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.

Research was conducted to determine the efficacy of aminocyclopyrachlor in comparison to glyphosate, clopyralid, fluroxypyr, and triclopyr for silk tree (commonly known as mimosa) control. In the greenhouse, aminocyclopyrachlor was applied at 8.75, 17.5, 35, and 70 g ha−1 with and without methylated seed oil (MSO) at 0.5% v/v. Efficacy of these treatments was compared to glyphosate and triclopyr at 1,350 g ha−1, fluroxypyr at 103 g ha−1, and clopyralid at 100 g ha−1. Few differences in silk tree control were detected by 28 d after treatment (DAT), as aminocyclopyrachlor with MSO controlled silk tree 87 to 100% compared to 53 to 100% for aminocyclopyrachlor without MSO. Aminocyclopyrachlor at 35 g ha−1 provided silk tree control similar to glyphosate, triclopyr, clopyralid, and fluroxypyr regardless of adjuvant. Inclusion of MSO enhanced initial activity of aminocyclopyrachlor after application. At 7 DAT, 8.75 g ha−1 of aminocyclopyrachlor plus MSO controlled silk tree similar to aminocyclopyrachlor alone at 70 g ha−1. In laboratory studies, absorption of 14C-aminocyclopyrachlor 2 h after treatment (HAT) with MSO measured 93% compared to only 62% for 14C-aminocyclopyrachlor without MSO. By 24 HAT, absorption of 14C-aminocyclopyrachlor measured 99 and 71% for applications with and without MSO, respectively. Increased foliar absorption with MSO may explain enhanced activity observed 7 DAT in greenhouse studies, as no effects in 14C-aminocyclopyrachlor translocation due to adjuvant were observed. Responses suggest MSO increased the speed of silk tree control with aminocyclopyrachlor and may also improve rainfastness of aminocyclopyrachlor applications for control of silk tree and other woody species.

Inconsistent control of barnyardgrass with bispyribac may be alleviated through adjuvant technology. Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of adjuvant and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) on absorption and translocation of bispyribac in barnyardgrass. Additional experiments were conducted to determine when maximum absorption and translocation occurred with the use of a methylated seed oil/organosilicone adjuvant (MSO/OSL) plus UAN (0.37 L ha−1 and 2% v/v). In the initial experiment, 14C-bispyribac–treated leaves, nontreated leaves, and roots were collected 6 and 24 h after application. Absorption was greatest with tank-mixed MSO/OSL (0.37 L ha−1) plus UAN (2% v/v) and the proprietary blend of MSO/OSL/UAN (2% v/v) at 80 and 74% of applied 14C-bispyribac, respectively. Translocation to nontreated leaves and roots was also highest with these treatments. Increased translocation appeared to be due to greater herbicide absorption, not an increase in translocation rate. The addition of 32% UAN to MSO/OSL and nonionic organosilicone (OSL/NIS) adjuvant systems resulted in a four to fivefold increase in absorption compared with treatments without UAN. Recovery of 14C-bispyribac in additional experiments generally decreased as time after application increased; however, recovery was 86% or greater for all time intervals. By 12 h after application, 68% of applied 14C-bispyribac was absorbed. At this time, 14C-bispyribac was partitioned within the plant in the following manner: 48% in the treated area, 10% in leaf tissue from treated area to tip of the treated leaf, 1.9% in leaf tissue from treated area to collar region of the treated leaf, 1.6% in remaining leaves from collar of treated leaf upward, 5.3% in remaining leaves from collar of treated leaf downward to soil line, and 0.7% in the roots. These data indicate that maximum absorption was achieved within 12 h with a tank mix of MSO/OSL and UAN or the MSO/OSL/UAN blend.

Several field studies have observed increased foramsulfuron efficacy for the control of dallisgrass when foramsulfuron is applied after MSMA. Therefore, laboratory studies were conducted with mature dallisgrass to study the absorption and translocation of 14C-foramsulfuron, and then examine the impact of preliminary applications (preapplications) of MSMA or foramsulfuron on herbicide absorption and movement. Herbicide absorption increased rapidly through 4 h, and by 8 h, differences in absorption between pretreated and control plants were evident. After 48 h, foramsulfuron absorption in non-pretreated plants was 55%, whereas plants that received either pretreatment absorbed 70% of the herbicide. Translocation above (younger tissue) and below (older tissue) the treated leaf was 0.65 and 0.62% for non-pretreated plants, respectively. Pretreatment with foramsulfuron resulted in the translocation of 2.12 and 1.55% of applied radioactivity above and below the treated leaf, respectively. Pretreatment with MSMA resulted in the translocation of 2.33 and 2.34% of applied radioactivity above and below the treated leaf, respectively. These data indicated that pretreatment of mature dallisgrass with either foramsulfuron or MSMA results in an increase in both uptake and translocation of foramsulfuron applied 2 wk after pretreatment. The increase in absorption and translocation of foramsulfuron in the pre–MSMA-treated plants may explain the increase in control observed in the field when comparing it to the pre–foramsulfuron-treated dallisgrass plants.

Certain sulfonylurea (SU) herbicides are used to remove overseeded cool-season species from bermudagrass. The effects of nitrogen (N) on the efficacy of a new SU herbicide, flazasulfuron, have not been determined. Field and laboratory studies were conducted in 2008 and 2009 evaluating the efficacy of flazasulfuron for control of overseeded perennial ryegrass contaminated with annual bluegrass. Flazasulfuron was applied at rates of 4.4, 8.8, and 17.5 g ha−1 alone, and in between sequential applications of N fertilizer at 73 kg N ha−1. N was granularly applied immediately prior to herbicide treatment and 4 wk later. In both years, the level of annual bluegrass control with flazasulfuron and two applications of N at 73 kg N ha−1 was significantly greater than following treatment with flazasulfuron alone. This response was observed for all application rates of flazasulfuron on every rating date. The level of annual bluegrass control with flazasulfuron at 4.4 g ha−1 and two applications of N at 73 kg ha−1 was greater than flazasulfuron at 17.5 g ha−1 alone each year. No significant differences in perennial ryegrass control were observed for flazasulfuron with and without N fertility. In laboratory studies with annual bluegrass, treatment with N fertilizer at 73 kg N ha−1 increased translocation of 14C flazasulfuron (and any potential metabolites) from treated annual bluegrass leaves to other shoot tissues by 18% at 1 h after treatment and 22% at 4 h after treatment compared to plants not treated with N fertilizer. This increase in translocation may explain the increased level of annual bluegrass control observed in the field.