Invasions of many different plants have occurred in ecosystems around the world and theories of the mechanisms of these invasions abound. All the proposed theories have value, and many of the proposed mechanisms may at least serve as facilitating factors, but no overarching conceptual framework for the mechanisms of plant invasion has emerged. One common theme in all invasions is that the invading plant, in the process of geographic displacement, has been dislocated from its coevolved biota and relocated with a less-familiar biota. The impacts of dislocation from coevolved mutualists, parasites, and competitors are different but follow general principles. The impacts of relocation with new mutualists, parasites, and competitors are also variable and will change as the introduced plant coevolves with its new biotic environment. I propose some hypotheses to guide predictions of the outcomes of the dislocation of plants from coevolved relationships and, hence, the outcomes of plant geographic displacement. Invasiveness in plants is not determined by their life history traits or the nature of the ecosystem they are invading. Invasiveness is primarily a result of the process of invasion itself. When plants are dislocated from coevolved relationships and confronted with new relationships, they can become ecologically transformed. This transformation can affect the ability of a plant population to become established, invasive, and naturalized in a new environment.

The influence of the holoparasite branched broomrape on the vegetative growth, leaf chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and chlorophyll fluorescence of tomato was studied over two growing seasons on plants grown in a commercial greenhouse. The presence of the parasite strongly reduced the aerial biomass by acting as a competing sink for assimilate, but more importantly, by compromising the efficiency of carbon assimilation via a reduction in leaf chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate. The chlorophyll fluorescence parameters F0, Fm, Fv, and Fv/Fm were all altered in parasitized plants, indicating that branched broomrape–infected plants are more susceptible to photoinhibition. The degree of damage to the host was not dependent on either the number or the biomass of parasitic plants per host plant. We suggest that the ability to maintain a high photosynthetic rate, leaf chlorophyll content, or both and the ability to minimize photoinhibition can be developed as indirect assays for improved tolerance to branched broomrape.

Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the effect of several environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of Crofton weed. Seeds germinated over a range of 10–30 C, with optimum germination at 25 C. High temperature markedly restricted germination, with no germination occurring at 35 C. Crofton weed was moderately photoblastic, with 17% germination occurring in the dark. Crofton weed germinated in a narrow range of pH (5–7). Maximum germination (94%) was observed in distilled water at pH 5.7. Germination was totally inhibited at osmotic stress higher than −0.7 MPa. Germination was greater than 65% at less than 100 mM NaCl, with no germination at 300 mM NaCl. Maximum emergence occurred when seeds were planted on the soil surface. No seedlings emerged when seeds were planted 1.5 cm deep. These results suggest that the future range of Crofton weed in China will be restricted largely to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, which includes major parts of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, the southwestern part of Sichuan province, and the western part of Guangxi province. Crofton weed also tends to be a sporadic problem in other regions, where the climatic and edaphic conditions are suitable for the seed germination.

Johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] and soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Lee 68’] were treated over-the-top with glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] at 0.2 and 0.4 kg/ha with surfactant in spray solutions and 0.4 and 0.7 kg/ha without surfactant in spray solutions. Treated plants were maintained in the growth chamber for 2 weeks after treatment at 24, 29, and 35 C; 45 and 100% relative humidity (RH); and 12 and 20% soil moisture. Glyphosate at 0.4 kg/ha applied without surfactant controlled johnsongrass better at 100% than at 45% RH. Johnsongrass control was better with 20% than with 12% soil moisture. Averaged over all evironments, the order of glyphosate toxicity to johnsongrass at 0.4 and 0.7 kg/ha was 35 C > 29 C > 24 C. The environmental condition of 45% RH and 12% soil, moisture resulted in least johnsongrass control regardless of temperature. The order of glyphosate toxicity to soybeans when applied without surfactant was 24 C > 29 C > 35 C. Glyphosate applied without surfactant was more toxic to soybeans at 100% than at 45% RH and more toxic at 12% than at 20% soil moisture. Surfactant in spray solutions increased glyphosate toxicity to johnsongrass and soybeans.

Factors affecting horseweed emergence are important for management of this weed species, particularly because of the presence of herbicide-resistant biotypes. Horseweed emergence was highly variable and not strongly correlated to soil temperature (r 2 = 0.21), air temperature (r 2 = 0.45) or rainfall (r 2 = 0.32). Horseweed emerged mainly during April and September in Tennessee when average daytime temperatures fluctuate between 10 and 15.5 C. However, some horseweed plants emerged during almost any month when temperatures ranged from 10 to 25 C and adequate moisture was available at the soil surface. Horseweed densities ranged from a low of 30 to 50 plants m−2 to a high of > 1,500 plants−2 at one location. These extremely high densities illustrate the ability of horseweed to be an effective ruderal plant that can produce stands that approach monoculture densities if not controlled. The amount of crop residue remaining after harvest from the previous field season was in the order of corn > cotton > soybean > fallow. Residue from a previous corn crop reduced horseweed emergence compared with soybean and cotton residues in a no-tillage situation. Decreased horseweed density due to crop residue presence indicates that a systems approach may help reduce horseweed populations.

Fomesafen, saflufenacil, and sulfentrazone had similar parameters for their mass spectrometry analysis, all being analyzed in negative mode with similar ionization energies. Flumioxazin was analyzed in positive mode using different ionization temperatures and voltage energies, and a larger injection volume (10 µl compared with 2–5 µl) due to lower liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) detector response. Quantitative limits of detection in soil were < 5 parts per billion by weight for all herbicides. The field study was conducted three times (2010, 2011, 2012) with four blocks of each treatment each year. Herbicide concentrations over time were based on field samples that were later extracted and quantified using the described LC-MS procedures. Data were examined using a simple first-order (SFO) equation with each year-by-herbicide treatment combination regressed using SigmaPlot version 12.5 to determine regression parameters. The SFO rate constant was used to determine a half life, or DT50 (in days) for each curve. All data were analyzed using a GLMMix ANOVA procedure using SAS version 9.3 and contrast statements were used to directly compare each herbicide comparison. Slopes for each herbicide use the SFO curve and were estimated using SAS. The order from shortest to longest DT50 was flumioxazin (21.1 d) = saflufenacil (21.4 d) < fomesafen (45.6 d) < sulfentrazone (70.8 d). These results concur with the labeled recrop recommendations after application for flumioxazin and saflufenacil, which have shorter cotton plant-back restrictions compared with sulfentrazone and fomesafen. In these studies, none of the herbicides was highly persistent (all half-lives < 100 d), so none would be expected to be persistent pollutants in the environment, although further research is needed in this area.

The compound α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine (trifluralin) inhibited mitosis in onion (Allium cepa L. ‘Yellow Globe’) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Thorn’) root tips. Photomicrographs showed that trifluralin affected mitosis in the same manner as colchicine. Arrested metaphases, c-pairs, micronuclei, amoeboid nuclei, and polyploidy were observed at various times after treatment. An increase in the percentage of arrested metaphases and a decrease in anaphase and telophase figures after 3 hr showed that mitosis was being blocked at metaphase. Prophase did not appear to be affected. Centrifugation of treated root tips displaced the chromosomes of arrested metaphases indicating that the spindle apparatus was disrupted.

Spiny and slender amaranth are troublesome Amaranthaceae species of direct-seeded rice and other upland crops in many Asian countries. Seed germination and seedling emergence response of these species to various environmental factors was determined in laboratory and screenhouse experiments. Germination in both species was stimulated by 35/25 and 30/20 C fluctuating temperatures and light. Germination of slender amaranth was more sensitive to increasing salt and water stress than spiny amaranth. Spiny amaranth germinated at a NaCl concentration of 100 mM (19%), whereas slender amaranth seeds did not germinate at this concentration. In seed burial trials where the seeds were on the soil surface, emergence was 56 and 68% for spiny amaranth and slender amaranth, respectively. Only 7% of spiny amaranth seedling emerged from a soil depth of 0.5 cm, whereas no emergence was observed for 4 cm or deeper. For slender amaranth, 6 and 0% emergence was observed at 4 and 6 cm, respectively. Seedling emergence of spiny amaranth was affected more by high rates of rice residue than slender amaranth. Greater quantities of residue than those normally found in rice fields were required to significantly reduce weed densities.

Surfactants were evaluated in the greenhouse for their ability to enhance glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine] toxicity to common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.) and hemp dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum L.). Ethoxylated amines were among the most effective groups of surfactants. Nonionic ether and ester ethoxylates combined with a dimethyl amine or a quaternary ammonium salt were more effective than any of these surfactants alone. Effectiveness of ethoxylated amine surfactants was altered by pH changes. Cat-ionic surfactants tended to be more effective than nonionic surfactants. With exceptions, surfactants were more effective with increased ethoxylation. Amine surfactant effectiveness increased with increasing concentrations up to 0.3% (w/v). Surfactant effectiveness on a molar basis was more closely related to the ethylene oxide content of the surfactant than was effectiveness on a percentage basis. Contact angle was not related to surfactant effectiveness at high or low surfactant concentrations. Ethoxylated stearyl ether and amine surfactants gave optimum effectiveness at hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) values of 15 to 16 and 19 to 20, respectively. Surfactants with a low HLB were usually less effective. Effectiveness of surfactant combinations was quite variable and difficult to predict. Therefore, the indiscriminate addition of surfactants to glyphosate spray mixtures which already contain a surfactant should be avoided.

A population of giant ragweed not controlled by cloransulam was identified near Seymour, IN, during the first year of that herbicide's commercialization in 1998. Results from acetolactate synthase (ALS) activity assays performed by Dow AgroSciences showed that resistance was caused by an altered ALS. Studies were conducted to define more precisely the molecular basis of resistance and to determine cross-resistance to other ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Sixteen greenhouse-grown giant ragweed plants from the Seymour population were tested individually with postemergence (POST) applications of cloransulam, imazethapyr, or chlorimuron, or by using a nondestructive leaf disk assay to determine resistant or sensitive herbicide responses. All plants identified from the Seymour population as resistant to cloransulam were cross-resistant to imazethapyr and chlorimuron. Two DNA fragments, totaling 804 nucleotide base pairs, within ALS were sequenced from each of the 16 plants. Sequence data, combined with phenotypic data, showed that a tryptophan to leucine substitution at amino acid position 574 of ALS (based on numbering of the Arabidopsis ALS) was responsible for ALS-inhibitor resistance. Among 11 resistant and 5 sensitive giant ragweed plants analyzed from the Seymour population, at least 15 different ALS alleles were identified. Of these 15 alleles, two alleles, at an average frequency of 0.25, contained a leucine at position 574 and conferred resistance. The 13 alleles that conferred susceptibility to ALS-inhibiting herbicides occurred at an average frequency of 0.04.

Preventing the introduction of weeds into the farming system through sowing of clean seeds is an essential component of weed management. The weed seed contamination of cleaned grain and herbicide resistance levels of the recovered weed seeds were examined in a study conducted across 74 farms in the Western Australian grainbelt. Most farmers grew and conserved their own crop seed. The majority of cleaned samples had some level of seed contamination from 11 foreign weed and volunteer crop species, with an average of 62 seeds 10 kg−1 grain, substantially higher than the 28 seeds 10 kg−1 grain expected by farmers. The most common weed contaminants across all samples were rigid ryegrass, wild radish, brome, and wild oat. When categorized by crop type, rigid ryegrass was the most frequent contaminant of cereal crops (barley and wheat), however wild radish was the most frequent contaminant of lupin crops. Uncleaned crop seed samples had almost 25 times more contamination than cleaned crop seed. Herbicide resistance was highly prevalent within rigid ryegrass populations recovered from cleaned grain except for glyphosate, which controlled all populations tested. Some resistance was also found in wild radish and wild oat populations; however, brome was susceptible to fluazifop. This study has shown that farmers are unknowingly introducing weed seeds into their farming systems during crop seeding, many of which have herbicide resistance.

The antagonistic effect of bentazon on sethoxydim adsorption and activity was studied in quackgrass. The diffusion of 14C-sethoxydim into and through an isolated tomato fruit cuticle was inhibited in the presence of the sodium salt of bentazon. Bentazon also increased the partitioning of 14C-sethoxydim into CH2Cl2 and water; however, it decreased partitioning into ethyl acetate. Removal of epicuticular wax from quackgrass leaf surfaces did not prevent the antagonism. Addition of sodium acetate or sodium bicarbonate to the sethoxydim spray solution at 10 mM reduced uptake of 14C-sethoxydim by quackgrass similar to the effect of bentazon. Sodium ions in the bentazon formulation appeared responsible for the antagonism by exchanging with the H+ of the sethoxydim hydroxyl group to form a more polar sodium salt of sethoxydim. The addition of Li+, K+, Cs+, Ca++, and Mg++ cations associated with a weak acid also reduced 14C-sethoxydim absorption. Addition of organic acids to the spray solution overcame the antagonism by preventing the formation of sodium salt of sethoxydim. In the field, the addition of a 3000 ppm sodium acetate solution delivering 0.56 kg/ha produced the same antagonism as bentazon on quackgrass control with sethoxydim.

Wild oat causes more crop yield losses and accounts for more herbicide expenditures than any other weed species on the Canadian Prairies. A study was conducted from 2001 to 2005 at four Canadian Prairie locations to determine the influence of repeated cultural and herbicidal management practices on wild oat population density, biomass, and seed production, and on barley biomass and seed yield. Short or tall cultivars of barley were combined with normal or double barley seeding rates in continuous barley or a barley–canola–barley–field-pea rotation under three herbicide rate regimes. The same herbicide rate regime was applied to the same plots in all crops each year. In barley, cultivar type and seeding rate were also repeated on the same plots year after year. Optimal cultural practices (tall cultivars, double seeding rates, and crop rotation) reduced wild oat emergence, biomass, and seed production, and increased barley biomass and seed yield, especially at low herbicide rates. Wild oat seed production at the quarter herbicide rate was reduced by 91, 95, and 97% in 2001, 2003, and 2005, respectively, when tall barley cultivars at double seeding rates were rotated with canola and field pea (high management) compared to short barley cultivars at normal seeding rates continuously planted to barley (low management). Combinations of favorable cultural practices interacted synergistically to reduce wild oat emergence, biomass and seed production, and to increase barley yield. For example, at the quarter herbicide rate, wild oat biomass was reduced 2- to 3-, 6- to 7-, or 19-fold when optimal single, double, or triple treatments were combined, respectively. Barley yield reductions in the low-management scenario were somewhat compensated for by full herbicide rates. However, high management at low herbicide rates often produced more barley than low management in higher herbicide rate regimes.

A field experiment involving seven cultural practices was begun in 1974 in an area heavily infested with velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) seed. Our objective was to determine the time required to eradicate velvetleaf seed from the soil. This paper reports the results of the first 4 yr of a long-term study. A cultural practice is repeated on the same plot year after year. Since the experiment was begun, no velvetleaf plants have been allowed to produce seed in any plots. The number of viable velvetleaf seeds is monitored by yearly soil sampling. In 1978, after 4 yr of a fallow treatment involving intensive tillage (two plowings per yr plus monthly tillage throughout the growing season), only 10% of the original seed population remained. However, that 10% was 1,300 viable seeds per m2 (to a depth of 23 cm). Four other practices that involved tillage gave generally similar results. Under undisturbed, continuous alfalfa, 56% of the original seed population remained after 4 yr, and under undisturbed, continuous chemical fallow, 37% remained. The results thus far demonstrate the extreme difficulty of eradicating velvetleaf seeds from the soil, and generally agree with reports in the literature, which primarily include studies conducted under more artificial conditions than we used. Our results also suggest that, in soil, velvetleaf seeds that have become water permeable (nonhard) may later again become water impermeable (hard).

Effects of 22 herbicides on the ATP content of excised soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr., var. Lee] hypocotyls were determined and compared with interferences reported previously on RNA and protein syntheses. Herbicides that reduced ATP levels and inhibited RNA and protein syntheses were 2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenol (dinoseb), 4-hydroxy-3,5-diiodobenzonitrile (ioxynil), 3′,4′-dichloropropionanilide (propanil), isopropyl m-chlorocarbanilate (chlorpropham), 2,3,5-trichloro-4-pyridinol (pyriclor), 2-chloro-N-isopropylacetanilide (propachlor), (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4,5-T), and (2,3,6-trichlorophenyl)acetic acid (fenac). No herbicide was found which reduced tissue ATP levels, but did not inhibit RNA and protein syntheses. The correlations established between tissue ATP levels and inhibition of RNA and protein syntheses suggested that interference with the production of energy, required to drive the biosynthetic reactions, could be the mechanism through which these herbicides expressed their effects.

Laboratory studies were conducted to investigate the processes of imazaquin and imazethapyr degradation in soil. Microbial degradation of 14C-imazaquin and 14C-imazethapyr was monitored by measuring 14CO2 evolution compared to nonsterile soil. 14CO2 evolution was greatest from carboxyl-labeled imazaquin and imazethapyr compared to ring-labeled imazaquin and imazethapyr. A corn root bioassay indicated nearly complete loss of herbicidal activity in nonsterile soil after 5 mo, but herbicide activity was reduced only 14% in sterile soil. 14CO2 evolution more than doubled when soil temperature increased from 15 to 30 C. Total CO2 production responded similarly. Degradation of imazaquin and imazethapyr increased as soil moisture increased from 15% (-2.4 MPa) to 75% of field capacity (-0.03 MPa).

Improved crop tolerance and weed suppressive ability are tactics that may reduce the negative effect of weeds on crop yield. Irrigated field experiments were conducted to compare leaf area index (LAI), intercepted photosynthetic photon flux (PPF), and relative tolerance and velvetleaf suppressive ability among two old (circa 1940) and two modern corn hybrids. Each hybrid was grown in monoculture and in mixture with velvetleaf at 1, 4, 16, and 40 plants m−1 row. Plants were periodically harvested in monoculture plots to obtain estimates of corn LAI, and PPF interception was measured. Variation in hybrid tolerance to velvetleaf competition for light was evaluated by comparing among hybrids the coefficients of a regression of corn yield loss on velvetleaf density. Velvetleaf seed capsule production in the presence of each hybrid was compared to evaluate variation in velvetleaf suppressive ability among hybrids. Maximum corn yield loss was 32% lower for the two old hybrids, and velvetleaf capsule production was reduced by 62% at low velvetleaf densities in 1995 compared to the modern hybrids. In 1996, yield loss of the modern hybrid 3394 was 74% lower than that of the other three hybrids at low velvetleaf densities, whereas maximum yield loss of the old hybrid 336 was 44% lower at high densities. Velvetleaf capsule production did not vary among hybrids at any velvetleaf density in 1996. Hybrids with greater tolerance and velvetleaf suppressive ability also had greater LAI and PPF interception, suggesting optimized corn LAI and PPF interception may be useful in an integrated weed management program.

Optimum germination of Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.] occurred at alternating temperatures of 20 to 30 C and 30 to 40 C and at a constant temperature of 30 C. Osmotic pressures of 7 bars and greater reduced germination, but 2% of the seeds germinated at 15 bars. Canada thistle seeds (14%) were able to germinate in NaCl concentrations of 20,000 ppmw. Light was important in seed germination, however, its effect could be overcome by adding GA3 (gibberellic acid) to the germination medium. Optimum pH for germination was between 5.8 and 7.0. Depth of planting influenced emergence; the highest percentage of seedlings emerged from depths of 0.5 to 1.5 cm. Canada thistle seedlings tolerated average soil moisture tensions of 1.3 bars and continued to grow. Canada thistle seedlings 19 days old and with two true leaves were able to resprout after top-growth removal. Regrowth was evident on 8% of the clipped plants 4 days after initial top-growth removal.

The development of dicamba-tolerant and other auxin-tolerant crops will enable the use of these effective herbicides in soybean and cotton at application timings such as at planting or over-the-top that are not currently possible. This research examined the effect of various factors on detection of postapplication amounts of dicamba in the air under field conditions by coupling a sample collection system with advanced chemical analysis of those samples. The quantity of dimethylamine salt of dicamba that was detected within 48 hr after application was two times greater (P < 0.05) than the quantity of diglycoamine salt formulation based on field studies in 2009. Regardless of application timing, the amount of detected dicamba was greatest during the 0 to 12 hr time period after application. However, the total detected after 48 hr was less for evening applications (5 micrograms [µg]) compared with midday (17 µg) or morning (14 µg) applications based on 2010 field trials. Average ambient air temperature (and other weather variables) correlated with higher detection levels of dicamba in the air in the field.

As all herbicides act on pathways or processes crucial to plants, in an inhibitory or stimulatory way, low doses of any herbicide might be used to beneficially modulate plant growth, development, or composition. Glyphosate, the most used herbicide in the world, is widely applied at low rates to ripen sugarcane. Low rates of glyphosate also can stimulate plant growth (this effect is called hormesis). When applied at recommended rates for weed control, glyphosate can inhibit rust diseases in glyphosate-resistant wheat and soybean. Fluridone blocks carotenoid biosynthesis by inhibition of phytoene desaturase and is effective in reducing the production of abscisic acid in drought-stressed plants. Among the acetolactate synthase inhibitors, sulfometuron-methyl is widely used to ripen sugarcane and imidazolinones can be used to suppress turf species growth. The application of protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitors can trigger plant defenses against pathogens. Glufosinate, a glutamine synthetase inhibitor, is also known to improve the control of plant diseases. Auxin agonists (i.e., dicamba and 2,4-D) are effective, low-cost plant growth regulators. Currently, auxin agonists are still used in tissue cultures to induce somatic embryogenesis and to control fruit ripening, to reduce drop of fruits, to enlarge fruit size, or to extend the harvest period in citrus orchards. At low doses, triazine herbicides stimulate growth through beneficial effects on nitrogen metabolism and through auxin-like effects. Thus, sublethal doses of several herbicides have applications other than weed control.