results conflict with the view that the effectiveness of picloram for pricklypear control is attributable to extensive root uptake and acropetal transport. However, observations of plants 6 months after treatment indicated that soil applications were more effective than sprays in the glasshouse.

Pricklypear (Opuntia spp.) is a major constraint to rangeland livestock production in several resource areas of Texas. The phenological and physiological stages of pricklypear have heretofore been ignored in relation to timing of herbicide applications. The phenology, percent total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC), and water content in Lindheimer pricklypear (Opuntia lindheimeri Engelm. # OPULI) were monitored biweekly for 2 yr in the southern Rolling Plains of Texas. TNC in cladophylls, crowns, and roots declined sharply from bud break (late March to late April) through the period of rapid development of new cladophylls and fruits, with minimum levels occurring during mid-July to early August. This depletion period coincides with the period when control has traditionally been attempted with broadcast applications of translocated herbicides with erratic results. Replenishment of TNC in cladophylls and basal crowns occurred during August through March or mid-April; major increases in root TNC occurred from early autumn through midwinter. Application of herbicide in late summer, autumn, or winter when TNC is being replenished in organs bearing meristematic tissue may be more effective for pricklypear control if the herbicide is translocated with photosynthates.

Scarification in sulfuric acid consistently increased germination of Opuntia edwardsii sp. nov, O. discata Griffiths, and O. lindheimeri Engelm. ♯ OPULI seeds over that of untreated seeds. Optimum constant temperatures for germination were generally 25 to 35 C and germination was not enhanced by alternating temperatures. There was a trend for increased germination following leaching in water for 12 h which suggested the presence of chemical germination inhibitors. Seeds passed through the digestive tracts of cattle exhibited average germination percentages that were 1.5 times greater than seeds removed from ripe fruits.