Three suspected resistant (R1, R2, and R3) corn marigold populations collected from winter cereal fields located in central Greece were studied to confirm and elucidate the mechanisms of resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors and their competitive ability against barley. Whole-plant dose–response assays proved that the three suspected R populations were highly cross-resistant to the ALS inhibitors tribenuron, pyroxsulam + florasulam, and imazamox, whereas their control with synthetic auxin plus ALS inhibitors co-formulated mixtures was increased in the order of tritosulfuron + dicamba < florasulam + clopyralid < tribenuron + mecoprop-P < florasulam + aminopyralid. The ALS gene sequence revealed a point mutation in 11 plants of the R1, R2, and R3 populations, which resulted in the substitution of Pro-197-Thr or Trp-574-Leu. By contrast, all three sequenced plants of the susceptible (S) population were found with the wild-type allele encoding Pro-197 and Trp-574. This is the first report of ALS-inhibitor resistance in corn marigold. The competition study between barley and four densities of the S, R2, or R3 populations indicated similar biomass rates for all three populations, suggesting lack of association between the competitive ability of the R populations and the target-site resistance mechanism, which was also confirmed by the similar biomass reduction rates of barley grown in competition with S or R populations.

Horseweed is a competitive summer or winter annual weed that produces up to 230,000 small seeds per plant that are capable of traveling more than 500 km via wind. Giant ragweed is a tall, highly competitive summer annual weed. Glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed and GR giant ragweed pose significant challenges for producers in the United States and Ontario, Canada. It is thought that an integrated weed management (IWM) system involving herbicide rotation is required to control GR biotypes. Halauxifen-methyl is a new selective broadleaf POST herbicide registered for use in cereal crops; there is limited information on its efficacy on horseweed and giant ragweed. The purpose of this research was to determine the efficacy of halauxifen-methyl applied POST, alone and in a tank mix, for the control of GR horseweed and GR giant ragweed in wheat across southwestern Ontario. For each weed species, an efficacy study consisting of six field experiments was conducted over a 2-yr period (2018, 2019). At 8 wk after application (WAA), halauxifen-methyl, fluroxypyr/halauxifen-methyl, fluroxypyr/halauxifen-methyl + MCPA EHE, fluroxypyr + MCPA ester, 2,4-D ester, clopyralid, and pyrasulfotole/bromoxynil + ammonium sulfate controlled GR horseweed >95%. Fluroxypyr and MCPA provided only 86% and 37% control of GR horseweed, respectively. At 8 WAA, fluroxypyr, fluroxypyr/halauxifen-methyl, fluroxypyr/halauxifen-methyl + MCPA EHE, fluroxypyr + MCPA ester, fluroxypyr/halauxifen-methyl + MCPA EHE + pyroxsulam, 2,4-D ester, clopyralid, and thifensulfuron/tribenuron + fluroxypyr + MCPA ester controlled GR giant ragweed 87%, 88%, 90%, 94%, 96%, 96%, 98%, and 93%, respectively. Halauxifen-methyl and pyroxsulam provided only 45% and 28% control of GR giant ragweed, respectively. Halauxifen-methyl applied alone POST in the spring controlled GR horseweed but not GR giant ragweed in winter wheat.

A false cleavers population that survived treatment with triasulfuron/bromoxynil in 1996 was identified in central Alberta, Canada, in a field that had been treated with acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors in 3 of the previous 6 yr. In greenhouse studies, this biotype was highly resistant to the ALS inhibitors triasulfuron, thifensulfuron/tribenuron, and sulfometuron and moderately resistant to imazethapyr; GR50, values were > 16, > 5, > 1.0, and 9.9, respectively. In addition, cross-resistance was identified to the auxin-type herbicide quinclorac (GR50 value > 6.7) but not to fluroxypyr (GR50 value 1) or MCPA/mecoprop/dicamba. Quinclorac had not been used previously in this field. Analysis of ALS extracted from the resistant biotype and a susceptible biotype from a nearby location indicated that resistance to ALS inhibitors was due to an altered target site with reduced sensitivity to a broad range of ALS inhibitors. The ALS I50 values for triasulfuron, metsulfuron, chlorsulfuron, thifensulfuron, and imazethapyr were 36, 34, 92, 96, and 14 times higher, respectively, for the resistant compared to the susceptible biotype. The mechanism of resistance to quinclorac is unknown. This is the first report of high-level herbicide resistance in this weed species.

Near isolines of ‘Nugaines’ winter Triticum aestivum that differed in height were planted with and without Aegilops cylindrica to determine the effect of plant height on competition against A. cylindrica. The isolines had either reduced height gene Rht 1, Rht 2, Rht 1 plus Rht 2, or neither Rht genes and averaged 79, 77, 51, and 101 cm tall, respectively, when grown with or without competition from A. cylindrica. Plants with fewer reduced height genes had the faster rates of height and weight gain, which are important traits for enhanced competitiveness. When growing in competition with A. cylindrica, the shortest isoline allowed the greatest amount of A. cylindrica seed production but did not have the lowest T. aestivum yield. However, when compared to the A. cylindrica-free control, the shortest isoline had the greatest percent yield loss. The tallest isoline reduced A. cylindrica seed production the most, and T. aestivum yield reduction due to A. cylindrica on a percent basis was the least when averaged over 2 yr. When competing against A. cylindrica, the tallest isoline did not always have the largest yield and yield parameters, and the shortest isoline did not always have the smallest yield and yield parameters. There is a cost to the T. aestivum plant to produce extra stem biomass that may reduce yield potential of taller plants and reduce the advantage gained by being taller than the surrounding weeds.

Extensive field and greenhouse studies were done to characterize varietal response of three recently commercialized sulfonylurea corn herbicides: nicosulfuron, primisulfuron, and thifensulfuron. Most of the 94 varieties tested were highly tolerant to these herbicides. The 37 inbreds represented all major inbred families now used in hybrid seed production as well as several sensitive experimentals. Twenty-one defined hybrids from these inbreds as well as 36 commercially coded hybrids were also tested. Sensitive inbreds produced tolerant hybrids when crossed with tolerant inbreds. Sensitive hybrids occurred when both parents were sensitive. Genetic analysis of sensitive by tolerant crosses showed that sensitivity is controlled by a single recessive gene. Nicosulfuron had the widest corn safety margin and fewest sensitive varieties. Dose response analysis showed varieties can vary more than 40 000-fold in sensitivity. Only corn varieties with the AHAS-modified XA-17 gene showed any change in enzyme sensitivity. This gene overcame sensitivity to sulfonylureas, even when the organophosphate insecticide terbufos was present. Thus, breeders have three options to eliminate sulfonylurea sensitivity: backcross sensitive inbreds with tolerant, always use at least one tolerant hybrid parent, or use the XA-17 gene.

A time course of Egyptian broomrape development on tomato roots grown in pots in the greenhouse revealed an increase in the number of parasitic attachments from 2.6 at 4 weeks after planting (WAP) to 139 when rated 2 wk later. Rimsulfuron sprayed on tomato foliage as single and split applications (12.5 g ai/ha) 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 WAP did not decrease Egyptian broomrape damage to tomato plants, as expressed by reduced tomato plant height and fresh weight, and the total number of parasitic attachments on the roots was not significantly different compared to the nontreated control. A single foliar application of rimsulfuron (25 g ai/ha) to tomato at 10 days after planting (DAP) and split applications at 10 and 20 and 10, 20, and 30 DAP significantly reduced the number of Egyptian broomrape inflorescences to 2.2, 0.2, and 0, respectively, 9 WAP compared with 19.6 inflorescences in the nontreated control. Application of the herbicide under the same conditions to tomato plants in pots covered with activated charcoal did not significantly influence the number of Egyptian broomrape inflorescences. Chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron applied directly to the soil at rates ≥ 3: 3.75 g ai/ha completely controlled Egyptian broomrape. Primisulfuron and chlorimuron, each at 22.5 g ai/ha, reduced the number of inflorescences to 0.6 and 0.4, respectively. Chlorimuron did not significantly reduce the total number of parasitic attachments on the roots, but primisulfuron at the same concentration significantly increased the total number of parasitic attachments on the root system to 50 as compared to 23 in the nontreated control. Tribenuron had no effect on the parasitism process, as reflected in the number of inflorescences and parasitic attachments on the roots.

Field experiments evaluated barnyardgrass, broadleaf signalgrass, and rhizomatous johnsongrass control with sethoxydim, clethodim, fluazifop-P, quizalofop-P, and fenoxaprop applied alone and with bentazon or chlorimuron when crop oil concentrate or BCH 815 was used. Bentazon strongly antagonized sethoxydim and clethodim. BCH 815 partially reduced the antagonism with sethoxydim and clethodim compared with crop oil concentrate. Chlorimuron was most antagonistic towards fluazifop-P, fenoxaprop, and quizalofop-P, and BCH 815 did not reduce antagonism. Additional experiments evaluated Italian ryegrass control with diclofop applied alone and with bromoxynil, metribuzin, 2,4-D amine, or tribenuron plus thifensulfuron with these adjuvants. The amine formulation of 2,4-D and tribenuron plus thifensulfuron reduced Italian ryegrass control with diclofop, irrespective of the adjuvant.

The potential of alachlor, SAN 582H (Proposed name, dimethenamid), chlorimuron plus metribuzin, clomazone, imazaquin, imazethapyr, metolachlor, sulfentrazone, and trifluralin plus flumetsulam to injure rice the year following application to soybean was evaluated on silty clay and silt loam soils in Louisiana. These herbicides did not cause rice injury or yield reduction. Rice tolerance of the amine salt of 2,4-D or thifensulfuron plus tribenuron applied 0, 7, 14, and 28 d prior to planting was also evaluated on these soils. The amine salt of 2,4-D at 1.1 kg ai/ha injured rice 43 and 52% on silty clay and silt loam soils, respectively, in 1994 when applied the day of planting. In 1995, injury was 78 and 88% on these respective soils at this timing. When applied 7 d or more before planting, 2,4-D amine injured rice in one of four trials. Thifensulfuron plus tribenuron (17 + 9 g ai/ha) injured rice in one of four trials when applied the day of planting, but did not injure rice when applied 7 d before planting. No visual rice injury was observed when 2,4-D amine or thifensulfuron plus tribenuron was applied 14 or 28 d before planting. Rice grain yield was not affected by thifensulfuron plus tribenuron regardless of the interval between application and rice planting. In contrast, rice grain yield was reduced in all trials when 2,4-D amine was applied on the day of planting, and in one of four trials when applied 7 or 14 d before planting.

This study was designed to develop a protocol for using a biologically-based system to detect and tract airborne herbicides. Common bean, lentil, and pea were selected for their quasi-diagnostic sensitivity to chlorsulfuron, thifensulfuron, metsulfuron, tribenuron, paraquat, glyphosate, bromoxynil, 2,4-D, and dicamba. Plants were grown in the greenhouse at Prosser, WA, and placed at 25 exposure sites at weekly intervals between Apr. 2 and Oct. 15, 1991. After 1 wk of field exposure plants were brought back and observed for herbicide symptoms over a 28-d period. Symptoms that developed were compared with symptoms caused by disease, insects, adverse weather conditions, and herbicides applied at different rates under controlled conditions on these species. In addition, if herbicide symptoms were observed, herbicide spray records and weather data in the area were used in a computer model to determine the source of potential herbicide drift. This study demonstrates that indicator plant species selected for high sensitivity to herbicides can be used to monitor the occurrence of herbicide movement.

Field experiments were conducted from 1985 through 1989 to evaluate herbicide selectivity and impact on seeding-year yields of spring oat and underseeded alfalfa, and carryover weed control benefits from increased legume-fixed N for second-year dryland no-till corn. PRE metolachlor, pendimethalin, and prodiamine controlled green foxtail and POST bromoxynil or 2,4-DB controlled broadleaf weeds. These herbicides caused 0 to 20% alfalfa injury and 0 to 17% oat injury, and increased oat yield one of three years but did not increase the yield of underseeded alfalfa. POST pyridate, thifensulfuron, and tribenuron were too injurious to either oat, alfalfa, or both crops. Forage yields of annual ‘Nitro’ and perennial ‘Wrangler’ alfalfa seeded alone were greater than when they were underseeded in oat, with herbicides applied in both systems. As a result of drought in 1988 and 1989, yield of second-year corn planted after one-year alfalfa was not increased from potentially greater legume-fixed N. Dryland corn yield following monoculture oat or corn was 254% higher than corn following alfalfa.

‘Lemberger’ wine grape response was evaluated when chlorsulfuron, tribenuron, thifensulfuron, chlorsulfuron plus metsulfuron, thifensulfuron plus tribenuron, and 2,4-D were applied up to three times at weekly intervals in 1992 and 1993 at rates simulating drift. All herbicides injured grapevines visibly. Symptoms increased and total leaf area and grape pruning weight decreased as the herbicide rate and number of applications increased. Grapevines generally recovered within 45 to 60 d from symptoms caused by single exposures to low levels of sulfonylurea herbicides. Multiple exposures of grapevines to 2,4-D, tribenuron, and chlorsulfuron plus metsulfuron at 1/100 of the maximum use rate for wheat caused the greatest injury, which persisted throughout the entire growing season and reduced pruning weight. Based on potential use rate, the order of herbicide phytotoxicity was 2,4-D > tribenuron > chlorsulfuron plus metsulfuron > thifensulfuron plus tribenuron > chlorsulfuron > thifensulfuron. Rates that slightly injured grapevines did not reduce growth as measured by pruning weight. However, multiple exposure to high rates of 2,4-D, tribenuron, and chlorsulfuron plus metsulfuron adversely affected growth.

Rates and application timings of postemergence herbicides for wild oat control in spring wheat and barley were evaluated at Crookston, MN, from 1994 to 1996. Diclofop, imazamethabenz, and fenoxaprop plus MCPA plus thifensulfuron plus tribenuron were applied to one- to three-leaf wild oat; and difenzoquat, imazamethabenz, fenoxaprop plus MCPA plus thifensulfuron plus tribenuron, and fenoxaprop plus 2,4-D plus MCPA were applied to four- to five-leaf wild oat at 1/2 ×, 3/4 ×, and 1 × rates. Wild oat response to herbicide rate and timing was similar in wheat and barley. Wild oat control with 1/2 × rates generally was less than that with 3/4 × rates, which was lower than or similar to that with 1 × rates. Wild oat biomass was often reduced less with 1/2 × rates than 1 × rates. However, reducing herbicide rates generally did not influence grain yields or net economic return. Grain yields and net economic return were generally greater in herbicide-treated plots than in the nontreated control.

The response of ‘Florico,’ ‘Victoria,’ and 'Stan II’ triticale to 2,4-D, dicamba, 2,4-D plus dicamba, diclofop, and thifensulfuron plus tribenuron applied POST during the tillering stage was examined. At rates twice those recommended for application to wheat, Victoria and Stan II were not injured, and injury to Florico was less than 10%. None of the herbicides or combinations adversely affected plant height at maturity, tiller or spike production, grain weight/spike, kernel weight, kernels/spike, yield, or test weight of any cultivar. Cultivars varied in tiller production, height, yield, test weight, kernel weight, and kernels/spike.

Five sulfonylurea herbicides were applied to Typic Boroll soil with pH 8.0 and 2% organic matter in the field and growth chamber to assess their residual effects on following crops. Under irrigated conditions, triasulfuron at 22 g/ha reduced the growth of alfalfa, canola, corn, lentil, pea, potato, and sugarbeet the year after application but caused no injury after two years. Alfalfa GR50 (rate required to reduce growth by 50%) values immediately after application of chlorsulfuron, triasulfuron, and metsulfuron were < 2.2 g/ha and similar in the growth chamber and field. Alfalfa and canola GR50 values immediately after thifensulfuron application in the growth chamber were ≥ 90 g/ha. Alfalfa, canola, flax, and sugarbeet GR50 for tribenuron in the growth chamber were < 4 g/ha. Crop response curves developed by growth chamber experiments could replace many of the multiple site and crop field experiments now required to develop recropping guidelines for residual herbicides.

Our objective was to identify traits in winter wheat important to competitiveness against jointed goatgrass, measured as increased wheat yields and reduced jointed goatgrass seed production. Jointed goatgrass is an important winter annual grass weed that cannot be controlled selectively in winter wheat. Seven cultivars of soft white winter wheat were grown with and without competition from jointed goatgrass over two growing seasons. Measurements of numerous traits of winter wheat and jointed goatgrass were recorded throughout each growing season. The data were analyzed using path analysis with latent variables to determine which traits most enhanced competitiveness. In a drier year, increased rate of height development was important in maintaining wheat yields when wheat was growing in competition with jointed goatgrass. Increased rate of height development also was an important trait in reducing jointed goatgrass seed production. In a wet year compared to a dry year, the number of wheat heads per plant, the rate of water use, and weight gain were positively correlated to maintaining winter wheat yields. Jointed goatgrass seed production in the wet year was reduced overall compared to the dry year, but from the cultivars tested, there were no traits identified that were critical in enhancing this loss of seed production. This study suggests that cultivars with greater height development rates will be more competitive when growing in fields infested with jointed goatgrass.

Chlorsulfuron or metsulfuron applied POST at 10 g ai ha–1 at the four-leaf stage prevented yellow foxtail from forming seed, whereas seed production per pot was 53 to 77% of untreated checks following POST tribenuron or CGA-131036 treatments in greenhouse experiments. Chlorsulfuron applied POST at the two- and four-leaf stage severely reduced total seed production of yellow foxtail primarily by increasing plant mortality, rather than only reducing seed production per plant. Chlorsulfuron at 10 g ha–1 applied at the six- and eight-leaf stages decreased total seed production less than at the two earlier stages, by reducing both plant mortality and seed production per surviving plant. Yellow foxtail was much more susceptible than green foxtail to either chlorsulfuron or metsulfuron.

Two putative glyphosate-resistant (GR) Russian-thistle accessions were collected from fallow fields (wheat-fallow rotation): one from Choteau County, MT (MT-R), and a second from Columbia County, WA (WA-R) in summer/fall of 2015. Greenhouse and outdoor/field whole-plant dose-response studies were conducted to confirm and characterize the levels of glyphosate resistance in these GR accessions relative to known glyphosate-susceptible accessions (MT-S and WA-S from MT and WA, respectively). Based on GR50 values of the progeny plants, the MT-R accession exhibited 4.5-fold and 5.9-fold resistance to glyphosate relative to the MT-S accession under greenhouse and outdoor conditions, respectively. The WA-R accession showed 3.0- to 5.0-fold resistance relative to the WA-S accession in greenhouse experiments, and 1.9- to 7.5-fold resistance in multi-site field experiments. In a separate greenhouse study on alternative POST herbicides to control GR Russian-thistle, bicyclopyrone plus bromoxynil, bromoxynil plus fluroxypyr, bromoxynil plus pyrasulfotole, bromoxynil plus MCPA, paraquat alone, paraquat plus metribuzin, saflufenacil alone, saflufenacil plus 2,4-D, and 2,4-D plus bromoxynil plus fluroxypyr provided effective control (≥95%) and shoot dry weight reduction (up to 98%) of GR accessions. This research confirms the first global case of field-evolved GR Russian-thistle. Best management practices (BMPs); including alternative, effective herbicide programs (based on multiple mechanisms of action highlighted in this study) need immediate implementation to prevent further spread of GR or evolution of multiple HR Russian-thistle populations in this region.

Field experiments were conducted during 3 yr in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, to determine the efficacy of various herbicides applied alone or in mixtures POST on hoary cress grown in winter wheat. Also, the efficacy of these herbicides on hoary cress generated from seed or root fragments was investigated in pot experiments. All herbicides except for ioxynil plus bromoxynil provided 90 to 100% control of hoary cress generated from seed and root fragments grown in pots. Ioxynil plus bromoxynil gave 84% control of hoary cress generated from seed, but only 66% control of plants generated from root fragments. In the field, mecoprop plus dicamba, imazamethabenz plus mecoprop plus dicamba, and triclopyr applied at the four- to eight-leaf stage provided, respectively, 87, 76, and 83% control of hoary cress (averaged over year and assessment time). Thifensulfuron plus tribenuron provided only 29% control. Chlorsulfuron plus dicamba, clopyralid plus MCPA, 2,4-D plus metosulam, and fluroxypyr provided intermediate hoary cress control. Furthermore, the least hoary cress emergence 52 wk after treatment appeared in plots treated with triclopyr. In addition, wheat grown in plots treated with mecoprop plus dicamba yielded more than wheat treated with the other herbicide treatments, and 55% more than wheat grown in nontreated plots. The results of this study indicate that very good control of hoary cress and high wheat yield can be obtained by the application of mecoprop plus dicamba at the four- to eight-leaf weed growth stage.

Kochia (Kochia scoparia) control dropped from about 90% to less than 20% after three consecutive annual applications of acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides in several northeastern South Dakota fields. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate control of kochia resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides using combinations of herbicides applied postemergence (POST) in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and using herbicides applied preemergence (PRE), POST, and PRE plus POST in soybean (Glycine max). Thifensulfuron plus tribenuron did not control kochia in wheat (> 600 kochia plants/m2 at harvest) and wheat yield was similar to yield of the untreated control. Dicamba plus 2,4-D (in 1996) and bromoxynil plus MCPA (in 1996 and 1997) controlled kochia and increased yields by 15% or more. Kochia was sparse (less than 1 plant/m2) in soybean plots, but grass weeds were prevalent. PRE plus POST or POST herbicide combinations that included ALS-inhibiting herbicides controlled grasses, and soybean yields were as much as 20% greater than yields with combinations that did not contain ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Adding ALS-inhibiting herbicides to wheat herbicide combinations decreased profitability because treatment costs increased while yields did not. In contrast, adding ALS-inhibiting herbicides to soybean treatments increased profitability due to better grass control, resulting in increased yield and better return.

Two field studies were conducted in 2007 and 2008 to evaluate at-planting burndown and POST herbicide applications targeting volunteer glyphosate-resistant (GR) soybean in rice. In the burndown study, paraquat, glufosinate, and a thifensulfuron plus tribenuron mixture were applied immediately after rice seeding. Paraquat controlled volunteer GR soybean at least 95% at all evaluations both years. Control with glufosinate was greater in 2007 than 2008 due to rainfall that occurred following application the second year. The thifensulfuron plus tribenuron mixture provided similar control in both years, but control never exceeded 71%. Additionally, a study was conducted evaluating POST-applied rice herbicides including propanil (4,480 and 2,240 g ai/ha), triclopyr (420 and 210 g ai/ha), bispyribac-sodium (38 and 19 g ai/ha), penoxsulam (40 and 20 g ai/ha), and halosulfuron (70 and 35 g ai/ha). Control across all POST herbicides and application rates was equivalent (> 95%) 28 and 56 d after application except for propanil, which controlled volunteer GR soybean less than other treatments. Volunteer GR soybean can be effectively managed in a rice production system with at-planting burndown or POST herbicide applications in rice.