Weed control in Florida citrus is primarily based on herbicides. Saflufenacil, a POST-applied herbicide is recently registered for broadleaf weed control in citrus. Saflufenacil has very limited grass activity; therefore, it should be tank mixed with graminicides or broad-spectrum herbicides to increase the spectrum of weed control. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted at two locations (Polk County and Orange County, FL) to evaluate the efficacy and potential antagonism or synergy of saflufenacil and sethoxydim applied alone or tank mixed, and various two- and three-way mixes with glyphosate or pendimethalin. The results suggested that tank mixing saflufenacil and sethoxydim had neither synergistic nor antagonistic effect on broadleaf and grass weed control, respectively. Tank mixing pendimethalin with saflufenacil and sethoxydim improved broadleaf and grass weed control and reduced weed density and biomass, compared with saflufenacil or sethoxydim applied alone or tank mixed at 45 and 60 d after treatment (DAT). Glyphosate tank mixed with saflufenacil and sethoxydim provided > 90% control of broadleaf and grass weeds at 15 DAT, reduced density ≤ 8 plants m−2, and reduced biomass < 95 g m−2 at 60 DAT. Glyphosate applied alone was less effective than it was when tank mixed with saflufenacil and sethoxydim or pendimethalin for broadleaf and grass weed control, indicating an additive effect of tank mixture on glyphosate efficacy. It is concluded that saflufenacil can be tank mixed with sethoxydim for control of broadleaf and grass weeds without antagonism on the efficacy of either herbicide; however, tank mixing saflufenacil and sethoxydim with glyphosate or pendimethalin provided long-term, broad-spectrum weed control in Florida citrus.

Citron melon is a monoecious and hairy annual vine commonly found in citrus orchards and cotton and peanut fields. There is limited information available on citron melon control with PRE- and POST-applied herbicides in Florida citrus. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of citron melon to 11 PRE and 18 POST herbicides under greenhouse conditions. Indaziflam applied PRE at 0.095 kg ai ha−1 resulted in 13% citron melon emergence at 14 d after treatment (DAT). The majority of PRE herbicides did not affect emergence at 14 DAT. Efficacy of PRE herbicides at 21 DAT resulted in > 90% control of citron melon with bromacil, premix formulation of bromacil + diuron, flumioxazin, indaziflam at 0.073 and 0.095, norflurazon, and simazine. Citron melon control was < 30% 21 DAT following PRE-applied diuron, oryzalin, and flazasulfuron. Control of citron melon varied by POST herbicides and growth stage. Regardless of citron melon growth stage, glyphosate, glufosinate, saflufenacil, paraquat, and flumioxazin provided > 90% at 7 and 14 DAT. Carfentrazone, flazasulfuron, imazapic, pyrithiobac-Na, rimsulfuron, trifloxysulfuron, and premix of 2,4-D + glyphosate controlled citron melon at least 90% when applied to two- to four-leaf plants. Control was reduced when application was delayed to the six- to eight-leaf stage. Bentazon and halosulfuron controlled citron melon 11 to 31% regardless of growth stage. Biomass of citron melon at 14 DAT was reduced > 50% in all herbicide treatments except with bentazon and halosulfuron applied at both stages, and dicamba, mesotrione, imazapic, and rimsulfuron applied to six- to eight-leaf citron melon. The results of this study indicate that citron melon can be adequately controlled with several PRE- or POST-applied herbicides; however, research is required to evaluate PRE followed by POST programs or their tank mixtures for season-long control of citron melon under field conditions.

Saflufenacil and indaziflam, POST and PRE herbicides, respectively, have been registered recently for weed control in Florida citrus. Glufosinate is under evaluation and may be registered in the future for POST weed control in citrus. Citrus growers often want to have a tank mixture of herbicides that provide broad-spectrum weed control. Saflufenacil is a broadleaf herbicide and needs to be tank mixed with other herbicide(s) to increase weed control spectrum. Information is not available on interaction of saflufenacil, glufosinate, and indaziflam applied in tank mixtures on weed control efficacy. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted at two locations (Polk and Orange County, FL) to evaluate the efficacy and potential antagonism or synergy of saflufenacil and glufosinate applied in tank mixes, and various three-way mixes with indaziflam. The results suggested that tank mixing saflufenacil with glufosinate had no effect on grass weed control, but had additive effect on broadleaf weed control. Indaziflam tank mixed at the recommended label rate (0.073 kg ha−1) provided better residual weed control compared with the lower rate (0.05 kg ha−1). Tank mixing indaziflam with saflufenacil and glufosinate improved broadleaf and grass weed control, reduced weed density, and biomass compared with tank mixing saflufenacil and glufosinate. Tank mixing indaziflam at 0.073 kg ha−1 with saflufenacil and glufosinate provided ≥ 88% control of broadleaf and grass weeds at 30 d after treatment (DAT), and it was comparable with tank mixing saflufenacil, glyphosate and pendimethalin. This treatment combination recorded the lowest weed density (≤ 7 plants m−2) and biomass (< 80 g m−2) at 60 DAT. Glyphosate applied alone was less effective than tank mixing with saflufenacil and glufosinate for broadleaf and grass weed control. This indicates additive effect of tank mixture on glyphosate efficacy. It is concluded that saflufenacil can be tank mixed with glufosinate for control of broadleaf and grass weeds; however, addition of indaziflam in tank mixture provided long-term, broad-spectrum weed control in Florida citrus compared with other treatments.