An electrical discharge system (EDS) was evaluated in field studies conducted in 1977 through 1979 in western Nebraska for its ability to control weed escapes in sugarbeets (Beta vulgaris L. ‘Mono Hy D2′). Nine weeks after sugarbeets were planted, kochia [Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.] had attained a height above sugarbeets sufficient for EDS treatment. Redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) and common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) generally attained sufficient height above sugarbeets 11 and 13 weeks after sugarbeet planting. Sugarbeet root yields were reduced 40, 20, and 10% from competition by kochia, common lambsquarters, and redroot pigweed, respectively. Treatment of kochia, redroot pigweed, and common lambsquarters with EDS in some cases resulted in a reduction in weed height. The EDS treatments reduced the stand of all weeds 32, 39, and 47% for 1977, 1978, and 1979, respectively. Although the EDS treatments failed to kill many weeds, it did suppress the competitive ability of the three weeds to the extent that sugarbeet yields were higher in areas receiving EDS treatments than areas receiving no EDS treatment.

In a predictable natural selection process, herbicides select for adaptive alleles that allow weed populations to survive. These resistance alleles may be available immediately from the standing genetic variation within the population or may arise from immigration via pollen or seeds from other populations. Moreover, because all populations are constantly generating new mutant genotypes by de novo mutations, resistant mutants may arise spontaneously in any herbicide-sensitive weed population. Recognizing that the relative contribution of each of these three sources of resistance alleles influences what strategies should be applied to counteract herbicide-resistance evolution, we aimed to add experimental information to the resistance evolutionary framework. Specifically, the objectives of this experiment were to determine the de novo mutation rate conferring herbicide resistance in a natural plant population and to test the hypothesis that the mutation rate increases when plants are stressed by sublethal herbicide exposure. We used grain amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.) and resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides as a model system to discover spontaneous herbicide-resistant mutants. After screening 70.8 million plants, however, we detected no spontaneous resistant genotypes, indicating the probability of finding a spontaneous ALS-resistant mutant in a given sensitive population is lower than 1.4 × 10−8. This empirically determined upper limit is lower than expected from theoretical calculations based on previous studies. We found no evidence that herbicide stress increased the mutation rate, but were not able to robustly test this hypothesis. The results found in this study indicate that de novo mutations conferring herbicide resistance might occur at lower frequencies than previously expected.

The combustion apparatus described provides a rapid and inexpensive alternative for measurement of radioisotopes in plant parts. The apparatus utilized a nickel-chromium resistance wire connected to a low-voltage transformer to generate the heat required to ignite the plant tissue. The nickel-chromium wire also served as the sample holder. Combustion was performed in an O2-flushed liquid scintillation vial, and the combustion gases containing either 14CO2 or 3H2O were trapped in situ, scintillant was added, and the vials assayed for radioactivity. The percentage of the radioactivity recovered after combustion was 96.0 for 14C and 93.4 for 3H with standard deviations of 6.8 and 3.0%, respectively.

Arsenic residues in soil were examined annually over a 5-yr period following annual applications of MSMA (monosodium methanearsonate) at 4.4, 9, 13, 18, 22, 36, 72, 144, and 288 kg/ha. Elemental arsenic did not increase in any plot receiving MSMA rates less than 36 kg/ha. Plots receiving 72, 144, and 288 kg/ha of MSMA for 5 yr showed significant increases in arsenic residues. The arsenic residues for the two heaviest treatments (144 and 288 kg/ha) increased significantly during the first 4 yr, but did not increase in the fifth year.

Increasing the germination potential of dormant seeds in a population over time generally requires afterripening. Research was conducted to study the relationship between temperature and seed moisture content on afterripening of dormant leafy spurge seeds. Germination of nonafterripened seeds was 59 and 36% after 21 d for the Harwood and Fargo populations, respectively. Germination of 85 to 87% and 58 to 62% was obtained for the Harwood and Fargo populations, respectively when afterripened for 12 to 24 wk under the most effective conditions of 30 C and 2.6% seed moisture; increasing the afterripening temperature to 45 C did not increase germination. Germination decreased slightly at 30 C as the seed moisture content increased to 5.6%, but germination still exceeded that of nonafterripened seeds. Afterripening at 30 C with a seed moisture content of ≥9% greatly decreased germinability due to seed ageing. A temperature of 5 C was effective for afterripening when the moisture content was 3.3%, but germination was still slightly less than for the low moisture content seeds afterripened at 30 C. Afterripening seeds with 6 to 13% moisture at 5 C generally did not increase germination compared with the control, but did not result in seed ageing.

Cotton yield response was evaluated in 1987, 1988, and 1989 when weeds were managed with preemergence fluometuron [none (0%), band (50%), or broadcast (100%) surface coverage], cultivation (none, one, two, or three times), and postdirected fluometuron + MSMA. Weed densities (primarily prickly sida, morningglories, and hemp sesbania) varied widely among years and were directly related to early season rainfall. Postdirected herbicide application or cultivation(s) had little effect on weed density. The use of a banded fluometuron application reduced weed biomass 28 to 47%. A further decrease was observed when preemergence fluometuron was increased from banded to broadcast coverage. Seed cotton yields were low with no preemergence fluometuron. Banded fluometuron and at least one cultivation had yields similar to broadcast fluometuron only. Cotton yields were related to weed density and weed biomass in a hyperbolic relationship. Low weed densities caused more yield loss per unit weed density than higher densities.

The soil bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus is able to degrade phenoxy herbicides such as 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid]. It has been shown that several degradative genes are located on a large plasmid harbored by this organism. We have demonstrated by HPLC and gas chromatography that 2,4-dichlorophenol is a major metabolite resulting from 2,4-D degradation by A. eutrophus. A portion of the large plasmid carrying the 2,4-D catabolic genes has been cloned and mapped by restriction endonuclease digestion. Overlapping subclones have been produced and were used in conjugation experiments in order to identify the first gene involved in 2,4-D detoxification. Once sequenced, this gene will be transferred to dicotyledonous plant cells using available vector systems.

Field experiments were conducted during 1984 and 1985 to determine the influence of 2,4-D and MCPA amine and ester formulations on control of foxtail millet with diclofop. Foxtail millet control increased as the diclofop rate increased from 0.6 to 1.7 kg ai/ha whether diclofop was applied alone or with 2,4-D or MCPA amine and ester formulations; however, foxtail millet control was lower when diclofop was applied with 2,4-D or MCPA amine and ester formulations compared to diclofop applied alone. MCPA ester, MCPA amine, 2,4-D ester, or 2,4-D amine at 0.14 kg ai/ha added to a diclofop spray mixture reduced foxtail millet control 8, 15, 20, and 30% compared to diclofop applied alone, averaged over diclofop rates of 0.6, 0.8, 1.1, 1.4, and 1.7 kg/ha. Adding a petroleum oil to diclofop increased foxtail millet control with diclofop at 0.6 kg/ha but not at 0.8 kg/ha. The petroleum oil additive did not overcome the antagonism of foxtail millet control when diclofop at 0.6 kg/ha was applied with 2,4-D or MCPA amine and ester formulations. The amount of 14C-diclofop absorbed by oats was greater when diclofop was applied with the ester formulations of 2,4-D or MCPA compared to the amine formulations. Either once-refined sunflower oil or sunflower oil methyl ester applied with 14C-diclofop increased the amount of 14C absorbed and translocated in oat plants compared to 14C-diclofop applied alone.

Differential tolerances to dalapon (2,2-dichloropropionic acid), amitrole (3-amino-s-triazole) plus ammonium thiocyanate, and glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] of 3- to 10-week-old seedlings of creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L. ‘Boreal’) and redtop (Agrostis alba L.), which are desirable ditchbank grasses, and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundianacea L.), a troublesome ditchbank weed, were evaluated in the field. Within each of four treatment dates (growth stages), dalapon affected all species similarly; effects among treatment dates ranged from none to severe. Amitrole at 4.5 kg/ha plus ammonium thiocyanate at 4.1 kg/ha reduced the stand of 3-week-old seedlings of redtop, creeping red fescue, and reed canarygrass by 0, 42, and 94%, respectively, but had little effect on older seedlings. Glyphosate at 1.1 kg/ha did not significantly reduce the stand of 5- to 10-week-old creeping red fescue seedlings, but killed nearly all reed canarygrass seedlings. Redtop was intermediate in its tolerance to glyphosate. Applications of amitrole plus ammonium thiocyanate or glyphosate should be effective in converting ditchbank vegetation from an undesirable stand of reed canarygrass to a desirable stand of redtop and creeping red fescue, respectively.

All actively metabolizing cells have an electrical potential difference, negative on the interior, across their membranes. This electrochemical potential gradient is generated primarily by proton-pumping ATPases and provides the driving force for the transport of various ionic and neutral solutes. It is a key element in the energy metabolism of cells. Such factors as alteration of transport processes, energy metabolism, cytoplasmic pH, and membrane permeability have a direct effect on the magnitude of the membrane potential. In a brief survey, diclofop-methyl, diclofop, hydroxydiclofop, CGA 82725, haloxyfop-methyl, haloxyfop, bentazon, dinoseb, 4-hydroxy CIPC, and 2-hydroxy CIPC caused rapid depolarizations of the membrane potential of oat coleoptiles. Chlorsulfuron, dimethipin, propham, CIPC, dicamba, alachlor, metolachlor, napthalic anhydride, and paraquat had no measurable effects. The depolarizing effects of diclofop-reported earlier are used to illustrate the methods and interpretation of plant cell membrane potential measurements. Diclofop and diclofop-methyl affect the membrane properties of sensitive plant cells. Diclofop irreversibly depolarized the membrane potential and increased the proton permeability of sensitive cells but not resistant cells. It also increased the ATPase activity of isolated membrane vesicles. The mechanism through which diclofop exerted its effect is not fully understood. The equipment and techniques required for the intercellular recording of membrane potentials and resistance are described as well as the limitations of the techniques. A method not used in herbicide studies but with great potential for studies of herbicide interactions with membranes is patch clamp. A brief introduction to the methods will be given.

Because soil-residual PRE herbicides reduce and delay annual weed emergence and decrease later weed growth, susceptible weeds surviving or recovering from herbicide treatment reduce crop yields less than do untreated weeds. Recently, corn yields were shown to be reduced differently by untreated weeds emerging in and between crop rows. However, equations have not been reported before that relate corn yield to in-row and between-row weed cover of mixed weed populations recovering from PRE soil-residual herbicides. Published data from PRE herbicide screening research for 3 site-yr in Missouri were reanalyzed to characterize this relation. In-row and between-row weed cover of mixed weed populations, chiefly giant foxtail and common waterhemp, were measured from photographs at midsummer. In 2 of 3 site-yr and with the 3 site-yr average, corn yields were a nonlinear function of both in-row and between-row weed cover recovering from various PRE soil-residual herbicide treatments. In 1 of 3 site-yr, corn yields were a nonlinear function of only between-row total weed cover. Subdividing weed cover into in-row and between-row subpopulations in equations accounted for more data variability in yield estimates than including either subpopulation alone. For all 3 site-yr after PRE herbicide treatment, corn yields were a nonlinear function of only between-row visually rated total weed control. Visual evaluation was less sensitive than photographic weed cover for measuring the contribution of in-row weeds to corn yield loss and characterizing the functional form of the equations.

Field and greenhouse studies were conducted in 2002 and 2003 to evaluate mechanically stimulated compensatory growth response of ivyleaf morningglory, common waterhemp, and giant ragweed. Compensatory growth was initiated by the physical removal of the apical shoot to break apical dominance. The amount of apical shoot removed had an effect on mechanically stimulated compensatory growth of common waterhemp and giant ragweed. With these species, the more of the apical shoot removed from the plant, the less compensatory growth occurred. Removal of the shoot from above the cotyledons resulted in giant ragweed that were 48% shorter and weighed 41% less than control plants at 6 wk after shoot removal. However, the amount of apical shoot removed had no effect on the growth of ivyleaf morningglory compared with control plants at the completion of the study. The influence of plant height at the time of shoot removal on compensatory growth was specific to each weed species. Ivyleaf morningglory exhibited less compensatory growth when the plants were 10 cm at the time of shoot removal compared with 20-, 30-, and 40-cm-tall plants. Removal of the shoot when common waterhemp plants were 30 or 40 cm in height reduced plant weight by 23 and 21%, respectively, compared with control plants. However, no reductions in plant weight were observed when common waterhemp were 10 or 20 cm tall at the time of shoot removal. Giant ragweed subjected to shoot removal was smaller in most growth parameters than control plants, regardless of plant height at the time of shoot removal.

Weed resistance to herbicides occurs when herbicides are overused and can be mitigated by reducing their use. Consensus on herbicide resistance management strategies is problematic given strong industrial profit motive links in the weed science discipline.

Pesticide sorption by soil is among the most sensitive input parameters in many pesticide-leaching models. For many pesticides, organic matter is the most important soil constituent influencing pesticide sorption. Increased fertility, irrigation, and mowing associated with highly maintained turfgrass areas result in constant deposition of organic material, creating a soil system that can change drastically with time. Changes in soil characteristics could affect the environmental fate of pesticides applied to turfgrass systems of varying ages. Sorption characteristics of simazine and S-metolachlor were determined on five soils from bermudagrass systems of increasing ages (1, 4, 10, 21, and 99 yr) and compared to adjacent native pine and bare-ground areas. Surface soil (0 to 5 cm) and subsurface soil (5 to 15 cm) from all sites were air-dried and passed through a 4-mm sieve for separation from plant material. Using a batch-equilibrium method, sorption isotherms were determined for each soil. Data were fit to the Freundlich equation, and K d (soil sorption coefficient) and K oc (organic carbon sorption coefficient) values were determined. Sorption and soil system age were directly related to organic matter content in the soil. Sorption of both herbicides increased with age of the soil system and was greatest on the surface soil from the oldest bermudagrass soil system. Herbicide sorption decreased at greater soil depths with lower organic matter. Greater amount of 14C–simazine sorbed to subsurface soil of the oldest turfgrass system compared to 14C–S-metolachlor. Results indicate that as bermudagrass systems age and accumulate higher organic matter levels increased herbicide sorption may decrease the leaching potential and bioavailability of simazine and S-metolachlor.

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed has become an especially problematic weed in different crop production systems across the United States and the world. In this field study, we used a nondestructive measurement system to analyze the pollen production, deposition, and dispersion of a Tennessee glyphosate resistant (TNR) horseweed biotype in Knoxville, TN during the 2013 pollination season. We observed that the pollination season of TNR horseweed lasted about 2 mo (54 d). About 78.93% of horseweed pollen was released between 9:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. during each sampling day and the release peak was at about 1:30 P.M. The seasonal release of pollen grains was estimated to be 5.11 million grains plant−1. The release rate data indicated that the integrated horizontal flux density and deposition flux density contributed to 78.17% and 21.83% of the release rate, respectively. We also found that pollen concentration decreased with distance from the source field; the average pollen concentration decreased to 50.69% at a distance of 16 m from the source plot. This is the first result of a systematic, direct examination of the release rate (emission and deposition), release pattern (daily and seasonal), and dispersion pattern of GR horseweed pollen.

Renewed interest in volatility of hormone-like compounds has occurred since government restrictions were placed on the sale of certain esters used for herbicidal purposes. After crop plants neighboring on fields sprayed with volatile herbicides were injured, attempts were made to find low volatile esters which could be used with greater safety. This was done by making long chain esters containing five or more carbon atoms. Since many of these are now being made, the problem is to find satisfactory test methods for determining the relative volatility as compared with known compounds and standard formulations.

The fate of the C14 label in ethyl N,N-di-n-propylthiolcarbamate (EPTC) was studied following root uptake by alfalfa plants for periods of 2 and 5 days. The uptake and movement of the C14 label in alfalfa was demonstrated by means of autoradiography and measurements of radioactivity with a Geiger-Müller detector. The amount of radioactivity accumulating in plants during the 5-day uptake period was approximately twice the amount accumulating in 2 days. The autoradiographs of plants receiving the 5-day uptake treatment showed an accumulation of C14 in the youngest tissue. Radioactive CO2 was liberated by the treated plants and their extracts contained a large number of C14 labeled compounds.

Preemergence herbicides were applied to lawn turf on a loam soil in April, 1963. Polychlorodicyclopentadiene isomers, N-2-mercaptoethyl)benzenesulfonamide (bensulide), calcium arsenate, 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,8a-octachloro-4,7-methano-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydroindane (chlordane), dimethyl 2,3,5,6-tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA) 0-(2, 4-dichlorophenyl)-0-methyl isopropylphosphoramidothioate (DMPA) and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-tolyl-methylcarbamate (terbutol) were included. Soil of the respective plots were sampled from 0 to 2- and 2 to 4-in depths in December. These soils samples were used for planting plugs of mature Merion Kentucky bluegrass. The cultures were grown for 18 days in the greenhouse. Twenty-three in of rain had fallen between the treatment and sampling dates. Yet root growth was seriously reduced in the soil from the 0 to 2-in depth that had received terbutol and bensulide. Several chemicals gave significant reductions in topgrowth. Preemergence herbicide residues had sufficient influence on Kentucky bluegrass type lawn turf to justify specific study of each chemical with regard to this factor before widespread use.

Doveweed is a summer annual that is difficult to control in turfgrass. Photosystem II inhibitors have the potential to control doveweed, but research is limited on the efficacy of these herbicides. The objectives of this research were to evaluate (1) the differential tolerance levels of doveweed to atrazine and simazine, (2) the influence of application placement and rate on herbicide efficacy, and (3) uptake and metabolism of these herbicides in doveweed. In greenhouse experiments, the time required to injure doveweed 50% was three to five times faster for atrazine than simazine. Simazine soil or foliar + soil application reduced doveweed biomass 77% from the nontreated, but foliar-only treatments reduced biomass 51%. Application placements for atrazine equally reduced shoot biomass 96% from the nontreated. In a dose–response experiment, atrazine and simazine required ≤ 1.8 kg ha−1 and ≥ 5.1 kg ha−1 to injure doveweed 50% from 8 to 16 d after treatment (DAT), respectively. Doveweed required 79% less atrazine to reduce biomass 50% from the nontreated compared with simazine. In laboratory experiments, doveweed had similar root absorption levels of 14C-atrazine and 14C-simazine. Metabolism of both herbicides linearly increased from 1 to 7 DAT, but parent herbicide levels averaged 39 and 25% of the extracted radioactivity from 14C-atrazine and 14C-simazine, respectively. Doveweed metabolized 14C-simazine to three major metabolites, including hydroxysimazine, that each ranged from 24 to 29% of the extracted radioactivity. Hydroxyatrazine was the only major metabolite (> 10% of total 14C extracted) of 14C-atrazine. Overall, doveweed has slower metabolism of atrazine compared with simazine and is the basis for differential tolerance levels to these herbicides.

Palmer amaranth is a highly invasive weed species causing huge economic losses in agricultural cropping systems under a broad range of environmental conditions. Sensitivity of this species to ozone (O3) air pollution and to soil water deficit, relative to native species or competing crops, may affect its competitiveness and invasive potential. In recent years, both high tropospheric O3 and soil water deficiency have become common in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Responses to these environmental parameters may help predict the invasiveness of this species and have implications for landscape hydrology. We assessed the impact of O3 and soil water deficit on Palmer amaranth. Five- to seven-leaf–stage potted plants were placed in continuous stirred tank reactor chambers and maintained for 30 to 35 d under 12-h mean daylight O3 exposures (0700–1900 hours) of 4, 59, or 114 ppb O3. Within the chambers the plants were either well-watered (WW) or exposed to regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and grown for about 7 wk. Dry weights of the leaves, stems, roots, and leaf area were determined. Day- and nighttime stomatal conductances (gs) were measured at 1.5-h intervals. Nocturnal gs was about 16 to 29% of daytime gs; this suggests that the species could have substantial nighttime water loss, uncoupled from carbon gain in the weed, and could affect water availability for crops and reduce irrigation efficiency. Nocturnal gs was lower in the RDI than in the WW, but daytime gs was not affected by O3 or irrigation regime. Neither O3 nor irrigation regime affected root or shoot parameters. As O3 and drought are two key stressors in the San Joaquin Valley, to which potential competing species have been found to be sensitive, Palmer amaranth may proliferate and become more invasive in the future, potentially altering landscape hydrology and reducing irrigation efficiency.