Downy brome serves as an alternative host for Russian wheat aphid (RWA) in winter wheat. In field studies, downy brome infestations of 5 and 39 plants per m2 increased RWA-infested winter wheat tillers 1.4 to 2.8 times that seen in non-infested plots, respectively. RWA-infested winter wheat tillers were not reduced consistently by fertilization. Chlorpyrifos reduced the number of RWA-infested winter wheat tillers to 15 to 43% of untreated wheat. Insecticide efficacy was not influenced by downy brome infestation or by fertilizer either band- or broadcast-applied.

Preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) herbicides were sequentially applied to common bermudagrass over a two-year period to determine the lowest herbicide rates required to maintain acceptable large crabgrass and goosegrass control. Large crabgrass control was consistently higher in late August when MSMA at 2.2 kg ha−1 was applied to plots previously treated with dithiopyr at 0.3 kg ha−1 (99%) in 1991, and either pendimethalin at 1.1 kg ha−1 (95%) or oxadiazon at 1.1 kg ha−1 (94%) in 1992 than when either herbicide was applied alone (≤ 79%). Goosegrass control was also higher in late August when MSMA plus metribuzin at 2.0 + 0.14 kg ha−1 was applied to plots treated with pendimethalin at 1.7 kg ha−1 (71%) in 1991, with oxadiazon at ≤ 2.2 kg ha−1 (≤ 89%) in 1992, and with dithiopyr at 0.4 kg ha−1 (≤ 96%) both years than when the herbicides were applied alone. Diclofop at 1.1 kg ha−1 applied alone as POST controlled ≥ 96% goosegrass throughout the two-year period.

Sicklepod seed production and germination were evaluated in density and weed-free period studies without herbicide treatment and after imazaquin or metribuzin plus chlorimuron were applied PRE in soybean. Neither herbicide nor sicklepod density affected sicklepod seed germination, but delaying emergence of sicklepod from 0 wk to 8 wk after soybean emergence reduced subsequent sicklepod seed germination from 92% to 48%. Increasing sicklepod density from two to eight plants per row m reduced sicklepod seeds per plant, but increased sicklepod seeds per m2, regardless of herbicide. Extending the weed-free period from 0 to 8 wk reduced sicklepod seeds per plant and seeds per m2. Imazaquin and chlorimuron plus metribuzin reduced sicklepod seeds per m2 more than 50% at 0 or 2 wk weed-free intervals, compared with nontreated plants at these same intervals.

Field studies were conducted in 1986-87 and 1988-89 to compare chiseling, disking, and skewtreading to no-till and to compare 0.3 and 0.4 kg ai ha−1 pronamide applied before or after fall tillages for weed control in fallow. Chiseling or disking in October 1986 when weeds were emerged reduced the dry weight of volunteer wheat about 90% the following spring; however, only disking reduced the dry weight of downy brome 90%. Disking or skewtreading in October 1988 before weeds germinated reduced the dry weight of volunteer wheat about 95% 6 mo later, but none of the three tillages reduced the dry weight of downy brome. Pronamide applied at 0.3 and 0.4 kg ha−1 to emerged downy brome and volunteer wheat with either chiseling or disking before or after herbicide application reduced the dry weight of both species 90% or more 6 mo later compared with tillage alone. If weeds did not emerge until early November, then only pronamide at 0.4 kg ha−1 applied in no-till or after fall tillage controlled both species at least 90%.

The acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides chlorimuron and imazaquin, and the diphenylether herbicides acifluorfen and lactofen, were applied alone and in all possible combinations to the foliage of common cocklebur, pitted morningglory, and prickly sida to evaluate interacting effects on absorption and translocation. The addition of unlabeled acifluorfen to 14C-chlorimuron increased absorption in common cocklebur, pitted morningglory, and prickly sida. Lactofen also increased absorption of 14C-imazaquin in all species. Conversely, imazaquin reduced absorption or translocation of 14C-acifluorfen in common cocklebur or pitted morningglory, respectively. In all species, absorption was lower when unlabeled chlorimuron or imazaquin was combined with 14C-lactofen than when applied alone.

Weed data were collected over three tillage systems and two years in southwestern Ontario, in fields of corn, soybean, and winter wheat. Tillage systems involved soil inversion by moldboard plow, soil disturbance without inversion, and no tillage. The data were subjected to multivariate ordination techniques to determine if weed communities were associated with the different crops, tillage systems, or years. Crop, year, and tillage system all had significant effects on the weed community. Weed communities in corn and winter wheat were least similar; those in soybean were intermediate. Several grass weeds were more abundant in the drier of the two years. Some variation was related to tillage system but the effect of tillage was less than that of either crop or year.

Leaves of torpedograss and American black nightshade were extracted with chloroform at room temperature. A 2-s dip was sufficient to remove most of the epicuticular wax from torpedograss. However, epicuticular hydrocarbon weight represented only 6.4% of the total extract weight and 6.94 μg g−1 fresh weight of chlorophyll were found in the 2-s extract. This represented 25% of the chlorophyll detected in the 232-h extract. In American black nightshade, epicuticular hydrocarbons continued to be removed from the leaf surface up to 6 h of extraction. Epicuticular hydrocarbons represented 0.6% of total extract weight. In the 6-h extract, 4.02 μg g−1 fresh weight of chlorophyll were found. This represented 17% of the chlorophyll detected in the 232-h extract. Evaluation of leaf surfaces using scanning electron microscopy indicated that epicuticular wax was being removed from torpedograss leaves up to 1 h. However, there was little visible evidence for wax extraction from the surface of American black nightshade leaves.

Producers need alternative methods to manage jointed goatgrass because there are no herbicides that selectively control jointed goatgrass in winter wheat. The effect of crop residue incorporated in soil on reducing seedling growth of jointed goatgrass was examined in the greenhouse. Residues of corn, proso millet, safflower, grain sorghum, and winter wheat reduced fresh weight of jointed goatgrass by 70 to 85%. Applying N fertilizer at 33 or 66 kg ha−1 diminished this effect, indicating that residue stimulated microbial immobilization of N. Ethiozin applied preemergence at 0.2 μg g−1 soil reduced jointed goatgrass seedling growth by 50%, but combining crop residue with ethiozin did not synergistically improve control of jointed goatgrass. These results suggest that producers may favor winter wheat growth over jointed goatgrass by incorporating crop residue in soil with tillage before planting and by banding N with winter wheat seed at planting.

Hexazinone (1.12 kg ai/ha), triclopyr (1.12 kg ai/ha), metsulfuron (0.008 kg ai/ha), dichlorprop + 2,4-D, glyphosate (2.8%), and triclopyr (2%) + diesel oil (98%), applied as a broadcast or spot (individual plant) treatment, were evaluated over two years in south Florida for tropical soda apple (TSA) control and their effects on grass ground cover. For broadcast treatments, triclopyr (98%) and hexazinone (93%), had significantly (P < 0.05) higher percent control of marked TSA plants 90 d after herbicide application. However, triclopyr (99%) had significantly higher grass ground cover than hexazinone (78%). Hexazinone severely damaged Pangola digitgrass, but had no effect on bahiagrass. For spot treatments, dichlorprop + 2,4-D (100%) had the highest percent total control of TSA and least effect on grass ground cover (96%) 90 d after herbicide application, followed by glyphosate (96% control) and triclopyr + diesel oil (95% control). Based on acceptable (>90%) TSA control and grass ground cover, triclopyr broadcast or dichlorprop + 2,4-D spot provided the greatest control. With either application method, repeated herbicide applications will be necessary to eliminate TSA because of rapid seedling emergence following control of existing plants.

A four-year experiment was conducted near Scottsbluff, NE to evaluate the effect of different methods of preplant tillage, post-plant cultivation, and herbicides on weed density and grain yield. Ridge-till enhanced the development of kochia and reduced the density of wild proso millet and common lambsquarters. Tandem disking increased longspine sandbur and redroot pigweed density whereas moldboard plowing increased common sunflower density. Cultivation reduced weed density 86% but weeds that remained after cultivation reduced corn grain yield by 40% as compared with a hand-weeded control. Weed control treatments that integrated cultivation and herbicides controlled a broader spectrum of weed species than cultivation or herbicide treatments alone.

Field studies were conducted from 1986 through 1989 to evaluate the tolerance of three clover species to selected POST herbicides. 2,4-D at 0.8 and 1.7 kg ha−1 injured rose and berseem clovers while the high rate injured subterranean clover. Bentazon and pronamide did not injure rose or subterranean clover; however, pronamide at 3.4 kg ha−1 injured berseem clover 18% when rated 72 days after treatment.

Soybean response to simulated drift of the corn herbicides nicosulfuron and primisulfuron applied POST at 10 to 50% (3.5 to 17.4 and 4.0 to 20.2 g ai ha−1, respectively) of the total rates at the V3 and R1 growth stages was evaluated in field studies in 1991 and 1992. Primisulfuron reduced soybean height and increased leaf chlorosis, cupping, and necrosis more than nicosulfuron with both applications at all five rates. The symptoms of injury caused by both herbicides often increased linearly with increasing rate. At 50% of label rate, primisulfuron reduced height 75% and decreased yield 58%. Nicosulfuron reduced soybean height as much as 27%, but did not reduce seed yield either year. Height reduction, leaf chlorosis, cupping, and necrosis were correlated with yield loss caused by primisulfuron.

Research was conducted in 1990 through 1992 to examine the vegetative and reproductive growth regulating activity of imazaquin and AC 263,222 on common bermudagrass. AC 263,222 at 0.06 kg ha−1, alone and in combination with imazaquin (0.21 kg ai ha−1), significantly reduced seedhead number, seedhead height, and vegetative canopy height for a 4-wk period after both May and July treatment. Imazaquin (0.42 kg ai ha−1) applied alone resulted in less turfgrass discoloration, but suppressed vegetative and reproductive growth of common bermudagrass less as compared with treatments containing AC 263,222.

Clethodim was applied to tall fescue to determine the effects of application timing (fall, early spring, mid-spring), rate (0, 5.6, 11.2, or 22.4 g ai ha−1), and use of crop oil (0 or 2.3 L ha−1) on seedhead density and forage yield and quality of tall fescue. Increasing the rate of clethodim or adding crop oil reduced seedhead density and forage yield, and generally improved forage quality. There was no effect of application date in 1988 and 1990, but seedhead density and forage yield decreased from the November to the March application date in 1989.

The U. S. Plant Introduction Collection of cowpea germplasm and a collection of cowpea cultivars were evaluated for bentazon tolerance in the field. Most accessions were intermediate in bentazon tolerance; however, several highly tolerant and highly susceptible accessions were identified. Tolerant and susceptible selections from the field experiment were evaluated in greenhouse experiments. The most susceptible selections were killed or severely injured by bentazon at 2 kg ae ha−1; the most tolerant selections were not severely injured by bentazon at 16 kg ha−1.

During field experiments the Russian knapweed nematode formed no galls on artichoke, one sterile gall on American basketflower, and few nematodes in numerous small galls on southwestern basket flower in comparison with much higher nematode production per gall on Russian knapweed.

A survey determined the views of individuals in seven groups comprising the weed science community in the corn belt (primarily in Illinois) for importance of 8 environmental and 14 crop production issues and 16 weed species in setting weed science research priorities for the next 3 to 5 yr. The survey also considered if funding of research to solve these environmental and production issues should be from the private or public sector. Velvetleaf, foxtail species, and common lambsquarters were considered the top three weed species by all respondents, and each of these weeds was among the five most important weeds within each of the seven survey groups. Improving ground and surface water quality were the foremost environmental issues for all respondents, but soybean growers listed herbicide carryover as their top environmental concern. Reducing herbicide residues in food and developing sustainable practices were given low preference by all groups. Sustainable growers rated reducing herbicide carryover and minimizing applicator exposure as their lowest priorities. Among all respondents, the top three production issues were improved weed control in conservation tillage, more economical weed control, and improved integrated control strategies. Studying the biology/life cycles of weeds was the third highest production priority of University and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) weed scientists, but was the last choice when averaged over the aggregate survey group. Developing strategies for resistant weeds and herbicide-resistant crops were chemical dealers top two priorities. Industry representatives gave the former subject their highest rating and the latter their lowest rating. Crop consultants seemed to want decision aids, as they chose assessing weed loss/thresholds and developing weed control/economic models among their top three production issues. Both corn and soybean growers desired more economical weed control as a first choice, while sustainable growers wanted improved cultural control strategies. Corn and soybean growers ranked developing new herbicides among their top three choices, but this issue was the lowest choice of the sustainable growers. University, USDA, and industrial weed scientists suggested that their own organizations conduct the research on their highest priorities issues.

Little lovegrass, an annual species native to Europe, was not listed in the floras that describe the plants of Idaho and Washington. Twelve collections were made between 1984 and 1992 from four Idaho counties and six Washington counties. Those records extended the range of this species 450 to 1000 km northwest of populations reported in the literature. Approximately 600 km separated the furthest of the new collection sites, indicating widespread naturalization in those states. Eight of the collections were from roadsides, suggesting that human transport technology had a substantial influence on this plant's dispersal.

Weeds reduce the livestock production from pastures and impose control costs on producers and governments. Economic assessments of pasture weed problems are required on and beyond the farm for planning private and public weed control. This requirement has several dimensions that can be used to demonstrate the economic effect of weeds and encourage weed control by the private and public sectors. This paper discusses the economic problems of pasture weeds and the procedures for multi-level economic assessments with a major pasture weed in Australia as an example, and demonstrates the important private and social economic benefits from controlling this weed.

In 1990, a broadleaf weed growing on a cattle ranch in Hendry County in southwest Florida was identified as tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum Dunal), a species native to Argentina and Brazil (5) (Figure 1). Tropical soda apple (TSA) was apparently collected in Florida from Glades County in 1988 (University of Florida Herbarium) but was observed on the Hendry County ranch as early as 1987. Having foliage unpalatable to livestock, this noxious weed can infest a pasture or rangeland within one to two years resulting in lower stocking rates (animals per hectare). However, livestock and wildlife (feral hogs, deer, raccoons) will eat the fruit and disseminate the seed via feces. Fruit production occurs throughout the year (primarily September through May) thus providing high numbers (40000 to 50 000 per plant) of viable seed (75% germination) for seed dispersal. Our objectives are to alert those concerned with weed control of the presence of TSA in subtropical regions of the U.S., to discuss the ecology and taxonomy of this weed, and to indicate areas for future research.