The family Solanaceae lists about 1,400 species worldwide, of which 143 are considered weeds (Sheppard et al. 2006). The genus Solanum is the most numerous of the family Solanaceae. Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. belongs to the clade Leptostemonum, commonly known as the “spiny solanum” clade. Solanum elaeagnifolium is native to northern Mexico and the American Southwest. A revision for the S. elaeagnifolium clade and analytic phytokeys are provided by Knapp et al. (2017). The silvery color of its leaves and their resemblance to the leaves of the olive tree (Elaeagnus) were the reasons for naming the species elaeagnifolium (Heap and Carter 1999). Nowadays, it is commonly known as silverleaf nightshade (Boyd et al. 1984). According to Krigas et al. (2021), in northern Greece S. elaeagnifolium is also called “Lernaean Hydra,” due to its intense regrowth after herbicide treatment. Solanum elaeagnifolium is known in South Africa as silverleaf bitter apple or Satansbos (Satan’s bush), indicating how harmful it is to the country (Wilson et al. 2013). In America and other parts of the world, it has received various names over the years, such as white horsenettle, bullnettle, tomatillo, meloncillo, and trompillo (Davis et al. 1945; Kwong et al. 2006). In Algeria, farmers call it echouka, which means thorn, because of the multiple spines on the stem (Adjim and Kazi Tani 2018). In South Korea, it received the name Eun-bit-kka-ma-jung, which is a combination of its silvery coloration and a common plant in the country (Hong et al. 2014).

A 3-yr dryland study was initiated in 1999 at Munday, TX, on an Altus fine sandy loam to determine the most appropriate cotton growth stage or stages at which to apply glyphosate. The objectives were: (1) to evaluate control of silverleaf nightshade in the cotton and (2) to determine the effect on yield. Treatments were: (1) control (C; two cultivations), (2) early glyphosate at the four-leaf stage (E), (3) early glyphosate followed by a midseason application 21 d later (E+M), (4) two cultivations plus late glyphosate at 20% open bolls (L), (5) treatment E+L, and (6) treatment E+M+L. In fall 1999 and 2001, silverleaf nightshade stem numbers decreased in the plots sprayed early and midseason, and increased in plots receiving only late or no applications when compared with the counts in the spring of those years. However, in fall 2000, nightshade numbers were less than in early spring 2000 regardless of treatment, probably because of hot and dry weather. In fall 2001, silverleaf nightshade populations had increased 13-fold and twofold for the C and L treatments, respectively, when compared with populations at the beginning of the study. Other treatments had population decreases of 10 to 90%. Three-year average lint yields were higher with early or early plus midseason applications. Lint yields were similar with early or early plus midseason sprays. Lint yields were higher when nightshade/cotton biomass competition was lower. Early application of glyphosate can effectively control silverleaf nightshade populations and can increase yield when compared to no application or a late application.