Adventitious root bud development and assimilate translocation were studied in Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. ♯ CIRAR] grown in nutrient solution in controlled environments using combinations of two photoperiods (PP) (13 and 15 h), three day/night shoot temperatures (ST) (15/5, 25/15, and 30/22 C), and three root temperatures (RT) (10, 20, and 30 C). Total root bud elongation increased with RT and length of PP and was greatest (65 cm/plant) at 25/15 C ST, 15-h PP, and 30 C RT. The number of root buds produced was greatest at 20 C RT (7.3 to 10.3 buds/plant), whereas variations in PP and ST had little effect. Total dry-matter production was greatest (7.2 g/plant) at 15-h PP, 30/22 C ST, and 20 C RT. To study phloem translocation, photoassimilates were labeled in Canada thistle plants by exposing mature leaves to 14CO2. Net assimilate translocation from a source leaf following 24-h temperature acclimation was affected little by RT and ST, but was greater under the 13-h PP than under the 15-h PP. After 7 days of temperature preconditioning, net translocation of 14C-assimilates increased with both RT and ST, but no effects due to PP were noted. With 24-h temperature acclimation, net assimilate accumulation in roots was enhanced by 13-h PP and low ST (15/5 C), whereas RT itself had no effect. In temperature-preconditioned plants, 10 C RT enhanced assimilate accumulation in roots, but ST and PP had no effect.

Growth room studies were conducted to determine the physiological basis of reduced glyphosate efficacy under low soil nitrogen using velvetleaf, common ragweed, and common lambsquarters as model species. Glyphosate dose–response experiments of weeds grown under low (1.5 mM) and high (15 mM) soil N were conducted. Velvetleaf and common lambsquarters grown under low N required 169 g ae ha−1 glyphosate for a significant reduction in biomass, but only 84 g ae ha−1 were required when grown under high N. However, when common ragweed was grown under low or high soil N there was no significant difference in response to glyphosate at all doses tested. The reduced glyphosate efficacy on velvetleaf and common lambsquarters under low N was primarily due to decreased herbicide translocation to the meristem. It appears that low N may decrease the net assimilation of carbon in plants, resulting in a decrease in the net export of sugars and hence glyphosate from mature leaves. Understanding the relationship between soil N and herbicide efficacy may help explain observed weed control failures with glyphosate and may contribute to our knowledge of the occurrence of weed patchiness in fields. This is the first report illustrating a physiological basis for decreased glyphosate efficacy under low soil N in selected weed species.