Field research was conducted in Arkansas for 3 yr to evaluate imazamox for control of diclofop-resistant Italian ryegrass in imidazolinone-tolerant wheat. Italian ryegrass was controlled at least 89% 49 d after wheat emergence (DAE) in year 2 and 3 by imazamox at 36 g ai/ha applied to one- to two-leaf wheat (POST1), by imazamox at 54 g ai/ha applied sequentially at POST1 followed by (fb) application to three- to four-leaf wheat (POST2), by pendimethalin at 1120 g ai/ha preemergence (PRE) fb imazamox at 36 or 54 g/ha POST1, and by chlorsulfuron plus metsulfuron at 22 plus 4 g ai/ha PRE. Italian ryegrass was controlled at least 95% 150 DAE with all applications in year 1 because of extremely cold temperatures and snowfall in December and January. Only sequential imazamox applications or pendimethalin PRE fb imazamox POST1 equaled the commercial standard, chlorsulfuron plus metsulfuron, for control of Italian ryegrass 150 DAE in years 2 and 3. These treatments controlled Italian ryegrass greater than 80% 150 DAE. Sequential postemergence applications of imazamox or programs containing pendimethalin PRE fb imazamox POST1 are necessary to optimize Italian ryegrass control and wheat yield in an imidazolinone-tolerant wheat production system.

Experiments were conducted in the 2000 to 2001 and 2001 to 2002 growing seasons to evaluate the efficacy of AE F130060 03 plus AE F107892 with nonionic surfactant (NIS) or methylated seed oil (MSO) plus urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) applied in November (early postemergence, EP), January (middle postemergence, MP), and March (late postemergence, LP) for control of Italian ryegrass in barley. AE F130060 03 plus AE F107892 was also combined with MSO and UAN and various postemergence (POST) small grain herbicides at the three application timings. All AE F130060 03 plus AE F107892 treatment combinations controlled Italian ryegrass at least 84% at the three application timings. Treatment combinations of AE F130060 03 plus AE F107892 applied LP generally resulted in lower yields because of increased duration of Italian ryegrass competition, increased barley injury, and insufficient time for barley to recover from the injury. Transient phytotoxicity to barley occurred after EP and MP applications of all AE F130060 03 plus AE F107892 treatment combinations. LP applications of MSO and UAN or other POST small grain herbicides combined with MSO and UAN increased barley injury compared with injury from AE F130060 03 plus AE F107892 applied with NIS. Results indicate that AE F130060 03 plus AE F107892 treatments are an effective method for control of Italian ryegrass in barley; however, treatments should be applied either EP or MP to reduce early Italian ryegrass competition and allow sufficient time for barley recovery from injury before harvest.

Experiments were conducted in 2000 and 2001 to evaluate efficacy of AE F130060 03 plus AE F107892 applied postemergence for the control of Italian ryegrass in barley. AE F130060 03 plus AE F107892 controlled Italian ryegrass when applied at two application rates and at three timings. Barley successfully recovered from initial injury caused by early-postemergence (EP) and middle-postemergence (MP) application timings. The late-postemergence (LP) timing resulted in lower yield than the EP or MP application timings. AE F130060 03 plus AE F107892 applied EP controlled Italian ryegrass similar to flufenacet plus metribuzin applied delayed preemergence (DPRE) when rainfall was received. Barley yields were also similar. However, with insufficient rainfall, AE F130060 03 plus AE F107892 provided superior Italian ryegrass control. EP treatments of AE F130060 03 plus AE F107892 after a DPRE application of flufenacet plus metribuzin or chlorsulfuron plus metsulfuron completely controlled Italian ryegrass and resulted in excellent yields.

Experiments were conducted in Virginia in 2000 and 2001 to investigate responses of winter wheat and diclofop-sensitive and -resistant Italian ryegrass to the experimental herbicide mixture AE F130060 03 and crop safener AE F107892 applied postemergence. AE F130060 03 at 15 or 18 g ai/ha with or without methylated seed oil controlled both diclofop-sensitive and -resistant Italian ryegrass 82 to 99% and reduced inflorescence emergence 59 to 98%. Although AE F130060 03 controlled existing Italian ryegrass 4 wk after any application, timing of application influenced late-season Italian ryegrass control and inflorescence emergence. Applications to two- to three-leaf Italian ryegrass resulted in greater emergence of Italian ryegrass after application than applications made to two- to three-tiller or four- to five-tiller Italian ryegrass. Wheat injury by AE F130060 03 was greater than injury from diclofop, but wheat appeared to fully recover; and yields from AE F130060 03–treated wheat were similar to yields of diclofop-treated wheat and at least 21% greater than yields from nontreated wheat. In greenhouse experiments, differential growth responses between diclofop-sensitive and -resistant Italian ryegrass occurred after AE F130060 03 application at normal (15 g ai/ha) and below-normal application rates. When rates were increased beyond normal application rates, growth responses were similar between diclofop-sensitive and -resistant Italian ryegrass.