Sweet corn was grown with a living mulch of white clover, a dead mulch of rye, and without mulch, in both till and no-till conditions. Unplanted controls were also included in the experimental design. Corn yields were highest in clover treatments early in the experiment but lowest in later years. The declining yields in the clover living mulch were related to the strip application of glyphosate which allowed establishment of perennial and biennial weeds, notably dandelion and horseweed. These overwintering weeds apparently prevented effective control of summer annuals, especially redroot pigweed, common lambsquarters and large crabgrass, by atrazine and metolachlor. Presence of a rye mulch decreased weed biomass and had no detrimental effect on corn yield. In general, corn yield was not affected by tillage, although the number of marketable ears was reduced in the no-till treatments during the drought year of 1988. The much greater weed biomass in the unplanted control treatments showed the importance of crop competition for weed control in sweet corn cropping systems.

Herbicide-resistant kochia is an increasing concern for growers in the northwestern United States. Four suspected glyphosate-resistant (Gly-R) kochia accessions (referred to as GIL01, JOP01, CHES01, and CHES02) collected in fall 2012 from four different chemical-fallow fields in northern Montana were evaluated. The objectives were to confirm and characterize the level of glyphosate resistance in kochia accessions relative to a glyphosate-susceptible (Gly-S) accession and evaluate the effectiveness of various POST herbicides for Gly-R kochia control. Whole-plant dose–response experiments indicated that the four Gly-R kochia accessions had 7.1- to 11-fold levels of resistance relative to the Gly-S accession on the basis of percent control ratings (I50 values). On the basis of shoot dry weight response (GR50 values), the four Gly-R kochia accessions exhibited resistance index (R/S) ratios ranging from 4.6 to 8.1. In a separate study, the two tested Gly-R accessions (GIL01 and JOP01) showed differential response (control and shoot dry weight reduction) to various POST herbicides 21 d after application (DAA). Paraquat, paraquat + linuron, carfentrazone + 2,4-D, saflufenacil alone or with 2,4-D, and bromoxynil + fluroxypyr effectively controlled (99 to 100%) and reduced shoot dry weight (88 to 92%) of the GIL01 accession, consistent with the Gly-S kochia accession; however, bromoxynil + MCPA and bromoxynil + pyrasulfotole provided 76% control and 83% shoot dry weight reduction of the GIL01 accession and were lower compared with the Gly-S accession. The JOP01 accession exhibited lower control or shoot dry weight reduction to all herbicides tested, except dicamba, diflufenzopyr + dicamba + 2,4-D, paraquat + linuron, and bromoxynil + pyrasulfotole, compared with the Gly-S or GIL01 population. Furthermore, paraquat + linuron was the only treatment with ≥ 90% control and shoot dry weight reduction of the JOP01 kochia plants. Among all POST herbicides tested, glufosinate was the least effective on kochia. This research confirms the first evolution of Gly-R kochia in Montana. Future research will investigate the mechanism of glyphosate resistance, inheritance, ecological fitness, and alternative strategies for management of Gly-R kochia.

There, fed by Food they love, to rankest size, Around the Dwellings Docks and Wormwood rise;

Here the strong Mallow strikes her slimy Root, Here the dull Nightshade hangs her deadly Fruit;

The Borough, Rev. George Crabbe, 1810.

The black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) complex consists of a group of plants in the section Solanum of the genus Solanum. Black nightshade is the type for the genus Solanum and the most well-known as a noxious weed species. Black nightshade also has been used around the world as a pot-herb, and the berries are used to bake pies despite its reputation as a poisonous plant (Edmonds and Chweya 1997; Mabberley 1997). The black nightshades form a complex group of mainly herbaceous or shrubby plants that are still not completely resolved taxonomically. Most weed references to black nightshade predating the 1980s simply refer to S. nigrum L. as the species. However, taxonomists now recognize many weedy species within this complex (D'Arcy 1991; Edmonds 1977; Edmonds and Chweya 1997; Mabberley 1997; Schilling 1981). This article will mainly cover the history of black nightshade as recorded in the literature. Current species names will be clarified or identified within the Solanum section where information is available.

Studies were conducted in 2007 and 2008 to determine the effect of flumioxazin and S-metolachlor on Palmer amaranth control and ‘Beauregard’ and ‘Covington’ sweetpotato. Flumioxazin at 0, 91, or 109 g ai ha−1 was applied pretransplant 2 d before transplanting alone or followed by (fb) S-metolachlor at 0, 0.8, 1.1, or 1.3 kg ai ha−1 PRE applied immediately after transplanting or 2 wk after transplanting (WAP). Flumioxazin fb S-metolachlor immediately after transplanting provided greater than 90% season-long Palmer amaranth control. S-metolachlor applied alone immediately after transplanting provided 80 to 93% and 92 to 96% control in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Flumioxazin fb S-metolachlor 2 WAP provided greater than 90% control in 2007 but variable control (38 to 79%) in 2008. S-metolachlor applied alone 2 WAP did not provide acceptable Palmer amaranth control. Control was similar for all rates of S-metolachlor (0.8, 1.1, and 1.3 kg ha−1). In 2008, greater Palmer amaranth control was observed with flumioxazin at 109 g ha−1 than with 91 g ha−1. Sweetpotato crop injury due to treatment was minimal (< 3%), and sweetpotato storage root length to width ratio was similar for all treatments in 2007 (2.5 for Beauregard) and 2008 (2.4 and 1.9 for Beauregard and Covington, respectively). Sweetpotato yield was directly related to Palmer amaranth control. Results indicate that flumioxazin pretransplant fb S-metolachlor after transplanting provides an effective herbicide program for control of Palmer amaranth in sweetpotato.

A study was conducted in 1996 and 1997 near Rohwer, AR, to evaluate weed control with standard herbicide programs in nontransgenic and glyphosate-resistant soybean (Glycine max) compared with glyphosate-based herbicide programs in glyphosate-resistant soybean. Total postemergence (POST) programs containing 0.84 kg ae/ha glyphosate 14 d after emergence (DAE) followed by 0.42 kg/ha at 42 DAE controlled pitted and entireleaf morningglory (Ipomoea lacunosa and I. hederacea var. integriuscula) 80 to 83%. This control was lower than with any other weed control program in the study. All glyphosate containing herbicide programs controlled barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) at least 94%. Soybean injury was 8% or less for all herbicide treatments except for ‘Hartz 5088 Roundup Ready’ treated with pendimethalin plus chlorimuron and metribuzin preplant incorporated (PPI) followed by glyphosate or acifluorfen plus bentazon 42 DAE. All weed control and soybean injury ratings were similar at 24 d after the 42 DAE application (DAA) when compared with the 10 DAA rating. Two weed control programs with ‘Northrup King S-59-60’ soybean using standard herbicide programs yielded 3,015 and 3,070 kg/ha, and net returns were $92.20/ha and $122.82/ha, respectively. Two production systems containing the Hartz 5088 Roundup Ready cultivar had positive net returns of $35.11/ha and $39.49/ha.

Mugwort is a noxious perennial weed that interferes with the growth and establishment of crop species. The present study was designed to understand the role of allelopathy as a potential mechanism of interference by mugwort. Soils amended with mugwort plant material and leachates were analyzed for their chemical characteristics. The effect of amended soils on seedling growth of red clover was studied. The influence of NP fertilization and charcoal on modification of allelopathic potential of amended soils, in terms of their effect on soil characteristics and red clover seedling growth, was also investigated. In addition, red clover seedling growth was compared in sterilized and nonsterilized soils amended with mugwort leachate and NP fertilization. In general, addition of mugwort leachates and plant matter (amended soil) resulted in chemical changes in soil, including changes in available phenolics. Red clover seedling growth was reduced in amended soils, when compared to that in nonamended soils. Although the different amounts of NP fertilization in nonsterilized soil amended with mugwort leachate could not counteract its interference to red clover growth (root reduction, 67–79%; shoot reduction, 34–44%), the addition of charcoal did eliminate leachate effects on red clover growth. This indicates the probable allelopathic interference of mugwort to red clover growth. Addition of NP fertilization might have resulted in higher microbial activity, which is likely to influence qualitative and/or quantitative availability of phenolic compounds. Data on phenolic levels and red clover growth in sterilized and nonsterilized soil amended with mugwort leachate and NP fertilization indirectly indicate the significance of soil microbes in mugwort interference to red clover.

In traditional simulated herbicide drift research, dose response is evaluated using a constant carrier volume. The influence of carrier volume was evaluated in field experiments with drift rates representing 12.5 and 6.3% of the use rates of 1,120 g ai/ha glyphosate (140 and 70 g/ha, respectively) and 420 g ai/ha glufosinate (53 and 26 g/ha, respectively). Corn and soybean were exposed to herbicide rates applied in constant carrier volume of 234 L/ha and in proportional carrier volumes of 30 L/ha for the 12.5% rate and 15 L/ha for the 6.3% rate. Averaged across herbicides, corn height reduction 14 d after treatment (DAT) was greater for the 12.5% rate when applied in proportional 30 L/ha carrier volume (45%) compared with constant 234 L/ha carrier volume (28%). The 6.3% rate reduced corn height 38% when applied in proportional 15 L/ha carrier volume but not when applied in 234 L/ha carrier volume. When carrier volume was changed from constant to proportional, corn injury 14 DAT increased from 33 to 51% for the 12.5% rate and 18 to 38% for the 6.3% rate. Compared with constant spray volume, corn yield reduction was 1.5 times greater for the 12.5% rate but 4 times greater for the 6.3% rate when spray volume was varied proportionally to the herbicide rates. Differential response due to carrier volume was not observed when herbicides were applied to soybean. Soybean was injured more by glyphosate than by glufosinate, but recovery was rapid and yield was not negatively affected. Results suggest that drift research using constant spray volume may underestimate the yield reduction expected for sensitive crops exposed to glyphosate or glufosinate.

Greenhouse and growth chamber experiments were conducted to study glyphosate efficacy, rainfastness, absorption, and translocation in redvine. Glyphosate at 0, 0.56, 1.12, 2.24, and 4.48 kg ai/ha was applied to redvine plants raised from rootstocks at the five- to seven-leaf stage (about 25 cm tall). Redvine control ranged from 55% at 0.56 kg/ha glyphosate to 98% at 4.48 kg/ha. Glyphosate at rates above 1.12 kg/ha, greatly reduced regrowth from rootstocks of treated plants. A simulated rainfall of 2.5 cm (7.5 cm/h intensity) within 24 h of glyphosate application reduced efficacy by 23% compared with no simulated rainfall. Absorption of 14C-glyphosate in redvine increased from 1.8 to 21.9%, and translocation increased from 0.1 to 8.1% from 6 to 192 h after application, respectively. Translocation was both acropetal and basipetal, and by 96 h of exposure, the 14C radioactivity was widely distributed throughout the plant. Absorption and translocation was greatly affected by posttreatment temperature. Absorption and translocation were highest (34.9 and 10.6%, respectively) in plants maintained at 35/30 C (14/10 h, day/night), followed by 15/10 C (21.2 and 4.9%, respectively), and was lowest (7.8 and 1.6%, respectively) in plants maintained at 25/20 C. Results suggest that longer periods of leaf exposure to the herbicide and high temperatures could increase glyphosate absorption, translocation to redvine rootstocks, and subsequent control. These data also suggest that effective control of redvine in the field will require glyphosate rates higher than those recommended for use in glyphosate-resistant crops.

Management of herbicide resistance will require interdisciplinary research to understand the mechanisms and dynamics of resistance. We believe that models are valuable tools. Models propose hypotheses about biological processes that influence the evolution of resistance and management tools that may reduce resistance in weed populations. Hypotheses help to direct research. For example, our model proposes that fitness and gene flow dramatically influence the evolution of and recovery from resistance in weed populations. Therefore, our research agenda should include ecological investigations of the life-history traits involved in fitness and gene flow. The model suggests thresholds of susceptible weed abundance to reduce selection pressure and to delay resistance. These thresholds will be related closely to economic weed thresholds. While the resistance issue emphasizes the need for basic biological and ecological research, resistance is only a part of the broader research agenda, which calls for holistic and interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing crop systems.

Cotton genetically engineered to be resistant to topical applications of 2,4-D could provide growers with an additional tool for managing difficult-to-control broadleaf species. However, the successful adoption of this technology will be dependent on the ability of growers to manage off-target herbicide movement. Field experiments were conducted in Moultrie, GA, to evaluate cotton injury resulting from the volatilization of 2,4-D when formulated as an ester, an amine, or a choline salt. Each formulation of 2,4-D (2.24 kg ha−1) was applied in mixture with glyphosate (2.24 kg ha−1) directly to the soil surface (10 to 20% crop residue) in individual square blocks (750 m2). Following herbicide applications, replicate sets of four potted cotton plants (five- to seven-leaf stage) were placed at distances ranging from 1.5 to 48 m from the edge of each treatment. Plants were allowed to remain in-field for up to 48 h before being removed. Cotton exposed to 2,4-D ester for 48 h exhibited maximum injury ratings of 63, 57, 48, 29, 13, and 2% at distances of 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 m, respectively. Less than 5% injury was noted for the amine and choline formulations at any distance. Plant height was also affected by formulation and distance; plants that were located closest to the ester-treated block were smaller than their more distantly-positioned counterparts. Exposure to the amine and choline formulations did not affect plant heights. Additionally, two plastic tunnels were placed inside of each treated block to concentrate volatiles and maximize the potential for crop injury. Injury ratings of 76, 13, and 5% were noted for cotton exposed to the ester, amine, and choline formulations, respectively when under tunnels for 48 h. Results indicate that the choline formulation of 2,4-D was less volatile and injurious to cotton than the ester under the field conditions in this study.

Morocco has a large number of edible weeds, but seventeen are mostly eaten by the population, collected for sale in different provinces, or even exported. Eight weeds have edible shoots while the others have edible stems, fruits, roots, flowers, or petioles. Thirteen weed species are marketed either seasonally or throughout the year and generate money for the people. Morocco's tassel grapehyacinth bulbs and products extracted from pennyroyal mint are exported. Further research should focus on the nutritive value of these weeds and their economic role in the country.

Five field studies on sandy soils with ≤ 1% organic matter in south Texas showed that halosulfuron at 0.066 kg/ha preemergence (PRE) controlled ≥ 92% purple nutsedge and at 0.066 kg/ha postemergence (POST) controlled purple nutsedge 77 to 95%. Sulfentrazone at 0.11 to 0.28 kg/ha PRE or POST controlled purple nutsedge < 65% at one location but > 75% at two other locations. Poor control at the one location may have been due to a lack of early-season rainfall or irrigation. Potatoes were stunted 5 to 26% with halosulfuron PRE, whereas POST treatments caused 7 to 40% stunting. Sulfentrazone at 0.11 to 0.28 kg/ha applied PRE or POST caused 2 to 38% stunting. ‘Atlantic’ potato stunting with sulfentrazone POST at 0.14 to 0.28 kg/ha was ≥ 20%, whereas ‘Snowden’ and ‘1625’ potatoes were stunted ≤ 20%. Potato yields were reduced 65 and 39% with sulfentrazone and halosulfuron POST, respectively, at the high rates, but yield reductions occurred with all POST treatments on Atlantic potatoes 10- to 20-cm tall. Halosulfuron PRE at 0.033 kg/ha and sulfentrazone PRE at 0.14 kg/ha did not reduce yields; however, all other treatments of halosulfuron and sulfentrazone reduced potato yields.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the world's largest human population growth rate, some of its poorest soils, and a high incidence of crop pests. Weeds are the major pest in virtually all of the agro-ecological zones of SSA. Parasitic and perennial weeds dominate the savanna vegetation zones whereas rapidly growing annual weeds overwhelm crops in the forest vegetation zones. High weed pressure coupled with inefficient weed control practices have tied up a disproportionate percentage of SSA's economically active population in the primary task of food production and also have kept crop yields down. In the absence of organized weed research and professional training in weed science to meet the needs of the region, improved cultivars of virtually all crops fall prey to weeds, and available arable land becomes limited to that area that can be kept free of weeds. A preponderance of annual weeds in humid parts of SSA together with hard-to-kill perennial grasses and parasitic weeds in the subhumid and arid agro-ecological zones hamper crop production and frustrate farmers throughout the region. Sustainable food production in the region can be achieved by introducing improved weed management technologies and by addressing other food production constraints of the region.

Control of natural infestations of common lambsquarters and giant foxtail in 1993, 1994, and 1995 and of velvetleaf in 1994 and 1995 by postemergence application of glyphosate to glyphosate-resistant soybean planted in narrow (20 cm) and wide (76 cm) rows was evaluated. Planting glyphosate-resistant soybean in narrow rows and applying reduced rates of glyphosate when common lambsquarters, giant foxtail, and velvetleaf were at their actively growing stage 3 to 18 cm, 5 to 28 cm, and 3 to 20 cm tall, respectively, resulted in > 90% control. The effect of time of herbicide application was greater than the rate of herbicide application, especially within the wide-row soybean plantings. Applying imazethapyr in combination with glyphosate did not improve weed control or soybean yield compared with glyphosate alone.

Due to depressed corn and soybean prices over the last few years in the United States, growers in Nebraska are showing interest in no-tillage (hereafter referred to as no-till) conventional (non–genetically engineered [non-GE]) soybean production. Due to the increasing number of herbicide-resistant weeds in the United States, weed control in no-till non-GE soybean using POST herbicides is a challenge. The objectives of this study were to compare PRE-only, PRE followed by (fb) POST, and PRE fb POST with residual (POST-WR) herbicide programs for Palmer amaranth and velvetleaf control and soybean injury and yield, as well as to estimate the gross profit margins and benefit–cost ratio of herbicide programs. A field experiment was conducted in 2016 and 2017 at Clay Center, NE. The PRE herbicides tested in this study resulted in ≥95% Palmer amaranth and velvetleaf control at 28 d after PRE (DAPRE). Averaged across the programs, the PRE-only program controlled Palmer amaranth 66%, whereas 86% and 97% control was obtained with the PRE fb POST and PRE fb POST-WR programs, respectively, at 28 d after POST (DAPOST). At 28 DAPOST, the PRE fb POST herbicide programs controlled velvetleaf 94%, whereas the PRE-only program resulted in 85% control. Mixing soil-residual herbicides with foliar-active POST programs did not improve velvetleaf control. Averaged across herbicide programs, PRE fb POST programs increased soybean yield by 10% and 41% in 2016 and 2017, respectively, over the PRE-only programs. Moreover, PRE fb POST-WR programs produced 7% and 40% higher soybean yield in 2016 and 2017, respectively, compared with the PRE fb POST programs. The gross profit margin (US$1,184.3 ha−1) was highest under flumioxazin/pyroxasulfone (PRE) fb fluthiacet-methyl plus S-metolachlor/fomesafen (POST-WR) treatment; however, the benefit–cost ratio was highest (6.1) with the PRE-only program of flumioxazin/chlorimuron-ethyl.

Conservation agriculture (CA) practices are threatened by glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth. Integrated control practices including PRE herbicides and high-residue CA systems can decrease Amaranthus emergence. Field experiments were conducted from autumn 2006 through crop harvest in 2009 at two sites in Alabama to evaluate the effect of integrated weed management practices on Amaranthus population density and biomass, cotton yield, and economics in glyphosate-resistant cotton. Horizontal strips included four CA systems with three cereal rye cover crop seeding dates and a winter fallow (WF) CA system compared to a conventional tillage (CT) system. Additionally, vertical strips of four herbicide regimes consisted of: broadcast, banded, or no PRE applications of S-metolachlor (1.12 kg ai ha−1) followed by (fb) glyphosate (1.12 kg ae ha−1) applied POST fb layby applications of diuron (1.12 kg ai ha−1) plus MSMA (2.24 kg ai ha−1) or the LAYBY application alone. Early-season Amaranthus density was reduced in high-residue CA in comparison to the CA WF systems in 2 of 3 yr. Amaranthus densities in herbicide treatments that included a broadcast PRE application were lower at three of five sampling dates compared to banding early-season PRE applications; however, the differences were not significant during the late season and cotton yields were not affected by PRE placement. High-residue conservation tillage yields were 577 to 899 kg ha−1 more than CT, except at one site in 1 yr when CT treatment yields were higher. CA utilizing high-residue cover crops increased net returns over CT by $100 ha−1 or more 2 out of 3 yr at both locations. High-residue cover crop integration into a CA system reduced Amaranthus density and increased yield over WF systems; the inclusion of a broadcast PRE application can increase early-season Amaranthus control and might provide additional control when glyphosate-resistant Amaranthus populations are present.

Fire has been a part of natural ecosystems for many millennia. The species of those ecosystems have evolved through a series of “coarse filters,” one of which is resistance or resilience to disturbance by fire. Plant adaptations to fire include the ability to sprout, seed bank adaptations in the soil or canopy, high dispersal ability for seeds, and thick bark. These adaptations are often to a particular fire regime, or combination of fire frequency, intensity, extent, and season. Fire can be used by managers to achieve species to ecosystem-level conservation biology objectives. Examples using prescribed fire include the grasslands of the Puget Trough of Washington State, maintenance of oak woodlands, and perpetuation of ponderosa pine/mixed-conifer forests.

The first step in appearance of herbicide-resistant weed populations is the appearance of resistant plants or mutants. While efforts are underway to study and predict the spread of resistant plants within weed populations, knowledge of the conditions prevailing at the time of appearance of the first resistant plants is misunderstood. We try to shed some light on this phenomenon using the example of atrazine-resistant common lambsquarters. The population structure and variability, the presence of unusual genotypes that have a high mutation rate, the occurrence of a low-dose resistant phenotype that is the precursor of a high-dose resistant phenotype, and the potential for multiplication and spread are shown to be of major importance in the behavior of herbicide resistance.

Adjuvants that increase the pH of the spray mixture and solubilize nicosulfuron can enhance biological activity under specific conditions. These conditions include high nicosulfuron rates, difficult-to-control weeds, low spray volumes, and initially acidic spray conditions. The most effective pH adjusters are tribasic potassium phosphate, sodium carbonate, and triethanolamine. In low spray volumes, these adjusters make the spray mixture alkaline and often enhance the activity of nicosulfuron on common cocklebur and large crabgrass. Alkaline conditions rapidly dissolve the sulfonylurea particles and enhance activity with crop oil concentrate, modified seed oil, and hydrophilic nonionic surfactants. pH adjusters did not enhance activity with lipophilic surfactants. Ammonium sulfate slightly increases the pH of spray mixtures and increases nicosulfuron activity depending on species, adjuvant type, and pH adjuster. These results generally support the concept that herbicide solubilization is necessary to maximize the foliar activity.

Studies were initiated to evaluate absorption, translocation, and distribution of 14C-quinclorac in propanil- and quinclorac-resistant (R-BYG) and -susceptible (S-BYG) barnyardgrass. No differential absorption of 14C-quinclorac was observed between R-BYG and S-BYG, but more 14C remained in the treated leaf of S-BYG (57% of total absorbed) compared with the R-BYG leaf (34% of total absorbed) at 72 h after treatment (HAT). After 12 HAT, 20 and 15% of the amount absorbed had been translocated basipetally by R-BYG and S-BYG, respectively. At 72 HAT, 27 and 17% of the total absorbed 14C had been translocated acropetally by R-BYG and S-BYG, respectively. The levels of 14C above the treated leaf continued to increase throughout the duration of the experiment in R-BYG while levels of 14C above the treated leaf in S-BYG remained relatively constant. Seven percent more of the total absorbed 14C was exuded from roots of R-BYG than S-BYG at 72 HAT. Although differential translocation was observed between R-BYG and S-BYG, it is unclear whether this difference is a cause of quinclorac resistance or an effect of some other physiological process. Further research is needed to determine if differential translocation is due to metabolism or other physiological factors.