Author' note: This article is based on remarks made in February 1998 at the annual meeting of the Weed Science Society of America in Chicago. Those remarks were in turn based on an article, to be published in Spanish, titled “Es Antinatural la Manipulación Genética de los Animales?” The Spanish version will appear in the Proceedings of the Segundo Congreso Caribeno de Bioetica, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, March 1998. It addresses the question of the engineering of animals; the focus here is the engineering of plants. Whether one considers flora or fauna, the unnaturalness objection raises the same cluster of concerns. Consequently, an assessment of those concerns need not vary significantly in turning from animals to plants.

The conditions causing the onset of secondary dormancy in seed of winter oilseed rape cultivars Falcon and Libravo were investigated in a series of laboratory experiments to provide practical guidance on how to minimize the persistence of volunteer oilseed rape seed. The germination of recently harvested oilseed rape seed in moist conditions at 12 C was close to 100% in both darkness and under white light. Imbibition in water stress with an osmotic potential (ψ) of −1,500 kPa at 12 C in far-red light (FR) or dark for more than 5 d induced secondary dormancy in both cultivars. Treatment with FR was more effective than darkness at inducing secondary dormancy. Libravo produced more dormant seed than Falcon. Imbibition in FR and absence of water stress (ψ = 0 kPa) decreased germinability especially at the low temperature (6 C). These conditions resulted in 19.4 and 27.2% dormant seed for Libravo and Falcon, respectively. The results suggest that phytochrome is involved in the induction of secondary dormancy in oilseed rape. In practice, much oilseed rape seed is buried by postharvest cultivation in late summer (low hydric conditions) and exposed to water stress and darkness for some time. To avoid soil seed persistence and subsequent volunteer oilseed rape, seed must be retained at the soil surface when there is adequate moisture available. Therefore, incorporation of seed by tillage should be avoided or delayed as long as possible.

Medusahead is an invasive annual grass that, once established, severely affects range-land productivity and stability. Medusahead builds large seedbanks in the litter and on the soil surface. Effective weed control of medusahead involves either inhibiting germination from the seedbank, eliminating the seedbank, or enhancing germination so that plants are available for control. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of nitrogen enrichment, immobilization, and nitrification inhibition treatments in the field on the size and germination status of medusahead seedbanks. The germination status of medusahead seeds in seedbanks was determined by periodically collecting field samples of surface soil and litter and bioassaying them in greenhouse emergence tests. Control seedbanks had increased seedling emergence with KNO3 or GA3 enrichment of the bioassay substrate. The combination of these two materials increased emergence. Nitrogen enrichment increased seedling establishment in the field. Carbon enrichment in the field decreased seedling establishment and increased medusahead seeds in seedbanks. Nitrapyrin treatment decreased medusahead in the field similar to carbon enrichment. In comparison to the control or other treatments, GA3 enrichment was not as effective in increasing emergence from nitrapyrin-treated bioassay samples. The combination of carbon and nitrapyrin treatments was very effective in eliminating medusahead emergence in the field, but in wetter years, it never completely eliminated medusahead seedling recruitment and subsequent reproduction. These treatments have promise for influencing succession in medusahead infestations if an adapted perennial species, capable of competing under low nitrogen levels, becomes available.

This research was conducted to evaluate the light requirement for redroot and smooth pigweed germination in soil, and how this requirement is affected by germination temperature and seasonal periodicity in seed dormancy. Seed enclosed in nylon mesh bags was buried in the field in December 1993 and 1994 and was recovered throughout the spring and summer of the following year, respectively. Germination was highest with red light or at 30 C. The requirement for red light was more pronounced at 20 vs. 30 C. The saturating fluence of red light was as low as 3 μmol m−2 in buried seed and 1,000 μmol m−2 in unburied control seed, depending on germination temperature. The effect of light and germination temperature pigweed germination also changed throughout the growing season. Our results indicate that light may be a requirement for germination in only the most dormant weed seed in the soil seedbank.

Field studies were conducted to characterize the predominant nonstructural carbohydrates in roots and crowns of purple loosestrife and to determine the seasonal fluctuation of root and crown carbohydrates in three Minnesota wetland habitats. Starch was the primary nonstructural carbohydrate present, and concentrations were consistently higher in roots than in crowns. Starch content decreased following shoot emergence and declined until flower bud formation, at which time levels reached seasonal lows. Following bud initiation, levels of starch increased during flowering, and this trend continued through to plant senescence in late September or October. Sucrose was the predominant soluble sugar in roots and crowns of purple loosestrife, but fructose and glucose were detected. Levels of sucrose in roots and crowns followed the same seasonal trends as starch.

Cultivated and weedy clones of yellow nutsedge were analyzed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers to assess the polymorphism within the species and determine if this approach was suitable for identification of cultivar and wild populations. The RAPD markers unambiguously identified all studied clones. Nei-Li similarities were computed and used in an unweighted pair group method using arithmetic average (UPGMA) cluster analyses. Cultivated and weedy clones were clustered in two groups, but two cultivated clones were more closely related to weedy clones than to cultivated clones. The results showed a high level of genetic variability among the clones tested, particularly among the cultivated ones. Identification of yellow nutsedge cultivars and analysis of genetic diversity within and among weedy populations is possible by using only a small number of primers. In this study, seven selected primers discriminated among the 10 tested clones.

Common cocklebur and sicklepod are troublesome weeds in soybean in the southern United States. A field experiment was conducted from 1991 through 1995 to determine (1) the influence of tillage (no-till and tilled after initial seed deposition) and intraspecific and interspecific interference on seed production potential, emergence pattern, and soil seedbank of common cocklebur and sicklepod, and (2) the dominant species after introduction into a weed-free field. Under intraspecific interference, 1,430 and 1,392 common cocklebur achenes m−2 and 1,827 and 5,435 sicklepod seed m−2 were deposited to the seedbank after 1 and 2 yr of seed production, respectively. For both species, approximately 11% of the initial seedbank emerged under tilled conditions the first year after deposition. Under no-till conditions, only 0.7% of common cocklebur and 1.6% of sicklepod emerged. The second year after deposition, common cocklebur emergence in no-till decreased to 0.25% of the initial seedbank, while sicklepod increased to 8% of the initial seedbank and remained higher than in tilled plots. Under tilled conditions, common cocklebur became the dominant species, and sicklepod became dominant under no-till conditions. Seedbank depletion was greater for both species under tillage. Three years after initial seed deposition, sicklepod seed was 100% viable but common cocklebur achenes were not viable. Under no-till conditions, common cocklebur was depleted in the seedbank but sicklepod was not. Thus, sicklepod poses a greater long-term weed problem than common cocklebur, especially under no-till conditions.

Field experiments were conducted on eight weed species to determine if chlorimuron, fomesafen, imazethapyr, or sulfentrazone at two rates (labeled and one-half the labeled rate) were complementary tank mixtures with glyphosate at 210 and 420 g ai ha−1. Laboratory experiments were conducted on barnyardgrass, pitted morningglory, Palmer amaranth, and velvetleaf using radiolabeled glyphosate, chlorimuron, and imazethapyr to determine the absorption and translocation pattern of these herbicides applied alone and in combination. In the field, glyphosate plus chlorimuron tank mixtures were generally additive. Adding chlorimuron did not decrease absorption or translocation of 14C-glyphosate by barnyardgrass, pitted morningglory, or velvetleaf. Adding glyphosate increased absorption of 14C-chlorimuron by Palmer amaranth and velvetleaf. All four fomesafen plus glyphosate rate combinations were antagonistic to goosegrass, sicklepod, Palmer amaranth, and velvetleaf, and three of the four were antagonistic to barnyardgrass and entireleaf morningglory. Fomesafen decreased absorption and translocation of 14C-glyphosate in barnyardgrass, pitted morningglory, and velvetleaf. Ninety percent of glyphosate plus imazethapyr combinations were additive or synergistic, with all rate combinations synergistic for pitted morningglory. Adding glyphosate to imazethapyr increased absorption of 14C-imazethapyr by Palmer amaranth and velvetleaf. Glyphosate plus sulfentrazone tank mixtures were antagonistic at all rate combinations for barnyardgrass and Palmer amaranth and at three of the four combinations for goosegrass and entireleaf morningglory, indicating that these herbicides are not complementary in tank mixtures.

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to determine the effects of nitrogen (N) supply and purple nutsedge population densities on the yield of radish. In the greenhouse studies, additive series with purple nutsedge densities of 0, 50, 100, 200 or 350 plants m−2 were established. Nitrogen rates of 0, 110, 220, or 330 kg ha−1 were provided to the potting medium. A significant density by N interaction was found for radish fresh weight. Within a given nutsedge density, radish yield decreased as N rate increased. In field studies, additive series of 0, 50, 100, 150, or 200 nutsedge plants m−2 were established the same day radish was sown. Nitrogen rates were 100 or 200 kg ha−1. Marketable radish yield losses and nutsedge shoot dry weight and height were determined 30 d after seeding the crop. Nutsedge densities and N rates interactively influenced radish root yield. Radish yield loss reached 100% at nutsedge densities of 75 and 125 plants m−2 at 200 and 100 kg N ha−1, respectively. Purple nutsedge produced larger shoot biomass as N increased from 100 to 200 kg ha−1. Results of both greenhouse and field studies showed that as N increased, the negative effect of the weed on the crop was enhanced.

Laboratory experiments were undertaken to investigate the allelopathic activity of Mexican sunflower in soil as well as to determine the effect of several soil factors on activity. There was a decrease in shoot and root growth of the test plant species when grown in soil previously planted with Mexican sunflower. However, seed germination was not affected. Soil-water separated from the same soil also inhibited shoot and root growth. A water extract from Mexican sunflower leaves applied to soil also reduced shoot and root growth, but the degree of inhibition varied among test plant species. Incorporation of dry Mexican sunflower leaves into soil at the rate of 1 and 2% (w/w) inhibited the growth of rice seedlings. The phytotoxic activity of incorporated leaf residue diminished 4 wk after treatment of soil. The inhibitory effect of a leaf water extract in nonautoclaved soil was less than in autoclaved soil and the phytotoxic effect to rice seedling grown in autoclaved soil was less than in autoclaved sand. It is suggested that the decrease in allelopathic activity of Mexican sunflower extract and its residue in soil is due to the action of soil microorganisms and the soil adsorption of the active components.

This research was conducted to determine the environmental conditions necessary for development and expression of very low fluence (VLFR) germination sensitivity, and to determine the roles of type I phytochrome, gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis, and nitrate in this process. Redroot pigweed seed was subjected to pregermination incubation regimes of 5, 12, and 23 C for up to 21 d in a −1.2 MPa polyethylene glycol solution in the dark. Development of VLFR sensitivity was most pronounced at 23 C, and induction of germination by the lowest fluence tested (3 μmol m–2) was greater at a germination temperature of 30 than 20 C. In dormant smooth pigweed seed, development of VLFR sensitivity occurred only when seed was subjected to a prechilling treatment to overcome primary dormancy. The instability of the fluence response of seed subjected to pregermination conditions favorable for development of VLFR was consistent with type I phytochrome accumulation and degradation after photoconversion. In redroot pigweed seed, inhibition of GA biosynthesis during pregermination incubation resulted in the partial attenuation of VLFR sensitivity. The addition of 75 ppm nitrate to pregermination and germination media enhanced VLFR sensitivity. Our results suggest that development of VLFR sensitivity is due to cooperative action between type I phytochrome and phytochrome-independent GA biosynthesis. In the soil seedbank, this sensitivity may be augmented in elevated soil nitrate environments.

The relative genetic similarity of 37 wild oat samples was determined using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. These data were compared with the herbicide-resistance characteristics of each sample to determine the importance of mutation and gene flow in the spread of Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitor resistance. There was a strong association between the genotypic clustering of samples, their herbicide-resistance characteristics, and their field of origin. Up to eight separate patches in a field were genetically similar, confirming that gene flow by seed movement is important in the distribution of resistant (R) wild oat seed. A greater emphasis on field scouting and treatment of wild oat patches could reduce the spread of resistance within fields. Samples collected from different fields were also found to be genetically similar, indicating that R wild oat was spread between fields. Improved sanitation of tillage and harvesting equipment and the use of certified seed could limit such seed movement.

Changes in weed seedbank composition are often monitored by removing seeds from soil samples. One extraction method accomplishes this by creating a slurry of soil and a concentrated inorganic salt solution. Centrifugation is then used to separate constituents of differing densities. We have found that centrifugation of giant foxtail seeds in 3.2 M potassium carbonate solution as conducted in a centrifugation/flotation extraction method can reduce viability as measured by germination and tetrazolium tests. In one experiment, centrifugation/flotation separation reduced germination of giant foxtail seeds from 94 to 52%. The likely cause of seed damage was the high pH of the potassium carbonate solution in conjunction with the increased hydrostatic pressure due to centrifugation. While centrifugation affected quantitative measures of seed viability, it did not alter qualitative viability estimates using a pressure test.

The germination behavior of giant foxtail and shattercane seed was investigated to determine whether environment in which maternal plants grow and progeny seed develop affects seed dormancy. Giant foxtail and shattercane seed was collected in 1985, 1991, and 1992. Plants from this seed were grown to maturity in the field and the greenhouse in 1993 and 1994. Experiments were conducted using mature progeny seed collected from these plants to determine the influence of environment of maternal growth on seed germination. Greenhouse-raised giant foxtail seed was more dormant than field-raised seed. Progeny of the 1991 giant foxtail collection had the most dormant seed, whereas progeny of the 1992 collection had the least dormant seed. Field-raised shattercane seed was more dormant than greenhouse-raised seed, but this dormancy was easily overcome by placing them in fluctuating temperatures. Moist stratification of giant foxtail seed increased its overall germination and reduced the differences in germination between individual collections and between field- and greenhouse-raised seed lots. Moist stratification of shattercane seed resulted in increased variability in germination within and among seed lots. Subjecting shattercane seed to freezing and thawing was most detrimental and caused an 89% reduction in germination due to seed death. These data indicate that before overwintering, giant foxtail seed differed in germination percentage, but overwintering reduced these differences. Shattercane seed produced in different environments had similar germination percentage. This suggests that successful overwintering depends on its ability to survive freezing and thawing conditions.

Research was conducted to formulate a seedling johnsongrass emergence model as influenced by temperature and burial depth using the poikilotherm rate equation. A series of constant-temperature growth chamber experiments with johnsongrass seed buried at various depths in fritted clay was conducted to develop a temperature/burial emergence database. The poikilotherm rate equation was fit to the emergence data from burial depths of 0 to 2.5 cm at constant temperatures between 20 and 44 C. These data were then combined to formulate a single poikilotherm rate equation to model the emergence of seedling johnsongrass from 0 and 2.5 cm deep and 20 to 44 C. This combined model was validated against two independent emergence data sets with good results.

The effect of reduced water availability on glyphosate efficacy and adventitious shoot growth in male and female clones of Canada thistle was studied. Water availability was regulated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) in hydroponically grown plants or by withholding water from soil-grown plants. In hydroponic media, there was 50% more adventitious shoot growth from male plants than from female plants. Both PEG and foliarly applied glyphosate reduced the number of adventitious shoots, regardless of gender. In soil, the same number of adventitious shoots formed on untreated male and female plants. However, when glyphosate was applied to plants growing under dry conditions, there was 75% more adventitious shoot growth from males than females. Distribution of glyphosate was similar in male and female plants. Approximately 23% of applied 14C-glyphosate was transported throughout Canada thistle plants within 10 d of treatment regardless of gender or moisture condition. Gender differences in capacity for vegetative reproduction may alter the sex ratio of Canada thistle populations in the field following glyphosate application.

Understanding patterns of shattercane and giant foxtail field emergence during the spring and summer in the Midwest is important to determine the best weed management programs for crop production systems. The primary objective of this study was to determine percentage emergence of shattercane and giant foxtail under field conditions as influenced by soil temperature fluctuations, in 1992 and 1993. A secondary objective was to determine the difference in emergence percentage based on shattercane and giant foxtail seed lots harvested in different years (1985, 1991, and 1992). Soil temperature fluctuations were manipulated by artificially shading the soil surface with plastic netting that provided 30, 60, and 90% of incident sunlight in addition to the full sunlight control (0% shade). Giant foxtail and shattercane seed was planted at depths of 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 cm under each shade, and emergence was monitored for 45 d. Soil temperature fluctuations were reduced by increasing depth and amount of shade. Increasing depth of seed significantly reduced percentage emergence by 63 and 54% for shattercane, and 71 and 73% for giant foxtail in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Decreasing light intensity significantly reduced percentage emergence of shattercane by 72 and 73% in 1992 and 1993, respectively, but did not decrease giant foxtail emergence. Seed lots of both species were different from one another both years. These results were consistent over years, even though 1993 precipitation was three times that for 1992. Therefore, shattercane seed uses diurnal fluctuations in temperature to sense proximity to the soil surface and covering vegetation to avoid germination when conditions are unfavorable for growth. In contrast, giant foxtail seed can germinate readily and grow when environmental conditions are within an acceptable range and when seed is not buried too deeply. Differences in percentage emergence between seed lots could play a major role in emergence patterns of shattercane and giant foxtail observed in the field and may be influenced by environmental conditions during seed development on parent plants.

Populations of horseweed and Virginia pepperweed resistant to the herbicide paraquat were found in several fruit orchards in Essex County, Ontario, Canada, where paraquat had been applied four to five times per year for at least 10 yr. Dose–response experiments were conducted in the greenhouse for each species, using 2-to 4-mo-old plants from populations that had received repeated exposure to paraquat and those that had not. The paraquat dose that reduced shoot dry weight by 50% (ED 50) was estimated for each population. Resistant populations of horseweed had ED 50 values 25 to 35 times higher than susceptible populations. A resistant population of Virginia pepperweed had an ED 50 10 times higher than susceptible populations.

Field studies were conducted at two locations near Manhattan, KS, in 1994 and 1995 to determine the influence of density (0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 12 plants m−1 row) and time of emergence on redroot pigweed growth in monoculture or with sorghum. Redroot pigweed was seeded at sorghum planting and at the three- to four-leaf stage of sorghum in plots with sorghum or alone. When redroot pigweed grew with sorghum, dry matter and seed production were reduced with later times of emergence. In monoculture, there was no reduction in dry matter or seed number between the emergence dates studied. Redroot pigweed dry matter and seed production per plant were reduced as plant density increased for plants grown in monoculture. The same trend was observed for redroot pigweed grown with sorghum that did not emerge early relative to sorghum. Plants grown at low density exhibited more lateral growth than when grown at higher densities because of intraspecific competition.

Greenhouse experiments in central Texas assessed the relative importance of above- and belowground interactions of semidwarf Mit wheat and Marshall ryegrass during vegetative growth. One experiment used partitions to compare the effect of no (controls), aboveground only, belowground only, and full interaction for 75 d after planting (DAP) one wheat and nine ryegrass plants in soil volumes of 90, 950, and 3,800 ml. The results with the different soil volumes were similar. Wheat growth in the aboveground interaction only did not differ from controls. However, the full or belowground only interaction of wheat with ryegrass reduced wheat height, leaf number, tillering, leaf area, percent total nonstructural carbohydrates in shoot, and dry weights of leaves, stems, and roots 45 and 75 DAP compared to controls. Wheat in full and belowground interaction only did not differ from one another in growth. A replacement series experiment of 56 d also showed that the competitive advantage of ryegrass was relatively greater in root than in shoot growth. No allelopathic response of wheat to ryegrass occurred. While the tallness of the semidwarf wheat minimized aboveground interference by ryegrass, the root growth of the thinner and more fibrous roots of ryegrass greatly enhanced its belowground competitiveness.