Carrier water pH is an important factor for enhancing herbicide efficacy. Coapplying agrochemical products with the herbicide might save time and resources; however, the negative effect of foliar fertilizers on herbicide efficacy should be thoroughly evaluated. In greenhouse studies, the effect of carrier water pH (4, 6.5, and 9), foliar fertilizer (zinc [Zn], manganese [Mn], or without fertilizer), and ammonium sulfate (AMS) at 0% or 2.5% vol/vol was evaluated on 2,4-D and premixed 2,4-D plus glyphosate efficacy for giant ragweed, horseweed, and Palmer amaranth control. In addition, a field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of carrier water pH (4, 6.5, and 9); and Zn or Mn foliar fertilizer on premixed 2,4-D plus glyphosate efficacy for horseweed and Palmer amaranth control. In the greenhouse study, 2,4-D and premixed 2,4-D plus glyphosate provided 5% greater weed control at acidic compared with alkaline carrier water pH. Coapplied Mn foliar fertilizer reduced 2,4-D and premixed 2,4-D plus glyphosate efficacy at least 5% for weed control. Addition of AMS enhanced 2,4-D and premixed 2,4-D plus glyphosate efficacy at least 6% for giant ragweed, horseweed, and Palmer amaranth control. In the field study, few significant differences occurred between coapplied Zn or Mn foliar fertilizer for any treatment variables. Therefore, carrier water pH, coapplied foliar fertilizer, and water-conditioning adjuvants have potential to influence herbicide performance. However, weed species could play a role in the differential response of these factors on herbicide efficacy.

Herbicide carrier water hardness and pH can be variable depending on the source and geographic location. Herbicide efficacy can be affected by the pH and hardness of water used for spray solution. Field and greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of carrier water pH and hardness on premixed dicamba and glyphosate efficacy. Treatments were combinations of water pH at 4, 6.5, or 9; and water hardness at 0 (deionized water), 400, or 800 mg L−1 of CaCO3 equivalent. In the field study, dicamba and glyphosate were applied at 0.55 and 1.11 kg ae ha−1, respectively, and half of these rates were applied in the greenhouse study. There was no interaction between carrier water pH and hardness on dicamba and glyphosate efficacy; however, the main effects of carrier water pH and hardness were significant. Herbicide efficacy was reduced with carrier water at pH 9 compared with pH 4. In the field study, common lambsquarters, common ragweed, horseweed, or Palmer amaranth control was improved 6% or more at carrier water at pH 4 compared with pH 9. Similar results were observed with water pH for giant ragweed, Palmer amaranth, or pitted morningglory control in the greenhouse study. Carrier water hardness at 400 or 800 mg L−1 reduced common ragweed, giant ragweed, or horseweed control compared with 0 mg L−1. Similarly, common lambsquarters, Palmer amaranth, or pitted morningglory control was reduced at least 10% with carrier water hardness at 800 mg L−1 compared with 0 mg L−1. These results indicate carrier water at acidic pH and of no hardness is critical for dicamba and glyphosate application, and spray solution needs to be amended appropriately for an optimum efficacy.

Synthetic auxin herbicides such as 2,4-D and dicamba are often utilized to control broadleaf weeds in preplant burndown applications to soybean. Halauxifen-methyl is a new synthetic auxin herbicide for broadleaf weed control in preplant burndown applications to corn, cotton, and soybean at low use rates (5 g ae ha–1). Field experiments were conducted to evaluate efficacy and weed control spectrum of halauxifen-methyl applied alone and in mixtures with 2,4-D (560 g ae ha–1), dicamba (280 g ae ha–1), and glyphosate (560 g ae ha–1). Glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed was controlled with halauxifen-methyl applied alone (90% control) and in mixtures (87% to 97% control) 35 d after treatment (DAT). Common ragweed was controlled 93% with halauxifen-methyl applied alone and 91% to 97% in mixtures 35 DAT. Halauxifen-methyl applied alone resulted in poor giant ragweed control 21 DAT (73% control); however, mixtures of halauxifen-methyl with 2,4-D, dicamba, or glyphosate controlled giant ragweed (86% to 98% control). Halauxifen-methyl alone resulted in poor redroot pigweed control (62% control) 21 DAT; however, mixtures of halauxifen-methyl with dicamba, 2,4-D, or glyphosate controlled redroot pigweed (89% to 98% control). Halauxifen-methyl controls GR horseweed and common ragweed applied alone and in mixtures with other synthetic auxin herbicides and glyphosate. Furthermore, mixing 2,4-D or dicamba with halauxifen-methyl can increase the weed control spectrum in preplant burndown applications.

The introduction of 2,4-D–resistant soybean will provide an additional POST herbicide site of action for control of herbicide-resistant broadleaf weeds. The introduction of this technology also brings concern of off-site movement of 2,4-D onto susceptible crops such as sensitive soybean and tomato. The 2,4-D formulation approved for use in 2,4-D–resistant soybean restricts application of the herbicide to nozzles that produce very coarse to ultra-coarse droplet spectrums. The use of larger droplet spectrums for broadcast applications can reduce herbicide deposition onto target weeds and thus influence herbicide efficacy. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of nozzle design on herbicide deposition onto target plants and the resulting efficacy of a POST application of 280 g ha−1 glyphosate plus 280 g ha−1 2,4-D. The TTI11004 nozzle produced an ultra-coarse droplet spectrum and reduced coverage and deposition density on spray cards as compared with the XR11004 and TT11004 nozzles that produced medium droplet spectrums. The AIXR11004 nozzle also reduced deposition density on spray cards but did not reduce coverage. Herbicide solution deposition onto glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth, tall waterhemp, giant ragweed, and horseweed ranged from 0.28 to 0.72 µl cm−2 and was not influenced by nozzle design. Herbicide efficacy was reduced by the TTI11004 nozzle on Palmer amaranth and horseweed compared with the AIXR11004, TT11004, and XR11004 nozzles when applications were made to either high densities of plants or plants exceeding the labeled height. The use of the AIXR11004 and TTI11004 nozzles that are listed as approved nozzles for glyphosate plus 2,4-D applications on 2,4-D–resistant soybean did not reduce herbicide deposition onto four of the most troublesome broadleaves and did not reduce herbicide efficacy when applied in conjunction with lower weed densities and smaller weeds.

Dicamba-resistant soybean technology provides an additional site of action for POST control of herbicide-resistant broadleaf weeds in soybean but also raises concern of off-site movement and damage to sensitive crops in adjacent fields. Dicamba formulations approved for use on dicamba-resistant soybean require applicators to use nozzles producing large droplets to reduce the risk of spray-particle drift. The use of nozzles with relatively larger droplet spectra can reduce herbicide deposition on target weeds, especially if a filtering effect from the crop canopy occurs. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of broadcast nozzle design on the deposition and efficacy of 280 g ha−1 glyphosate plus 140 g ha−1 dicamba applied POST to four herbicide-resistant weed species. The TTI11004 nozzle, the original nozzle labeled for dicamba applications on dicamba-resistant soybean, reduced deposition coverage and density on spray cards compared with the TT11004 and XR11004 nozzle. The AIXR11004 nozzle produces a very coarse droplet spectrum and did not reduce coverage on spray cards, though it did reduce deposition density. Herbicide solution deposition onto Palmer amaranth, tall waterhemp, giant ragweed, and horseweed ranged from 0.41 to 0.52, 0.55 to 0.87, 0.49 to 0.58, and 0.38 to 0.41 µl cm−2, respectively. Nozzle design and droplet spectrum did not influence the deposition of herbicide solution onto the target weed, as all nozzles were equivalent for all species and site-years. Herbicide efficacy was not influenced by nozzle design, as weed control and plant height reduction were similar for all species. The results of this experiment show that the use of the TTI11004 nozzle for dicamba applications to dicamba-resistant soybean will provide acceptable herbicide deposition and efficacy when applied under the label requirements of weed height and carrier volume.

Glyphosate application to the rapid-response (RR) biotype of glyphosate-resistant (GR) giant ragweed ensues in loss of foliage via rapid tissue death, thereby reducing glyphosate translocation. Experiments were performed to determine if this GR response, in contrast to a non-rapid response (NRR) GR biotype, results in antagonism of the selective herbicides atrazine, cloransulam, dicamba, lactofen, and topramezone. Application of glyphosate at 1,680 g ae ha–1 in the greenhouse resulted in antagonism between all five selective herbicides for the RR biotype, whereas glyphosate applied at 420 g ha–1 was antagonistic only for cloransulam. Application of selective herbicides 2 d prior to glyphosate treatment avoided the antagonism observed in the RR biotype. In the field, glyphosate mixtures with dicamba and topramezone were antagonistic on the RR biotype across both 2015 and 2016 field seasons. Thus, the RR effectively reduces glyphosate efficacy but also has potential to diminish the activity of glyphosate mixtures with selective herbicides, and the degree of antagonism between these mixtures escalates at increasing glyphosate rates.

Giant ragweed is a highly competitive weed that continually threatens crop production systems due to evolved resistance to acetolactate synthase–inhibiting herbicides (ALS-R) and glyphosate (GR). Two biotypes of GR giant ragweed exist and are differentiated by their response to glyphosate, termed here as rapid response (RR) and non–rapid response (NRR). A comparison of data from surveys of Indiana crop fields done in 2006 and 2014 showed that GR giant ragweed has spread from 15% to 39% of Indiana counties and the NRR biotype is the most prevalent. A TaqMan® single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping assay was developed to identify ALS-R populations and revealed 47% of GR populations to be ALS-R as well. The magnitude of glyphosate resistance for NRR populations was 4.6 and 5.9 based on GR50 and LD50 estimates, respectively. For RR populations, these values were 7.8 to 9.2 for GR50 estimates and 19.3 to 22.3 for LD50 estimates. A novel use of the Imaging-PAM fluorometer was developed to discriminate RR plants by assessing photosystem II quantum yield across the entire leaf surface. H2O2 generation in leaves of glyphosate-treated plants was also measured by 3,3′-diaminobenzidine staining and quantified using imagery analysis software. Results show photo-oxidative stress of mature leaves is far greater and occurs more rapidly following glyphosate treatment in RR plants compared with NRR and glyphosate-susceptible plants and is positively associated with glyphosate dose. These results suggest that under continued glyphosate selection pressure, the RR biotype may surpass the NRR biotype as the predominant form of GR giant ragweed in Indiana due to a higher level of glyphosate resistance. Moreover, the differential photo-oxidative stress patterns in response to glyphosate provide evidence of different mechanisms of resistance present in RR and NRR biotypes.

Spray water quality is an important consideration for optimizing herbicide efficacy. Hard water cations in the carrier water can reduce herbicide performance. Greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the influence of hard water cations and the use of ammonium sulfate (AMS) on the efficacy of 2,4-D choline and premixed 2,4-D choline plus glyphosate for giant ragweed, horseweed, and Palmer amaranth control. Carrier water hardness was established at 0, 200, 400, 600, 800, or 1,000 mg L−1 using CaCl2 and MgSO4, and each hardness level consisted of without or with AMS at 10.2 g L−1. One-third of the proposed use rates of 2,4-D choline at 280 g ae ha−1 and 2,4-D choline plus glyphosate at 266 plus 283 g ae ha−1, respectively, were applied in the study. An increase in carrier water hardness showed a linear trend for reducing 2,4-D choline and 2,4-D choline plus glyphosate efficacy on all weed species evaluated in both studies. The increase in water hardness level reduced giant ragweed control with 2,4-D choline and the premix formulation of 2,4-D choline plus glyphosate to a greater extent without AMS than it did with AMS in the spray solution. Increases in water hardness from 0 to 1,000 mg L−1 reduced weed control 20% or greater with 2,4-D choline. Likewise, the efficacy of the premixed 2,4-D choline plus glyphosate was reduced 21% or greater with increased water hardness from 0 to 1,000 mg L−1. The addition of AMS improved giant ragweed, horseweed, and Palmer amaranth control ≥ 17% and ≥ 10% for 2,4-D choline and 2,4-D choline plus glyphosate application, respectively. The biomass of all weed species was reduced by ≥ 8% and ≥ 5% with 2,4-D choline and 2,4-D choline plus glyphosate application, respectively, when AMS was added to hard water.

Carrier water quality is an important consideration for herbicide efficacy. Effect of carrier water pH (4, 6.5, or 9) and coapplied Zn or Mn foliar fertilizer was evaluated on glufosinate efficacy for horseweed and Palmer amaranth control in the field. Greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of: (1) carrier water pH, foliar fertilizer (Zn, Mn, or without fertilizer), and ammonium sulfate (AMS) (at 0 or 2.5% v/v); and (2) carrier water hardness (0 to 1,000 mg L−1) and AMS (at 0 or 2.5% v/v) on glufosinate efficacy for giant ragweed, horseweed, and Palmer amaranth control. In a 2014 field study, control, plant density reduction, and biomass reduction were at least 8% greater for horseweed and at least 14% greater for Palmer amaranth when glufosinate was applied at carrier water pH 4 compared with pH 9. Glufosinate efficacy was at least 10 and 17% greater for giant ragweed and Palmer amaranth control, respectively, with carrier water pH 4 compared with pH 9 in the greenhouse. In the greenhouse studies, coapplied Zn or Mn fertilizer had no effect on glufosinate efficacy. Increased carrier water hardness from 0 to 1,000 mg L−1 negatively influenced glufosinate efficacy and resulted in 20 and 17% lesser control and biomass reduction, respectively, on giant ragweed or Palmer amaranth. Use of AMS enhanced glufosinate efficacy on giant ragweed control in both greenhouse studies, whereas only the Palmer amaranth control was enhanced in the water hardness study. Horseweed control with glufosinate as affected by carrier water pH, hardness, or AMS remained unaffected in both greenhouse studies. Carrier water at alkaline pH or hardness > 200 mg L−1 has potential to reduce glufosinate efficacy. Therefore, carrier water free of hardness cations and at acidic condition (pH = 4 to 6.5) should be considered for optimum glufosinate efficacy.

Field experiments were conducted to quantify functional relationships between giant ragweed density and sweet corn yield and ear traits. A rectangular hyperbolic model was fit to yield loss measured in terms of marketable ear mass, appropriate for the processing industry, and boxes of 50 marketable ears, relevant to the fresh market industry. The initial slope of the hyperbolic yield loss function (I), which describes the linear portion of yield loss as weed density (weeds per square meter) approaches zero, was 119 for loss of ear mass and 97 for loss of boxes of ears. Furthermore, 10 of 12 ear traits including green ear mass, husked ear mass, ear length, filled ear length, ear width, number of kernels per row, number of rows, kernel depth, kernel mass, and kernel moisture content were significantly affected by giant ragweed interference.

Field studies were conducted in 2007 and 2008 at seven sites in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois to determine the effect of PRE herbicide and POST application timing on weed control and yield of glyphosate-resistant corn. Levels of PRE herbicide included none; low—atrazine; medium—atrazine and metolachlor; and high—atrazine, mesotrione, and metolachlor. Glyphosate was applied POST when corn was 30 cm tall, or 1 or 2 wk later. Common lambsquarters, giant foxtail, and giant ragweed infested at least six of the seven sites, and other weed species occurred at two to three sites. Control of weeds at the time of POST application ranged from 48 to 91%, 58 to 99%, and 87 to 100% for the low, medium, and high levels of PRE herbicide, respectively, averaged over POST application timing. Control of giant foxtail and redroot pigweed decreased by about 20% between the second and third POST timing, averaged over PRE herbicide, but control of other weeds was similar among timings. Late-season control of common ragweed, velvetleaf, common lambsquarters, and Pennsylvania smartweed exceeded 90%, regardless of PRE herbicide or POST timing. Control of redroot pigweed, ivyleaf morningglory, and giant ragweed was as low as 74, 67, and 83%, respectively, but the high level of PRE herbicide resulted in 90 to 97% control of these weeds. An interaction between PRE herbicide and POST timing for late-season control of giant foxtail, tall waterhemp, and yellow nutsedge reflected the more effective control among POST timings from the higher levels of PRE herbicide. The overall trend in this study was for more effective weed control in PRE/POST herbicide programs with more comprehensive PRE herbicides that have substantial activity on both grass and broadleaf weeds. Highest yield occurred where the PRE treatment consisted of a two- or three-way combination of herbicides applied at 50% of the recommended rate or higher. Yield was reduced at all POST timings with atrazine alone or in the absence of PRE herbicide.

Root colonization by soil microorganisms has been shown to increase the activity of glyphosate in resistant and susceptible biotypes of giant ragweed and a susceptible common lambsquarters biotype, but not in horseweed biotypes. The objective of this study was to investigate the colonization of roots in glyphosate-resistant and -susceptible giant ragweed and horseweed biotypes, and glyphosate-tolerant and -susceptible biotypes of common lambsquarters after a sublethal glyphosate application. The three weed species were grown separately in sterile and unsterile field soil and treated with glyphosate at two sublethal rates. Soil microbes were isolated from the roots onto sterile media 3 d after the glyphosate treatment. The susceptible biotypes of giant ragweed and horseweed grown in unsterile soil were colonized by more soil microbes at the higher rate of glyphosate, compared to the resistant biotype grown in unsterile soil. Oomycetes were isolated separately on a selective media and they were also more prevalent in the roots of the susceptible biotypes of each weed species grown in the unsterile soil when glyphosate was applied at the highest rate. Therefore, the ability of these three weed species to tolerate a glyphosate application may involve differences in the susceptibility to soil microbial colonization, especially oomycetes.

Atrazine has been used for control of many weeds, primarily broadleaf weeds, in U.S. corn fields since 1957. Recently, the adoption of glyphosate-resistant corn hybrids have led to glyphosate eclipsing atrazine as the most commonly used herbicide in corn production. However, the evolution and spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds is a major concern. Atrazine use in Wisconsin is prohibited in 102 areas encompassing 0.49 million ha where total chlorinated residues were found in drinking water wells at concentrations > 3 μg L−1. Atrazine has been prohibited in many of those areas for > 10 yr, providing an opportunity to evaluate weed community composition differences due to herbicide regulation. In question, has the abundance of broadleaf weeds increased, coupled with an increased reliance on glyphosate, where atrazine use has been discontinued? To answer this, an online questionnaire was distributed to Wisconsin growers in June and then weeds present in 343 fields in late July through mid-September in 2012 and 2013 were counted. Data were summarized for frequency, uniformity, density, and relative abundance to compare weed community composition in fields with discontinued vs. recent atrazine use. Growers used glyphosate in 70 vs. 54% of fields with discontinued vs. recent atrazine use, respectively (P = 0.021). Moreover, broadleaf weeds were found more frequently, (73 vs. 61%; P = 0.03), they had 50% greater in-field uniformity (P = 0.002), and density was 0.4 vs. 0.19 plants m−2 (i.e., twofold greater; P < 0.0001) in discontinued vs. recent atrazine-use fields. Changes were most evident with troublesome glyphosate-resistant broadleaf weeds such as Amaranthus species and giant ragweed. In conclusion, weed community composition consisted of more broadleaf weeds in fields where atrazine has not been used in the recent decade coupled with greater glyphosate use. These results provide evidence of negative long-term implications for glyphosate resistance where growers increased reliance on glyphosate in place of atrazine.

Water is the primary carrier for herbicide application, and carrier-water–related factors can influence herbicide performance. In a greenhouse study, premixed formulation of glyphosate plus dicamba was mixed in deionized (DI) water at 5, 18, 31, 44, or 57 C and applied immediately. In a companion study, glyphosate and dicamba formulation was mixed in DI water at temperatures of 5, 22, 39, or 56 C and sprayed after the herbicide solution was left at the respective temperatures for 0, 6, or 24 h. In both studies, glyphosate plus dicamba was applied at 0.275 plus 0.137 kg ae ha−1 (low rate), and 0.55 plus 0.275 kg ha−1 (high rate), respectively, to giant ragweed, horseweed, Palmer amaranth, and pitted morningglory. Glyphosate plus dicamba applied at a low rate with solution temperature of 31 C provided 14% and 26% greater control of giant ragweed and pitted morningglory, respectively, compared to application at solution temperature of 5 C. At both rates of glyphosate and dicamba formulation, giant ragweed and pitted morningglory control was 15% or greater at solution temperature of 44 C compared to 5 C. Weed control was not affected with premixture of glyphosate and dicamba applied ≤ 24 h after mixing herbicide. When considering solution temperature, glyphosate and dicamba applied at low rate provided 13 and 6% greater control of Palmer amaranth and pitted morningglory, respectively, with solution temperature of 22 C compared to 5 C. Similarly, giant ragweed control was 8% greater with solution temperature of 39 C compared to 5 C. Glyphosate and dicamba applied at high rate provided 8% greater control of giant ragweed at solution temperature of 22 or 39 C compared to 5 C. Therefore, activity of premixed glyphosate and dicamba could be reduced with spray solution at lower temperature; however, the result is dependent on weed species.

Glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed has been confirmed in several Midwestern states. In some cases, weed resistance to glyphosate has been shown to carry a fitness penalty. Previous research has found that a glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed biotype from Indiana with a rapid necrosis response to glyphosate displayed early, rapid growth in the absence of glyphosate, flowered earlier, but produced 25% less seed than a sensitive biotype, suggesting that there may be a fitness penalty associated with the rapid necrosis resistance trait. In Wisconsin, we have recently identified a giant ragweed accession with a 6.5-fold level of resistance to glyphosate that does not demonstrate the rapid necrosis response. Our objective was to determine the noncompetitive growth and fecundity of the resistant accession in the absence of glyphosate, relative to a sensitive accession from a nearby field border population. In greenhouse experiments, plant height, leaf area, and dry shoot biomass were similar between the resistant and sensitive accessions during vegetative growth to the onset of flowering. The instantaneous relative growth rate, instantaneous net assimilation rate, and instantaneous leaf area ratio also did not differ between accessions. However, fecundity of resistant plants (812 seeds plant−1) was greater (P = 0.008) than sensitive plants (425 seeds plant−1). The percentage of intact viable seeds, intact nonviable seeds, and empty involucres did not differ between resistant and sensitive accessions. These results indicate that resistance of this accession of giant ragweed to glyphosate has not affected its growth and development relative to a sensitive accession. The greater fecundity and similar viability of resistant plants relative to sensitive plants suggests that in the absence of selection by glyphosate, the frequency of the resistance trait for glyphosate may increase in the giant ragweed field population over time.

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of three nitrogen fertilizer application timings on corn and giant ragweed dry weight, corn and giant ragweed nitrogen accumulation, and corn grain yield. By the V8 growth stage, corn plants in treatments which included nitrogen at planting accumulated up to 27% more dry weight and 26% more leaf area than corn in sidedress-only treatments that had not yet received any fertilizer nitrogen. Nitrogen fertilizer application timing did not influence early-season giant ragweed dry weight, but did influence N accumulation. Giant ragweed at 0.5 plants/m2 accumulated up to 16 kg N/ha in 40-cm-tall plants by the V8 corn growth stage and up to 104 kg N/ha when allowed to remain in corn until the end of the growing season. At this density of giant ragweed, corn yields were not reduced if removed by the V8 corn growth stage. However, season-long interference reduced corn yields by up to 19% regardless of nitrogen application timing. Early-season giant ragweed growth was less responsive to nitrogen application timing than corn, suggesting that nitrogen management programs should not be altered significantly to influence giant ragweed competitiveness in corn. However, giant ragweed should be removed in a timely manner to minimize nitrogen accumulation in nitrogen-limiting corn production situations.

Field studies were conducted from 1998 to 2000 at Belleville, IL, to evaluate tolerance and weed control in glyphosate-resistant soybean with sulfentrazone application. Sulfentrazone alone caused 14 to 16% height reduction 14 d after treatment (DAT), and sulfentrazone plus chlorimuron caused 26% height reduction 14 DAT. Minimal height reduction (0 to 11%) was observed 56 DAT. Sulfentrazone alone controlled giant foxtail 97 to 100%, yellow nutsedge 96 to 98%, common waterhemp 97 to 98%, common cocklebur 91 to 94%, and ivyleaf morningglory 100%. Sulfentrazone alone controlled common ragweed 63 to 89% and giant ragweed 50 to 72%. Sulfentrazone plus chlorimuron or cloransulam increased control of common and giant ragweed to 95% or greater. Sulfentrazone followed by glyphosate increased control of yellow nutsedge, common waterhemp, and ivyleaf morningglory compared with a single application of glyphosate. Sequential applications of glyphosate controlled weeds 93 to 100%. Sulfentrazone plus chlorimuron or cloransulam postponed the application of glyphosate at the 10-cm weed height by 12 d. Despite the injury, sulfentrazone did not reduce grain yield. Inadequate giant ragweed control reduced grain yield by approximately 48%.

Seeds of a suspected glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed biotype from Lauderdale County, TN, were collected from a continuous cotton field in fall 2007 after plants were nonresponsive to multiple glyphosate applications. The objectives of this research were to (1) confirm resistance by quantifying the response of the putative resistant biotype to glyphosate compared to a susceptible biotype from a nonagricultural area, (2) quantify shikimate accumulation over time in both biotypes, and (3) determine the effectiveness of POST-applied herbicides labeled for use in cotton in controlling both biotypes at three growth stages. The susceptible biotype had a 50% lethal dose of 407 g ae/ha of glyphosate compared with 2,176 g/ha for the resistant biotype when treated at the four-node stage, a 5.3-fold level of resistance. The resistant biotype accumulated 3.3- to 9.8-fold less shikimate than the susceptible biotype at 1 to 7 d after treatment. The resistant biotype was less responsive to glyphosate as treatment was delayed past the two-node stage, much more than the susceptible biotype. Glufosinate, MSMA, and diuron controlled both biotypes by at least 90%, regardless of size at application. Prometryn, flumioxazin, carfentrazone-ethyl, fomesafen, and trifloxysulfuron controlled both biotypes by at least 89% when applied at the two-node stage, but control generally diminished with later application timings. Pyrithiobac was not effective in controlling either biotype, regardless of size at application. Hence, there are effective herbicide options for controlling glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed in cotton, and the resistant biotype does not appear to exhibit multiple resistances to other herbicides.

Giant ragweed germination is delayed by both a physiological dormancy of the embryo (embryo dormancy) and an inhibitory influence of embryo-covering structures (covering structure-enforced [CSE] dormancy). To clarify the roles of embryo and CSE dormancy in giant ragweed seedling emergence timing, we conducted two experiments to address the following objectives: (1) determine changes in germinability for giant ragweed dispersal units (hereafter “involucres”) and their components under natural burial conditions, and (2) compare embryo and CSE dormancy alleviation and emergence periodicity between successional and agricultural populations. In Experiment 1, involucres were buried in crop fields at Columbus, OH, periodically excavated, and brought to the laboratory for dissection. Involucres, achenes, and embryos were then subjected to germination assays at 20 C. In Experiment 2, temporal patterns of seedling emergence were determined at a common burial site. Reductions in embryo and CSE dormancy were compared with controlled-environment stratification followed by germination assays at 12 and 20 C, temperatures representative of soil conditions in spring and summer. Results indicated that overwinter dormancy loss involved sequential reductions in embryo and CSE dormancy. CSE dormancy, which may limit potential for fatal germination during fall, was caused by the pericarp and/or embryo-covering structures within the pericarp. In Experiment 2, successional populations emerged synchronously in early spring, whereas agricultural populations emerged throughout the growing season. Levels of embryo dormancy were greater in the agricultural populations than the successional populations, but CSE dormancy levels were similar among populations. In 12 C germination assays, embryo dormancy levels were positively correlated with time required to reach 95% cumulative emergence (run 1: r = 0.81, P = 0.03; run 2: r = 0.76, P = 0.05). These results suggest that late-season emergence in giant ragweed involves high levels of embryo dormancy that prevent germination at low temperatures in spring.

A study was undertaken to determine whether the relative leaf stages of common annual weeds and crops could serve as a reliable indicator of the time of weed emergence. Ten annual broadleaved and grass weeds were sown at successive intervals in field corn and soybean at Harrow, ON, Canada, in 1997, 1998, and 1999. All weeds emerging at a particular crop leaf stage were assigned to a cohort. Leaf numbers of the crop and different weed cohorts were recorded at 2- to 3-d intervals up to the eight-leaf stage of corn and the fourth trifoliate of soybean. For each weed species, categorical data analysis revealed a high degree of association between the leaf stage of a crop and the leaf number expected for an individual weed of a given cohort. For example, by the third trifoliate of soybean, most of the weeds emerging with the crop (VE cohort) had 8 to 10 leaves, whereas weeds in the V1, V2, and V3 cohorts averaged about seven, four, and two leaves, respectively. Year to year variation in the correspondence between crop and weed leaf numbers generally was small once variation due to time of weed emergence was removed, with one exception. Dry surface soil conditions during emergence of the VE cohort in corn in 1999 resulted in delayed leaf appearance of many weeds with respect to the crop. The relationship between weed and crop leaf stages can provide information for management decisions in two ways: (1) it indicates the relative time of weed emergence in assessing the need for control, and (2) it indicates the crop stage at which scouting for particular weed leaf stages should occur.