Herbicide resistance has been studied extensively in agronomic crops across North America but is rarely examined in vegetables. It is widely assumed that the limited number of registered herbicides combined with the adoption of diverse weed management strategies in most vegetable crops effectively inhibits the development of resistance. It is difficult to determine whether resistance is truly less common in vegetable crops or whether the lack of reported cases is due to the lack of resources focused on detection. This review highlights incidences of resistance that are thought to have arisen within vegetable crops. It also includes situations in which herbicide-resistant weeds were likely selected for within agronomic crops but became a problem when vegetables were grown in sequence or in adjacent fields. Occurrence of herbicide resistance can have severe consequences for vegetable growers, and resistance management plans should be adopted to limit selection pressure. This review also highlights resistance management techniques that should slow the development and spread of herbicide resistance in vegetable crops.

Field trials were conducted to determine the effects of glyphosate and/or dicamba simulated drift rates on chipping potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) ‘Atlantic’ and ‘Dakota Pearl.’ Sublethal herbicide rates were applied at the tuber initiation stage and consisted of dicamba at 99 g ae ha−1 or glyphosate at 197 g ae ha−1 applied alone or the combinations of dicamba at 20 or 99 g ae ha−1 and glyphosate at 40 or 197 g ae ha−1, respectively. At 7 days after treatment (DAT), the high spray combination of glyphosate plus dicamba resulted in the greatest plant damage (28%). Plant injury from plants treated with the low combination of glyphosate plus dicamba did not differ from the nontreated control. At 21 DAT, visible injury increased to 40% for plants treated with the high combination of glyphosate plus dicamba. Total yield suggested that dicamba and glyphosate caused similar yield reductions as plants that received glyphosate at 197 g ha−1 or dicamba at 99 g ha−1 had lower total yields compared to the nontreated and plants that received the combination of glyphosate (197 g ha−1) and dicamba (99 g ha−1) had lower total yields compared to plants that received either herbicide alone. However, ‘Dakota Pearl’ plants were more sensitive to glyphosate at 197 g ha−1 than were ‘Atlantic’ plants, causing the interaction for most tuber grades. Tuber specific gravity was lower for plants that received glyphosate at 197 g ha−1, dicamba at 99 g ha−1, or this combination, but this reduction would not prevent chip processing. Results reinforce the need for diligence when applying these herbicides in proximity to a susceptible crop, such as chipping potatoes, and the need to thoroughly clean sprayers before application to a sensitive crop.

Increased use of dicamba and/or glyphosate in dicamba/glyphosate-tolerant soybean might affect many sensitive crops, including potato. The objective of this study was to determine the growth and yield of ‘Russet Burbank’ potato grown from seed tubers (generation 2) from mother plants (generation 1) treated with dicamba (4, 20, and 99 g ae ha−1), glyphosate (8, 40, and 197 g ae ha−1), or a combination of dicamba and glyphosate during tuber initiation. Generation 2 tubers were planted near Oakes and Inkster, ND, in 2016 and 2017, at the same research farm where the generation 1 tubers were grown the previous year. Treatment with 99 g ha−1 dicamba, 197 g ha−1 glyphosate, or 99 g ha−1 dicamba + 197 g ha−1 glyphosate caused emergence of generation 2 plants to be reduced by up to 84%, 86%, and 87%, respectively, at 5 wk after planting. Total tuber yield of generation 2 was reduced up to 67%, 55%, and 68% when 99 g ha−1 dicamba, 197 g ha−1 glyphosate, or 99 g ha−1 dicamba + 197 g ha−1 glyphosate was applied to generation 1 plants, respectively. At each site year, 197 g ha−1 glyphosate reduced total yield and marketable yield, while 99 g ha−1 dicamba reduced total yield and marketable yield in some site-years. This study confirms that exposure to glyphosate and dicamba of potato grown for potato seed tubers can negatively affect the growth and yield potential of the subsequently grown daughter generation.

Field tests showed that the lawn spray-gun with a 4 gpm lawn tip reduced the percentage of application volume deposited 90 cm to 210 cm downwind from the spray swath edge when compared with XR8004 flat-fan or RA-6 wide angle hollow cone applications at wind speeds between 4.7 and 14.4 km/h. The percentage of applied volume collected at 210 cm downwind from the XR8004 flat-fan applications was 5 and 16 times greater than the percentage from the RA-6 Raindrop nozzle and lawn spray-gun applications, respectively. Visible injury alone with height increases and fresh weights from tomato plants located downwind from the applications concur with spray-drift data for all nozzle types. Triclopyr injury decreased as the distance from the swath edge increased. All tomato plants located downwind up to 210 cm from the XR8004 flat-fan applications were visibly injured (15 to 40%); whereas, only plants less than 150 cm downwind from the RA-6 Raindrop applications and less than 90 cm downwind from the lawn spray-gun applications were injured (2 to 8%).

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the effect of seed coat on woolly cupgrass seed moisture and oxygen uptake, and to determine if water-soluble growth inhibitors are present in the seed. Intact dormant seeds did not respond to any temperature regime or to oxygen concentrations above atmospheric level. Dehulling increased germination of dormant seed to about 85%. Oxygen concentrations above atmospheric level increased germination of partially dehulled (1/4 distal end of the seed dehulled) seeds an additional 10%. Oxygen uptake by dehulled dormant and intact nondormant seeds was greater than intact dormant seeds. Leaching intact dormant seeds did not promote germination, nor did the leachate inhibit germination of nondormant seeds. Embryos excised from dormant seeds germinated under laboratory conditions. Results from this study suggest that the woolly cupgrass seed coat may inhibit germination by controlling oxygen availability to the embryo.

Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to determine the effects of temperature, oxygen, and seed burial depth on woolly cupgrass seed dormancy. Woolly cupgrass seeds at physiological maturity are innately dormant. Stratifying these seeds at 5 C for 8 wk increased germination to greater than 90%, regardless of the germination temperature. Alternating the germination temperature hastened germination by 2 wk, while seedcoat removal hastened germination by another 4 wk. Low oxygen concentration was more detrimental to seed germination when seeds were subjected to constant temperatures in comparison to alternating temperatures. Oxygen concentration did not affect seed germination when seeds were placed in an alternating 15/25 C regime. Seed germination was approximately 15% less when seeds were stratified for 2 wk and subjected to oxygen concentrations below the ambient oxygen concentration, whereas this decrease was present only at the 8% oxygen concentration when seeds were stratified 4 wk. In the field, the stratification requirement was satisfied by early December for the study year. Seeds remaining on the soil surface overcame dormancy sooner than seeds buried 2 or 4 cm.

The effects of metribuzin herbicide and phorate insecticide were studied on summer harvest chipping-potatoes at Muscatine, IA, from 1989 to 1991. Phorate at 1.5 kg/ha increased total and ‘A’-size tuber yield and tuber specific gravity. Metribuzin applied at 0.56 kg/ha postemergence decreased total and ‘A’-size tuber yield. Metribuzin applied at 0.56 kg/ha preemergence and 0.28 kg/ha postemergence did not reduce Atlantic cultivar yield. Metribuzin did not affect ‘B’-size tuber yield or specific gravity. Phorate in combination with metribuzin did not increase plant injury or reduce tuber yield.

Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to determine the effects of light, temperature, oxygen, and seed burial depth on seed germination and seed production of Eriochloa villosa without the interference of a crop. Eriochloa villosa seed germination did not respond to light, although it is possible that experimental conditions were not appropriate for this response to develop. Seeds germinated above 10 C and below 45 C, with germination above 85% occurring for temperatures between 20 and 40 C. Seed germination rate and total germination increased as the oxygen concentration increased to the ambient level. Eriochloa villosa seed emerged from 15 cm deep, with maximum emergence from 1 to 4 cm. In the field, emergence was dependent on tillage that affected the vertical distribution of seeds in the soil. Seeds emerged in the reduced-tillage field from between 0.5 and 9 cm deep in soil, with maximum emergence from 2 cm. A delay in planting greatly reduced the growth and seed production of E. villosa. Seed production under noncompetitive conditions was reduced by at least 75% when planting was delayed 6 to 8 wk. However, plants that emerged after July 7 still produced approximately 3,000 seeds when grown under conditions without intraspecific and interspecific competition.

Few weed management options are available for juneberry, which has limited the potential for this new crop. Field trials were initiated at three locations in North Dakota to evaluate efficacy and crop safety associated with chemical and physical weed control treatments applied just before or immediately after transplanting. All treatments except norflurazon and trifluralin provided at least 85% control of redroot pigweed, common lambsquarters, common purslane, and yellow foxtail for the duration of the trial at Absaraka, ND, during 2001. Stinkgrass weed control 8 wk after treatment (WAT) dropped to unacceptable levels (<85%) with all treatments except azafenidin at 0.5 kg ai/ ha, norflurazon, and oxyfluorfen at 1.1 kg ai/ha at Dawson, ND, during 2001. However, juneberry injury 4 WAT by azafenidin at 0.5 kg/ha, flumioxazin at both locations, or azafenidin at 0.34 kg/ha and oxyfluorfen at 1.1 kg ai/ha at Absaraka, ND, was greater than observed for plants within the physical treatments. Juneberry injury generally decreased with time, yet remained >20% at 8 WAT for azafenidin and flumioxazin at Absaraka, ND, and for all treatments except the mulches at Dawson, ND. Plant injury 8 WAT at Absaraka in 2002 was 10% or less for all treatments and was lower compared with 2001. All physical treatments—azafenidin at 0.34 and 0.5 kg/ha, flumioxazin at 0.29 kg/ha, and oryzalin at 4.5 kg/ha—provided at least 85% control of all weed species at Carrington and Absaraka, ND, during 2002.

Field experiments were conducted at Oakes, Absaraka, and Tappen, ND, in 2006 and repeated at Oakes and Absaraka, ND, in 2007 to evaluate early season weed control of common lambsquarters and redroot pigweed in onion with POST herbicides applied at multiple reduced rates (microrates) and to determine whether microrate herbicide treatments effectively reduced early season broadleaf weed competition, caused crop injury, or affected yield. Application rates of bromoxynil, oxyfluorfen, metribuzin, and acifluorfen were reduced to 0.25, 0.13, and 0.06× of their lowest labeled rate and applied in sequential applications (every 7 d) either two or three times. The 0.25× rate of bromoxynil (70.1 g ae/ha) provided the greatest control of common lambsquarters (95%). The 0.25× rates of bromoxynil and oxyfluorfen (70.1 g ai/ha) provided the greatest control of redroot pigweed (93 and 85%, respectively). Microrate applications of metribuzin or acifluorfen did not effectively control common lambsquarters or redroot pigweed. In 2006, no onion injury was observed. However, in 2007, applications of oxyfluorfen resulted in approximately 15% injury, regardless of the herbicide rate or the number of applications. Plants outgrew symptoms by 4 wk after treatment and were similar to the untreated plants. Onion treated with oxyfluorfen had the greatest total yield, followed by onion treated with bromoxynil. Onion treated with acifluorfen had a greater total marketable bulb yield than onion treated with metribuzin, but yield was considered poor compared to the other herbicide treatments. Three microrate applications provided greater weed control and increased yield compared with two applications across herbicides and rates. Results suggest that microrate applications of bromoxynil and oxyfluorfen will provide early season broadleaf weed control in onion.

Field trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of simulated glyphosate drift rates applied to two non-irrigated potato cultivars in the late tuber bulking stage grown for potato seed production. Mother plants receiving a sublethal glyphosate application had similar yields regardless of the year or cultivar. ‘Red LaSoda' seed pieces visually evaluated the following spring had more sprout inhibition from glyphosate-treated plots. With ‘Russet Burbank', only seed pieces from mother plants that received more than 18 g ha−1 glyphosate showed sprout inhibition. Total yield reductions the year following glyphosate treatments were attributed to fewer and smaller tubers from plants that did not emerge or were delayed in emergence. Red LaSoda seed pieces from mother plants receiving ≥ 71 g ha−1 glyphosate yielded less than the nontreated. In 2005, Russet Burbank seed pieces from mother plants receiving ≥35 g ha−1 glyphosate had reduced yields, whereas in 2006, all glyphosate treatments reduced total yield compared with the nontreated.

Early-season weed competition may cause substantial yield losses in onion. Oxyfluorfen and bromoxynil are POST herbicide options for weed control once onion has developed two leaves, which often takes 4 to 6 wk. Multiple applications of oxyfluorfen at 35 and 18 g ai ha−1 and bromoxynil at 35 and 18 g ae ha−1 with adjuvants were evaluated for onion safety and weed control under controlled greenhouse conditions. Oxyfluorfen at 35 g ha−1 plus organosilicone surfactant caused 42% onion injury at 12 d after three sequential applications. Onion treated with bromoxynil at 18 g ha−1 plus high surfactant oil concentrate had lower fresh weight (0.7 g) compared to methylated seed oil (MSO) (1.2 g) or petroleum oil concentrate (POC) (1.3 g) at the same bromoxynil rate. The addition of nonionic surfactant to bromoxynil, averaged across bromoxynil rates, provided 17 and 39% control of redroot pigweed and common lambsquarters, respectively. Redroot pigweed control with oxyfluorfen at 35 or 18 g ha−1 plus any tested adjuvant was excellent (≥ 93%). Results suggested the use of POC or MSO with either oxyfluorfen or bromoxynil for subsequent field trials because of similar common lambsquarters and redroot pigweed control and onion safety.

Controlled-environment experiments were conducted to determine giant foxtail epicuticular wax (ECW) deposition and fluazifop-P absorption under different environmental conditions and with two adjuvants. Drought stress and low temperature increased leaf ECW content, whereas low light intensity decreased ECW content compared with medium light intensity. Drought stress conditions decreased the fatty acid and primary alcohol content of ECW and increased the hydrocarbon content compared with field capacity. Compositional changes would make the ECW more hydrophobic and reduce leaf wetting by herbicide spray. Increasing air temperature decreased the aldehyde content of ECW, whereas decreasing light intensity increased ECW fatty acid and aldehyde content while decreasing primary alcohols and esters. Compositional changes under low light intensity would make the ECW more hydrophilic and increase leaf wetting by a herbicide spray. Drought stress reduced fluazifop-P absorption regardless of the temperature but could not further reduce fluazifop-P absorption under low light intensity. Fluazifop-P absorption by plants under low light and drought stress conditions was similar to plants under low or medium light intensity and field capacity conditions. Similarly, the rate of fluazifop-P absorption was less under drought stress and low light conditions. Fluazifop-P absorption was greater when crop oil concentrate was added compared with 28% urea ammonium nitrate or no additive. Crop oil concentrate, added to the herbicide solution, overcame reduced fluazifop-P absorption under the low light conditions and in one of the two drought stress regimes but could not overcome reduced fluazifop-P absorption with the high temperature regime.