A population level, two-compartment, temperaturedependent model that predicts date of seedling johnsongrass flowering was formulated. The model consisted of a fourparameter poikilotherm rate equation to describe development rate as a function of temperature and a temperature-independent Weibull function to distribute flowering times for the population. Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of temperature, nitrogen availability, and water availability on development of seedling johnsongrass. Development was most sensitive to temperature while the effect of nitrogen concentration and water availability was minimum and inconsistent. The model was tested against three independent field data sets and provided accurate prediction of flowering dates for each data set.

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of application timing of imazethapyr and fluazifop-P on rhizome johnsongrass and pitted morningglory control in soybean. Herbicides were applied at three timings keyed to johnsongrass heights of 15, 30, and 60 cm and 3-, 6-, and 9-leaf pitted morningglory. Evaluations 6 wk after the final treatment indicated imazethapyr controlled both species best when applied at the 15-cm johnsongrass growth stage. Increasing imazethapyr rate did not increase control of pitted morningglory, but did increase johnsongrass control at the 15-cm application timing. However, at the 30-cm johnsongrass application timing, increasing the rate from 0.07 to 0.10 kg ha-1 improved control of both species. Johnsongrass control with imazethapyr was no more than 64% when applications were delayed to 30-cm or larger johnsongrass. Fluazifop-P controlled johnsongrass well at all timings.

Several weed-free and johnsongrass competition periods were established and maintained in cotton to evaluate their influence on cotton yield and reproduction of johnsongrass. When johnsongrass was sprayed with fluazifop in field plots 3, 6, 9, or 12 weeks after cotton emergence, only plots sprayed at 3 weeks yielded as much cotton as weed-free plots. Johnsongrass permitted to compete for 6, 9, 12, and 25 weeks reduced cotton yields 20, 60, 80, and 90%, respectively. When johnsongrass was transplanted into weed-free plots 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks after cotton emergence, a weed-free period of 9 weeks was required to prevent significant cotton yield reduction. Cotton in plots weed free for 3 and 6 weeks yielded 81 and 89% as much seed cotton, respectively, as weed-free controls. Johnsongrass competing with cotton for 9 to 12 weeks produced 20 and 40% as many seeds and rhizomes, respectively, as weedy control plots. Some seeds and rhizomes were produced (1% of weedy check plots) in plots weed free for 9 to 12 weeks. Cotton grades were reduced in plots weed free for 3 and 6 weeks, and in plots where johnsongrass competed for 9 to 25 weeks.

Johnsongrass leaves were covered with epicuticular wax that varied from 16 to 25 μg/cm2 on leaf blades and 56 to 206 μg/cm2 on leaf sheaths. At emergence, leaves were covered with a layer of smooth amorphous wax, but crystalline wax (wax plates) began to form on the amorphous wax within 1 or 2 days. This continued until all leaf surfaces were covered with wax plates. At 3 to 4 weeks of age, a smooth layer of coalescence wax was deposited over the wax plates. Formation of coalescence wax continued until nearly all leaf surfaces were covered with a smooth wax layer. Production of wax filaments began when plants were 3 to 4 weeks old and these tubular structures extended 100 to 200 μm above all other wax formations. Deposition of amorphous wax continued after stomata closed in the darkness, sealing over stomata, but the wax layer was broken when stomata opened again in the light. A capillary method was devised that was used to evaporate chloroform containing leaf waxes through 0.1- to 1.2-μm pores in inert filters to recrystallize amorphous wax and wax plates similar to that produced on johnsongrass leaves. Recrystallization of wax from wax filaments dissolved in chloroform produced the same structures of amorphous wax and wax plates as when only wax from leaves with amorphous wax and wax plates was used. Wax washed from leaves also produced wax plates and a variety of crystalline structures on the walls of glass vials after chloroform solutions were evaporated. This result indicated that the morphology of epicuticular waxes is influenced more by their inherent chemical and physical properties than by underlying cells or the cuticular membrane.

Bipolaris sorghicola (isolate BS1) and an unidentified Bipolaris species (isolate BX1) were isolated from johnsongrass in North Carolina. Inoculum of BX1 was mass produced in solid and liquid cultures, whereas inoculum of BS1 could only be produced in solid cultures. When six formulations of inoculum of BX1 were compared, vegetable oil was the best adjuvant. Isolate BX1 displayed some host specificity in pathogenicity tests. In the greenhouse, isolate BS1 was more virulent on johnsongrass than isolate BX1. In growth chambers, increasing conidium concentration and younger plant ages interacted to increase virulence of BX1, as did interactions between inoculation, johnsongrass density, and low soil fertility. In Raleigh, NC, isolate BX1 caused very little damage in the field, with or without pretreatment with metolachlor. In Greenville, MS, isolate BX1 caused significant (52%) mortality to annual johnsongrass with very little damage to corn or grain sorghum. The biocontrol potential of the two organisms is uncertain.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the basis for reduced johnsongrass control when glyphosate was applied in mixtures with 2,4-D or dicamba. Glyphosate was applied to johnsongrass at 0.28, 0.56, 0.84, and 1.12 kg/ha alone and in combination with 2,4-D or dicamba at 0.14, 0.28, 0.14, or 0.56 kg/ha. Johnsongrass shoot and root fresh weights measured 4 weeks after treatment were higher when glyphosate was applied with 2,4-D (0.28 kg/ha glyphosate) or dicamba (0.28 kg/ha or 0.56 kg/ha glyphosate) compared to glyphosate applied alone at these rates. The antagonism of johnsongrass control was not observed with combinations of some of the higher glyphosate rates with 2,4-D (0.56 or 0.84 kg/ha glyphosate) or dicamba (0.84 or 1.12 kg/ha glyphosate). The reduction of glyphosate activity on johnsongrass occurred when any of four forms of 2,4-D or two forms of dicamba were added to the glyphosate spray mixture. Glyphosate uptake into johnsongrass leaves and subsequent translocation to the roots was reduced by the presence of 2,4-D or dicamba. The reduced glyphosate uptake and translocation could account for the decreased toxicity of glyphosate to johnsongrass when applied with 2,4-D or dicamba.

Field, greenhouse, and laboratory studies were conducted to examine the effect of application timing on the activity of DPX-V9360 on rhizome johnsongrass. Field and greenhouse studies indicated that johnsongrass treated with postemergence applications of DPX-V9360 at late growth stages (>5 leaves) was controlled more effectively than when treated in early growth stages (<5 leaves). Johnsongrass control was optimized with split-postemergence applications (treatments applied at early and late growth stages) in field studies compared to a single postemergence application at either early or late growth stages. The pattern of translocation of 2-14C (pyrimidine)-labeled DPX-V9360 applied to a fully expanded johnsongrass leaf did not differ significantly between three different growth stages of 10-, 30-, and 60-cm height. Over 60% of the absorbed 14C remained in the treated leaf. Most of the translocated 14C moved out of the treated leaf within 3 days after application and distributed to the shoot in greater quantities than to the rhizomes. About 40% of 14C-DPX-V9360 applied to the leaf surfaces of a tolerant species (corn) or susceptible species (johnsongrass) was absorbed into the leaf. Corn metabolized over 90% of absorbed DPX-V9360 within 20 h, while there was no perceptible metabolism of DPX-V9360 in johnsongrass leaves after 24 h. Late growth stage and split-postemergence applications appear to provide more effective control than early growth stage applications because of better control of regrowth (new shoot emergence from rhizomes after application) and because tillering and plant emergence are more nearly complete at application time.