Metolachlor has been evaluated both as a herbicide for use in cultivated oats (Avena sativa L.) and for its potential as an alternative herbicide for the control of herbicide-resistant rigid ryegrass. Eight herbicide-resistant and two susceptible biotypes of rigid ryegrass were tested for their susceptibility to metolachlor. Response to metolachlor was determined both in soil and an agar germination medium. The LD50 for metolachlor in agar for a susceptible biotype (VLR1) was 0.13 μM. Five biotypes, SLR5 (6.9 fold), SLR31 (5.2 fold), SLR10 (2.5 fold), NLR12 (2.1 fold) and VLR69 (1.9 fold), were cross-resistant to metolachlor when compared with VLR1. Relative response of the biotypes was similar in both soil and agar, validating the use of an agar germination test to determine the susceptibility of rigid ryegrass biotypes to metolachlor. Biotypes cross-resistant to metolachlor also were cross-resistant to alachlor (SLR5 6.7 fold, SLR31 5.9 fold, SLR10 2.4 fold, and VLR69 1.6 fold with the LD50 for VLR1 being 0.49 μM) and propachlor (SLR57.2 fold, SLR31 7.2 fold, SLR10 3.0 fold and VLR69 2.5 fold with the LD50 for VLR1 being 0.47 μM) indicating that cross-resistance extends to other members of the chloroacetamide group. Cross-resistance to chloroacetamides was observed in biotypes that previously had been reported as cross-resistant to other herbicides. In contrast, biotypes with limited herbicide histories were generally not cross-resistant to metolachlor. These results indicate that there is a high probability of chloroacetamide cross-resistance in populations of herbicide-resistant rigid ryegrass.

Absorption, translocation, root release, and metabolism of imazethapyr by leafy spurge were determined under growth chamber conditions. 14C-imazethapyr was applied to vegetatively propagated leafy spurge plants in a 1% solution of 28% urea ammonium nitrate containing 0.25% by vol nonionic surfactant Plants were harvested 2 and 8 d after herbicide application. Imazethapyr absorption increased from 9% at 2d to 20% at 8d. Acropetal and basipetal translocation out of the treated leaf was observed, with 3.4 to 4.2% of the applied radioactivity accumulating in the root by the end of the 8-d time course. Eight days after herbicide application, radioactivity in dormant and elongated adventitious shoot buds was twofold higher than in root tissue (compared on a dry wt basis). Two days after herbicide application, 93% of the radioactivity remained as intact imazethapyr in the treated leaf, crown, root, and shoot buds. Eight days after application, crown, roots, and adventitious shoot buds had metabolized an average of 61, 36, and 47% of the imazethapyr, respectively, while only 14% was metabolized in the treated leaf. The primary metabolite cochromatographed with 5-hydroxyethyl-imazethapyr standard.

Isoxaben is an inhibitor of the synthesis of cellulose from glucose. Some dicot weed species are relatively insensitive to isoxaben inhibition. This study investigates mechanisms by which decreased sensitivity may occur in three dicot weed species: catchweed bedstraw, redroot pigweed, and velvetleaf. Dose response curves were generated to determine I50 values for the inhibition of glucose incorporation into cellulose by isoxaben and compared to that of a sensitive species, mouse-ear cress. Metabolic detoxification and uptake rates were measured and the degree of tolerance conferred by these mechanisms was calculated. In all cases, metabolic detoxification was negligible. Lower uptake rates were significant but minor components of tolerance in all species. It is suggested that the principal cause of isoxaben tolerance in these dicot weed species is decreased sensitivity at the target site.

Benoxacor, CGA-185072, and MON-13900 were evaluated in laboratory studies as safeners to reduce injury caused by primisulfuron when corn has been previously treated with terbufos. Without safeners, shoot length was reduced 30% when primisulfuron (78 gm ha-1) followed terbufos (2.6 kg ha-1) applications. Stunting was significantly reduced by preemergence applications of CGA-185072 and MON-13900 at 200 g ai ha-1; however, shoot length was still reduced by 21 and 12%, respectively. Benoxacor did not reduce primisulfuron injury in corn previously treated with terbufos. Safening by CGA-185072 and MON-13900 was not due to reduced primisulfuron uptake or altered translocation. MON-13900 was further evaluated for its effects on primisulfuron metabolism. MON-13900 increased primisulfuron metabolism in terbufos-treated shoots by more than 50%. This increase in metabolism appears to be the mechanism of safening by MON-13900.

Growth, competitiveness, and fecundity differences between resistant (R) and susceptible (S) biotypes affect management strategies. This greenhouse research examines growth, competitiveness, and fecundity of chlorsulfuron-resistant (R) and -susceptible (S) kochia collected from North Dakota and Kansas. In noncompetitive studies, sulfonylurea R and S kochia biotypes from Kansas and North Dakota had similar growth rates and seed production. All biotypes produced about 12000 seeds per plant. Competitiveness of R and S biotypes from Kansas was similar. Interbiotype competition reduced R and S plant biomass more than intrabiotype competition. The relative competitiveness of the R and S biotypes was 0.75 and 0.85, respectively. The resistance trait did not reduce growth, seed production, and competitiveness of R compared to S kochia in greenhouse studies.

Effects of bearded sprangletop interference durations on Lemont and Newbonnet rice cultivars were studied. Interference durations of 63, 70, and 130 d after rice emergence reduced Lemont grain yields 11, 21, and 50%, respectively, and lowered Newbonnet grain yields 11, 13, and 37%, respectively. Interference durations of 21 to 56 d after emergence did not reduce grain yields of either cultivar. Bearded sprangletop grown in Lemont rice produced more biomass than that in Newbonnet. Season-long interference reduced plant height and straw dry weight of Lemont more than that of Newbonnet.

Continuous-cropping conservation tillage systems may provide a viable alternative to the practice of summer fallow; however, concerns have been raised regarding potentially negative changes in weed communities in continuous cropping. Field experiments were established in Saskatchewan at three locations to determine the nature of weed community differences between a crop sequence with and without fallow in zero-, minimum-, and conventional-tillage systems from 1986 to 1990. Weed communities in continuous-cropping treatments tended to have greater total densities and were more similar in composition than crop-fallow treatments. Inclusion or exclusion of fallow within the rotation had a greater impact on weed community composition than did tillage system at Ituna and Waldron, but the reverse was true at Tadmore due to poor crop growth in all tillage systems. Differences in weed community composition were generally characterized by fluctuational changes in species associations. Volunteers of summer-annual crops, such as canola, flax, and barley, were associated with continuous cropping, but other species including perennial weeds, such as Canada thistle, perennial sowthistle, and quackgrass, were not strongly associated with the presence or absence of fallow. The practice of fallowing land to manage weeds may not be necessary.

In response to farmer complaints of poor triallate performance, wild oat seed was collected from 34 fields in Alberta in the fall of 1990. Screening trials in the greenhouse indicated that 15 of the populations were highly resistant to triallate applied at the equivalent of the recommended field rate (1.7 kg ha-1), whereas the other 19 populations were adequately controlled. All triallate-resistant populations were also highly resistant to difenzoquat applied at 1.7 kg ha-1 (equivalent to twice the recommended field rate). The effect of increasing rates of both herbicides on dry weight of five of the resistant and two of the susceptible populations was determined in greenhouse experiments. Triallate applied up to 3.4 kg ha-1 had little or no effect on the resistant populations, whereas the susceptible populations were controlled at 1.7 kg ha-1. At rates of 6.8 kg ha-1 or higher, there were differences among the resistant populations and among individuals within the populations in the response to triallate. Response of the resistant populations to increasing difenzoquat rates was variable between experiments, but in all cases the effect of difenzoquat on wild oat dry weight was considerably less in triallate-resistant than triallate-susceptible populations. Effects of increasing rates of triallate and difenzoquat on resistant and susceptible wild oat populations growing with barley in field experiments were generally similar to the responses in the greenhouse.

Dormant wild oat seed require afterripening under warm-dry conditions for conversion to a nondormant state capable of germination. Research was conducted to determine the relationship between temperature and seed moisture levels on afterripening of dormant wild oat line M73 seed, and to evaluate the status of water binding in the dormant seed. Conversion of dormant wild oat seed to a nondormant state at 20 to 40 C occurs primarily in the range of 5 to 20% seed moisture. There is an inverse relationship between temperature and seed moisture content for afterripening as measured by seed germination. As the afterripening temperature increases, the seed moisture content must decrease for maximum afterripening (germination) to occur. Moisture isotherms and derived enthalpy curves indicate three regions of water binding which reflect decreased binding of water to seed components as the moisture content in the dormant seed increases. Maximum afterripening, in the second region of water binding, corresponds to seed moisture contents of 7 to 22%. In this region water is weakly associated with macromolecular surfaces and begins to have solvent properties. Because afterripening occurs mainly in the second region of water binding it is likely that individual enzymatic and nonenzymatic reactions, rather than metabolic processes, mediate the conversion of wild oat seed to the nondormant state.

Management of perennial weeds is a major concern in reduced-tillage cropping systems. Field research was conducted at Nashua, IA, from 1977 through 1990 to evaluate the long-term impacts of tillage and cropping patterns on perennial weed populations in corn and soybean production. Continuous corn and a corn/soybean rotation were conducted utilizing moldboard plow, chisel plow, ridge tillage, and no-tillage systems. The research area was free of established perennial weed species at the initiation of the experiment in 1977. Hemp dogbane was observed by 1980, with the greatest densities in no-tillage. By 1990, continuous corn had greater hemp dogbane densities with no-tillage than other tillage system by crop rotation treatments. American germander densities were not affected by tillage systems in 1980 and 1981, but by 1990, corn/soybean rotations had greater densities in moldboard plow than other tillage systems. Field bindweed developed primarily in the corn/soybean rotations with the greatest densities occurring in no-tillage. Greater and more diverse populations of perennial weeds developed in reduced-tillage systems than in the moldboard plow system. However, practices used to control annual weeds and environmental factors interacted with tillage to regulate perennial weed populations.

Field experiments conducted from 1987 through 1991 at the Delta Branch Experiment Station, Stoneville, MS, determined the effect of postemergence topical applications of fluometuron and MSMA on cotton yield and fruiting. Herbicide treatments applied to cotton in the cotyledon to 1-leaf growth stage were 1.12 kg ai ha-1 fluometuron plus 0.25% by vol nonionic surfactant, 2.2 kg ai ha-1 MSMA, and a combination of 1.12 kg ha-1 fluometuron and 2.24 kg ha-1 MSMA. The commercial formulation of MSMA contained nonionic surfactant. Visual injury of cotton 14 d after treatment ranged from 14 to 28% for fluometuron, 9 to 26% for MSMA, and 22 to 34% for the combination. Seed cotton yield at the first harvest was reduced by all herbicide treatments except in 1987 and for DES 119 cotton in 1990. In 1990, yield of DES 119 cotton treated with MSMA and the combination was less than the untreated control for the second harvest interval. Cotton yield from herbicide treatments at later harvests was equal to or greater than the untreated control. Only in 1988 did all treatments reduce total seed cotton yield below the untreated control. Fiber quality was not adversely affected by the herbicides. Compared to the control, plant mapping indicated that the number of sympodial branches per plant was reduced by MSMA and by the combination for DPL 50 cotton in 1990. Averaged over 4 experiment years, herbicide treatments did not reduce total bolls per plant; percentage of bolls in first, second, or outer positions; highest sympodium with two bolls; or number of sympodium with bolls in the first or second position. However, MSMA and the combination increased node number of the first sympodia by one and 1.5 positions, respectively, when compared to the control, indicating delayed maturity.

Tank-mix combinations of PRE and POST herbicides were applied to control emerged large crabgrass and goosegrass in common bermudagrass turf. Large crabgrass control was better when MSMA at 2.2 kg ai ha-1 was tank mixed with either pendimethalin at 1.7 kg ai ha-1 (≤ 85%) or dithiopyr at 0.3 kg ai ha-1 (≤ 94%), when compared with MSMA at 2.2 kg ai ha-1 (≤ 50%) alone. When MSMA plus metribuzin at 2.2 + 0.14 kg ai ha-1 was tank mixed with pendimethalin in 1992, large crabgrass control was better (≥ 96%) than when MSMA plus metribuzin was applied alone (≤ 73%). Quinclorac applied alone at 0.8 kg ai ha-1 controlled ≥ 94% large crabgrass, but control with diclofop was 32%. There was no increase in control when either quinclorac or diclofop was tank mixed with any PRE herbicide. Methyl ester of diclofop applied alone at 1.1 kg ai ha-1 provided 97% control of goosegrass at one location, but control was ≤ 62% at two other locations. Goosegrass control was better when diclofop at 1.1 kg ha-1 was tank mixed with dithiopyr at 0.6 kg ha-1 (≥ 77%) than when either diclofop (≤ 62%) or dithiopyr (≤ 50%) was applied alone. Goosegrass control was consistently better across years from combinations of dithiopyr plus diclofop at 0.6 + 1.1 kg ha-1 (82%) than from combinations of MSMA plus metribuzin with dithiopyr (34%) or pendimethalin (53%). Common bermudagrass injury at Griffin-Spalding Golf Course in 1991 was higher at 1 wk after combination treatments of MSMA plus metribuzin with dithiopyr (46 to 54%) or pendimethalin (50%) than with MSMA plus metribuzin applied alone (26%). Injury from the combinations was higher from single MSMA plus metribuzin treatment for 4 wk. Similar results occurred at the Georgia Station in 1992 from combinations of dithiopyr with MSMA plus metribuzin.

Field experiments were conducted to determine the effect of DPX-PE350 on the efficacy of fluazifop-P, sethoxydim, and quizalofop. DPX-PE350 severely antagonized the activity of fluazifop-P on large crabgrass. Antagonism of sethoxydim and quizalofop was dependent on rate of graminicide and large crabgrass stage of growth at application. DPX-PE350 did not reduce control of johnsongrass with quizalofop. Sethoxydim alone controlled 36 to 71% more johnsongrass than sethoxydim mixed with DPX-PE350 at 35 to 105 g ai ha-1. Antagonism of fluazifop-P activity was dependent upon the rate of DPX-PE350 and fluazifop-P applied. Applying DPX-PE350 3 d after fluazifop-P or sethoxydim reduced antagonism. Grass species, growth stage, rate, and sequential application timing all appear to play a role in the severity of antagonism.

Experiments were conducted in the greenhouse and field to investigate differential tolerance among tall, pitted, red, entireleaf, and ivyleaf morningglory species to DPX-PE350. Tall morningglory in the greenhouse was more tolerant of DPX-PE350 at 7 and 14 g ai ha-1 applied POST than were other species of morningglory. Increased tolerance of tall morningglory also was observed under field conditions with DPX-PE350 applied PRE and POST. Adjuvants did not increase biomass reduction of tall morningglory by DPX-PE350 applied POST.

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the influence of degradation and sorption processes on the dissipation of alachlor in one Colorado soil (Kim clay loam) and three Minnesota soils (Port Byron silt loam, Webster silty clay loam, and Estherville sandy loam) as a function of soil depth. Persistence and movement of alachlor in an irrigated corn production system also were determined on the Kim soil. Laboratory degradation data fit first-order kinetics, and rate constants ranged from 0.0094 to 0.0251 d-1 and varied with soil type and depth. For instance, in 60- to 75-cm-depth Kim soil, alachlor degraded at a slower rate (k = 0.011 d-1) than in surface soil samples (k = 0.022 d-1). Alachlor sorption to the four soils was moderate (Kf = 0.7 to 7.4; Kf,oc = 71 to 470) and concentration dependent (1/n < 1.0). Significant hysteretic desorption of alachlor from soils also was observed (1/n desorption < 1/n sorption). The combined effect of degradation and sorption processes has been used to classify a chemical's potential to leach to groundwater. Based on Kf,oc and dissipation half-life, alachlor would be classified as a “leacher” in Kim, Port Byron, and Estherville soils and classified as transitional between “leacher” and “nonleacher” in the Webster soil. The dissipation first-order rate constant (k) of alachlor in Kim soil in the field was 0.036 α 0.012 d-1. Dissipation was apparently not due to leaching since bromide applied at the same time remained in the top 15 cm during the first 28 d. It appears that laboratory-derived leaching indices may overestimate actual leaching and should be used with caution for predictive or regulatory purposes.

Four equations were evaluated as predictors of the rate of herbicide dissipation in soil. A biexponential equation was superior to the first-order equation for metribuzin and pendimethalin dissipation under five moisture levels and three temperatures in laboratory and field studies. The Hoerl function, adapted in the course of this work, is also a good descriptor. The first-order equation predicts slower initial and more rapid later dissipation than actually occurs and these deficiencies are not shared by the biexponential or Hoerl equations. The first-order equation ignores small residues remaining late in the dissipation process. These residues are important from an environmental point of view and the Hoerl and biexponential equations are more capable of dealing with them.

Feasibility of supercritical CO2 fluid extraction of imazaquin from spiked soil (3.21 μmol kg-1) as an alternative to a conventional extraction method was investigated. The supercritical fluid extraction method involved single-step extraction of herbicide from soil with no further sample cleanup procedures. Extraction parameters were optimized for maximum herbicide recovery. Adding water as a modifier to air-dried soil significantly improved herbicide recovery. Extracting a 1-g soil sample with supercritical CO2 at 0.80 g ml-1 density and 3 ml min-1 flow rate, 80 C extraction temperature, 6 min static extraction followed by 25 min dynamic extraction, and analyte trap temperature of 40 C was optimum for maximum herbicide recovery. When optimum supercritical fluid extraction conditions were used, imazaquin recovery from three texturally different soils ranged from 55 to 64%, which was comparable to a conventional extraction method (63%). The supercritical fluid extraction method consumed 4 ml methanol and 75 ml supercritical CO2 and took approximately 1 h for sample extraction.

Membranes define the outer boundary of the living protoplast and the internal compartmentation of plant cells. From a structural point of view, membranes consist of a lipid bilayer and proteins essential for functions such as solute transport, signal transduction, and numerous metabolic reactions. While membranes can represent a significant barrier to the free movement of many solutes, those with sufficient lipid solubility may move across membranes by dissolving into the lipid bilayer. However, selective membrane transport is generally observed for hydrophilic solutes such as mineral nutrients and cell metabolites. Such selective transport requires an input of metabolic energy, and in plants this occurs via the production of proton electrochemical gradients across the membrane by substrate- (ex. ATP, PPi) driven proton pumps. Selective solute transport is then mediated by membrane-associated secondary transport systems which utilize the proton electrochemical gradient to drive the transport process. This review of membrane structure and transport system function provides a background for a further examination of herbicide interactions with plant membranes.

In most cases, a herbicide must traverse the cell wall, the plasma membrane, and organellar membranes of a plant cell to reach its site of action where accumulation causes phytotoxicity. The physicochemical characteristics of the herbicide molecule including lipophilicity and acidity, the plant cell membranes, and the electrochemical potential in the plant cell control herbicide absorption and accumulation. Most herbicides move across plant membranes via nonfacilitated diffusion because the membrane's lipid bilayer is permeable to neutral, lipophilic xenobiotics. Passive absorption of lipophilic, ionic herbicides or weak acids can be mediated by an ion-trapping mechanism where the less lipophilic, anionic form accumulates in alkaline compartments of the plant cell. A model that includes the pH and electrical gradients across plant cell membranes better predicts accumulation concentrations in plant cells of weak acid herbicides compared to a model that uses pH only. Herbicides also may accumulate in plant cells by conversion to nonphytotoxic metabolites, binding to cellular constituents, or partitioning into lipids. Evidence exists for herbicide transport across cell membranes via carrier-mediated processes where herbicide accumulation is energy dependent; absorption is saturable and slowed by metabolic inhibitors and compounds of similar structure.