Weedy rice (WR) (Oryza spp.) is the most troublesome weed infesting rice paddies in Brazil. Several changes have occurred in this region regarding crop management, especially WR control based on the Clearfield® (CL) rice production system launched in 2003. This survey’s objective was to evaluate the WR infestation status by assessing the producers’ perception and the management practices used in southern Brazil after 18 yr of CL use in Brazil. Rice consultants and extension agents distributed a questionnaire to 213 producers in the Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Santa Catarina (SC) states in the 2018 to 2019 growing season. In RS, most farms are larger than 150 ha, and farmers have adopted the CL system for more than 2 yr and use minimal or conventional tillage, permanent flooding, clomazone PRE tank-mixed with glyphosate at the rice spiking stage, and crop rotation with soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] or pasture. In SC, rice farms are small, averaging from 20 to 30 ha, farmers predominantly plant pre-germinated rice and do not rotate rice with other crops, and roguing is practiced. Comparing both states, the CL system is used in 99.5% and 69.3% of the total surveyed rice areas in RS and SC, respectively. Imidazolinone-resistant WR is present in 68.4% and 26.6% of rice farms in RS and SC, respectively. Rice cultivation in Brazil is currently coexisting with WR with minimal integration of control methods. However, integrated practices can control this weed and are fundamental to the sustainability of systems based on herbicide-resistant rice cultivars.

Winter wheat grain contaminated with jointed goatgrass joints is often discounted as much as 20% by grain buyers. A mail survey to Nebraska farmers in 1984 identified jointed goatgrass as one of the ten worst weed problems in winter wheat, but a field survey to the same area in 1986 found it in less than 1% of surveyed fields. The objective of this survey was to map the geographic distribution and severity of jointed goatgrass contaminating winter wheat grain in western Nebraska. Jointed goatgrass was found in 25, 29, and 20% of all wheat samples collected in 1990, 1991, and 1992, respectively. Nebraska counties bordering Colorado were found to have the highest percentage of wheat samples contaminated with jointed goatgrass joints, ranging from 23% in Cheyenne county in 1992 to 61% in Keith county in 1991.

Members from all four Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) regions in the United States ranked the research need to “develop new methods for controlling the movement of herbicides and their metabolites into ground water, surface water, and air” first of six major weed science research needs. Canadian members ranked the need to “devise more efficient and less costly weed control technology for conservation-tillage crop-production systems” first; but they also gave high ratings to “improve base knowledge of weed science, improve applicator training, and transfer of information to Extension Service personnel, farm producers, and administrators” and to “discover new ecological, biological, and non-chemical methods of weed control.” The needs to “develop improved methods of increasing the tolerance of crops to herbicides” and to “develop new technology for control of perennial weeds of crops and rangeland” were ranked low. The WSSA Research Committee, at the request of WSSA Presidents J. D. Riggleman (1985) and O. C. Burnside (1986), asked 977 members to rank weed science research needs. The members (ca 50% of the active membership in North America) were selected at random from every other state, federal, industry, and “other” member of each state or province from the up-to-date list of the WSSA business office. Within the highest ranked priority research need, the 422 U.S. and Canadian respondents consistently ranked the research areas (a) to “develop new application techniques that minimize or eliminate herbicides and their residues in air and water”, and (b) to “conduct research to regulate movement of herbicides through the soil profile to avoid contamination of ground water” high, regardless of the type of employment. They emphasized increasing research on the morningglory (Ipomoea spp. # IPOXX) complex, yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L. # CYPES), quackgrass [Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. # AGREE], and several other weeds. More members, regardless of region or type of employment, ranked conservation tillage the most important crop or situation that needed new and improved weed control technology.

Mean Idaho suction trap collections of Myzus lythri, an aphid which infests purple loosestrife, reflected weed distribution and were used successfully to predict undocumented weed populations. To our knowledge, this is the first time insect survey records have been used to document the range of an introduced weed.

A random mail survey of Ohio growers was conducted to determine the geographic distribution of weeds across Ohio and the influence of production practices on the severity of agronomic weed problems. Statewide, the ten most severe weed problems, in descending order, were Canada thistle > foxtail spp. > velvetleaf = common ragweed > common cocklebur > giant ragweed = annual morningglory spp. > quackgrass = common lambsquarters = Pennsylvania smartweed. Distribution of most weeds varied geographically. Infestations of common and honeyvine milkweeds, hemp dogbane, and tree seedlings increased as tillage was reduced. Infestations of common cocklebur and common ragweed decreased as tillage was reduced. As crop rotation became more diverse, infestations of velvetleaf, common cocklebur, giant ragweed, Pennsylvania smartweed, and jimsonweed decreased. Where rotations included forage or hay crops, infestations of large crabgrass, common chickweed, wild carrot, and common dandelion increased.

The distribution pattern of s-triazine-resistant biotypes of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L. #3 CHEAL) and smooth pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus L. # AMACH) in Virginia was determined. Seeds were collected from suspected triazine-resistant biotypes of both species. Triazine resistance was confirmed by measuring chlorophyll fluorescence in the presence of atrazine [6-chloro-N-ethyl-N′-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine]. Greenhouse bioassay with whole-plant material and a sinking leaf disc assay were also performed as further confirmation of triazine resistance. Triazine-resistant smooth pigweed was confirmed in 19 counties and common lambsquarters in eight counties in Virginia. Triazine-resistant smooth pigweed and common lambsquarters were located mostly in the northern and southwestern highlands of the state where there has been a long history of triazine use in no-till corn (Zea mays L.) production. S-triazine-resistant biotypes were also cross-resistant to other representative s-triazine and as-triazine herbicides but susceptible to the substituted urea herbicide diuron [N′-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-N,N-dimethylurea].

The response of littleseed canarygrass biotypes to isoproturon, pendimethalin, and diclofop-methyl was evaluated in India, in pot studies and the field during the winters of 1991 to 1992 and 1992 to 1993. Some biotypes of littleseed canarygrass were resistant to isoproturon but cross-resistance to pendimethalin and diclofop-methyl was not confirmed. The resistant biotype required a higher dose of diclofop-methyl than the susceptible biotype. Variations in the response of littleseed canarygrass biotypes were not due to isoproturon formulation. Resistant biotypes required 2 to 8 times more isoproturon than a susceptible biotype for the same level of control. Diclofop-methyl at 1.0 kg ai/ha applied at the 2- to 3-leaf stage of littleseed canarygrass in pot experiments and PRE pendimethalin at 1.5 kg ai/ha in field trials controlled resistant biotypes. Field surveys of the affected areas revealed that resistance in littleseed canarygrass is more prevalent in rice-wheat rotations compared to other crop sequences. Control of littleseed canarygrass with isoproturon dropped from 78 to 21% from 1990 to 1993.

Field surveys were conducted during 1978 and 1979 to determine the abundance and distribution of weeds in fields seeded to barley, oats, spring wheat, and mixtures of barley and oats in various proportions in the province of Prince Edward Island. Using a stratified random sampling procedure, weeds were counted in 536 fields during the 2-yr survey period. The weed flora had a large number of species that occurred at high densities, probably due to the limited herbicide use on Prince Edward Island. The average total number of species (64), number of species per field (20), and weed density (253 plants/m2) were similar among the four crop types and the five Extension Districts of the province. Only 49 of the 77 species encountered during the survey were found in 5% or more of the fields. Low cudweed, corn spurry, and common lambsquarters were the most abundant species, occurring in more than 80% of the fields at a mean density higher than 33.4 plants/m2. Red sorrel, smartweed, common hempnettle, broadleaf plantain, and quackgrass were also found in 80% or more of the fields, but at a mean density from 14.4 to 16.5 plants/m2. The perennials accounted for 51% of the commonly occurring species, annual and biennial broadleaf species accounted for 43%, and annual grasses were a minor group with only 6% of the species.

Knowledge of weed community structure in vegetable crops of the north central region (NCR) is poor. To characterize weed species composition present at harvest (hereafter called residual weeds) in processing sweet corn, 175 fields were surveyed in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin from 2005 to 2007. Weed density was enumerated by species in thirty 1-m2 quadrats placed randomly along a 300- to 500-m loop through the field, and additional species observed outside quadrats were also recorded. Based on weed community composition, population density, and mean plant size, overall weed interference level was rated. A total of 56 residual weed species were observed and no single species dominated the community of NCR processing sweet corn. Several of the most abundant species, such as common lambsquarters and velvetleaf, have been problems for many years, while other species, like wild-proso millet, have become problematic in only the last 20 yr. Compared to a survey of weeds in sweet corn more than 40 yr ago, greater use of herbicides is associated with reductions in weed density by approximately an order of magnitude; however, 57% of fields appeared to suffer yield loss due to weeds. Sweet corn harvest in the NCR ranges from July into early October. Earlier harvests were characterized by some of the highest weed densities, while late-emerging weeds such as eastern black nightshade occurred in fields harvested after August. Fall panicum, giant foxtail, wild-proso millet, common lambsquarters, and velvetleaf were the most abundant species across the NCR, yet each state had some unique dominant weeds.

In-field surveys, which directly estimate weed population densities, typically utilize either random or nonrandom field selection methods. We used both methods to characterize the distribution and frequency of glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed populations and other late-season soybean weed escapes and to develop a database for tracking weed shifts, control failures, and the presence of other herbicide-resistant biotypes over time in Indiana. In-field surveys were conducted in a total of 978 Indiana soybean fields during September and October of 2003, 2004, and 2005. Information from fields with horseweed was obtained from 158 sites (19%) sampled through a systematic random site selection method and 128 fields through a nonrandom site selection method. When present, horseweed seed was collected and germinated in the greenhouse; rosettes 5 to 10 cm wide were sprayed with 1.72 kg ae/ha of glyphosate. Populations with less than 60% control at 28 d after treatment were determined to be glyphosate resistant. A selected subset of glyphosate-resistant populations was confirmed resistant by subsequent glyphosate dose response experiments. All populations in the subset with less than 60% control at the 1.72 kg ae/ha rate of glyphosate demonstrated 4- to 110-fold levels of resistance (R : S ratios). Glyphosate-resistant populations were found in all regions of Indiana; however, the highest frequencies were in the southeastern (SE) region with 38% of fields sampled and only 1, 2, and 2% of fields sampled in the northwestern (NW), northeastern (NE), and southwestern (SW) regions, respectively. Information gathered in this survey can assist in the development of applied research, as well as reactive glyphosate-resistant horseweed management education in the SE region of the state. Moreover, detecting resistance at low frequencies can direct proactive resistance education to farmers and practitioners in the other regions of the state as a means of providing an early warning system to address glyphosate resistance in weeds.

The presence of volunteer canola is becoming a significant agro-ecological concern, given the large-scale use of herbicide-tolerant varieties in some areas. Our goal was to estimate the frequency and persistence of volunteer canola in Québec cropping systems by surveying fields that included a single canola crop since 1995. A survey was conducted in 131 fields in the main canola-growing areas of Québec: in the Saguenay-Lac Saint-Jean region and the Québec City–La Pocatière area. Volunteer canola plants were counted in 0.25-m2 quadrats every 10 m along a W pattern, and every 15 m along the margins of 88 fields. Volunteer canola plants were found in 90% of the fields surveyed and in a wide range of crops, including cereal, corn, and soybean. Average densities of 4.9 and 3.9 plants/m2 were found 1 yr after canola production in fields and field margins, respectively. Volunteer canola densities decreased significantly over time. However, volunteer plants were still present at low densities 4 and 5 yr after production. Dense stands of volunteer canola were found before postemergence herbicide application in no-till fields (9.8 ± 4.1 plants/m2), suggesting that, contrary to what was suggested in the literature, seeds could become dormant in no-till as well as in tilled systems. A small proportion of the volunteer canola plants observed in no-till fields near Québec City and Ottawa included plants that had overwintered, either originating from fall-germinated seedlings, harvested adult plants that had grown new leaves before the onset of winter, or spring regrowth from the base of unharvested adult plants from experimental plots. The presence and persistence of low densities of volunteer canola may not have been a cause of concern until now. However, producers should be made more aware of the potential short-and long-term problems associated with potential gene flow between different herbicide-tolerant canola (HT canola) varieties and also between HT canola and related weed species.

A survey conducted across agricultural ecoregions of Saskatchewan in 1996 revealed that wild oat (Avena fatua) populations resistant to acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors were present in approximately 10% of Saskatchewan fields (2.4 million ha). In the Aspen Parkland and Boreal Transition ecoregions, this increased to 17%. The objective of this study was to determine if agronomic practices promoted or delayed resistance and to assess producer awareness of herbicide resistance. Weed resistance and management questionnaire data from the 1996 resistance survey and management questionnaire data from the 1995 Saskatchewan weed survey were submitted to multiway frequency analysis. The frequency of occurrence of herbicide-resistant wild oat was related directly to ACCase inhibitor use. Resistance to cyclohexanedione (CHD) herbicides was not related to CHD use but to frequency of ACCase inhibitor use (i.e., CHD + aryloxyphenoxypropanoate [AOPP]), suggesting that the pressure imposed by AOPPs contributed to the selection of CHD resistance in wild oat. ACCase inhibitor use was more extensive in the Aspen Parkland and Boreal Transition ecoregions than in the Mixed and Moist Mixed Grassland ecoregions. Crop rotations were not conducive to rotation of herbicides with different sites of action. Frequency of ACCase inhibitor use increased with frequency of annual crops, in spite of the inclusion of cereal and dicot crops in the rotation. Producers utilizing conservation tillage practices in the Grassland ecoregions used proportionally more ACCase inhibitors than those using conventional tillage practices. This increase in ACCase use in conservation tillage systems did not result in an increased incidence of wild oat populations resistant to ACCase inhibitors. Producers reporting troublesome wild oat populations tended to have proportionally more ACCase-resistant wild oat. Producers who reported practicing weed sanitation were less likely to have resistant wild oat than those who were less careful. Increased awareness and implementation of management practices that will reduce the dependency on ACCase herbicides are required to better enable producers to prevent, delay, or manage herbicide-resistant wild oat populations.

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) crops have been rapidly adopted in the United States and the evolution of GR weeds throughout the world has also been on the rise. With experience, weed scientists and crop advisers develop “intuition” on the basis of field history and current in-field conditions for predicting whether escaped weed biotypes may be herbicide resistant. However, there are no previous reports on the association of in-field crop management factors with the prediction of herbicide resistance. By using in-field survey data, we tested the accuracy of predicting glyphosate resistance in late-season horseweed escapes. We hypothesized that glyphosate resistance in late-season horseweed populations found in soybean fields could be predicted using in-field knowledge of crop residues and the appearance and distribution of weeds in the field. Field survey data were collected to determine the distribution and frequency of GR horseweed populations in Indiana soybean fields during September and October of 2003, 2004, and 2005. After the in-field survey, soil properties for sampled field locations were also collected from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey. GR horseweed predictions used in-field presence of crop residues and the appearance, abundance, and distribution of weeds in the field. The significance of independent data factors were determined by chi-square statistics. The interactions and relative significance of multiple factors were modeled using classification and regression tree analysis. Our results indicated that the most important factor for predicting GR populations was the identification of an altered plant phenotype after injury from POST glyphosate. This was followed by crop rotation, field distribution, and the presence of other escaped weed species in the field in a model with a classification rate of 0.68.

Of 78 biotypes of wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) collected from Western Australia (WA), 42% were resistant and 14% intermediate to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides. Based on the LD50 and GR50 ratios, the resistant biotype K96071 was 81-fold more resistant to chlorsulfuron and 114- to 116-fold more resistant to metosulam than the susceptible biotype K96041. More resistant biotypes were found in northern zones than in southern zones of WA. Resistant biotypes evolved after five applications of chlorsulfuron in a predominantly cereal–lupin rotation. Where resistant biotypes were found, ALS-inhibiting herbicides were not rotated with herbicides with different modes of action as frequently as in fields with susceptible biotypes. Cross-resistance to chlorsulfuron and metosulam was found in the resistant biotypes even though only 15% of the 78 biotypes were exposed to two applications of metosulam over a 10-yr period. All 78 biotypes were effectively controlled by simazine and 2,4-D amine.

Thirty-one Ohio vineyards were surveyed in 2004 to document weeds that persisted following weed control practices. Weeds were identified and density was determined during visits to each vineyard. Herbicide-use history, grape varieties, and grape age were recorded during interviews with the growers. Data were analyzed by SAS 9.1 with the use of the generalized linear model (GLM), and means were compared according to Student–Newman–Keuls (SNK) at the 0.05 level. Crabgrass, dandelion, pigweed, foxtail, fall panicum, clover, chickweed, common ragweed, smartweed, and oxalis were the most prevalent 10 weeds in Ohio vineyards based on relative abundance values. The frequency and density of crabgrass, dandelion, fall panicum, oxalis, and common purslane were significantly higher in vineyards in which glyphosate was the only herbicide used than in vineyards where other herbicides were applied. The number of species and density were higher in vinifera vineyards that had been hilled for winter protection than in vineyards that had not been hilled.

The occurrence of 36 arable weed species across 13 counties in the eastern Arkansas–Mississippi Delta area on 489 randomly selected road sites was surveyed in 2012. Palmer amaranth, johnsongrass, large crabgrass, barnyardgrass, prickly sida, and broadleaf signalgrass were the top six weed species, with occurrence noted at 313, 294, 261, 238, 176, and 136 sites, respectively. Factors found to affect weed occurrence along Mississippi Delta roadsides included topographical characteristics, weed species, ditch slope, road type, and nearby land use. Among roadside topographical characteristics, road shoulder was found to strongly affect weed occurrence. In addition, paved and gravel road types with moderate roadside slope explained most of the variability of weed occurrence at each sampling site. Additionally, nearby arable land use affected weed occurrence more so than natural, residential, and pastoral land. Barnyardgrass, johnsongrass, and Palmer amaranth were 3.6 to 4.3 times more likely to occur than all other species identified. An effective weed management plan along eastern Arkansas–Mississippi Delta roadsides should focus on road shoulder, adjacent arable land use, road type, and specific weed species (e.g., Palmer amaranth, johnsongrass, and barnyardgrass). The inclusion of these parameters in future weed control programs can prove invaluable for preventing the spread of the herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth, barnyardgrass, and johnsongrass.

A survey conducted in a seven-county region of eastern Oregon during the summers of 1998, 1999, and 2000 characterized the occurrence of jointed goatgrass × wheat hybrids and the features of weed infestations promoting hybridization. During the survey, 93 infested sites were visited with jointed goatgrass collected from 57 sites and hybrids collected from 45 sites. Thirteen collection sites were located in uncultivated areas. Observations of jointed goatgrass infestations in and around cropped fields suggested that jointed goatgrass successfully escapes control where weed populations persist in fencerows, access roads, scablands, draws, and roadsides. Most jointed goatgrass and hybrid populations were located in winter wheat fields but were also found in five spring grain fields. Of the 754 hybrid plants collected, 44% contained backcross seed. For all 3 yr, a 1% backcross hybrid seed–production rate was found. A parentage analysis of a subsample of the total hybrid collection showed that the majority were F1 hybrids and that jointed goatgrass was most often the female parent. This observational study has established that F1 hybrids are common in jointed goatgrass–infested wheat fields. Their capability for backcross seed production suggests the potential development of advanced backcross forms that resemble jointed goatgrass. The survey results offer valuable input for the risk assessment of gene flow potential between jointed goatgrass and herbicide-resistant wheat.

A survey was conducted in 2012 across 13 counties in the eastern Arkansas–Mississippi Delta area on 489 randomly selected road sites to assess the distribution of the most commonly occurring arable weeds. Among the 36 species recorded, Palmer amaranth, johnsongrass, large crabgrass, barnyardgrass, prickly sida, and broadleaf signalgrass were the top six weed species, occurring at 313, 294, 261, 238, 176, and 136 sites, respectively. Barnyardgrass, johnsongrass, and Palmer amaranth were present at 34, 32, and 31% of all sampling occasions (site by roadside topographical characteristic). Habitat preferences varied between weed species. Palmer amaranth, large crabgrass, and johnsongrass exhibited a preference for disturbed habitats as well as field shoulders. Conversely, barnyardgrass, yellow nutsedge, hemp sesbania, and giant ragweed exhibit a preference for moist environments similar to these found in roadside ditches. Herbicide use on roadsides is subject to many environmental regulations and public concerns that, in combination with the evolution of herbicide resistance, necessitate an effective plan for managing agronomically important weed species on eastern Arkansas–Mississippi Delta roadsides.

A survey was conducted in 2000 across 38 counties in Mississippi on 192 randomly selected soybean fields to assess the most common occurring weeds. Statewide, prickly sida, which was present in 40% of the fields sampled, was the most common. Pitted and entireleaf morningglory were present in 34 and 29% of the soybean fields, respectively. Broadleaf signalgrass and barnyardgrass were the most common annual grasses, and yellow nutsedge was the most common sedge observed. Trumpetcreeper and redvine were the most common perennial vines. In the Mississippi Delta region of Mississippi, prickly sida was present in 45% of the fields sampled. The trend of occurrence of other species in the Delta mirrored statewide results. In eastern Mississippi, prickly sida and broadleaf signalgrass were found in 43% of soybean fields. Sicklepod, common cocklebur, and balloonvine were more prevalent in eastern Mississippi, when compared with the Mississippi Delta. Since 1982, there has been a sevenfold decline in the occurrence of common cocklebur and a fourfold decline in the occurrence of johnsongrass in Mississippi soybean. Also, the occurrences of redroot pigweed, common ragweed, and fall panicum have declined. Conversely, the occurrences of yellow nutsedge and broadleaf signalgrass have increased. The occurrences of barnyardgrass, prickly sida, redvine and trumpetcreeper have been relatively static over the past two decades.

During 2004 to 2008, weed surveys were conducted in 373 wheat fields of two different cropped areas (southwest [SW] and southeast [SE]) of the southern region of Buenos Aires Province of Argentina where different weed communities were expected because of changes in cropping practices over time, including tillage, crop sequence, fertilizers, and herbicides applied. Weed communities differed between regions, with greater numbers of native species for the SW. Weed community diversity was also greater for the SW region, probably due to the more diverse land use that resulted in greater landscape heterogeneity. Rush skeletonweed, sand rocket, yellow starthistle and turnipseed occurred at higher constancy (proportion of fields in which a given species is present) in the SW region, whereas common chickweed, false bishop's weed, corn speedwell, and common lambsquarters were present more frequently in the SE region. Compared with the 1982 survey, constancy of weeds increased, but those species with high constancy in 1982 were also with high constancy in the recent surveys. Diversity (species richness) was greater in conventional than in a no-tillage system. The constancy of Italian ryegrass, sand rocket, and yellow starthistle was lower under no-till than conventional tillage. Surveys allow identification of changes in weed community related to different agricultural systems. Rotation of crops and livestock avoid the homogenization of the environment at the landscape level. Management strategies will be necessary to prevent the increase of weeds populations' size, preserving plant diversity and the properties of the agroecosystem.