Metriflufen {2-[4-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenoxy] propanoic acid} was applied as the methyl ester at 0.28 and 0.56 kg/ha over-the-top to johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] growing from rhizomes and to soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Lee 68′]. After herbicide treatment, plants were grown in the growth chamber for 14 days at 16, 24, or 32 C with relative humidity (RH) at 40 or 100% at each air temperature. Johnsongrass was not controlled at 16 C regardless of metriflufen rate, RH, or the addition of nonoxynol [α-(p-nonylphenyl)-ω-hydroxypoly (oxyethylene)] (with 9.5 moles of polyoxyethylene) surfactant at 0.25 (g/100 ml) to spray solutions. Johnsongrass control at 24 C varied from 5 to 98%, with significantly better control at 100% than at 40% RH. The presence of surfactant increased johnsongrass control at 24 C and 40% RH but not at 24 C and 100% RH. Johnsongrass control at 32 C varied from 48 to 98%, and it was not increased by the presence of the surfactant, regardless of metriflufen rate or RH level. At 16 C metriflufen was more injurious to soybeans than to johnsongrass, but at 24 and 32 C johnsongrass control was significantly greater than soybean injury. The presence of surfactant in spray solutions generally did not increase soybean injury, regardless of temperature or RH level. These results suggest that metriflufen is most selective in controlling johnsongrass in soybeans at 24 C, especially under high RH.

A 2-yr field study was conducted to determine whether the addition of wetting agents to diclofop {2-[4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenoxy] propanoic acid} could enhance its postemergence control of grass weeds without altering its crop tolerance. In each year, 12 species were treated at two stages of growth with at least two concentrations of diclofop. Regardless of the treatment, selectivity was not altered on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), or sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. The addition of wetting agent to diclofop was of no value on highly susceptible grass weed species such as barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.] or on the more resistant species such as large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.]. Only on an intermediately susceptible species such as giant foxtail (Setaria faberi Herrm.) could any significant differences in control be attributed to a wetting agent. The stage of growth of the grass weed species at time of treatment and the diclofop concentration were more important than the presence of a nonionic wetting agent.

The activity of glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine], formulated as the isopropylamine salt, on in vitro photosynthesis was investigated. When pH 4.7 glyphosate solutions were titrated to a pH equal to that of the reaction media (pH 7.8), glyphosate additions had no effect on whole chain electron transport between coupled photosystem II (PS II) and photosystem I (PS I) in stroma-free chloroplast thylakoids from peas (Pisum sativum L. ‘Morse's Progress No. 9′). Inhibition did not occur even after a 2-h dark incubation of lamellae in a 5-mM solution of glyphosate. Fluorescence studies failed to detect an effect of glyphosate on PS-II mediated electron transport processes or upon light harvesting properties of PS II even after a 2-h glyphosate/chloroplast preincubation. Glyphosate had no effect on cyclic and noncyclic photophosphorylation even after a 100-min dark incubation of chloroplast membranes in a 5-mM solution of glyphosate. Based on these assays it is concluded that glyphosate has no direct effect on the photochemical reactions of photosynthesis when the pH of the active compound is adjusted to that of the reaction mixture prior to addition to a chloroplast suspension.

This study describes separate methods for injecting growth retardants into herbaceous and woody plants. Bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L. ‘Black Valentine’) were treated by injecting growth retardant solutions into the hypocotyl cavity with a syringe. The chemical was subsequently absorbed into the vascular system. Woody California privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium Hassk.) was injected by forcing chemical solution into the vascular system via a predrilled hole. Results with NAA (1-napthalene-acetic acid) and MH (1,2-dihydro-3,6-pyridazinedione) validated the methods by inhibiting growth, respectively. New growth regulators, mefluidide {N-[2,4-dimethyl-5-[[(trifluoromethyl) sulfonyl]amino]phenyl]acetamide} and dikegulac (sodium salt of 2,3: 4,6-bis-O-(1-methylethylidene-α-L-xylo-2-hexulofuranosonic acid], inhibited the growth of bean with concentrations of 60 mg/L and 480 mg/L, respectively. Sprout growth of privet was inhibited by 30 mg/L of mefluidide and by 188 mg/L dikegulac.

Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of fall and spring pre-plant incorporated applications of trifluralin (α,α,α-tri-fluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine) and metribuzin [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazine-5(4H)-one] alone and in combinations on crop tolerance, seed yield, and weed control in fababeans (Vicia faba L. ‘Diana’). Trifluralin applied either in the fall or the spring resulted in acceptable control of green foxtail [Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv.] and wild oat (Avena fatua L.) while metribuzin resulted in excellent control of wild mustard [Brassica kaber (DC.) L.C. Wheeler var. pinnatifida (Stokes) L.C. Wheeler]. In 2 out of 3 yr, a tank-mixture of trifluralin plus metribuzin applied in the fall at 1.4 and 0.4 kg/ha, respectively, resulted in significantly larger seed yield than the same combination applied at 1.1 and 0.3 kg/ha in the spring. Although the fall treatments generally resulted in higher seed yields, there was no consistent difference in weed densities between fall and spring applications. In both field and growth room studies, trifluralin reduced the injury to fababeans from metribuzin. A postemergence application of metribuzin in the spring at 0.3 kg/ha following a fall-application of trifluralin resulted in good wild mustard control but caused considerable crop damage. Dinoseb (2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol) and bentazon [3-isopropyl-1H-2,1,3-benzothiadiazin-4(3H)-one 2,2dioxide] controlled wild mustard effectively with no injury to the crop.