Terminal fluorescence (FT) was monitored following root or foliar uptake of metribuzin in soybean, velvetleaf, and smooth pigweed seedlings grown in solution culture. These species are known to be tolerant, moderately susceptible, and susceptible, respectively, to metribuzin under field conditions. The indirect monitoring of herbicide metabolism by fluorescence is complicated by several factors (particularly photoinhibition) and is difficult to interpret when plants are kept in the light. Rapid declines in FT at metribuzin concentrations causing high photosystem II reaction center inhibition were interpreted, in conjunction with fresh weight and injury data, as resulting from photoinhibition in velvetleaf and smooth pigweed, and from a combination of photoinhibition and herbicide metabolism in soybeans. At lower concentrations, FT declines were apparently not affected by photoinhibition but were probably representative of herbicide metabolism. These results suggested a significant rate of metribuzin metabolism in soybeans, a minor degree of metabolism in smooth pigweed beginning after 12 h, and no detectable metabolism in velvetleaf. FT monitored over a 24-h dark period following foliar absorption showed declines in soybeans indicating a modest degree of metribuzin metabolism (at intermediate herbicide doses) but no FT declines attributable to herbicide metabolism in velvetleaf or smooth pigweed. Results indicate that the inhibition of a high percentage of photosystem II reaction centers is required before photoinhibition and photooxidative leaf damage can result from photosystem II inhibitor herbicides such as metribuzin.

Pronounced differences in the tolerance of tomatoes and bell peppers to clomazone observed in field studies were confirmed in a greenhouse experiment. In greenhouse studies, preemergence clomazone rates causing 50% visible injury on bell pepper and tomato seedlings 10 days after application were 9.4 and 0.1 kg/ha, respectively. Based on growth inhibition, bell peppers were 40-fold more tolerant of clomazone than tomatoes 20 days after clomazone application. In laboratory studies investigating the basis for differential clomazone tolerance, no differences in uptake of 14C-clomazone from nutrient solutions between tomato and bell pepper plants were observed after 24 h. Minor differences were observed in the distribution of 14C label within plants; a higher percentage of 14C was recovered in bell pepper roots than in tomato roots, while the opposite was true for the shoots. Clomazone was metabolized to two products in roots of both bell peppers and tomatoes within 48 h after treatment. Tomato shoots were more active in converting clomazone to these metabolites than were tomato roots. Bell pepper roots converted more clomazone to metabolites than did tomato roots 24 h after treatment. However, by 72 h, differences in clomazone metabolite levels between species were negligible in both roots and shoots. Enzymatic and acid hydrolysis of soluble, polaf clomazone metabolites indicated that these metabolites may be sugar conjugates of clomazone.

Triazine-resistant (R) biotypes of common lambsquarters, yellow foxtail, and hairy fleabane were found in the Province of Córdoba (Andalusia, Southern Spain). The former two R biotypes came from atrazine-treated cornfields, whereas the latter came from simazine-treated nontilled olive orchards. The R biotypes of common lambsquarters and yellow foxtail and the R biotype of hairy fleabane survived at doses up to 5 kg ai/ha of soil-applied atrazine or simazine, respectively. Photosynthetic electron transport in R biotypes was unaffected by atrazine and simazine but was inhibited by diuron, as shown by fluorescence induction measurements in whole leaves. In Hill reaction assays, the R biotypes showed high resistance to atrazine and simazine (resistance factors in the range of 350 to 550), medium to high resistance to ametryn, terbumeton, metribuzin, and monolinuron (resistance factors in the range of 80 to 250), slight resistance to diuron and methabenzthiazuron (resistance factors in the range of 1.1 to 15.7), and reverse resistance to swep, ioxynil, and DNOC (resistance factors less than 1). It is concluded that the R biotypes have a chloroplast mode of resistance similar to that previously described for other triazine-resistant weed biotypes.

The activity of soil-applied chlorimuron in yellow and purple nutsedge was studied in greenhouse and laboratory experiments. Soil-applied chlorimuron decreased tuber sprouting by 80% in yellow nutsedge and by 30% in purple nutsedge at 60 g ai/ha. Chlorimuron decreased shoot emergence by 53 to 83% and shoot growth by 85 to 99% in both species at rates as low as 10 g/ha. Previous exposure of tubers to chlorimuron-treated soil reduced tuber resprouting by 20 to 25% in herbicide-free soil at 60 g/ha in both species. There was no rate response in shoot emergence from tubers previously exposed to chlorimuron, but shoot dry weight decreased by 60 to 81% in both species at 60 g/ha. At 12 h after application, 47% of the total 14C applied to the shoot in yellow nutsedge and 32% of that applied in purple nutsedge were absorbed. However, less than 1% of the total 14C applied was translocated out of the shoot and into the roots and tuber in either species. In both species, 1.3% of the 14C applied to the roots and tuber was absorbed and 0.1% was translocated out of the roots and tuber into the shoot at 12 h after application. The pattern of root- and tuber-absorbed 14C distribution indicated that the 14C absorbed by the tuber remained in the tuber and that absorbed by the roots was translocated to the shoots.

Three-day-old soybean seedlings were treated with acifluorfen via liquid culture [50 μM in dark, 1 μM in light (200 μE·m–2·s–1)]. Root elongation in the dark was inhibited only slightly (6%) after 96 h. In the light, acifluorfen inhibited root elongation after 48 h; after 96 h, inhibition was 32%. Hypocotyl length was not affected in either the light or dark. Soluble hydroxyphenolic content per axis was unaffected in the dark but was reduced by about 13 to 25% at 24 to 96 h in the light. Extractable phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.5) activity per axis was unaltered by herbicide in the dark. A brief transient increase in PAL activity (4 to 24 h) in axes of light-grown seedlings in the presence of acifluorfen was followed by reduced enzyme levels compared to light-grown controls at 72 and 96 h. Although light is required for maximal herbicide action, there was no effect on anthocyanin or chlorophyll accumulation or on the chlorophyll a/b ratio in hypocotyls or light-grown seedlings.

Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate possible interactions of atrazine and glyphosate on soybeans at the molecular level. Because these compounds alter the extractable activities of nitrate reductase (NR)3 and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), these enzymes were chosen as biochemical markers. Levels of anthocyanin, hydroxyphenolic compounds, and chlorophyll were also determined. Three-day-old dark-grown soybean seedlings, susceptible to both herbicides, were transferred to 2 mM CaSO4 or CaSO4 containing high-purity 10–4 M atrazine, 10–4M glyphosate, or a combination of both herbicides at 10–4 M each. Plants were placed in a growth chamber under continuous light (200 μE·m–2·s–1) at 25 C and harvested at 24-h intervals over a 96-h time course. Interactions of atrazine and glyphosate on hypocotyl elongation were detected after 96 h when the compounds were supplied simultaneously. Intermediate PAL levels were found in the atrazine + glyphosate treatment compared to the levels for each herbicide alone. At 96 h, anthocyanin content in hypocotyls in the atrazine + glyphosate treatment was twice that of the atrazine treatment, and hydroxyphenolic content was increased by 25% (per axis). Interactions of these herbicides were also apparent on NR activity; i.e., on a per organ basis the combination treatment resulted in levels 20% higher than glyphosate alone in roots and 16 times greater than glyphosate alone in leaves after 96 h. Total chlorophyll content in hypocotyls (μg/organ) was decreased by atrazine but not significantly by glyphosate after 96 h. Atrazine + glyphosate resulted in chlorophyll content equal to that of atrazine alone. Mathematical analyses showed that interactions on NR, PAL, anthocyanin levels, and hypocotyl elongation were antagonistic at 96 h. These data demonstrate interaction between atrazine and glyphosate in plant tissues that is related to some biochemical parameters associated with the secondary molecular mode of action of these herbicides.

‘Cargill 921′, ‘Great Lakes 422′, ‘Northrup King 9410′, ‘Pioneer 3901′, ‘Pioneer 3737′, and ‘Stauffer 5650’ corn hybrids were tested in the greenhouse for imazaquin tolerance. Imazaquin rates that reduced shoot growth 50%, when compared to the untreated hybrid check, ranged from 17 to 50 g/ha. When averaged together, the three most tolerant hybrids (Cargill 921, Pioneer 3901, and Great Lakes 422) were approximately one-half as sensitive to imazaquin as the three least tolerant hybrids (Northrup King 9410, Pioneer 3737, and Stauffer 5650). Studies were conducted to determine if the observed differential tolerance was caused by differences in acetolactate synthase (ALS, EC 4.1.3.18) levels and sensitivity of ALS to imazaquin. Differential imazaquin uptake, translocation, and/or metabolism were also studied as a basis for the tolerance range as was seed size and seedling growth. There were differences among hybrids in the physiological and growth parameters studied; however, these differences did not correlate with imazaquin tolerance. None of the factors studied could alone account for the differences in imazaquin tolerance.

Imazethapyr was applied at 0.14 kg ae/ha to soybean, peanut, sicklepod. Florida beggarweed, and redroot pigweed as either a soil, foliar, or soil plus foliar application. Soybean and peanut were the most tolerant species; redroot pigweed was the most sensitive, with sicklepod and Florida beggarweed being intermediate. Foliar or foliar plus soil applications were more effective in reducing sicklepod and Florida beggarweed fresh weights than soil application alone. Foliar absorption of 14C-imazethapyr 72 h after treatment was greater than 90% for soybean, peanut, sicklepod, and redroot pigweed, but only 77% in Florida beggarweed. For the species evaluated, the amount translocated from the treated leaf ranged from 5 to 16% after 72 h. Within this same time period, an average of 90% of the root-absorbed imazethapyr had been translocated to the shoot in all species except peanut. The half-life of imazethapyr was 6.6, 6.5, 14.4, 24.0, and 32.1 days in soybean, peanut, Florida beggarweed, sicklepod, and redroot pigweed, respectively. Tolerance was most closely associated with imazethapyr half-life within these species.

Various 3-yr rotation sequences of 97- and 18-cm row spacings, with appropriate sicklepod control treatments within each row spacing, were implemented to evaluate sicklepod population and soybean yield at two locations. Alachlor plus metribuzin applied preemergence followed by either a postemergence-directed spray of metribuzin plus 2,4-DB or hand hoeing in 97-cm rows consistently reduced sicklepod populations. Reductions with 97-cm rows and preemergence-applied herbicides coupled with cultivation were not as great. At one location, using a split application of metribuzin preplant incorporated followed by preemergence with 18-cm rows reduced sicklepod populations if effective control measures had been used in wide rows the previous year, but the narrow-row treatments did not reduce sicklepod numbers if 18-cm rows had been used previously. Soil-applied metribuzin was more effective under high soil pH conditions, and sicklepod populations were reduced substantially whether the previous row spacing was 18 or 97 cm. After the third year, all plots were planted in 97-cm rows with no herbicides. No differences were found among sicklepod populations with any previous row spacing or sicklepod control program, indicating that, even with 3 yr of effective control, subsequent sicklepod populations were not affected.

The absorption, translocation, and metabolism of 14C-picloram and 14C-2,4-D applied alone and together to leafy spurge was evaluated. Leafy spurge absorbed 34 and 24% of the 14C-2,4-D applied alone and with picloram, respectively, and 14 and 10% of the 14C-picloram applied alone and with 2,4-D, respectively. More 14C-2,4-D was translocated in leafy spurge than 14C-picloram, and adding picloram to 14C-2,4-D decreased 14C translocation to the roots. Adding 2,4-D to 14C-picloram increased the percentage of absorbed 14C that translocated in leafy spurge from 28 to 48%. Generally, 14C-picloram and 14C-2,4-D remained as the parent acid in leafy spurge whether applied alone or together. Of 14C-picloram recovered from the roots, 83% was unmetabolized picloram when applied alone compared to 95% when applied with 2,4-D, which probably is the reason for increased leafy spurge control when these herbicides are applied together.

Cross-resistance of the paraquat-resistant (R) hairy fleabane to other compounds that accept electrons from photosystem I (PSI) or produce toxic oxygen species was determined by chlorophyll loss, electron microscopy, and chlorophyll fluorescence suppression. Although the R bioype is approximately 100 x more resistant to paraquat than the susceptible (S) biotype based upon the assays for tissue damage, little or no cross-resistance was observed to a number of other PSI electron acceptors, including the bipyridilium herbicide morfamquat. A low level of resistance (approximately 10-fold) was noted to diquat and the singlet oxygen generator rose bengal. As measured by chlorophyll fluorescence suppression, the R biotype was about 100-fold resistant to paraquat, but only 10-fold resistant to diquat, and exhibited no resistance to morfamquat. Because differences observed with this protocol are direct measures of the ability of the herbicide to reach the active site and the results correlate with the level of resistance observed by chlorophyll bleaching or electron microscopy, these data suggest that compartmentalization is the major factor in paraquat resistance in hairy fleabane.

Oxadiazon (10 μM) caused rapid, light-dependent membrane damage to cucumber cotyledon discs. Electrolyte leakage was detected within 1 h of exposure to light, as were cytoplasmic vesiculation and breakage of the tonoplast and plasmalemma. The ultrastructure of chloroplasts was not affected until the cytoplasm was dispersed. Photosynthetic inhibitors had no effect on activity and, after a period of dark incubation with oxadiazon, there was little effect of temperature on the light-caused membrane destruction. Porphyrin synthesis inhibitors (gabaculine and 4,6-dioxoheptanoic acid) almost completely prevented the herbicidal activity of oxadiazon. Oxadiazon treatment caused accumulation of protoporphyrin IX, a photodynamic pigment. Oxadiazon caused physiological effects on cucumber cotyledons that were virtually identical to those of p-nitro-diphenyl ether herbicides like acifluorfen and its methyl ester, which have recently been shown to also cause protoporphyrin IX accumulation.

Antidotes were evaluated under greenhouse conditions for their ability to prevent injury to corn and sorghum from imazethapyr. Corn was more tolerant to imazethapyr and more effectively protected from imazethapyr toxicity than sorghum. Naphthalic anhydride (NA)3, CGA 92194, or flurazole treatment of corn seed reduced plant injury from preemergence applications of imazethapyr. Corn injury from postemergence applications of imazethapyr was decreased by seed treatment with NA or CGA 92194. Sorghum injury from preemergence applications of imazethapyr was not reduced by seed treatment with the antidotes. NA treatment of sorghum seed was the most effective antidote treatment for decreasing injury from postemergence applications of imazethapyr but the level of sorghum protection was much less than that achieved with corn. Corn seedlings grown from NA-treated and untreated seed absorbed equal amounts of 14C into the roots from nutrient solution containing 14C-imazethapyr. The NA-treated corn plants translocated less of the absorbed 14C to the shoots than the untreated plants. NA treatment of corn seeds increased the rate of imazethapyr conversion to soluble metabolites 2-and 10-fold in the corn seedling roots and shoots, respectively. The increased rate of imazethapyr metabolism in corn following NA seed treatment may be responsible for the protection from imazethapyr toxicity.

Applications of isopropylamine glyphosate at 0.28, 0.56, 0.84, and 1.12 kg ae/ha in combination with the dimethylamine salts of 2,4-D or dicamba at 0.14, 0.28, 0.42, and 0.56 kg ae/ha produced additive or synergistic field bindweed control compared to the herbicides applied alone. Leaf and root growth was inhibited more from herbicide combinations than would be predicted from the effects of the chemicals applied alone at the same rate. The uptake of 14C from glyphosate into the treated leaf and its accumulation in roots increased when 2,4-D or dicamba was combined with the 0.28 kg/ha rate of 14C-glyphosate. The combination of 2,4-D or dicamba with a higher (0.84 kg/ha) 14C-glyphosate rate did not change total absorption of 14C from glyphosate. However, compared to 0.84 kg/ha of 14C-glyphosate applied alone, less 14C accumulated above the treated leaf and more accumulated in the roots when 2,4-D was added to the glyphosate. The combination of glyphosate with 2,4-D or dicamba generally resulted in both increased uptake of 14C from 2,4-D or dicamba and greater accumulation in the roots. The additive or synergistic field bindweed control observed from mixtures of glyphosate with 2,4-D or dicamba appeared to be due to greater accumulation of the herbicides in the roots.

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.

The effects of haloxyfop on elongation, mitotic index, and morphology of sorghum and unicorn-plant primary roots were examined. Elongation of sorghum roots was completely inhibited by haloxyfop concentrations of 10–6 M or greater 24 h after treatment, whereas unicorn-plant root elongation was unaffected by the same concentrations 72 h after treatment. Mitotic indices of sorghum roots were reduced by both 10–6 and 10–8 M haloxyfop, with the higher concentration reducing the index to near zero by 24 h of exposure. The mitotic indices of unicorn-plant roots were unaffected by the same levels of the herbicide after both 24- and 48-h treatment. Histological analyses showed that after 24 h exposure to 10–6 M haloxyfop, large vacuoles were present in cells at the root apex that normally did not exhibit these organelles. After 48 h of exposure many cells in the apical region appeared to lack visible cytoplasm and/or nuclei, and by 72 h only cell walls remained visibly evident, and many cells had collapsed. These changes are similar to those that occur in tissues undergoing senescence. Treatment of sorghum roots with 10–8 M haloxyfop did not cause discernible changes after 72 h. Unicorn-plant roots treated with 10–6 M haloxyfop appeared unaffected after 72 h.

The effects of interference between soybeans and common cocklebur were investigated. Common cocklebur interference reduced soybean growth at each of four sample dates during the growing season. The area of interference surrounding individual common cocklebur plants within the soybean row fluctuated over time with respect to intensity and spatial distribution. Soybean growth was significantly reduced up to 10 cm away from individual cocklebur plants at 6 weeks after planting (WAP), 30 cm at 8 WAP, 20 to 30 cm at 10 WAP, and 40 cm at 12 WAP. The maximum possible distance of cocklebur influence, determined by regression analysis, also varied during the growing season. When areas of interference from adjacent cocklebur plants overlapped, the cumulative influence was found to be additive, especially late in the growing season. Soybean interference caused a 50 to 90% reduction in the size of common cocklebur plants grown within the soybean row compared to plants grown without interference. At harvest, soybean yield was reduced up to 40 to 50 cm within the row from individual cocklebur plants. The maximum distance of interference on one side of individual cocklebur plants was 75 cm. One cocklebur plant reduced soybean yield 16.0% within 1.5 m of soybean row as the result of full-season interference. Interference of common cocklebur plants spaced 60 cm apart within the row overlapped and caused an additive reduction in soybean seed yield. Across all cocklebur treatments, there was a consistent ratio of approximately 1 kg/ha loss in soybean seed yield for each 4 kg/ha of cocklebur herbage produced.

Absorption and translocation of the methyl ester of haloxyfop (haloxyfop-methyl) in sorghum were reduced by presence of bentazon in the treatment emulsion. After 6 h, 18% of applied haloxyfop-methyl was recovered from the leaf surface in the absence of bentazon, compared to 43% of that applied in combination with bentazon. An average of 18% of applied haloxyfop-methyl was recovered as haloxyfop + haloxyfop-methyl from leaf tissues outside the treated zone in the absence of bentazon, compared to 8% of that applied in combination with bentazon. Haloxyfop-methyl absorption was similar whether applied with or without formulations of imazaquin or chlorimuron. However, the addition of imazaquin or chlorimuron to treatment emulsions decreased the translocation of haloxyfop + haloxyfop-methyl as only 13 and 12%, respectively, of the total amount of haloxyfop-methyl applied was translocated out of the treated zone. Mixtures of all herbicides were chemically stable; formulations of bentazon, imazaquin, or chlorimuron did not alter the ester or free acid levels of haloxyfop in an aqueous mixture over an 8-h period.

Ten corn inbred lines were field evaluated for their tolerance to DPX-M6316 at 32 and 64 g ai/ha. Inbreds ‘A619′, ‘A641′, and ‘ND246’ were highly susceptible to DPX-M6316; inbreds ‘A671′, ‘A632′, and ‘B73’ were highly tolerant; and inbreds ‘A654′, ‘CM105′, ‘W153R’, and ‘M017’ were intermediate in their response. The basis for differential tolerance was studied by comparing the susceptibility of acetolactate synthase (ALS) to inhibition by DPX-M6316 in tolerant A671 and susceptible A619, and by examining the absorption, translocation, and metabolism of DPX-M6316 in both genotypes. I50 values for DPX-M6316 inhibition of ALS activity in extracts from etiolated shoots of A671 and A619 were similar, 15.6 and 17.4 nM, respectively. There was little difference in 14C-DPX-M6316 absorption by the two inbreds, but twice as much of the absorbed 14C was translocated out of the treated leaf of A619 (13%) compared to A671 (6%). Differences in translocation may have been due to much more rapid DPX-M6316 metabolism in A671 than in A619. Extracts from treated leaves of A671 had only 23% DPX-M6316 remaining 5.5 h after treatment (HAT) compared to 78% DPX-M6316 remaining in extracts from A619 leaves. Therefore, rate of metabolism was the major factor involved in the tolerance of A671 and the susceptibility of A619 to DPX-M6316.

Application of chlorimuron and imazaquin at 0.28 kg ai/ha to field-grown sicklepod at early bloom and early fruit stages in 1984 and 1985 almost eliminated seed production. In addition, none of the seed produced following these treatments were capable of emergence during a 4-week period following acid scarification. Glyphosate applied at 0.28 kg ai/ha at early bloom decreased seed production 84% but did not affect seedling emergence in 1984, and precluded production of seed capable of emergence in 1985. Glyphosate applications at the early fruit stage reduced the number of seed that emerged 93 and 90% in 1984 and 1985, respectively. Application of 2,4-DB at 0.28 kg ai/ha and 2,4-D at 0.56 kg ai/ha at early bloom did not affect seed production or emergence in 1984 but almost eliminated production of seed capable of emergence in 1985. Applications of 2,4-DB and 2,4-D at the early fruit stage decreased the number of seed that emerged 99 and 52% in 1984 and 46 and 57% in 1985, respectively. Herbicide applications at the late fruit stage were generally less effective than earlier applications in reducing seed production and emergence.