An accession of auxinic herbicide-resistant yellow starthistle found near Dayton, WA, was tested to evaluate cross-resistance to growth regulator herbicides and susceptibility to herbicides with different modes of action. Picloram at 0.43 kg ae/ha removed susceptible (S) yellow starthistle plants from a field plot, and surviving resistant (R) plants were dug and moved to the greenhouse. Known S plants were transplanted from a pasture near the R population. The R biotype was reconfirmed as resistant to picloram in greenhouse tests, with resistance ratios of 5.6 and 3.8 for vegetative and reproductive biomass, respectively, and 10.2 for LD50 (lethal dose for 50% of the treated population) data. The R biotype was also cross-resistant to clopyralid and dicamba in all responses and to 2,4-D and triclopyr in vegetative biomass and LD50 data. In field trials, eight herbicides were applied alone and in various combinations with and without addition of picloram. The yellow starthistle population was apparently comprised of differing percentages of R and S plants in 1997 and 1998, as picloram alone controlled 65 to 76% of the yellow starthistle in 1997 and 96 to 97% in 1998. BAS 662 01H (dicamba + SAN 836) at 0.28 or 0.42 kg ae/ha, respectively, or dicamba at 0.56 kg ae/ha were the best alternative treatments in either trial in either year, but only in 1998 did control exceed 85%. Picloram and other auxinic herbicides should continue to be useful for control of mixed R and S yellow starthistle populations. However, effective herbicides with different mode(s) of action integrated with range improvement practices and biological control must be identified for long-term yellow starthistle management.

Flumioxazin and sulfentrazone were compared for phytotoxicity on 15 soybean varieties in a greenhouse study and four varieties in the field. In the greenhouse, injury from sulfentrazone was greater overall than with flumioxazin, 10% compared with 1%, respectively, when averaged across varieties at the labeled rates. The varieties P9552, P91B01, P9362, and P9305 were more sensitive to sulfentrazone than the 11 other varieties on the basis of visible injury and plant height reductions. Sulfentrazone at 224 g ai/ha (1× rate) reduced plant height 23 to 53% and caused 18 to 38% visible injury on the four sensitive varieties. Visible injury symptoms consisted of stunting, crinkling of leaves, and chlorotic spots. Varieties P9305, P9306, P9352, and P9362 were compared in a field study with flumioxazin at 105, 210, and 420 g ai/ha or sulfentrazone at 224, 448, and 896 g ai/ha, corresponding to 1, 2, and 4× labeled rates. An untreated control of each variety was included for comparison. Contrary to the results of the greenhouse studies, injury from flumioxazin was similar to that from sulfentrazone in the field experiments. In 1998, emergence counts were reduced 19 to 52% with flumioxazin and 27 to 73% with sulfentrazone at the 1× rate. Visible injury and stand count reductions resulting from both herbicides were also apparent in that year. Emergence count reductions, stand count reductions, and visible injury resulting from the herbicides were less severe in 1999. At the 1× rate of each herbicide, yields were not affect in either year, except P9305 treated with sulfentrazone in 1999. At the 4× rate, P9305 was most sensitive to sulfentrazone, as indicated by a 53 and 23% reduction yield in 1998 and 1999, respectively. Avoidance of sensitive varieties will reduce the potential for injury and yield reduction with sulfentrazone, and maybe flumioxazin.

The cause of differential susceptibility of barnyardgrass, hemp sesbania, pitted morningglory, and prickly sida to glyphosate was examined by measuring the absorption of 14C-glyphosate, quantifying the amount of epicuticular wax, and observing the wettability of leaf surfaces. In greenhouse experiments, the biomass of barnyardgrass and prickly sida was reduced by 95% by Roundup Ultra®. Hemp sesbania and pitted morningglory showed more tolerance, with 66 and 51% average biomass reduction, respectively. Absorption of 14C-glyphosate in a controlled environment did not follow the trend in species susceptibility with barnyardgrass, 30%; prickly sida, 18%; hemp sesbania, 52%; and pitted morningglory, 6%; absorption. The high tolerance of pitted morningglory to glyphosate can be attributed mostly to limited absorption, but the tolerance of hemp sesbania is due to other mechanisms. The addition of nonionic surfactant (NIS) to a low rate of Roundup Ultra® reduced absorption of 14C-glyphosate by barnyardgrass and hemp sesbania, but had no effect on the herbicidal activity. Glyphosate absorption in the four weed species was not correlated with quantity of chloroform-extracted wax or leaf wettability. Pitted morningglory and prickly sida, which contained the least leaf wax, also had smaller contact angles or higher leaf wettability than the species with more waxy leaves. The adjuvant in Roundup Ultra® reduced contact angles of the four species compared to contact angles obtained using deionized water alone. The addition of 0.25% v/v NIS alone to water reduced contact angles more than did the adjuvant in Roundup Ultra® solution.

A field experiment was conducted over 2 yr to study efficacy of bromoxynil mixtures with pyrithiobac or MSMA applied postemergence (POST) with and without fluometuron or fluometuron plus pendimethalin preemergence (PRE) for control of broadleaf weeds in ultra narrow row bromoxynil-resistant cotton in the Mississippi Delta. Bromoxynil applied POST (single or sequential) provided variable control of common purslane (<9%), sicklepod (<35%), Palmer amaranth (<46%), prickly sida (>75%), hyssop spurge (>79%), hemp sesbania (>96%), and pitted morningglory (100%) at 4 wk after early POST (WAT). Broadleaf weed control increased when PRE herbicides were followed by bromoxynil or bromoxynil plus pyrithiobac or MSMA POST. Weed control generally decreased at harvest compared to 4 WAT, and the decrease was greater in bromoxynil POST-only programs compared to bromoxynil POST following PRE programs. Seed cotton yield with bromoxynil POST-only programs was lower (400 to 2,810 kg/ha) compared to bromoxynil POST programs following PRE herbicides (2,150 to 3,720 kg/ha). Early-season weed interference and variable control of weeds in bromoxynil POST-only programs resulted in greater cotton stand reduction and lower open bolls per plant compared to bromoxynil POST programs following PRE herbicides.

Field studies were conducted from 1997 to 1999 to evaluate the influence of broadleaf herbicides on double-crop glyphosate-resistant soybean injury and yield at Belleville, IL. Diphenylether herbicides applied postemergence (POST) caused 10 to 48% necrosis 7 days after treatment (DAT). POST herbicides caused 0 to 8%, 8 to 37%, and 0 to 12% height reduction 7 DAT in 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively. In most instances, diphenylether herbicides did not delay soybean maturity, whereas imazethapyr applied POST delayed soybean maturity in 1998 and 1999. Acifluorfen plus bentazon reduced soybean height at maturity in 1997 and 1998, whereas lactofen, imazethapyr, and imazamox reduced height only in 1998. Diphenylether herbicides did not reduce grain yield when compared to the no-herbicide hand-weeded treatment, but imazamox reduced yield by 18%. Furthermore, the soil herbicides applied preemergence and diphenylether herbicides applied POST did not reduce grain yield when compared to glyphosate alone.

A study was established to evaluate weed control and crop response of imidazolinone-tolerant (IMI-tolerant) rice in water-seeded culture with imazethapyr at 70, 105, and 140 g ai/ha at four different soil application timings with or without 70 g/ha imazethapyr postemergence (POST). Application timings included preplant incorporated (PPI), surface application prior to seeding (SURFACE), following seeding (SEED), and at pegging (PEG). The PEG treatments were applied when green leaf tissue had emerged from the seed and the root had begun to extend downward into the soil. Response of barnyardgrass, red rice, and rice injury was not affected by the addition of an imazethapyr POST application. Barnyardgrass control was above 90% at 28 d after treatment (DAT) for both years. At 42 DAT, barnyardgrass control decreased to 88% in 1998, compared with 94% control in 1999. Averaged over years, Indian jointvetch control ranged from 44 to 74% at 28 DAT and 41 to 71% at 42 DAT. Indian jointvetch control was inconsistent and lacked uniformity over all factors. Rice injury increased as application timing was delayed from PPI to PEG in 1998 at both rating dates. In 1999, injury was not observed with imazethapyr at 28 DAT, and 1% injury was observed at 42 DAT with all imazethapyr application timings.

Torpedograss is a serious problem in southern turfgrass, especially along the U.S. gulf coast. Studies were conducted during 1998, 1999, and 2000 to evaluate quinclorac for torpedograss control in bermudagrass turf. Three applications of quinclorac at 0.6 kg/ha spaced 21 d apart provided better torpedograss control (88%) than two applications at 0.8 kg/ha (69%) or one application at 1.7 kg/ha (69%). Two applications of quinclorac (0.8 kg/ha) plus diclofop (0.8 kg/ha) provided better torpedograss control (82%) than either herbicide applied alone when evaluated after a single season of application. Increasing the mowing interval prior to quinclorac application to allow for more foliage to be present did not improve control. Nitrogen application prior to quinclorac treatment did not improve torpedograss control. Long-term control will most likely require quinclorac applications for more than one season.

Desiccants are used in potato production to remove vines before harvest to make harvest easier. We evaluated the new herbicide glufosinate-ammonium for potential as a vine desiccant, for its effect on seed tuber sprouting, and plant growth the following season. Glufosinate-ammonium was applied at 0, 0.3, 0.45, 0.6, and 0.75 kg ai/ha and compared with diquat at 0.84 kg ai/ha when applied as desiccants in mid-September in 1997 and 1998. Potato leaf and vine desiccation were rated 3, 7, and 14 d after treatment (DAT). Yields were obtained at maturity and tubers retained and stored over winter at 3 C and 95% relative humidity for determination of stem end discoloration (SED), tuber sprouting in March, and plant growth of daughter tubers planted the following year. Application of glufosinate-ammonium resulted in slower leaf and stem desiccation at 3 and 7 DAT than did diquat. By 14 DAT leaf desiccation was the same but stem desiccation was slightly less than with diquat. Tuber SED and marketable tuber yield were no different with either desiccant. At higher rates of application, glufosinate-ammonium reduced daughter tuber sprout weight but had no effect on number of sprouts in growth room sprouting tests when compared with untreated controls. Daughter tubers from glufosinate-ammonium-treated plants planted the next growing season had markedly slower emergence and established full emergence 7 to 14 d later than diquat-desiccated tubers.

S-metolachlor was compared with metolachlor at four field locations in Texas during the 1996 and 1997 growing seasons in terms of yellow nutsedge control, peanut injury, and peanut yield. S-metolachlor caused peanut injury comparable to metolachlor when either herbicide was applied preplant incorporated or preemergence. Yellow nutsedge control was similar and peanut yields were comparable with the two herbicides. At one location where yellow nutsedge failed to develop, the untreated check produced one of the highest yields.

Field trials were conducted in 1997 and 1998 at two locations in Israel to evaluate the efficacy of imazapic applied postemergence (POST) to sunflower for broomrape control under irrigated and nonirrigated conditions. Two sequential treatments of imazapic at 1.5 followed by (FB) 3.0, 3.0 FB 4.5, or 4.5 FB 6.0 g ai/ha on sunflower plants 12 ± 3 and 55 ± 5 cm tall, respectively, reduced sunflower broomrape throughout the growing season under irrigated and nonirrigated conditions. Sunflower growth was not affected by imazapic treatments. It was confirmed, in accordance with an earlier report, that when sequential treatments of imazapic included an application at the sunflower inflorescence developmental stage, the herbicide decreased seed yield in proportion to the applied rate.

Field studies were conducted with fresh market spinach to examine crop tolerance and weed control with S-metolachlor. S-metolachlor was applied preemergence (PRE) at rates of 0.56, 0.72, 1.06, and 1.41 kg/ha and compared with the commercial standard cycloate at 3.4 and 4.5 kg/ha. Spinach was generally tolerant of S-metolachlor at rates up to 1.06 kg/ha on all soil types. S-Metolachlor at 0.56 to 0.72 kg/ha and cycloate at 3.4 kg/ha provided >88% control of common purslane, nettleleaf goosefoot, and shepherd's purse. Control of common chickweed with S-metolachlor at ≥0.56 kg/ha was >80%, whereas cycloate at 3.4 to 4.5 kg/ha was ineffective. Hand-weeding times in plots treated with S-metolachlor at 0.56 and 0.72 kg/ha were similar or lower than hand-weeding times in plots treated with cycloate at 3.4 kg/ha. Greenhouse studies were conducted to compare the relative tolerance of fresh market spinach to S-metolachlor and metolachlor. The GR10 values for S-metolachlor and metolachlor were 1.57 and 2.03 kg/ha, respectively. At rates above 2.2 kg/ha S-metolachlor is less selective in spinach than metolachlor. S-metolachlor is safe for PRE use in fresh market spinach at rates up to 1.06 kg/ha.

The critical period of weed control for crops grown under conventional tillage systems has been well studied, and the results generated by these studies have been proven to be very useful in developing ecologically and economically sound weed management practices. However, these management systems may not be directly applicable under no-till situations because the species composition, total amount, and temporal pattern of seedling emergence change substantially with tillage. The objective of this study was to identify the critical period of weed control for soybean and corn in fields that had been under no-till management for 1 yr. Although estimates of the critical period for a crop vary from year to year and site to site, some interesting comparisons can be made between no-till and conventional tillage. The start of the critical period in no-till corn was stable, usually beginning at the six-leaf stage. The end of the critical period was more variable ranging from the 9- to 13-leaf stage. The critical period for corn under no-till conditions tended to start and end earlier than under conventional tillage practices. In soybean, we were unable to identify a critical period at one of the sites. At the other location (sandy loam soil), the critical period was estimated to begin at the first or second node developmental stage, whereas the end was determined to be at the R1 stage (early flowering). The critical period in soybean was longer than that observed under conventional tillage.

Field experiments were conducted over 3 yr at three locations in Illinois to evaluate the efficacy of glyphosate in glyphosate-resistant soybean planted in rows spaced 19, 38, and 76 cm. Minimal soybean injury (less than 10%) was observed from any glyphosate treatment. Glyphosate treatments controlled 82 to 99% of giant foxtail. Common waterhemp control was increased as soybean row spacing was decreased. Applying sequential glyphosate applications or increasing the glyphosate rate from 420 g ae/ha to 840 g/ha frequently increased common waterhemp control in 76-cm rows. Velvetleaf control with glyphosate was variable, ranging from 48 to 99%. Decreasing soybean row spacing, utilizing sequential glyphosate applications, or increasing the glyphosate rate improved velvetleaf control in at least four of eight site-years. Glyphosate treatments generally resulted in weed control and soybean yield equal to or greater than the standard herbicide treatments. However, glyphosate treatments yielded less than the hand-weeded control in four of eight site-years, suggesting that weed control from glyphosate treatments was sometimes inadequate.

Field studies were conducted from 1998 to 2000 to evaluate the effects of the trimethylsulfonium (Tms) salt of glyphosate on glyphosate-resistant soybean at Belleville, IL. Glyphosate-Tms and glyphosate-isopropylamine (Ipa) at 1,120, 1,680, 2,240, 3,360, and 4,480 g ai/ha were applied at the V4 and R1 growth stages of glyphosate-resistant soybean. Glyphosate-Tms and glyphosate-Ipa caused greater chlorosis when applied at the R1 growth stage when compared with the V4 growth stage, and chlorosis increased with rate. Chlorosis ranged from 0 to 20% depending on the year. In 1998, glyphosate-Ipa at 2,240 and 3,360 g/ha applied at the R1 growth stage caused 4 to 5% more chlorosis than glyphosate-Tms at the same rates. In addition to chlorosis, glyphosate-Tms caused bleaching (white speckling) of soybean leaves, with bleaching increasing as glyphosate-Tms rate increased. Glyphosate-Ipa caused no bleaching, regardless of rate. Glyphosate-Tms and -Ipa caused no visible height reduction at 14 and 28 d after treatment in any year. In 1998 and 1999, glyphosate-Tms and -Ipa, at the highest rate applied at the R1 growth stage, increased days to maturity of soybean. Despite the injury and delay in maturity caused by glyphosate-Tms and -Ipa, there was no difference in grain yield across years because of glyphosate salt, rate, or application timing.

Early canopy closure and manipulation of crop row spacing or density can reduce the amount and frequency of herbicide use in corn. Field studies were conducted at Woodstock, ON from 1996 to 1999 to evaluate the effect of corn row spacing, plant density, and frequency of glufosinate application on weed biomass and corn yield in glufosinate-resistant corn. Treatments included row width, corn density, and herbicide. The effect of row width and corn density on weed biomass was variable among years. In a wet year (1996), narrow (38 cm) rows provided greater weed suppression than wide (76 cm) rows regardless of crop density. In a dry year (1998), narrow-row high-density (100,000 plants/ha) corn had the lowest weed biomass. In other years, either narrow row or high density was equally successful in suppressing weeds. Effectiveness of herbicides in reducing weed biomass was not influenced by row width or corn density. Corn yield was influenced by row width or corn density. Although weed biomass was lowered by two applications of glufosinate in comparison with a single application, corn grain yields were similar between the two treatments. Planting corn at higher densities may help in reducing early-season weed competition, whereas narrow rows may help in controlling later-emerging species.

Kyllinga squamulata has become problematic in bermudagrass turf in recent years, probably related to shifts in herbicide use strategies. Preemergence and postemergence greenhouse and field herbicide studies evaluated K. squamulata control in bermudagrass turf. Excellent (≥90%) postemergence control at 6 wk after initial treatment (WAIT) followed single and sequential applications of imazaquin at 0.42 kg ai/ha, MSMA plus imazaquin at 1.12 + 0.42 kg ai/ha, and sulfentrazone at 0.56 kg ai/ha. In one of two experiments, unacceptable (>30%) bermudagrass injury occurred with imazaquin at 0.42 and 0.56 kg ai/ha and MSMA plus imazaquin at 1.12 + 0.42 kg ai/ha 1 wk after application; however, plots recovered fully by 2 wk. In the field at 18 WAIT, preemergence control of greater than 70% was obtained with a single application of oxadiazon at 1.12 or 2.24 kg ai/ha and sequential applications of 1.12 kg ai/ha each 8 wk apart. Sequential applications 8 wk apart of sulfentrazone at 0.28 followed by 0.28 kg/ha also provided greater than 70% preemergence control. In two greenhouse studies, oxadiazon at 2.24 kg/ha and sulfentrazone at 0.56 kg/ha provided greater than 90% preemergence control.

Spotted knapweed is an important weed of rangeland in the northwestern United States. A study was conducted near Corvallis, MT, during 1992 to 1994 in order to assess the relationship among the growth attributes of spotted knapweed to identify a minimum set of measurable plant characteristics that are representative of spotted knapweed vigor. Spotted knapweed growth attributes that were examined included plant age, root diameter, plant height, number of stems per plant, aboveground biomass, number of capitula (seed heads) per plant, and number of capitula per stem. Spotted knapweed age was positively correlated with root diameter, number of stems per plant, aboveground biomass, and proportion of bolted plants. Most spotted knapweed plants did not bolt until the third or fourth year. Although plant age is not measured easily in the field, it may be useful as a covariate in an analysis of experiments involving plant competition or nonlethal biological control agents. Root diameter can be used as a nondestructive measure of approximate plant age, especially for the first 5 yr of growth. Root diameter was also highly correlated with many growth measurements, including number of capitula per plant and aboveground biomass, which are most relevant to assessing overall plant vigor. Plant height was positively correlated with aboveground biomass, number of capitula per plant, and mean number of capitula per stem. Number of stems per plant was positively correlated with plant height, aboveground biomass, and number of capitula per plant. Aboveground biomass was positively correlated to number of capitula per plant and mean number of capitula per stem. Measurements of root diameter, plant height, and number of stems are easy to perform and should provide a good indication of plant vigor.

A study was conducted in 1999 to evaluate weed control and imidazolinone-tolerant (IMI-tolerant) rice response to 140 g ai/ha imazethapyr at different application timings and to flood depths of 5, 10, and 20 cm at the Rice Research Station near Crowley, LA, and at the Northeast Research Station near St. Joseph, LA. Barnyardgrass control, rice injury, and rice yield were not influenced by flood depth; therefore, data were averaged over flood depths. Season-long barnyardgrass control was greater than 80% at both locations with imazethapyr applied preplant incorporated (PPI), early postemergence (EPOST), and mid-postemergence (MPOST). IMI-tolerant rice injury at 7 d after late postemergence (LPOST) treatment (DAT) was less than 5% for all imazethapyr treatments at Crowley and 1 to 8% for PPI, preemergence (PRE), delayed preemergence (DPRE), and EPOST timings at St. Joseph. However, IMI-tolerant rice injury was 5% or less at 42 DAT for all treatments at Crowley and St. Joseph. IMI-tolerant rice yield at Crowley was 2,780 to 3,000 kg/ha following applications of imazethapyr at PPI, PRE, DPRE, and EPOST, and these yields were higher than the yields of the MPOST and LPOST treatments. At St. Joseph, IMI-tolerant rice yields were equal for imazethapyr applied PPI, DPRE, and EPOST treatments compared with Crowley.

Field experiments were conducted near DeKalb and Urbana, IL, and Columbia, MO, in 1997 and 1998 to evaluate weed management systems in glyphosate- and glufosinate-resistant soybean planted in 18-cm rows. Overall weed control was improved to a greater extent when the rate of glufosinate was increased from 300 to 400 g ai/ha than when the rate of glyphosate increased from 630 to 840 g ae/ha. Sequential applications of glufosinate improved control over single applications, whereas sequential treatments of glyphosate generally provided no advantages over single applications. When averaged across all weed species in these trials, the systems that provided 95% or higher average control were sequential applications of glufosinate, sequential applications of glyphosate, and clomazone followed by (fb) glyphosate. Single applications of glufosinate provided somewhat variable control of giant foxtail, common lambsquarters, ragweed, and common cocklebur similar to that observed with pendimethalin fb imazethapyr. The addition of fomesafen to glufosinate did not improve control of any of the weeds in this study with the exception of velvetleaf at DeKalb. The addition of clomazone to glufosinate treatments resulted in slightly better giant foxtail and velvetleaf control. Single applications of glyphosate provided somewhat variable control of giant ragweed at DeKalb in 1997 and ivyleaf morningglory and common cocklebur control at Columbia. The addition of fomesafen to glyphosate provided an increase in ivyleaf morningglory and common cocklebur control at Columbia but did not improve control of any other species. The addition of clomazone to glyphosate-based programs resulted in slightly higher velvetleaf, common cocklebur, and ivyleaf morningglory control. In the glyphosate-based herbicide programs there were no substantial differences in relative yield, with all programs protecting over 95% of soybean yield. Glufosinate-based programs were effective in protecting 85 to 92% of soybean yield.

Dicamba is a herbicide used for the control of broadleaf weeds in wheat. Dicamba, applied within the recommended growth stage interval, reduced the grain yield of Wakefield winter wheat by 95% in a herbicide sensitivity study at Michigan State University. Growers have also reported yield loss when using dicamba on Wakefield. Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to characterize the response of Wakefield winter wheat to dicamba and to compare this response to that of ‘Harus’ winter wheat, a cultivar that is not considered sensitive to dicamba. This research was conducted to characterize the sensitivity of Wakefield to dicamba and to develop visual methods for detecting sensitivity of wheat cultivars to dicamba. Field experiments confirmed that dicamba affects the number of spikelets and the seed weight of Harus and Wakefield similarly. However, dicamba, applied within the recommended application interval, caused small, shriveled (underdeveloped) seeds to occur in Wakefield in the field and greenhouse. These seeds weighed very little, did not contribute to grain yield, and could not be harvested mechanically. Dicamba reduced the number of fully developed seeds of Wakefield by as much as 62% in the field and 92% in the greenhouse when applied within the recommended application interval. The number of fully developed seeds of Harus was reduced in the field only when dicamba was applied later than the recommended application interval. Decreases in grain yield due to dicamba were caused primarily by decreases in the number of fully developed seeds. Greenhouse experiments indicated that pollen abnormalities were only a minor cause of the development of underdeveloped seeds.