Field studies were conducted to determine the effects of cultivated oats planting pattern on early canopy shape and growth of cultivated oats and wild oats, in part to test the assumption of radial plant canopy expansion on which previous theoretical models of crop-weed interference models have been based. Cultivated oats density was kept constant as the pattern rectangularity was varied, and single wild oats plants were centered within each pattern. Individual plant canopies, photographed from above 31 days after emergence (DAE), were radial for wild oats in all crop planting patterns and for cultivated oats planted in triangular and square planting patterns. Canopy radius perpendicular to the crop row axis in rectangular patterns was similar to canopy radius along the same cardinal axis in equidistant patterns, but was reduced along the crop row axis, resulting in a rectangular canopy shape and decreased canopy area in rectangular compared to equidistant patterns. Cultivated oats dry weight and leaf area at crop flowering (64 DAE) also decreased with increasing rectangularity of crop planting pattern. Reductions in cultivated oats growth in rectangular patterns were associated with earlier intraspecific interference and delayed crop canopy closure in rectangular compared to equidistant patterns. Wild oats leaf area and tiller number 64 DAE decreased with more equidistant crop planting patterns, consistent with reduced canopy area 31 DAE and earlier crop canopy closure in equidistant patterns. The data suggest that individual oats canopy expansion during early growth is essentially radial and also support previous theoretical predictions of crop planting pattern effects on weed suppression.

Two distinctive leaf forms have been described in the morningglory species Ipomoea hederacea (L.) Jacq. These are identified as ivyleaf morningglory [I. hederacea (L.) Jacq. # IPOHE] and entireleaf morningglory [I. hederacea (L.) Jacq. var. integriuscula Gray # IPOHG]. Controlled matings were made between pure breeding forms of plants with these two leaf types. The first generation progeny (F1) were all ivyleaf and the second generation (F2) was segregated in a 3:1 ratio (ivyleaf to entireleaf). The data fit a single gene model for determination of leaf shape, with ivyleaf being the dominant allele. Despite the dominance of the ivyleaf trait, the abundance of the entireleaf phenotype in the Mississippi Delta was higher than that of ivyleaf. Ipomoea hederacea is a facultative self-pollinator and other annual morningglory species found in the same area are also self-pollinated.

Imidazolinone-resistant (IR) winter wheat allows selective control of jointed goatgrass with the herbicide imazamox. However, the spontaneous hybridization between jointed goatgrass and IR winter wheat threatens the value of the IR technology. The objectives of this study were to determine if F1 hybrids collected in a commercial production field under IR winter wheat–fallow rotation in Oregon and their first-backcross progeny (BC1) carried the Imi1 gene and were resistant to imazamox, and to analyze the parentage of F1 and BC1 plants. The average seed set of the F1 spikes was 3.3%, and the average germination of BC1 seed was 52%. All F1 and BC1 plants tested carried Imi1. Jointed goatgrass plant mortality was 100% when treated with imazamox at 0.053 kg ai ha−1, compared to 0% for IR winter wheat and BC1 progeny. All F1 plants had jointed goatgrass as the maternal parent; whereas, most BC1 plants (85.7%) were produced with IR winter wheat as the paternal backcross parent. Although the backcrossing of F1 hybrids with jointed goatgrass is very low, it demonstrates the potential for introgression of Imi1 from IR winter wheat into jointed goatgrass under natural field conditions.

Ecological management of invasive weeds will require substantial increases in the application of ecological knowledge and its integration with other forms of knowledge. To enable these increases, we call for purposeful development of knowledge networks in which new knowledge about a complex situation is created by the interaction of different forms of knowledge. We believe that invasive-plant management must be based on a fine-tuning of managed ecosystems, in which operations (e.g., farm activities) are comprehensively adjusted to confront invasives with a wide array of control measures. Land managers must have the primary role in this tuning process because of their holistic knowledge of the ecosystems they manage. Additionally, such ecological management of invasives will require support from new or improved practices in many relevant sectors, e.g., involving extension workers, farm advisors, and researchers of many sorts. Knowledge networks facilitate the creation, application, and integration of knowledge that will be needed to support ecological invasive-plant management. Worldwide, knowledge networks are under very active development as promising solutions to ecological-management challenges. To develop, networks require proactive organization and facilitation. We have developed an experimental knowledge network to facilitate ecological management of field-crop weeds on the basis of collaborative learning groups that help farmers and other professionals develop necessary knowledge. These groups have been favorably evaluated by most participants, and this article describes the results of our project, including our insights into development of such networks.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ‘Coho’), rye (Secale cereale L. ‘MSU Exp.’) and oat (Avena sativa L. ‘Gary’) seedlings were grown in nutrient solutions containing 0 and 10−9 to 10−7 M concentrations of 2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine (simazine). In kinetic studies with rye and barley seedlings, simazine increased water and nitrate uptake after 3 days' exposure to 10−9 M simazine compared to controls; there was no effect from 10−7 M simazine. The effect was manifested in an increase in both plant weight and total protein. After 12 days, companion plants treated with 10−7 M simazine were the same size as controls but contained a higher protein concentration especially in the shoots. Regression analyses showed that the simazine-induced increases in total nitrogen content of the three grain species were closely related to the nitrate and water uptake, whether manifested by greater plant growth or more protein per gram of plant.

Broomrapes (Orobanche spp.) are chlorophyll-lacking root parasites of many dicotyledonous species that cause severe damage to vegetables and field crops worldwide. Egyptian broomrape is common throughout Israel, where it parasitizes a wide range of crops. The main damage caused by this parasite is to processing tomatoes. The objectives of this study were to determine (1) the relationship between the parasitism process on tomato roots and Egyptian broomrape seed depth, and (2) the effect of herbicide application on Egyptian broomrape control at depths of 0 to 30 cm. The study was conducted in controlled conditions in 25-L pots containing soil that was artificially infested with Egyptian broomrape seeds. Seeds (1-cm layer) were infested at soil surface and at depths of 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 cm. Sulfosulfuron was applied PRE to Egyptian broomrape shoots, 14 and 42 d after tomato planting. Egyptian broomrape emergence was highly correlated to the depth of the seed infestation: the deeper the seeds were buried, the more pronounced the delay in Egyptian broomrape emergence. A four-parameter sigmoid equation was found that describes the relationship between Egyptian broomrape parasitism and seed depth. No Egyptian broomrape shoots were observed aboveground when sulfosulfuron was applied on tomato foliage. However, live and dead attachments were observed at different levels in all seed-depth treatments. No significant difference in the efficacies of sulfosulfuron at rates of 37.5 and 75 ai ha−1 was observed at depths of 6, 12, and 18 cm. The best control was obtained at a depth of 6 cm at both sulfosulfuron rates. At depths of 24 and 30 cm, no broomrape control was achieved at 37.5 ai g ha−1 sulfosulfuron, and only low control efficacy was obtained at 75 ai g ha−1.

Herbicides applied April 30, May 10, or October 14 gave best control of musk thistle (Carduus nutans L.). The most effective herbicide at all dates and rates was 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram). Two lb/A of 2-methoxy-3,6-dichlorobenzoic acid (dicamba) also was effective at all spring dates. Two lb/A of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) resulted in excellent control of musk thistle when applied May 10 or October 14.

More musk thistle seedlings became established in nongrazed, cool season grass pastures than in nongrazed, mixed warm season grass pastures. Greater germination was attributed to the reserve moisture and accumulation of litter which served as an excellent germination medium. However, only one musk thistle plant remained in the nongrazed pastures 1 year after seeding. The remainder of the seedlings and young rosettes found in the protected areas in 1965 had succumbed to the heavy competition by 1966.

Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safening of metsulfuron applied with dicamba, 2,4-D, clopyralid, and fluroxypyr with and without nonionic surfactant. Greenhouse data showed that 2,4-D and dicamba, but not fluroxypyr, safened grain sorghum from metsulfuron injury. In the field study, grain sorghum injury from metsulfuron was decreased when tank mixed with 2,4-D or dicamba but not when tank mixed with clopyralid or fluroxypyr. Tank mixes of 2,4-D or dicamba with metsulfuron did not reduce ivyleaf morningglory or velvetleaf control. At 4 wk after treatment (WAT), ivyleaf morningglory was controlled 95, 84, 59, and 91%, and velvetleaf was controlled 88, 82, 78, and 95% when metsulfuron was tank mixed with 2,4-D, dicamba, clopyralid, and fluroxypyr, respectively. In a separate field study, differential grain sorghum hybrid responses to a tank mix of metsulfuron + 2,4-D was examined. In general, a tank mix of metsulfuron and 2,4-D caused visible injury to all hybrids at 1 and 2 WAT, but grain sorghum recovered and most hybrids appeared normal at the end of the growing season. Differential hybrid responses to metsulfuron + 2,4-D were observed at 1 and 2 WAT in 2000 and 4 WAT in 2001. The most susceptible hybrid was ‘Mycogen 1506’, and the least susceptible hybrids were ‘NK KS-310’ and ‘Pioneer 87G57’. This study demonstrates the potential for 2,4-D or dicamba to safen metsulfuron injury of sorghum without compromising weed control.

Microarray analysis was used to identify changes in gene expression in velvetleaf that result from competition with corn. The plants were grown in field plots under adequate N (addition of 220 kg N ha−1) to minimize stress and sampled at the V6 growth stage of corn (late June). Leaf area, dry weight, and N and P concentration were similar in velvetleaf plants grown alone or with corn. Competition, however, did influence velvetleaf gene expression. Genes involved in carbon utilization, photosynthesis, red light signaling, and cell division were preferentially expressed when velvetleaf was grown in competition with corn. A less clear picture of the physiological impact of growth in monoculture was provided by the data. However, several genes involved in secondary metabolism and a gene preferentially expressed in response to phosphate availability were induced. No differences were observed in genes responsive to water stress or sequestering/transporting micronutrients.

Seed of yellow foxtail (Setaria lutescens (Weigel) Hubb.) biotypes collected in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and California were grown under field conditions at Davis and Woodland, California. Three biotypes collected in California alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) fields all exhibited only a prostrate growth habit; the biotypes from the eastern United States all had an upright growth habit. The California biotypes were always glaucous; those collected in the east were not glaucous. Ratio of culm height to culm length were near unity for the eastern biotypes but averaged 1.5 to 1.7 for the California biotypes. Variations existed between biotypes in days from planting to heading, number of nodes per culm, leaf shape and size, and in final dry weight per plant.

Previous research has shown that flumioxazin has the potential to cause peanut injury. In response to this concern, laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of temperature on germination of flumioxazin-treated peanut seed and the effect of interval between flumioxazin application and irrigation on peanut emergence and injury. Laboratory experiments using 14C-flumioxazin were also conducted to investigate differential tolerance exhibited by peanut, ivyleaf morningglory, and sicklepod to flumioxazin. Flumioxazin treatments containing either water-dispersible granular or wettable powder formulation at 1.4 μmol L−1 did not influence germination compared with nontreated peanut across all temperature regimes (15 to 40 C). Peanut treated with either formulations of flumioxazin preemergence and receiving irrigation at emergence and 2 and 4 d after emergence were injured between 40 and 60%. Peanut treated at 8 and 12 d after emergence were injured between 25 and 15%, respectively. Total 14C absorbed by ivyleaf mornigglory was 57% of applied whereas sicklepod absorbed 46%, 72 h after treatment (HAT). Peanut absorbed > 74% of applied 14C 72 HAT. The majority of absorbed 14C remained in roots of sicklepod, ivyleaf morningglory, and peanut at all harvest times. Ivyleaf morningglory contained 41% of the parent herbicide 72 HAT whereas sicklepod and peanut contained only 24 and 11% parent compound, respectively. Regression slopes indicated slower flumioxazin metabolism by ivyleaf morningglory (a susceptible species) compared with sicklepod and peanut (tolerant species).

A very useful technique in toxicological investigation is probit analysis. This method, which was developed by Bliss and other workers (notably Gaddum and Finney, but see reference 4, pp. 42–46) consists of plotting the log concentration of a toxicant against the percentage response on a probability scale, and fitting a weighted regression line to the data. Although the technique has found wide application in pharmacology, entomology, and plant pathology, it has been almost ignored by workers in herbicide research. It is the purpose of this paper to demonstrate that the concepts of probit analysis are applicable to herbicide research, and that the mere plotting of data on logarithmic probability paper may permit a very fruitful interpretation of experimental results. The technique is recommended at the screening level, for its results are very useful in the construction of field tests. It is in no sense a substitute for the carefully designed and executed field test, or for the analysis of test results by other statistical techniques.

The present experiments were part of a study to determine the mechanisms by which herbicides affect plant growth and to find metabolites which protect growth against the inhibitory actions of herbicides. Bakers' yeast was selected for use in preliminary investigations because its rapid growth rate facilitates examination of large numbers of herbicide-metabolite combinations. The experiments reported herein present evidence which implicates histidine metabolism as a growth process which is sensitive to 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole [amitrole].

In soil enrichment studies, the microbial degradation of 2,2-dichloropropionic acid (dalapon) was inhibited in the presence of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (amitrole), but dalapon had little or no effect on behavior of amitrole. Phytotoxic residues of the herbicides persisted longer in soils when the herbicides were applied in combination than when each was used individually. Although amitrole disappeared rapidly from all amitrole-treated soils, dalapon, when applied in combination with amitrole, disappeared more slowly than when used alone. Dalapon did not affect the behavior of amitrole in muck soil, but affected the availability of amitrole in Hagerstown silty clay loam treated with high rates of amitrole.

Two strains of crownvetch (Coronilla varia L. # CZRVA) rhizobia were cultured in vitro with various rates of atrazine [6-chloro-N-ethyl-N′-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine] and bifenox [methyl 5-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-2-nitrobenzoate]. Growth, measured turbidimetrically over 48 h, was similar for both strains. Atrazine and bifenox significantly reduced bacterial growth after 14 and 36 h, respectively, only at the highest concentrations tested (463 μM atrazine and 292 μM bifenox). Since growth of crownvetch rhizobia was apparently not affected by rates of atrazine or bifenox above reasonable soil solution concentrations, it is likely that herbicidal effects on nodulation were due to toxicity to the host plant rather than toxicity to these bacteria. In a growth chamber experiment, total nodule activity (TNA) and carbon dioxide exchange rate (CER) were measured simultaneously in an effort to distinguish direct atrazine effects on nodule function from indirect effects due to inhibition of photosynthesis and a resulting decrease in photosynthate supply to nodules. When 5 and 50 mg atrazine per kg soil were applied to intact plants, CER was severely reduced within 24 h, but similar reductions in TNA were not observed until 48 h after treatment. Total nodule activity was reduced similarly by atrazine and defoliation; the application of atrazine to defoliated plants did not inhibit TNA more than did defoliation alone. The data indicate that reductions in crownvetch nodule activity by atrazine are due to inhibition of photosynthesis or other processes rather than direct toxicity to N fixation.

The ethyl ester of fenoxaprop {(±)-2-[4-[(6-chloro-2-benzoxazolyl)oxy] phenoxy] propanoic acid} was applied to rice (Oryza sativa L.) that was heavily infested with barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. # ECHCG] during a 3-yr study. Applications were made to two- to three-leaf, three- to four-leaf, five- to six-leaf, or tillering barnyardgrass. Barnyardgrass control at 9 weeks after final treatment was greater than 90% for all growth stages except the 0.1 kg ai/ha rate applied to three- to four-leaf barnyardgrass in 1983. In 1984, the sequential application of fenoxaprop made at the three- to four-leaf stage controlled more than 95% when rated at 9 weeks. Rates of 0.17 and 0.2 kg ai/ha and the sequential treatment of 0.1 kg ai/ha followed by 0.1 kg ai/ha 7 to 10 days later controlled greater than 90% at 9 weeks when applied to three- to four- and five- to six-leaf barnyardgrass in 1985. In general, barnyardgrass was controlled by fenoxaprop rates greater than 0.1 kg ai/ha when applied to any growth stage evaluated up through the five- to six-leaf stage. However, acceptable control of tillering barnyardgrass was achieved in only 1 of 3 years. Yields were increased due to barnyardgrass control all years with all treatments except those applied at tillering. However, control was sufficient to increase yields over that of the check for all tillering treatments except the 0.1 kg ai/ha rate in 1984 and 1985 and the 0.17 kg ai/ha treatment in 1985.

Root and foliar absorption and translocation of 14C-metribuzin [4-amino-6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3-(methylthio)-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-one] were determined in tolerant (‘Steptoe’) and susceptible (‘Morex’) barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars grown in nutrient solution culture under greenhouse conditions. Root-applied metribuzin toxicity to the two barley cultivars was also examined. A 50% reduction in growth occurred at 0.22 and 0.72 μM metribuzin for Morex and Steptoe, respectively. Root absorption was similar for both cultivars at 1 day, but Steptoe absorbed about two times more metribuzin 4 and 8 days after application than did Morex. Steptoe absorbed 19% of the total applied metribuzin by 8 days. Root absorption was positively correlated with water uptake (r≥ 0.87). Leaf absorption was three times greater for Morex than for Steptoe after 4 days. Transport to leaves from root application was rapid, and, by 1 and 8 days, leaves of Steptoe contained 71 and 82% and leaves of Morex 78 and 84% of the total absorbed 14C, respectively. Translocation was apoplastic following both root and leaf absorption and was similar for both cultivars. Differential tolerance could partially be accounted for by differences in foliar absorption but not by differences in root absorption.

Eight accessions of weedy nightshades representing five species were evaluated for response to four herbicides applied preemergence in growth chamber studies and four herbicides applied postemergence in greenhouse studies. Species differed in susceptibility to all herbicides evaluated. The largest differences were found with postemergence applications of chlorsulfuron {2-chloro-N-[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]carbonyl]benzenesulfonamide}; hairy nightshade (Solanum sarrachoides Sendt. ♯ SOLSA) was relatively susceptible, but eastern black nightshade (S. ptycanthum Dun.) was very tolerant. S. ptycanthum, however, was one of the more susceptible species. It was always more susceptible than black nightshade (S. nigrum L. ♯ SOLNI) to all other herbicides evaluated.

Adsorption of benefin (N-butyl-N-ethyl-α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-p-toluidine), dinitramine (N4,N4-diethyl-α,α,α-trifluoro-3,5-dinitrotoluene-2,4-diamine), fluchloralin [N-(2-chloroethyl)-2,6-dinitro-N-propyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)aniline], oryzalin (3,5-dinitro-N4,N4-dipropylsulfanilamide), profluralin [N-(cyclopropylmethyl)-α,α,α-tri-fluoro-2,6-dinitro-N-propyl-p-toluidine], and trifluralin (α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine) was studied in 10 Wisconsin soils. Ratios of the quantity of each herbicide adsorbed and quantities remaining in the soil solution at equilibrium (Kd value) on a Piano silt loam (Typic Argiudoll fine-silty, mixed, mesic) remained relatively constant over a range of concentrations. Herbicide adsorption by the soils was related more closely to soil organic matter than to the other soil chemical and physical properties. Diffusion of the herbicides in Piano silt loam was affected by soil water. Diffusion of trifluralin, profluralin and benefin decreased as soil water increased. Diffusion of dinitramine and fluchloralin did not change significantly with change in water content. Diffusion of oryzalin increased at the highest soil water content. None of the herbicides moved more than 10 mm in the soil during a 17-day period. In unsaturated Piano silt loam, relative mobility of the herbicides was trifluralin ≥benefin>profluralin>fluchloralin>dinitramine≥oryzalin. Oryzalin reached highest mobility in water-saturated soil.

Tall morningglory [Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth] seeds were germinated at various temperatures and dry weight conversion measured at 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hr. Germination and dry weight conversion were slower at the lower temperatures although both occurred. Tall morningglory could germinate and become established over a wide range of temperatures. Some herbicides were effective in reducing germination, and dry weight conversion was reduced most with the dithiocarbamates followed in sequence by the amides, benzoic acids, uracils, dinitroanilines, phthalamic acids, triazines, and ureas.