The biology of purple nutsedge was studied by growing it alone and in competition with 12 and 24 rice plants in a pot experiment. Compared with the weedy plants grown alone, competition from rice reduced purple nutsedge leaf number, shoot number, tuber production rate, and leaf biomass. At 10 wk after planting, interference from 12 and 24 rice plants reduced purple nutsedge leaf area by 79 and 86%, respectively, compared with weedy plants grown without rice interference. On the same date, purple nutsedge aboveground shoot biomass was 26.8 g plant−1 without interference, whereas in interference with 12 and 24 rice plants, purple nutsedge produced aboveground biomass of 4.8 and 2.2 g plant−1, respectively. A total of 95 tubers plant−1 were produced by purple nutsedge when grown alone. Growth with 12 and 24 rice plants reduced tuber production to 33 and 17 tubers plant−1, respectively. Without interference, purple nutsedge produced 40 g plant−1 of total biomass of tuber plus root plus rhizome, whereas in interference with 12 and 24 rice plants, purple nutsedge produced 14 and 5 g plant−1 of total belowground biomass, respectively.

A study was conducted to quantify the magnitude and sources of variation in common waterhemp temporal patterns of emergence over 1 yr. In 2008 and 2010, emergence patterns in the absence of soil disturbance were determined for replicated samples of maternal families (progeny from one individual) separately harvested during the previous year from four plants within each of four agricultural fields (16 maternal families yr−1) at a university research farm near Urbana, IL. Combining data across years, variance partitioning indicated that seed sample within maternal family explained 48% of total variation in the percentage of viable, buried seeds that produced seedlings. Differences within, rather than among, maternal families also accounted for large fractions (60 to 99%) of total variation in cumulative percentage emergence at specific points during the growing season. Within years, seed samples characterized by delayed or accelerated emergence patterns did not originate from specific maternal plants. These results indicate that common waterhemp seed populations are without strong maternal plant effects that limit emergence to narrow intervals within the overall emergence period. Thus, results of this study support the use of contemporary approaches for modeling herbicide resistance evolution in common waterhemp, which assume seedling cohorts contain offspring from all individuals occurring within the maternal population.

Field studies were initiated in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 growing seasons to evaluate the potential of soil solarization (SS) treatments for their efficacy on weed control and crop yields and to compare SS to 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D)+chloropicrin (Pic) fumigation. Each replicate was a bed with dimension 10.6 m long by 0.8 m wide on top. The center 4.6 m length of each bed, referred to as plots, was used for strawberry plug transplanting and data collection. Treatments included: i) 1,3-D+Pic (39% 1,3-dichloropropene+59.6% chloropicrin) that was shank-fumigated in beds at 157 kg ha−1 and covered with VIF on August 30 in both seasons; ii) SS for a 6 wk duration initiated on August 15, 2013 and August 21, 2014 by covering the bed with 1 mil clear polyethylene tarp; iii) SS for a 4wk duration initiated on September 6, 2013 and September 3, 2014; iv) SS 4 wk treatment initiated September 6, 2013 and September 3, 2014 and replaced with black VIF on October 4, 2013 and October 1, 2014 and v) a nontreated control covered with black VIF on October 4, 2013 and October 1, 2014. In both seasons, following completion of the preplant treatments, ‘Chandler’ strawberry was planted in two rows at a 36 cm in-row spacing in plots during the first wk of October. Over both seasons, the 6 wk SS treatment consistently lowered the weed density compared to the nontreated control. Weed density in the 6wk SS treatment was not statistically different from the 4wk SS treatments in the 2013-14 growing season. In both seasons, crop yield in the 4 wk SS was significantly lower than other treatments.

Purple nutsedge is difficult to control in vegetable plasticulture due to its ability to penetrate the plastic mulch. Experiments were conducted in Spring 2011 and 2012 at the Plant Science Research and Education Center in Citra, Florida, and in Spring and Fall 2013 at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Balm, Florida. The objective was to determine tomato (cv. Amelia, Charger, and Florida 47) tolerance and purple nutsedge response to herbicides and herbicide tank-mixes applied POST-directed to base of tomato. Chlorimuron-ethyl, flazasulfuron, fomesafen, halosulfuron, imazosulfuron, rimsulfuron, nicosulfuron, and trifloxysulfuron applied POST-directed to the base of the crop did not cause crop damage. Halosulfuron or tank-mixes that contained halosulfuron tended to provide the greatest nutsedge suppression in all experiments. Halosulfuron or nicosulfuron+rimsulfuron applications when tomato (cv. Charger) were flowering reduced marketable yields by 22-28% compared to the nontreated control. No yield reductions occurred with Florida 47 or Amelia cultivars. Flazasulfuron provided similar purple nutsedge suppression to halosulfuron and did not damage tomato. Tank-mixes that contained halosulfuron tended not to provide any added benefit over halosulfuron alone. This research identified herbicides that are safe for use as a POST-directed application in tomato. Additional research is needed to evaluate efficacy of these herbicides on broadleaf weeds.

Few herbicides are available for use in lettuce and hand weeding is required for commercially acceptable weed control. More effective herbicides are needed. Here field evaluations of pendimethalin and S-metolachlor for weed control in transplanted lettuce are reported. Pendimethalin was evaluated PRE at rates between 0.6 and 6.7 kg ai ha−1, and POST at 1.1 and 2.2 kg ha−1. Both pendimethalin PRE and POST applications were safe to transplanted lettuce and provided similar weed control. Pendimethalin PRE at rates of 1.1 kg ha−1 and higher provided better weed control than the industry standard, pronamide at 1.3 kg ha−1. S-Metolachlor PRE was evaluated at rates between 0.6 and 5.6 kg ha−1. S-Metolachlor at rates up to 2.8 kg ha−1 caused little or no crop injury or yield reduction in transplanted lettuce, and S-metolachlor at rates of 1.4 kg ha−1 and higher improved weed control compared with pronamide at 1.3 kg ha−1. Pendimethalin and S-metolachlor are not labeled for transplanted lettuce, but we suggest that labeling be pursued at rates of 1.1 and 0.7 kg ha−1, respectively. Pendimethalin at 1.1 kg ha−1 applied PRE or POST improved weed control by 57 and 42%, respectively compared with pronamide. S-Metolachlor PRE at 0.7 kg ha−1 was less effective on weeds than pendimethalin, but maintained weed control level similar to pronamide. Pendimethalin and S-metolachlor have potential for use in transplanted lettuce production and provide alternatives to current transplanted lettuce herbicides.

Understanding the persistence of PRE-applied pendimethalin is important in determining timing of subsequent weed management programs in sugarcane on organic soils in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). Dissipation of oil- and water-based pendimethalin formulations applied PRE at 2, 4, and 8 kg ai ha−1 were compared in 2011 and 2012 on organic soils in the EAA. The rate of dissipation of both formulations was very similar. Both formulations had an initial rapid rate of dissipation followed by a slower rate of dissipation. However, the initial amount of pendimethalin in the soil was higher with the water-based compared to the oil-based formulation, most likely because of the lower volatility of the water-based formulation. The half-lives (DT50s) of the oil-based formulation were 32, 18, and 10 d and 8, 8, and 12 d at 2, 4, and 8 kg ha−1, respectively, in 2011 and 2012, respectively. The DT50s of the water-based formulation were 20, 13, and 10 d and 12, 12, and 14 d at 2, 4, and 8 kg ha−1, respectively in 2011 and 2012, respectively. These DT50 values were attributed to low soil water content as well as the absence of incorporation following application. Our results suggest that dissipation of pendimethalin is rapid on organic soils irrespective of the formulation when applied under dry soil conditions with no incorporation into the soil.

“Wither'd hogs … on ragweed nags, They skim the muirs [moors].” Address to the Diel, 1785, Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759–1796).

Purple starthistle is one of the numerous species of Centaurea that have been accidentally introduced to western North America where most have become pernicious noxious weeds. Purple starthistle is not nearly as widely distributed as its close relative, yellow starthistle, but it is more undesirable because of its growth characteristics and the number, length, and persistence of its spines. Purple starthistle reproduces only by seeds. Knowledge of the seed and seedbed ecology of weeds is important in all suppression strategies and especially for purple starthistle, which has potential biological control agents that suppress seed production. Our purpose was to determine the germination of purple starthistle seeds at a wide range of constant or alternating incubation temperatures from 0 through 40 C. The maximum observed germination ranged from 94 to 100%. Some germination occurred at least 75% or above of the 55 temperature regimes tested. Optimum germination, defined as not less than the maximum observed minus one-half of the confidence interval at the 0.01 level of probability, averaged 88 to 96%. Only one accession of purple starthistle had germination at what we classify as very cold seedbed temperatures. All accessions had near 50% germination at cold seedbed temperatures. Germination was highest at moderate seedbed temperatures and declined at warmer temperatures. The only constant incubation temperature that supported optimum germination was 20 C, and that was for only one accession. The only temperature regime that always supported optimum germination was 15/25 C (15 C for 16 h and 25 C for 8 h in each 24-h period).

Worldwide, 10 genera and 400 species comprise the Hypericaceae, the St. Johnswort Family. The genus Hypericum, with 350 of these species (11), includes evergreen or deciduous shrubs, subshrubs, and herbaceous perennials. The hypericums have simple, opposite or whorled leaves and usually golden-yellow many-stamened flowers.

Common St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum L.) is a hairless perennial, reproducing by seeds and by runners from the base of the stem. It grows 20 to 100 cm tall, with spreading branches and small deep green glabrous oblong-ovate leaves, perforated by many translucent glandular dots. Branched clusters of golden yellow flowers with tiny black spots are produced from May to August (14).

Tolerance and yield of ‘H8001 RR’ soybean to single and sequential glyphosate applications made during vegetative and reproductive stages were examined in field trials in 2000 and 2001. In addition, germination and seedling characteristics from harvested seed were assessed. Glyphosate-resistant soybean tolerated single and sequential applications of 1.7 kg ae/ha glyphosate with minimal injury (≤5%), except for an R2 application in 2000 that caused 20% injury. All observed injury was transient and did not adversely affect soybean density, height, seed weight, or seed yield. Germination and seedling growth of harvested seed were similar to those of a nontreated control. These results suggest that glyphosate-resistant soybean can withstand sequential applications of glyphosate during vegetative and reproductive stages without prolonged adverse effects.

Field experiments in 1988 and 1989 evaluated five POST herbicides alone or combined for horse purslane control in peanut. Acifluorfen, acifluorfen plus bentazon, pyridate plus 2,4-DB, and lactofen controlled more than 75% when rated up to 26 days after treatment (DAT). However at 67 DAT, acifluorfen alone, acifluorfen plus bentazon or 2,4-DB, or lactofen applied EPOST controlled horse purslane greater than 60% in 1988. In 1989, only 2,4-DB or pyridate plus 2,4-DB controlled horse purslane at least 70% at 116 DAT. Pyridate alone did not control horse purslane adequately.

A study was conducted to compare the effect of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) + chloropicrin (Pic) in a 83:17 ratio (C-17) used alone or in combination with herbicides on tomato. Treatments evaluated included 1,3-D (325 kg ai/ha) plus Pic (67 kg ai/ha) used either alone or with pebulate (4.5 kg ai/ha), napropamide (4.5 kg ai/ha), metolachlor (1.1 and 2.3 kg ai/ha), lactofen (2.3 kg ai/ha), or flazasulfuron (0.4 kg ai/ha). Pebulate was consistently more effective in controlling purple nutsedge than the other herbicides tested. Purple nutsedge was more effectively controlled with C-17 in combination with pebulate than with the fumigant alone. Shallow incorporation of pebulate failed to improve weed control and tomato fruit yield.

Pollen allelopathy results when pollen releases toxins that inhibit seed germination, seedling emergence, sporophytic growth, or sexual reproduction. Of the six known pollen-allelopathic species, two are crops (timothy and corn and four are weeds (orange hawkweed, parthenium, yellow hawkweed, and yellow-devil hawkweed). Allelopathic pollen in weeds could pose threats to crops, especially if both are wind pollinated. Even if it is the crop that is pollen-allelopathic, other crops could be threatened, or more likely, weeds might adapt to pollen allelopathy and pose a greater problem. Nonetheless, pollen allelopathy could be a useful approach to biological control because allelochemicals are packaged in a natural targeting system (pollen grains) and are biologically active at low doses (<10 grains/mm2 on stigmas). If it is to be an effective biological control agent, pollen allelopathy must be examined within the wider context of farming systems management and used as one method of varying selection pressures to prevent weeds from adapting to any one particular management technique or suite of techniques.

Field studies assessed weed control and potato injury with rimsulfuron applied postemergence at various rates in combination with various adjuvants. Weed control was influenced by choice of adjuvant and rimsulfuron rate. Rimsulfuron at 0, 9, 18, 26, and 35 g ai/ha was applied with nonionic surfactant (NIS), crop oil concentrate (COC), methylated seed oil (MSO), or silicone-polyether copolymer (SIL). Potato injury was less than 5% for all rimsulfuron rates and adjuvant combinations. Redroot pigweed was controlled greater than or equal to 93% by all treatments except rimsulfuron at 9 g/ha + SIL. Except for redroot pigweed, rimsulfuron treatments with SIL controlled kochia, hairy nightshade, common lambsquarters, and volunteer oats less than with other adjuvants. At lower rimsulfuron rates, weed control with rimsulfuron + MSO tended to be greater than with rimsulfuron + NIS or rimsulfuron + COC. Common lambsquarters control was 75% or less regardless of rimsulfuron rate or adjuvant. Tuber yield generally increased with increasing rimsulfuron rates. Depending on rimsulfuron rate, tuber yield was 10 to 15% lower with rimsulfuron + NIS or rimsulfuron + COC compared to rimsulfuron + MSO, while tuber yield was 18 to 37% lower with rimsulfuron + SIL compared to rimsulfuron + NIS, rimsulfuron + COC, or rimsulfuron + MSO.

Field studies were conducted in 1997 and 1998 to evaluate tolerance of nine sweet corn cultivars to CGA 152005 postemergence at 10 and 20 g ai/ha. There was a cultivar by herbicide interaction for visible plant injury, plant height, ear weight, and yield. Sweet corn injury from CGA 152005 increased as rate increased. CGA 152005 at both rates killed ‘DelMonte 2038’. ‘Eliminator’, ‘Reward’, ‘Delectable’, and ‘Reveille’ were injured (10 to 12% plant height reduction), and the remaining cultivars (‘Challenger’, ‘Krispy King’, ‘CNS 710’, and ‘GH 2690’) were tolerant to CGA 152005 at both rates.

Cogongrass is an aggressive perennial weed, which causes severe yield losses in major crops of the moist savanna of West Africa. Field studies were conducted from 2000 to 2002 at Alabata and Ilorin, Nigeria, to evaluate the influence of dosage and time of nicosulfuron application on the control of cogongrass and corn grain yield. Nicosulfuron dosages were 50, 100, 150, and 200 g ai/ha applied 1, 2, 3, or 4 wk after planting (WAP) corn. Hand-weeded and nonweeded treatments were the controls. Three to 4 wk after treatment and at final harvest, all plots that received nicosulfuron had significantly lower cogongrass shoot dry matter (DM) than the nonweeded control across locations in all years (P ≤ 0.01). Nicosulfuron increased corn grain yield at Alabata by 96% in 2000, 100% in 2001, and 34 to 54% in 2002, and at Ilorin by 79 to 83% in 2001 and 60 to 69% in 2002 when compared with the nonweeded control. The weeded control had corn grain yield similar to plots that received nicosulfuron at 200 g/ha at Alabata in 2001, 150 g/ha at Ilorin in 2001, 50 to 200 g/ha at Alabata in 2002, and 150 and 200 g/ha at Ilorin in 2002. There were negative linear relationships between corn DM, grain yield, and cogongrass shoot DM. Application of nicosulfuron at 1 or 2 WAP, when cogongrass was 22 to 27 cm tall, gave better grain yield and lower cogongrass shoot DM than at 3 or 4 WAP, when cogongrass was 36 to 45 cm tall. The study concludes that 150 to 200 g/ha of nicosulfuron applied at 1 or 2 WAP is effective for cogongrass control without adverse effect on corn grain yield.

Field studies were conducted at Carbondale, IL from 1992 to 1994 to evaluate rhizome johnsongrass control in field corn with nicosulfuron and primisulfuron applied POST without or with EPTC applied PPL EPTC applied PPI at 4480 and 6720 g ai/ha plus dichlormid controlled johnsongrass 38 and 60% in 1992 and 29 and 41% in 1993, respectively, and 0% in 1994. EPTC did not decrease johnsongrass rhizome weight, length, or number of nodes in any year. Nicosulfuron at 35 g/ha and primisulfuron at 40 g/ha applied to 38-cm tall plants controlled 94 to 100% and 85 to 100%, respectively, from 1992 to 1994. Plots treated for three consecutive seasons with nicosulfuron or primisulfuron did not have any rhizomes. Corn yield was more than double in nicosulfuron and primisulfuron plots compared with control plots.

Field studies were conducted in second-ratoon crops of sugarcane infested with rhizome johnsongrass to determine the effects of aqueous diluent volumes ranging from 47 to 561 L ha-1 on the performance of asulam. Trend analyses of johnsongrass recovery, based on panicle numbers late in the growing season, indicated a quadratic response with panicle numbers being lowest when asulam at 2.8 kg ai ha-1 was applied in a diluent volume approaching 187 L ha-1. The response was similar regardless of whether droplet size or number was altered to obtain these diluent volumes. Differences in late-season johnsongrass control were reflected in harvested sugarcane stalk populations and net cane yields. In greenhouse studies, johnsongrass plants were thoroughly washed with water 24 h after treatment with asulam at 2.8 kg ha-1 at water volumes ranging from 47 to 374 L ha-1. Asulam absorption, as evidenced by reduction in the growth of johnsongrass, was higher when surfactant was included, but was not affected by diluent volumes in the range evaluated.

Hoary cress germination decreased with lower osmotic potential. Knapweed germination was greatest at 0.0 and −0.5 MPa of osmotic potential. Salinity increases up to an electrical conductivity (EC) of 12 dS m-1 had no effect on germination of either species. Hoary cress and knapweed root growth were reduced by decreases in osmotic potential. Hoary cress root growth was not affected by increasing salinity up to an EC of 12 dS m-1. Knapweed root growth was reduced by the initial increase in salinity (4 dS m-1), but not by higher salt concentrations.

Experiments were conducted in Virginia in 2000 and 2001 to investigate responses of winter wheat and diclofop-sensitive and -resistant Italian ryegrass to the experimental herbicide mixture AE F130060 03 and crop safener AE F107892 applied postemergence. AE F130060 03 at 15 or 18 g ai/ha with or without methylated seed oil controlled both diclofop-sensitive and -resistant Italian ryegrass 82 to 99% and reduced inflorescence emergence 59 to 98%. Although AE F130060 03 controlled existing Italian ryegrass 4 wk after any application, timing of application influenced late-season Italian ryegrass control and inflorescence emergence. Applications to two- to three-leaf Italian ryegrass resulted in greater emergence of Italian ryegrass after application than applications made to two- to three-tiller or four- to five-tiller Italian ryegrass. Wheat injury by AE F130060 03 was greater than injury from diclofop, but wheat appeared to fully recover; and yields from AE F130060 03–treated wheat were similar to yields of diclofop-treated wheat and at least 21% greater than yields from nontreated wheat. In greenhouse experiments, differential growth responses between diclofop-sensitive and -resistant Italian ryegrass occurred after AE F130060 03 application at normal (15 g ai/ha) and below-normal application rates. When rates were increased beyond normal application rates, growth responses were similar between diclofop-sensitive and -resistant Italian ryegrass.