We examined the effect of a postemergence application of fluazifop-P on root uptake, translocation, and metabolism of 14C-terbacil in ‘Kent’ strawberry. Fluazifop-P had no effect on uptake of 14C-terbacil from a nutrient solution over 48 h, nor did it affect the proportional distribution of 14C-label in the plants. The 14C-label was readily translocated to the foliage where it tended to accumulate in vascular tissue. Fluazifop-P reduced the overall conversion of 14C-terbacil to metabolites by about 50%. Thin layer chromatography of methanol extracts of leaflets, petioles, crowns, and roots separated the 6-hydroxymethyl derivative, and several unidentified metabolites, including a major water-soluble metabolite at the origin. At least 50% of the latter could be converted to the 6-hydroxymethyl metabolite by β-glucosidase, but other metabolites could be separated in other solvent systems. The levels of metabolites were generally two- to threefold higher in plants treated with terbacil alone than in those pretreated with fluazifop-P. Therefore, we conclude that the interaction observed between these herbicides in the field results from fluazifop-P inhibiting detoxification of terbacil by strawberry.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine yellow nutsedge response to selective placement of a 5-cm layer of norflurazon-treated soil above, below, or above plus below pregerminated nutsedge tubers. Norflurazon at 1.68 kg ai/ha applied postemergence (POST) as a foliar, soil, or foliar plus soil treatment was also evaluated. Soil concentrations of norflurazon at 1.5 mg/kg (w/w) applied below or above plus below nutsedge tubers reduced yellow nutsedge shoot numbers at least 69%, shoot height at least 71%, shoot dry weights at least 77%, and root tuber dry weights at least 89%. Yellow nutsedge growth reduction with norflurazon was greatest when norflurazon was placed in the soil profile below or above plus below the yellow nutsedge tubers. Placement of norflurazon above yellow nutsedge tubers did not reduce shoot number, height, or dry weight until the foliar portion of plants were removed 39 d after treatment. POST application of norflurazon did not reduce initial yellow nutsedge shoot number regardless of application method. Foliar-only POST application of norflurazon was less effective for reducing numbers of emerged yellow nutsedge than application to soil only or soil plus foliage.

Field studies were conducted in 1998 and 1999 at Simcoe and Exeter, ON, to evaluate the tolerance of nine sweet corn cultivars, representing a range of genotypes, to RPA 201772 applied preemergence at 105 and 210 g ai/ha. The location × year interaction was significant for visible plant injury, plant height, and yield. All cultivars showed significant injury at Simcoe in 1999, especially at 210 g/ha. Calico Belle was the most sensitive cultivar, with RPA 201772 resulting in severe injury at Simcoe in 1999. Increased injury in 1999 was due to significant rainfall (48.5 mm) within 10 d of RPA 201772 application at Simcoe. Calico Belle also showed injury at Exeter in 1999 and at Simcoe in 1998. Plant height of all cultivars was reduced at the Simcoe location in 1999. Yield of five cultivars was also reduced at Simcoe in 1999. Sensitivity to RPA 201772 increased as application rate increased. Plant height and yield was not reduced at Exeter.

Purple loosestrife is an invasive, exotic perennial weed of wetlands throughout much of the United States and Canada. Once established, it forms dense colonies to the near exclusion of more desirable vegetation. Established plants are prolific seed producers. Our purpose was to investigate the germination of purple loosestrife seeds at a wide range of constant or alternating temperatures from 0 through 40 C. Purple loosestrife seeds germinate over a wide range of temperatures. We define optimum germination as not less than the maximum observed minus its confidence interval at the 0.01 level of probability. Optimum germination occurred over a considerable range of temperatures: Only 10, 15, or 20 C for 16 h alternating in each 24 h with 35 C for 8 h always supported optimum germination. Wide ranges in diurnal temperature fluctuations were conducive to maximum germination. These ranged from a maximum of 35 degrees with 0/35 C to 5 degrees with 30/35 C. No one constant temperature supported optimum germination.

BAY MKH 6562 [flucarbazone-sodium (proposed)], an acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide of the sulfonylaminocarbonyltriazolinone family, provides postemergence wild oat control in wheat. Whole-plant dose responses and in vitro ALS sensitivity assays were used to evaluate the magnitude and nature of cross-resistance to BAY MKH 6562 in a wild oat accession (AR1) with metabolism-based resistance to imazamethabenz, an ALS inhibitor of the imidazolinone family. An imazamethabenz-susceptible wild oat accession (AHS2), five BAY MKH 6562-resistant wild oat accessions, AN104, AN205, AN307, AN406, and ASB11, and wheat were also evaluated. AHS2 and AR1 dose responses to BAY MKH 6562 indicated a resistant/susceptible (R/S) herbicide dose required to cause 50% growth reduction (GR50) ratio of 200. Inhibition of ALS from the AHS2 and AR1 wild oat by BAY MKH 6562 was similar, with a concentration of herbicide required to cause 50% inhibition of enzymatic activity (I50) of 0.007 µmoles, indicating that cross-resistance was not due to an altered ALS enzyme. The GR50 for BAY MKH 6562 for the AN104, AN205, AN307, AN406, and ASB11 wild oat accessions was 0.23, 0.07, 0.23, 0.22, and 0.12 kg ai/ha, respectively, and the R/S ratio to the GR50 value for the AHS2 accession was 230, 70, 230, 220, and 120, respectively. Studies on ALS sensitivity to BAY MKH 6562 indicated that the I50 for the AN104, AN205, AN307, AN406, and ASB11 wild oat accessions was 5.2, 0.003, 0.008, 9.8, and 0.007 µmoles, respectively, and the R/S ratio to the I50 value for the AHS2 accession was 759, 0.5, 1, 1,444, and 1, respectively. Of the five wild oat accessions resistant to BAY MKH 6562, accessions AN104 and AN406 had high R/S I50 ratios indicative of an altered target site and accessions AN205, AN307, and AR1 had low R/S I50 ratios indicative of resistance based on metabolic degradation. Hard red spring wheat (2371) was 800-fold tolerant to BAY MKH 6562 and inhibition of ALS from wheat by BAY MKH 6562 was similar to that of ALS from the susceptible accession AHS2.

Experiments examining burcucumber management in glufosinate-resistant (GR) and imidazolinone-resistant (IMI) corn were conducted in 1997 and 1998 in southeastern Pennsylvania. GR corn was planted in 38- and 76-cm rows, and postemergence (POST) treatments of glufosinate and glufosinate plus atrazine were applied to corn at the V4 or V5 growth stage. In a second study, IMI corn was planted in 76-cm rows, and 15 preemergence (PRE) and POST herbicide programs were evaluated. Herbicide treatments included RPA-201772, CGA 152005, simazine, imazethapyr plus imazapyr, imazamox, chlorimuron plus thifensulfuron, nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron plus atrazine, CGA 152005 plus primisulfuron, and combinations with atrazine. Burcucumber germinated throughout the growing season, with greatest emergence occurring in early June, gradually decreasing to minimal emergence by mid-July. Glufosinate alone controlled burcucumber 79 to 90% 7 weeks after planting (WAP) regardless of application timing or row spacing. By 10 to 13 WAP, control was 82% or less due to lack of residual control and new burcucumber emergence. Row spacing had little effect on burcucumber emergence or control and appears to have little impact on burcucumber management in corn. In general, PRE herbicide programs were less effective than POST programs, although PRE treatments containing atrazine equaled some POST herbicides. POST-applied chlorimuron plus thifensulfuron, nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron plus atrazine, and CGA 152005 plus primisulfuron controlled burcucumber greater than 80 and 90% in 1997 and 1998, respectively. Imazethapyr plus imazapyr and imazamox applied POST controlled burcucumber 66% 10 WAP. Adding atrazine to POST herbicide programs did not increase control, with the exception of imazethapyr plus imazapyr.

A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of imazethapyr at 35 and 53 g ai/ha applied preplant incorporated (PPI) or postemergence (POST) under various soil moisture regimes (13, 19, 25, and 50%) on barnyardgrass and red rice. Response of barnyardgrass and red rice to imazethapyr PPI was affected by soil moisture. With imazethapyr PPI, control of barnyardgrass was reduced at 50% soil moisture compared with other soil moisture regimes, and height of barnyardgrass increased as soil moisture increased from 19 to 50% 2 weeks after treatment (WAT). Barnyardgrass control declined and plant dry weight increased with the increase of soil moisture from 19 to 50% at 3 WAT. Imazethapyr PPI activity on red rice was reduced at 50% compared with other soil moisture regimes, as reflected by decreased control ratings as well as increased plant height and dry weight. Imazethapyr activity on barnyardgrass and red rice was increased at 50% soil moisture when applied POST compared with PPI. Imazethapyr POST activity on barnyardgrass and red rice was generally not affected by the soil moisture regimes or application rates. The results suggested that high soil moisture conditions reduced imazethapyr PPI efficacy on barnyardgrass and red rice. Imazethapyr POST activity seems unaffected by soil moisture conditions and thus may be used to control barnyardgrass and red rice if wet soil conditions are a concern.

Field studies were conducted at two locations in North Carolina in 1998 and in 1999 to evaluate weed control and peanut response following diclosulam at 27 g ai/ha preemergence (PRE) or flumioxazin at 87 g ai/ha preemergence (PRE) alone and in systems with postemergence (POST) commercial standards. All plots received a preplant incorporated (PPI) treatment of metolachlor at 1,400 g ai/ha. Metolachlor PPI plus diclosulam or flumioxazin PRE controlled common lambsquarters, common ragweed, entireleaf morningglory, large crabgrass, and yellow nutsedge as well as or better than metolachlor PPI followed by (fb) acifluorfen plus bentazon POST or paraquat plus bentazon early postemergence fb acifluorfen plus bentazon POST. Metolachlor PPI plus diclosulam PRE or flumioxazin PRE controlled ivyleaf morningglory as well as metolachlor PPI fb acifluorfen plus bentazon POST. Metolachlor PPI plus flumioxazin PRE controlled common lambsquarters better than metolachlor PPI plus diclosulam PRE while diclosulam PRE controlled common ragweed better. There was no difference in common lambsquarters control between flumioxazin and diclosulam PRE when POST herbicides were used. There was only one difference in peanut yield and net returns between metolachlor PPI fb either diclosulam or flumioxazin PRE when POST herbicides were used.

BAY MKH 6561, a sulfonylaminocarbonyl-triazolinone herbicide for postemergence control of annual grasses and selected broadleaf weeds in wheat, was evaluated for weed control and rotational crop (barley, pea, lentil, and mustard) injury in the Pacific Northwest. BAY MKH 6561 was applied postemergence in winter wheat at 22, 45, and 90 g ai/ha during fall 1997 and spring 1998 near Moscow, ID, Pendleton, OR, and Wilcox, WA, to determine its effect on barley, pea, lentil, and mustard planted during spring 1999. At Pendleton, BAY MKH 6561 reduced barley height 6% and grain yield 11%, when applied in the spring at 90 g/ha, and visibly injured mustard 4 to 19% when applied at 45 or 90 g/ha. All BAY MKH 6561 treatments reduced mustard seed yield 47 to 54% at Moscow and 38 to 48% at Wilcox. Pea and lentil seed yields were not affected by herbicide treatments at all locations, whereas barley was not affected at Moscow and Wilcox. In growth chamber soil bioassay experiments, fall-applied BAY MKH 6561 dissipated 10 to 48% faster at Moscow compared to Pendleton, and the predicted half-life ranged from about 68 (Moscow) to 79 d (Pendleton). Dissipation of spring-applied BAY MKH 6561 at 45 and 90 g/ha was 17 to 21% slower at Moscow than Wilcox, and the predicted half-life ranged from 60 (Wilcox) to 69 d (Moscow).

Field studies were conducted with a biocontrol agent, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis, to determine the optimal application parameters for controlling woollyleaf bursage, a pernicious perennial weed on the Texas Southern High Plains. Parameters investigated were bacterial concentration, time, season, and frequency of application. Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis concentration ranging from 104 to 108 colony forming units (CFU)/ml produced similar incidence of disease on woollyleaf bursage. Weekly, biweekly, and triweekly applications were found to be equally effective. Optimal time for application of P. syringae pv. tagetis was at midday. A single application in April, May, or June resulted in higher incidence of disease for 5 wk than the noninoculated plots, whereas single applications in July and August were not consistently different from the noninoculated plots. Weed density was negatively correlated with disease incidence for April, July, and August applications, particularly when correlations were based on disease incidence from 1 to 4 wk prior to weed density measurement. Weed densities during 1997 were lower at the end of the year when bacteria applications were made in April, May, or June, as opposed to July or August, or plots were not inoculated. In 1998, weed density was lower when bacteria applications were made in April as opposed to May or June. These investigations indicate that P. syringae pv. tagetis does infect woollyleaf bursage on the Texas southern High Plains.

Several herbicides were evaluated as seed-applied treatments to determine the feasibility of controlling cheat by applying herbicide directly onto the cheat seeds during the wheat harvesting process and returning the treated seeds to the field. Seed-applied trifluralin reduced cheat emergence 80% in exploratory evaluations. In herbicide-seed mixing time and spray volume experiments, short mixing times were adequate, and spray volumes from 113 to 227 ml/kg seeds did not affect results. Herbicides applied with a sprayer-equipped auger reduced cheat emergence >90% and were as effective as herbicides applied with a rotary drum seed-treater. Increasing spray volume increased the efficacy of auger-applied treatments. Adjuvants did not improve the efficacy of seed-applied trifluralin.

Metham has been reported as an acceptable weed control alternative to methyl bromide. However, modified application equipment is required to allow its effective use in crops that are grown on polyethylene-covered seedbeds. A power tiller was modified using commonly available materials to apply metham in a 61-cm band and shape seedbeds for laying a black polyethylene tarp. Additional modification allowed the implement to be used in strip tillage and conventional tillage systems. Metham applied using this modified power tiller effectively controlled many species of weeds, including yellow nutsedge, in transplanted watermelon.