Genetically engineered varieties of creeping bentgrass, resistant to glyphosate, have been developed. Studies were initiated in 2000 and 2001 to examine the relative competitive lateral spread of several transformed lines of creeping bentgrass, nontransformed controls, and cultivar standards. Five-centimeter-diameter vegetative plugs of creeping bentgrass were transplanted into a 1-yr-old stand of perennial ryegrass in Columbus, OH, and 10-yr-old bermudagrass or 10-yr-old St. Augustinegrass in Loxley, AL. Plots were watered to prevent moisture stress to either the bentgrass plugs or surrounding turf swards. Monthly average diameter of the creeping bentgrass was determined by measuring the longest spread and shortest spread. At the end of the experiment, no differences (P = 0.05) in lateral spread were observed between individual lines of transgenic bentgrass, standard cultivars, and nontransformed control lines. Lateral spread of transgenic lines was similar to or less than their nontransformed parent and the standard cultivars tested. Results indicate that glyphosate-resistant creeping bentgrass lines do not spread laterally more than nontransgenic lines. Therefore, if the glyphosate-resistant creeping bentgrass escaped into surrounding turfgrass swards, the potential for spread would not be greater than other creeping bentgrass cultivars currently in use.

Studies were conducted during a 2-yr period measuring corn silage and grain yield and velvetleaf seed production in response to velvetleaf density. Velvetleaf densities of 0, 2, 5, 10, and 21 plants/m2 were established in conventionally tilled corn. The percent corn yield reduction in response to velvetleaf density was similar for both years despite differences in total corn yield. Corn grain and silage yield responded differently to velvetleaf interference. Although both were adversely affected, silage yield reductions were twice that of grain at the low velvetleaf densities. A hyperbolic yield model predicted a maximum yield loss for corn silage and grain of 36 and 37% with incremental losses of 7 and 3%, respectively, as velvetleaf density increased. Velvetleaf seed production ranged from 2,256 to 4,844 seed/m2 from the lowest to the highest density. This study demonstrates that corn silage yield is more sensitive than corn grain yield to velvetleaf interference, as well as how crop value plays an important role in determining economic thresholds. Finally, this research confirms the prolific nature of velvetleaf and shows that even at low densities, velvetleaf seed production could affect weed control decisions for many seasons to come.

Although the impact of Canada thistle (CT) on annual crop production is relatively well established, few investigations report on this weed's impact within perennial pastures. This field study assessed herbage yield losses within eight central Alberta pastures from 1999 to 2001. Each pasture was sampled in 1999 to quantify thistle and herbage biomass within 25 permanent plots. CT was controlled in 2000 and the response of vegetation measured in 2000 and 2001. Before removal, significant negative relationships (P < 0.05) between thistle abundance and herbage were noted at six sites. After thistle removal, herbage at several sites displayed positive responses. Both thistle density and biomass adequately predicted herbage yield loss. Yield losses due to CT can be substantial, peaking at 2 kg/ha for each kilogram of standing thistle biomass and 4.3 kg/ha with each additional thistle stem per square meter. Demonstrated yield losses were variable among sites however, likely due to factors such as heterogeneity in soils, available moisture, and variation in disturbance history or pasture vegetation composition. CT management in perennial pastures of western Canada may enhance pasture production, but further research is required to reliably predict the ability of pastures to respond.

Field trials were established in orchardgrass and tall fescue grass pastures and hay fields during 2000 and 2001 to evaluate wild carrot, broadleaf plantain, buckhorn plantain, bladder campion, and yellow crownbeard response to a variety of herbicides and prepackaged herbicide combinations. Picloram plus 2,4-D at 0.23 plus 0.84 kg/ha and higher, triclopyr plus clopyralid at 0.96 plus 0.32 kg/ha and higher, and 2,4-D plus triclopyr at 2.20 plus 1.12 kg/ha provided greater than 84% wild carrot, broadleaf plantain, and buckhorn plantain control at 4 mo after treatment (MAT) in both years. Metsulfuron, picloram plus 2,4-D at 0.30 plus 1.12 kg/ha, and 2,4-D plus triclopyr at 2.20 plus 1.12 kg/ha provided from 56 to 61% control of bladder campion 4 MAT, which was the highest bladder campion control observed in these trials. Greater than 80% yellow crownbeard control was achieved during both years with picloram plus 2,4-D at 0.15 plus 0.56 kg/ha and higher and with triclopyr plus clopyralid at 0.96 plus 0.32 kg/ha and higher. Results from these experiments reveal that good broad-spectrum control of many biennial and perennial broadleaf weeds can be achieved with higher rates of the picloram plus 2,4-D and triclopyr plus clopyralid prepackaged combinations.

Field experiments were conducted in 1998, 1999, and 2000 at two locations (Harrow and Ridgetown) in southwestern Ontario to determine the biologically effective rates (I90) of a commercial formulation of flufenacet plus metribuzin for weed control and processing tomato tolerance. At the proposed label use rate, flufenacet plus metribuzin provided excellent (≥90%) early-season (22 to 29 d after planting) control of velvetleaf, good (80 to 89%) control of barnyardgrass and redroot pigweed, and fair (60 to 79%) control of common lambsquarters. Flufenacet plus metribuzin provided fair late-season (59 to 97 d after planting) control of redroot pigweed and common lambsquarters and poor (≤59%) control of barnyardgrass and velvetleaf. At Harrow and Ridgetown, I90 values for early-season weed control ranged from 70 to 1,300 g ai/ha and 50 to 1,900 g ai/ha, respectively. Flufenacet plus metribuzin provided poor weed control at Ridgetown. This result was not attributable to higher weed density or particular weed species but may have been caused by lack of rainfall and too low application rates for the medium-textured soil type. It is estimated that flufenacet plus metribuzin at 1,400 g/ha can control green foxtail season-long, whereas barnyardgrass and common lambsquarters would require 1,900 g/ha. Season-long control of velvetleaf and redroot pigweed would require application rates of 3,200 and 7,100 g/ha, respectively. Only slight early-season crop injury was observed, which was not reflected in yields. Optimum yields of tomatoes were obtained at Harrow at rates lower or slightly higher than the registered rates for corn and soybean. Tomato yields were higher at Harrow than at Ridgetown, which may have been due to differences in soil texture. Tomatoes grown in a medium-textured (Ridgetown) soil appeared to be less competitive against weeds than those grown in a coarse-textured soil (Harrow).

Alfalfa seed producers have a limited number of herbicide options to manage weed problems. MON-37500 (proposed name sulfosulfuron) is a sulfonylurea herbicide that controls dandelion and quackgrass, two common weeds in alfalfa fields. A study was conducted in two alfalfa fields at Valparaiso and Carrot River, Saskatchewan, Canada, from 1999 to 2001 to evaluate perennial weed control and alfalfa production responses with 0.5×, 1×, and 1.5× label-recommended rates of MON-37500 and also 2,4-DB and hexazinone. MON-37500 applied at the 1× and 1.5× rates at both locations reduced mid-May alfalfa vigor from 100% to between 80 and 90% and increased early-season control of dandelion and quackgrass by about 10 to 40 percentage units, when compared with other herbicide treatments. Improved weed control with 1× and 1.5× MON-37500 rates was sustained into mid-June only at Carrot River and was completely eliminated (100% vigor and 0% weed control), or almost so, by mid-July. MON-37500 did not control Canada thistle. Improved early-season weed control with the 1× MON-37500 rate apparently compensated for the loss of alfalfa vigor at Valparaiso, thus resulting in 27% (57 kg/ha) greater seed yield than with the other herbicide treatments. At Carrot River, hexazinone generally provided levels of weed control similar to MON-37500 but did not injure alfalfa. Consequently, alfalfa yields were highest and the proportion of dead (decaying) seed was least with this treatment. The 0.5× MON-37500 rate often resulted in inferior weed control relative to the 1× and 1.5× rates and never was among the herbicide treatments providing the greatest seed yield. Managing the residual activity of MON-37500 and its negative effect on alfalfa growth, especially at locations with soils having coarse texture and low organic matter content, represents the greatest challenge in making MON-37500 a reliable weed management tool for alfalfa seed producers.

Trumpetcreeper, a deciduous, perennial vine found in the midwestern and southeastern United States, causes crop losses through direct competition and by crop entanglement, and control measures include both herbicides and tillage. The regenerative capacity of trumpetcreeper rootstocks of varying length and diameter when planted at different depths was evaluated in greenhouse experiments in Arkansas. Deeper placement of rootstocks delayed trumpetcreeper emergence but had no effect on shoot growth after emergence. Larger rootstock segments produced more shoots per plant and more total biomass production. However, smaller rootstock segments produced more shoots and total biomass per centimeter of rootstock. Overall, decreasing trumpetcreeper rootstock size will delay shoot emergence but may not result in increased long-term control.

Survival of horseweed in several glyphosate-tolerant cotton and soybean fields treated with glyphosate at recommended rates preplant and postemergence was observed in Mississippi and Tennessee in 2001 and 2002. Plants originating from seed collected from fields where horseweed escapes occurred in 2002 were grown in the greenhouse to the 5-leaf, 13- to 15-leaf, and 25- to 30-leaf growth stages and treated with the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate at 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.21, 0.42, 0.84, 1.68, 3.36, 6.72, and 13.44 kg ae/ha to determine if resistance to glyphosate existed in any biotype. All biotypes exhibited an 8- to 12-fold level of resistance to glyphosate when compared with a susceptible biotype. One resistant biotype from Mississippi was two- to fourfold more resistant than other resistant biotypes. Growth stage had little effect on level of glyphosate resistance. The glyphosate rate required to reduce biomass of glyphosate-resistant horseweed by 50% (GR50) increased from 0.14 to 2.2 kg/ha as plant size increased from the 5-leaf to 25- to 30-leaf growth stage. The GR50 rate for the susceptible biotype increased from 0.02 to 0.2 kg/ha glyphosate. These results demonstrate that the difficult-to-control biotypes were resistant to glyphosate, that resistant biotypes could survive glyphosate rates of up to 6.72 kg/ha, and that plant size affected both resistant and susceptible biotypes in a similar manner.

Four field studies were conducted at the Peanut Belt Research Station near Lewiston Woodville, NC, in 2000, 2001, and 2002 to evaluate crop tolerance, weed control, grain yield, and net returns in glyphosate-resistant corn with various herbicide systems. Preemergence (PRE) treatment options included no herbicide, atrazine at 1.12 kg ai/ha, or atrazine plus metolachlor at 1.68 kg ai/ha. Postemergence (POST) treatment options included glyphosate at 1.12 kg ai/ha as either the isopropylamine salt or the diammonium salt, either alone or in mixtures with mesotrione at 105 g ai/ha plus crop oil concentrate at 1% (v/v) or halosulfuron at 53 g ai/ha plus 0.25% (v/v) nonionic surfactant. All response variables were independent of glyphosate formulation. Addition of metolachlor to atrazine PRE improved large crabgrass and goosegrass control but did not always improve Texas panicum control. POST control of these annual grasses was similar with glyphosate alone or in mixture with halosulfuron or mesotrione. Glyphosate POST controlled common lambsquarters and common ragweed 89 and 93%, respectively. Glyphosate plus halosulfuron POST provided more effective yellow nutsedge control than glyphosate POST. Atrazine PRE or atrazine plus metolachlor PRE followed by any glyphosate POST treatment controlled Ipomoea spp. at least 93%. Glyphosate plus mesotrione in total POST systems always provided greater control of Ipomoea spp. than glyphosate alone. The highest yielding treatments always included glyphosate POST, either with or without a PRE herbicide treatment. Similarly, systems that included any glyphosate POST treatment had the highest net returns.

A 2-yr field study was conducted from 2002 to 2003 on a Dundee silt loam soil at the Southern Weed Science Research Unit Farm, Stoneville, MS (33°26′N latitude), to examine the effects of hairy vetch cover crop (hairy vetch killed at corn planting [HV-K], hairy vetch killed in a 38-cm-wide band centered over the crop row at corn planting [HV-B], hairy vetch left alive [HV-L], and no hairy vetch [NHV]) and glyphosate postemergence (broadcast, banded, and no herbicide) application on weed control and yield in glyphosate-resistant corn. Two applications of glyphosate at 0.84 kg ae/ha were applied 3 and 5 wk after planting (WAP) corn. Hairy vetch dry biomass was higher in HV-L (4,420 kg/ha) and HV-B (4,180 kg/ha) than in HV-K (1,960 kg/ha) plots at 7 WAP. Hairy vetch reduced densities of pitted morningglory, prickly sida, and yellow nutsedge in HV-B and HV-L compared with NHV plots, but hairy vetch had no effect on densities of barnyardgrass, johnsongrass, and large crabgrass at 7 WAP regardless of desiccation. Total weed dry biomass at 7 WAP was lower in HV-B and HV-L than in HV-K and NHV plots. Corn yield was higher in HV-K (10,280 kg/ha) than in HV-B (9,440 kg/ha) and HV-L (9,100 kg/ha), and yields were similar between HV-K and NHV (9,960 kg/ha). Glyphosate applied broadcast resulted in the highest corn yield (11,300 kg/ha) compared with a banded application (10,160 kg/ha). These findings indicate that hairy vetch cover crop has the potential for reducing the density of certain weed species in glyphosate-resistant corn production systems; however, optimum weed control and higher yield were obtained when glyphosate was used.

Soft red winter wheat response to the herbicides AE F130060 00 plus AE F115008 00 applied alone or with the safener AE F107892 at the three-leaf, two-tiller, and six-tiller growth stages was determined in a field experiment in North Carolina. AE F130060 00 at 25 g ai/ha plus AE F115008 00 at 5 g ai/ha, twice the anticipated use rate, applied with safener injured wheat 9% but did not affect grain yield, grain test weight, number of spikes, number of kernels per spike, or kernel weight. Results were similar with safener at herbicide–safener ratios of 1:1 and 1:3 regardless of the wheat growth stage at application. Without the safener, AE F130060 00 plus AE F115008 00 applied at the three-leaf, two-tiller, and six-tiller growth stages injured wheat an average of 27% and reduced grain yields 5, 5, and 11%, respectively. Yield losses were attributed to reduced numbers of kernels per spike. AE F130060 00 at 12.5 g/ha plus AE F115008 00 at 2.5 g/ha plus AE F107892 at 15 g ai/ha did not affect grain yield or yield components.

Research was conducted in winter of 2000 and spring of 2001 to determine the extent of simazine-resistant annual bluegrass in Mississippi. Samples of annual bluegrass seed or mature plants were collected from 71 locations across the state and grown in the greenhouse. Four weeks after treatment with 22.4 kg ai/ha simazine (10× rate), samples from 31 of 71 locations (30 golf courses and one nongolf course) evaluated in the greenhouse had simazine-resistant annual bluegrass plants. Thus, 43% of the golf courses tested in the greenhouse had triazine-resistant annual bluegrass present. When natural field populations were treated with an equivalent simazine rate, simazine-resistant annual bluegrass plants were observed in 90% of the sites found to be resistant in the greenhouse screen.

‘Russet Burbank’ potato tolerance to dimethenamid-p applied preemergence at 0.7, 1.4, or 2.9 kg ai/ha was assessed in field studies conducted at Aberdeen, ID and Ontario, OR. Although crop injury was evident approximately 2 wk after treatment, most injury had diminished by row closure 2- to 3-wk later. Initial injury did not translate to yield loss and U.S. No. 1 and total tuber yields in dimethenamid-p–treated plots were similar to yields in the untreated, weed-free control.

A 3-yr study was conducted in Wheatland County, Alberta to determine if agronomic practices of growers influenced the occurrence of herbicide resistance in wild oat. Wild oat seeds were collected in 33 fields in 1997 and in 31 fields in each of 1998 and 1999 (one field per grower). Seedlings were screened for resistance to two acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors, imazamethabenz, an acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor, and triallate, a thiocarbamate herbicide. A questionnaire on herbicide resistance awareness and management practices was completed by each grower. Both ACCase and ALS inhibitor resistance in wild oat were linked to a lack of crop rotation diversity. In addition, ALS inhibitor–resistant wild oat was associated with conservation-tillage systems and recent use of herbicides with that mode of action. Results of this study suggest that timely tillage and inclusion of fall-seeded and perennial forage crops in rotations will effectively slow the selection of resistance in this grass species.

A general life cycle model was modified to demonstrate how agronomic practices and weed biology factors affect the rate of appearance of herbicide-resistant downy brome, jointed goatgrass, and wild oat in Pacific Northwest wheat cropping systems. The model suggests herbicide rotation strategies for cropping systems that include imidazolinone-resistant wheat as a weed management tool. Simulation of continuous annual imidazolinone-resistant winter wheat and imazamox herbicide use resulted in the resistant soil seed banks of downy brome, jointed goatgrass, and wild oat surpassing their susceptible soil seed banks in 5, 7, and 10 yr, respectively. Reducing the initial seed bank density of downy brome before beginning a rotation that includes imidazolinone-resistant winter wheat reduces the likelihood of selecting for herbicide-resistant biotypes. The best simulated management option for reducing the total jointed goatgrass soil seed bank in low-precipitation areas is an imidazolinone-resistant winter wheat–fallow rotation. Rotations that include winter and spring crops and rotations that include non–group 2 herbicides minimize herbicide resistance selection pressure and reduce the wild oat soil seed bank.

“Here we go round the prickly pear Prickly pear prickly pear Here we go round the prickly pear At five o'clock in the morning.”

The Hollow Men, T. S. Eliot (1925).