A field study was conducted in 1994 and 1995 to determine the efficacy of MON 12037 on purple nutsedge in a bermudagrass turf. The percentage of bermudagrass infested with purple nutsedge following a single application of MON 12037 decreased from 60 to 30% at 18 g ai/ha and to approximately 20% at 36, 54, and 72 g/ha. Regrowth of purple nutsedge occurred between 28 and 55 d after treatment (DAT) and was greatest at 18 g/ha. A second application of MON 12037 reduced purple nutsedge percent infestation similarly to one application. Tuber weight and number were not affected by either one or two applications of MON 12037; however, tuber viability decreased after two applications. These results suggest that when using MON 12037, a program of several years duration may be required to successfully manage purple nutsedge in a bermudagrass turf because viable tubers persist following two applications of MON 12037 in a season.

Field experiments were conducted at one location in Georgia (1994) and at two locations in Alabama (1994 and 1995) to evaluate the effects of MSMA or DSMA plus pyrithiobac applied postemergence (POST) in cotton. Pyrithiobac at 0.07 kg ai/ha was applied POST alone or in combination with MSMA at 1.1 kg ai/ha or DSMA at 1.7 kg ai/ha at the pinhead square stage of cotton growth. Cotton was tolerant to the POST applications of pyrithiobac. Adding MSMA or DSMA to pyrithiobac injured cotton similar to MSMA or DSMA applied alone. Plant mapping data indicated that all treatments had no effect on height : node ratio, reproductive or vegetative node production, or square retention at the first or second fruiting position. Cotton maturity response to MSMA and DSMA ranged from no effect to delayed maturity. Adding DSMA to pyrithiobac increased Florida beggarweed and common cocklebur control over pyrithiobac applied alone in 1995 but did not increase control in 1994. Adding DSMA to pyrithiobac increased sicklepod control over pyrithiobac applied alone in the three site years it was rated in the Alabama tests. Where sicklepod is present, the addition of an arsenical herbicide to pyrithiobac will generally increase control but has the potential to delay maturity and decrease cotton yield equal to the arsenical herbicide applied alone.

Plant characteristics of red rice ecotypes obtained from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, including 11 strawhulled, five blackhulled, two goldhulled, and one brownhulled type, were evaluated under field conditions. Most ecotypes were uniform and stable but manifested considerable genetic variability. Red rice plants had pubescent leaves, were taller with lighter green color, and produced more tillers and panicles per plant than rice cultivars ‘Lemont,’ ‘Mars,’ and ‘Maybelle.’ Most ecotypes were highly susceptible to seed shattering starting about 14 d after anthesis when seed moisture was more than 25%. Seeds of most ecotypes were highly dormant at harvest. Rice cultivars had a larger flag leaf and more total leaf area per plant at anthesis and produced more seeds per panicle than red rice. Some red rice ecotypes had plant characteristics closely related to cultivated rice suggesting natural hybridization with rice.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate sensitivity of red rice ecotypes from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to soil- and foliar-applied herbicides. Ecotype response to herbicides was variable. Molinate at 4.48 kg ai/ha controlled red rice ecotypes 92 to 100% and cultivars ‘Lemont,’ ‘Mars,’ and ‘Maybelle’ 39 to 63%. Red rice control with thiobencarb at 4.48 kg ai/ha was at least 89%. The tank mixture of fenoxaprop at 0.08 kg ai/ha plus fluazifop-P at 0.10 kg ai/ha controlled red rice and rice cultivars more than for either herbicide applied alone. Red rice and rice cultivar control with paraquat at 0.70 kg ai/ha was 83 to 100%. Blackhulled red rice TX 4 was less sensitive to paraquat and glufosinate than other ecotypes and cultivars. Glufosinate at 1.12 kg ai/ha was required to provide at least 94% control of ecotype TX 4.

A field experiment was conducted for 2 yr near Scottsbluff, NE, to evaluate the growth and yield response of nine commercial sugarbeet cultivars to five postemergence herbicide mixtures applied two times. Sugarbeet cultivars varied in their response to herbicides. Three of the five postemergence herbicide mixtures reduced sugarbeet leaf area at 9 wk after planting (WAP), while two treatments had no significant effect. Root yield reductions from herbicide treatments ranged from 3 to 11% averaged over the nine cultivars. Two applications of desmedipham plus phenmedipham at 180 plus 180 g/ha reduced root yield 3% compared to untreated plots. Two applications of clopyralid at 100 g/ha, triflusulfuron at 18 g/ha, or ethofumesate at 160 g/ha plus desmedipham plus phenmedipham resulted in a 17, 29, and 22% reduction in leaf area at 9 WAR respectively, and a 6, 8, and 6% reduction in root yield, respectively, compared to untreated plots. Sethoxydim at 280 g/ha plus desmedipham plus phenmedipham did not cause additional sugarbeet injury.

Returns to land, management, and risk were compared where glyphosate and four graminicides (quizalofop-P, fluazifop-P, sethoxydim, and clethodim) were used for johnsongrass control in glyphosate-tolerant soybean. In 1994 and 1995, returns to land, management, and risk for glyphosate-tolerant soybean were highest using glyphosate and lowest using sethoxydim. Break-even analysis showed that yields needed for equivalent returns with any nontransgenic soybean cultivar treated with any of the graminicides could range from 67 kg/ha less to 202 kg/ha more than the yields achieved with glyphosate. Based on this methodology, farmers would increase their return to land, management, and risk by planting glyphosate-tolerant soybean if expected yield from a standard cultivar treated with a standard herbicide program were less than the break-even yield.

Experiments were conducted in 1996 and 1997 to determine the effects of postemergence (POST) application of rimsulfuron on quackgrass control. Rimsulfuron applied at 27 g ai/ ha to two-to four-leaf quackgrass controlled 100% of quackgrass 5 wk after treatment (WAT). Rimsulfuron applied to one- to two-leaf quackgrass was not as effective as the same rate applied to two- to four-or four- to six-leaf quackgrass. Stunting and leaf wrinkling of corn were observed 4 WAT when rimsulfuron was applied at 36 g/ha to four- to six-leaf quackgrass. The plants recovered from the stunting as the season progressed and by 12 WAT there was no appreciable stunting. Rimsulfuron (27 g/ha) applied to two- to four-leaf quackgrass increased grain and silage yield of corn by 36% and 45%, respectively, compared to the untreated check. The 27 g/ha rate of rimsulfuron applied to two- to four-leaf quackgrass resulted in 10% more grain yield than the same treatment applied to one- to two- leaf quackgrass. Rimsulfuron at 18 g/ha led to a 17% reduction of sitage yield when applied to the four- to six-leaf quackgrass. At all growth stages of quackgrass, rimsulfuron gave higher grain and silage yields than corn treated with the same rate and timing of nicosulfuron. Rimsulfuron reduced sprouting of quackgrass rhizome nodes, especially at higher rates.

Green and yellow foxtail seed production following harvest of spring wheat is a concern of producers in the northern Great Plains of the United States and the Prairie Provinces of Canada. Experiments were conducted in 1996 and 1997 in three tillage systems, no till (NT), chisel plow (CP), and moldboard plow (MP), at the University of Minnesota West Central Experiment Station, Morris, MN, to determine whether time of glyphosate application or tillage after spring wheat harvest could reduce postharvest foxtail seed production. In both years, hard red spring wheat was planted in late April and a packaged mixture of fenoxaprop and 2,4-D ester and MCPA ester was applied at a rate of 53 g and 81 g and 246 g ai/ha for grass and broadleaf weed control. Following spring wheat harvest, each main plot was subdivided into seven subplots, including an untreated control. One subplot was disked twice at 4 to 6 d after harvest (DAH) of spring wheat, and five other subplots had glyphosate (0.25 kg ai/ ha) applied on different days (1 to 31 DAH). Foxtail seeds were collected from the soil surface following first frost, and the number of green and yellow foxtail seeds were determined. Tillage immediately after spring wheat harvest eliminated foxtail plants, and no new foxtail seedlings emerged in either tilled or glyphosate-treated plots despite ideal postharvest conditions for foxtail germination and emergence in 1997. Most viable green foxtail seeds were consistently obtained in NT plots, whereas yellow foxtail seed production varied among tillage systems. Either tillage soon after spring wheat harvest or glyphosate application within 16 DAH reduced green and yellow foxtail seed production by greater than 70%.

Field experiments were conducted at three Mississippi locations to evaluate potential antagonism when postemergence graminicides were tank-mixed with CGA-277476 and to determine if the antagonism could be overcome with an increase in graminicide rate. At all locations when the 1X rate of clethodim, fluazifop-P, or quizalofop was tank-mixed with 79 g ai/ ha CGA-277476, johnsongrass, broadleaf signalgrass, and barnyardgrass control was reduced 5 to 30%. When the graminicide rates were increased to 1.5X, antagonism was still present for fluazifop-P and quizalofop. However, 156 g ai/ha clethodim overcame the antagonism when tank-mixed with 79 g/ha CGA-277476 compared to 105 g/ha clethodim. CGA-277476 alone controlled barnyardgrass and broadleaf signalgrass 38 to 63% and johnsongrass 60 to 85%. There were no differences in soybean yields with graminicides applied alone or tank-mixed with CGA-277476.

Control of two perennial weeds, quackgrass and Canada thistle, and the differential sensitivities of three imidazolinone-resistant (IMI) corn hybrids and their sensitive isolines to various acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides were evaluated in greenhouse studies. The postemergence sulfonylurea herbicides nicosulfuron and primisulfuron controlled quackgrass > 80%. The imidazolinone herbicides imazapyr and imazamox applied postemergence controlled quackgrass 70 and 74%, respectively. Canada thistle control was 89% with the sulfonylurea herbicide metsulfuron. Primisulfuron, chlorsulfuron, and tribenuron controlled Canada thistle > 70%. The imidazolinonesensitive corn hybrids did not tolerate the imidazolinone herbicides imazethapyr, imazaquin, imazapyr, AC 263,222, and imazamox; the sulfonylurea herbicides chlorimuron, chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron, tribenuron, and triflusulfuron; and the pyrimidinylthiobenzoate herbicide pyrithiobac applied postemergence. The ‘Ciba 4393 IMR’ corn hybrid, homozygous for an unknown allele, was resistant to all of the various ALS-inhibiting herbicides that injured its sensitive isoline. The magnitude of resistance for this hybrid was greater than the other IR corn hybrids. The ‘Pioneer 3751 IR’ corn hybrid, homozygous for the XA-17 ALS allele, was also resistant to a number of ALS-inhibiting herbicides. The ‘ICI 8692 IT’ corn hybrid, heterozygous for the Mut2 allele, was only resistant to the imidazolinone herbicides.

A native fungus, Botryosphaeria ribis, was evaluated under field conditions to determine its potential to control melaleuca. Applications consisted of either wound inoculations of trees with B. ribis or fresh stump treatments with B. ribis alone or mixed with imazapyr herbicide. There was no mortality among nondefoliated trees inoculated with B. ribis. Mortality of B. ribis-inoculated trees was increased by three complete defoliation cycles. Defoliated trees inoculated with isolate BR-5 exhibited 100% mortality compared to 17% for defoliated but noninoculated trees. Wounds inoculated with B. ribis during winter produced longer cankers than did noninoculated wounds. Stump regrowth reduction by treatment with B. ribis alone was less effective than treatment with imazapyr alone. Mixtures of B. ribis with imazapyr or imazapyr alone at comparable concentrations did not differ in stump regrowth control.

Propanil and carbaryl mixtures, propanil formulated with carbaryl, the package mixture of propanil plus molinate (alone and plus pendimethalin), propanil plus quinclorac, and propanil plus pendimethalin were evaluated in field experiments for control of propanil-resistant and -susceptible barnyardgrass in 1995 and 1996 in Arkansas. Propanil alone at 3.3 kg ai/ha did not control propanil-resistant barnyardgrass when applied to two-leaf and repeated at four-leaf barnyardgrass. Propanil at 3.3 kg/ha with carbaryl at 0.1 to 0.3 kg ai/ha controlled propanil-resistant barnyardgrass at least 90% when applied at the two-leaf stage with no rice yield reduction. Applications repeated at the four-leaf stage also controlled propanil-resistant barnyardgrass, but rice injury was 66% with 0.3 kg/ha carbaryl in 1 of 2 yr, and rice yield was reduced. Control of resistant barnyardgrass with the commercial formulation of propanil plus carbaryl and propanil plus molinate was lower with a single application than with repeat applications. Propanil plus quinclorac, propanil plus pendimethalin, and propanil plus molinate plus pendimethalin controlled resistant barnyardgrass with one application at the two-leaf stage.

Field studies were conducted to examine weed control efficacy and crop injury with SAN 582 (proposed name, dimethenamid) in irrigated ‘Russet Burbank’ potato. SAN 582 applied preemergence (PRE) at 1.1 to 1.7 kg ai/ha controlled light to moderate infestations of redroot pigweed, common lambsquarters, and hairy nightshade > 90%. Season-long control of these species with mixtures of SAN 582 plus metribuzin or rimsulfuron was > 98% and was similar to or better than registered mixtures. Green foxtail control with SAN 582 alone ranged from 83 to 100%, depending on rate and year. SAN 582 mixtures with metribuzin or rimsulfuron usually controlled green foxtail > 90%. In weed-free plots, SAN 582 was applied alone PRE or early postemergence (EPOST) at rates up to 3.4 kg/ha. SAN 582 applied EPOST usually caused 10 to 30% more potato injury than when applied PRE, but U.S. No. 1 yield was not reduced by SAN 582 applied either PRE or EPOST. SAN 582 shows good potential for PRE use in irrigated potato.

Jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica) is a serious problem for winter wheat producers throughout the western U.S. Interference from this weed can severely reduce grain yield and contaminate harvested grain, resulting in dockage losses. There are currently no selective herbicides registered for controlling jointed goatgrass in wheat. Imazamox, an imidazolinone herbicide, was applied to an imidazolinone herbicide-resistant (IMI) wheat mutant of the winter wheat cultivar ‘Fidel.’ Jointed goatgrass control from spring postemergence application of imazamox ranged from 61 to 97% when applied at 36 g/ha. Negligible crop injury from imazamox treatment was observed at 36 g/ha at several locations under dryland environments in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Wheat yield was increased 19 to 41% by imazamox treatment in three of four experiments. Percent dockage resulting from jointed goatgrass spikelet contamination of harvested wheat grain was eliminated by imazamox treatment. Introduction of the IMI trait into commercial wheat cultivars could provide an effective method for selective control of jointed goatgrass in winter wheat.

An experiment was conducted near Scottsbluff, NE, to assess three techniques for establishing perennial grasses in pasture sites and to evaluate the effectiveness of five perennial grasses compared with herbicide or mowing for Canada thistle control. Perennial grass density 9 mo after seeding and perennial grass biomass 12 mo after seeding both followed the same trend, indicating that preplant rototilling improved perennial grass establishment. After 3 yr, Canada thistle control was greater than 90% in plots where perennial grasses had been established utilizing preplant rototilling, and competitive grasses were as effective as yearly applications of clopyralid at 0.55 kg/ha for controlling Canada thistle. Averaged across two studies conducted for 3 yr, hybrid wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, Russian wildrye, tall fescue, and western wheatgrass provided 85, 74, 76, 78, and 66% Canada thistle control, respectively.

Spring barley often is grown in rotation with winter wheat, and sometimes barley can overwinter in the subsequent winter wheat crop reducing grain yield and quality. Studies were established during 1996 and 1997 in winter wheat fields in southeastern Washington and near Moscow, ID, respectively, to evaluate control of ‘Steptoe’ volunteer barley with MON 37500, diclofop, and fenoxaprop/2,4-D/MCPA. Herbicides were applied to volunteer barley at two growth stages: two leaves to four tillers and more than four tillers with stems beginning to elongate. MON 37500 at 0.018, 0.026, and 0.035 kg ai/ha visibly controlled volunteer barley 83% or more at both application times. Diclofop at 1.12 kg ai/ha did not control volunteer barley, whereas fenoxaprop/2,4-D/MCPA at 0.66 kg ai/ha controlled volunteer barley 64 to 97% in 1996, but only 0 to 23% in 1997. In 1996 and 1997, volunteer barley density was reduced 80 to 99% in MON 37500-treated plots compared to the untreated control plots. Wheat grain grade was #1 for all MON 37500 treatments compared to grade #4 in 1996 and #3 in 1997 in the untreated plots. Grain price was reduced by dockage (barley kernels) for MON 37500-treated wheat $0 to $3.12/metric ton (MT), whereas price was reduced $23 to $26/MT for grain from untreated plots. In greenhouse studies, visible injury and height and biomass reduction varied among the 36 barley varieties treated with MON 37500.

Experiments were conducted using oat in the greenhouse to determine phytotoxicity and spray deposit characteristics of sethoxydim on oat as influenced by adjuvants, ultraviolet (UV) light, and temperature at and shortly after application. Petroleum oil of low viscosity was equal or more effective with sethoxydim when applied at 10 than at 25 C, but high-viscosity petroleum oil was more effective at 25 than at 10 C. UV light reduced sethoxydim efficacy more for high- than low-viscosity petroleum oil adjuvant at 25 C, but not at 10 C. Commercial vegetable oil adjuvant was less effective with sethoxydim at 10 than at 25 C, and UV light reduced efficacy at both temperatures. Commercial methylated vegetable oil was the most effective adjuvant and efficacy was only slightly reduced by UV light at 25 C. A secondary alcohol surfactant that is considered hydrophilic enhanced sethoxydim efficacy even when exposed to UV light. Adjuvants that gave discernible uniform spray deposits with close contact to the epicuticular surface, including over anticlinal walls, resulted in the most effective treatments. The results indicated that temperature at application is important to adjuvant efficacy, partly because of the effect on spray deposit characteristics.

A greenhouse experiment was conducted from 1995 to 1996 to determine the inheritance of ALS-cross-resistant common cocklebur. Two known biotypes (ALS-susceptible and ALS-resistant) were used in the experiment. Susceptible biotypes were crossed with pollen from resistant biotypes. F1 plants were self-pollinated. F2 plants were sprayed postemergence (POST) with a tank mixture of imazaquin at 280 g ai/ha and chlorimuron at 18 g ai/ha. Three distinct responses were observed: (1) no apparent effect (resistant), (2) yellowing of leaves with live terminals (intermediate), and (3) yellow leaves with dead terminals (typical symptoms of an ALS-susceptible common cocklebur). Chi-square tests indicated that an incomplete dominance model did not fit the data. Responses one and two were, therefore, combined and chi-square tests indicated a complete dominance model fit the data. This indicates that the cross-resistant trait is a dominant to semidominant trait.

Field studies were conducted at Arlington, WI, in 1996 and 1997 and at Georgetown, DE, and LeSueur, MN, in 1997 to determine weed control efficacy, crop injury, and yield response of PAT-transformed sweet corn to glufosinate-based weed management. Sequential applications of glufosinate 10 to 18 d apart at 0.4 and 0.3 kg ai/ha controlled common lambsquarters, common ragweed, velvetleaf, wild-proso millet, and fall panicum 90% or better at all locations. Weed control varied little among 0.3, 0.4, or 0.3 and 0.3 (sequential) kg/ha glufosinate rates. Glufosinate applied alone, with, or following atrazine controlled velvetleaf 90% or greater but was less consistent on common ragweed and common lambsquarters (73 to 100%). Atrazine plus metolachlor applied preemergence (PRE) and glufosinate applied alone postemergence (POST) provided inconsistent wild-proso millet and fall panicum control (43 to 99%). Metolachlor followed by glufosinate improved consistency of grass control (> 76%). Glufosinate followed by cultivation provided 80% or greater control of velvetleaf and wild-proso millet. Glufosinate did not injure or delay maturity of PAT-transformed sweet corn. Sweet corn treated with glufosinate resulted in yields greater than or equal to the sweet corn that was hand-weeded or received a standard herbicide treatment.

Greenhouse and laboratory experiments were conducted to study activity, rainfastness, absorption, and translocation of glyphosate with and without a nonionic organosilicone surfactant in purple nutsedge. Purple nutsedge responded differently to glyphosate depending on growth stage. Glyphosate at 2.24 kg ai/ha in 17-d-old and at 4.48 kg/ha in 10-wk-old plants controlled purple nutsedge at least 96%. Regrowth of plants and tuber resprouting were greatly reduced in these treatments. Organosilicone surfactant did not increase efficacy of glyphosate. A simulated rainfall of 2.5 cm (7.5 cm/h intensity) at 1 and 24 h after glyphosate application reduced efficacy by one-half and one-third, respectively, compared with no simulated rainfall. A rain-free period of 72 h prevented loss of glyphosate activity. Absorption of 14C-glyphosate increased from 2.8% at 1 h after application to 21.4% at 168 h after application and translocation increased from 0.43% at 1 h after application to 5.18% at 168 h after application. Organosilicone surfactant did not affect absorption and translocation of glyphosate in purple nutsedge.