Hydrilla [Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle] is often called the “perfect aquatic weed,” as it has numerous physiological adaptations that make it highly aggressive and competitive. Hydrilla verticillata has historically been managed effectively using fluridone; however, the overreliance on this single mechanism of action (MOA) resulted in evolved fluridone resistance in the late 1990s. Where fluridone-resistant H. verticillata populations evolved, endothall became widely used for H. verticillata control. In 2018, florpyrauxifen-benzyl, a highly active auxin-mimic herbicide, was registered for H. verticillata control, and its use has increased since its introduction. Endothall and florpyrauxifen-benzyl provide two effective MOAs for H. verticillata management, and combining these two MOAs would be an effective strategy to delay further resistance evolution. The objective of this research was to determine whether combining endothall and florpyrauxifen-benzyl would significantly impact the behavior of either herbicide in dioecious (DHV) or monoecious (MHV) H. verticillata compared with their behavior when applied alone. Endothall and florpyrauxifen-benzyl absorption and accumulation alone and in combination were measured over a 192-h time course. Translocation patterns were also determined. Herbicide accumulation in MHV and DHV was not impacted when these herbicides were applied in combination. Endothall translocation from shoots to roots in DHV was not impacted (alone = 18.7 ± 1.4%; combination = 23.2 ± 2.2%); however, endothall shoot-to-root translocation in MHV was reduced from 16.2 ± 1.3% applied alone to 2.2 ± 0.1% when applied in combination with florpyrauxifen-benzyl. Florpyrauxifen-benzyl shoot-to-root translocation was reduced in both MHV and DHV when applied in combination with endothall. Florpyrauxifen-benzyl translocation was reduced by 16- and 6-fold in DHV and MHV, respectively. These data do not suggest that there would be operational impacts from endothall and florpyrauxifen-benzyl mixtures. Still, there appear to be changes in herbicide behavior, primarily shoot-to-root translocation, when these two herbicides are applied in combination.

Additional active ingredients are needed for use in aquatic systems to respond to new threats or treatment scenarios, enhance selectivity, reduce use rates, and mitigate the risk of herbicide resistance. Florpyrauxifen-benzyl is a new synthetic auxin developed for use as an aquatic herbicide. A study was conducted at North Carolina State University in which 10 µg L−1 of 25% radiolabeled florpyrauxifen-benzyl was applied to the isolated shoot tissue of 10 different aquatic plant species to elucidate absorption and translocation patterns in these species. Extremely high levels of shoot absorption were observed for all species, and uptake was rapid. Highest shoot absorptions were observed for crested floatingheart [Nymphoides cristata (Roxb.) Kuntze] (A192 = 20 µg g−1), dioecious hydrilla [Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle] (A192 = 25.3 µg g−1), variable watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michx.) (A192 = 40.1 µg g−1), and Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.) (A192 = 25.3 µg g−1). Evidence of translocation was observed in all rooted species tested, with the greatest translocation observed in N. cristata (1.28 µg g−1 at 192 h after treatment). The results of this study add to the growing body of knowledge surrounding the behavior of this newly registered herbicide within aquatic plants.