Field and greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the antagonism potential of glufosinate applied sequentially or mixed with graminicides on barnyardgrass control. Applications of glufosinate alone provided variable control throughout the growing season in both field and greenhouse experiments. In the field, barnyardgrass control was not adversely affected by glufosinate- and clethodim-mix applications or sequential applications of glufosinate before or after clethodim. Soybean yield was not affected by application timing or clethodim rate, with yield ranging from 1,748 to 2,733 kg ha−1. In the greenhouse, glufosinate applied 1 and 3 d before graminicides generally reduced barnyardgrass control compared with the graminicides applied alone. The response with quizalofop-P was not as dramatic as with the other graminicides. Although significant visual barnyardgrass control differences were detected due to application timing of glufosinate, barnyardgrass biomass with fluazifop-P and quizalofop-P did not differ between the application timings of glufosinate. However, glufosinate applied 1 and 3 d before clethodim had significantly greater biomass compared with glufosinate applied 1 and 3 d after clethodim. The differences in environmental conditions and growth stages at the time of application may have contributed to barnyardgrass control response differences between the field and greenhouse experiments. Although barnyardgrass control in the field was not affected by glufosinate application timing, data from the greenhouse indicate potential exists for reduced control if glufosinate is applied 1 or 3 d before graminicides.

Greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate sensitivity of red rice ecotypes from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to soil- and foliar-applied herbicides. Ecotype response to herbicides was variable. Molinate at 4.48 kg ai/ha controlled red rice ecotypes 92 to 100% and cultivars ‘Lemont,’ ‘Mars,’ and ‘Maybelle’ 39 to 63%. Red rice control with thiobencarb at 4.48 kg ai/ha was at least 89%. The tank mixture of fenoxaprop at 0.08 kg ai/ha plus fluazifop-P at 0.10 kg ai/ha controlled red rice and rice cultivars more than for either herbicide applied alone. Red rice and rice cultivar control with paraquat at 0.70 kg ai/ha was 83 to 100%. Blackhulled red rice TX 4 was less sensitive to paraquat and glufosinate than other ecotypes and cultivars. Glufosinate at 1.12 kg ai/ha was required to provide at least 94% control of ecotype TX 4.

Experiments were conducted in 1991 and 1992 to evaluate annual grass and broadleaf weed control with bromoxynil applied alone and with graminicides. Bromoxynil controlled velvetleaf better than entireleaf morningglory and controlled both species better than sicklepod. Mixing bromoxynil with fluazifop-P, quizalofop-P, and sethoxydim reduced control of barnyardgrass, green foxtail, large crabgrass, and shattercane. Control of broadleaf signalgrass with quizalofop-P was reduced by bromoxynil. Annual grass control with clethodim was not affected by bromoxynil.

Field studies were conducted over 2 yr to evaluate rhizome johnsongrass control with tank mixtures and sequential applications of bromoxynil at 1.7 kg ai/ha and the graminicides clethodim, fluazifop-P, and quizalofop-P. When compared with the graminicide alone, bromoxynil reduced johnsongrass control 28 days after treatment (DAT) 20, 36, and 55% when applied in combination with clethodim, fluazifop-P, and quizalofop-P, respectively. Application of bromoxynil 7, 3, and 1 d before or 1, 3, and 7 d after all graminicides reduced antagonism when compared with the bromoxynil plus graminicide mixtures. Based on johnsongrass control 28 DAT, antagonism was precluded when bromoxynil was applied 3 d before clethodim and 7 d before fluazifop-P and quizalofop-P. Application of bromoxynil 3 and 7 d after quizalofop-P and 7 d after clethodim also precluded antagonism. The antagonistic tank mixtures of bromoxynil and graminicides reduced cotton yield 17% because of reduced johnsongrass control compared with graminicides alone. A 3-d or greater application interval between bromoxynil and the graminicides was necessary to maximize cotton yield.

Field experiments evaluated barnyardgrass, broadleaf signalgrass, and rhizomatous johnsongrass control with sethoxydim, clethodim, fluazifop-P, quizalofop-P, and fenoxaprop applied alone and with bentazon or chlorimuron when crop oil concentrate or BCH 815 was used. Bentazon strongly antagonized sethoxydim and clethodim. BCH 815 partially reduced the antagonism with sethoxydim and clethodim compared with crop oil concentrate. Chlorimuron was most antagonistic towards fluazifop-P, fenoxaprop, and quizalofop-P, and BCH 815 did not reduce antagonism. Additional experiments evaluated Italian ryegrass control with diclofop applied alone and with bromoxynil, metribuzin, 2,4-D amine, or tribenuron plus thifensulfuron with these adjuvants. The amine formulation of 2,4-D and tribenuron plus thifensulfuron reduced Italian ryegrass control with diclofop, irrespective of the adjuvant.

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effect of mixing bromoxynil with clethodim, sethoxydim, fluazifop-P, fluazifop-P plus fenoxaprop-P, or quizalofop-P on annual grass control. Antagonism with mixtures of bromoxynil and graminicides was dependent upon species and the graminicide in the mixture. Goosegrass control was unaffected by mixing bromoxynil with any graminicide. Mixing bromoxynil with clethodim, sethoxydim, fluazifop-P, or fluazifop-P plus fenoxaprop-P had no effect on control of Texas panicum, but the rate of quizalofop-P required for 80% control was increased 240%. Mixing bromoxynil with clethodim or sethoxydim had no effect on control of large crabgrass or yellow foxtail, but the rate of fluazifop-P, fluazifop-P plus fenoxaprop-P, or quizalofop-P required for 80% control was increased 180 to 290%. Antagonism of large crabgrass and yellow foxtail control with mixtures of quizalofop-P and bromoxynil increased as the rate of bromoxynil increased. Antagonism toward large crabgrass and yellow foxtail was alleviated by applying bromoxynil 6 d before the graminicides or 3 or 6 d after the graminicides.

Returns to land, management, and risk were compared where glyphosate and four graminicides (quizalofop-P, fluazifop-P, sethoxydim, and clethodim) were used for johnsongrass control in glyphosate-tolerant soybean. In 1994 and 1995, returns to land, management, and risk for glyphosate-tolerant soybean were highest using glyphosate and lowest using sethoxydim. Break-even analysis showed that yields needed for equivalent returns with any nontransgenic soybean cultivar treated with any of the graminicides could range from 67 kg/ha less to 202 kg/ha more than the yields achieved with glyphosate. Based on this methodology, farmers would increase their return to land, management, and risk by planting glyphosate-tolerant soybean if expected yield from a standard cultivar treated with a standard herbicide program were less than the break-even yield.

Eleven field experiments were conducted during 1994 and 1995 to compare rhizomatous johnsongrass control and soybean yield with single POST applications of quizalofop-P, fluazifop-P, clethodim, and sethoxydim at costs of $9.88, 19.76, 29.64, and 39.52/ha for each graminicide. Cost of the manufacturer's suggested use rate for these graminicides was approximately $29.64/ha, which corresponded to 0.09, 0.22, 0.14, and 0.27 kg ai/ha for these respective graminicides. When applied at a cost of $9.88/ha, quizalofop-P controlled rhizomatous johnsongrass more effectively than the other graminicides in five of 11 experiments. Quizalofop-P and fluazifop-P controlled johnsongrass similarly when applied at higher costs per hectare in 10 of 11 experiments. Sethoxydim was less effective than quizalofop-P or fluazifop-P in most instances, especially when graminicides were applied at costs of $9.88 or $19.76/ha. Clethodim was generally more effective than sethoxydim. Fluazifop-P and clethodim controlled rhizomatous johnsongrass similarly in six of 11 experiments regardless of cost. Differences in rhizomatous johnsongrass control among graminicides did not always translate into differences in soybean yield, although graminicides increased yield over the nontreated control in most experiments regardless of the graminicide cost. In several experiments, soybean treated with clethodim or sethoxydim applied at a cost of $9.88/ha yielded lower than when applied at higher costs.

Field studies were conducted from 1992 to 1994 to evaluate herbicides applied preplant incorporated (PPI), preemergence (PRE), and postemergence (POST) for red rice and Echinochloa spp. control in soybean. Metolachlor PPI at 3.4 kg ai/ha controlled red rice late season 90 to 92%. Alachlor at 4.5 kg ai/ha and SAN 582H at 2.2 or 3.4 kg ai/ha, PPI or PRE, metolachlor plus imazaquin at 2.8 + 0.14 kg ai/ha PRE, and quizalofop-P POST at 0.07 kg ai/ha provided 83 to 95% red rice control in at least 2 of 3 yr. The addition of imazaquin to metolachlor or pendimethalin did not improve red rice control. Early-season Echinochloa spp. control with trifluralin, pendimethalin, and pendimethalin + imazaquin applied PPI; metolachlor, SAN 582H at 2.2 or 3.4 kg/ha, and metolachlor + imazaquin applied PPI or PRE; alachlor, AC 263,222 + imazaquin, and AC 263,222 + imazethapyr applied PRE; and sethoxydim and quizalofop-P applied POST was 90 to 100% in at least 2 of 3 yr. However, Echinochloa spp. control decreased for all treatments later in the season. Pendimethalin applied PPI at 2.2 kg ai/ha or in mixture with imazaquin at 1.7 + 0.14 kg ai/ha injured soybean 14 to 34% in 2 yr. Trifluralin PPI, SAN 582H at 2.2 or 3.4 kg/ha PPI or PRE, imazaquin PPI, metolachlor + imazaquin PPI or PRE, and AC 263,222 + imazethapyr injured soybean 12 to 41% in at least 1 of 3 yr.

Several graminicides were evaluated at various application timings for control and seedhead suppression of red rice (Oryza sativa) in soybean (Glycine max). One application of clethodim, fluazifop-P, quizalofop-P, or sethoxydim at any timing did not control red rice more than 86% 2 wk after treatment. Emergence of red rice seedlings subsequent to applications reduced control later in the season. At a naturally infested location, seedhead reduction was greatest, regardless of graminicide, when application was delayed until the four-leaf stage. At a second location, seedhead reductions were highest following graminicide applications at the two-leaf stage of growth. No single graminicide application completely eliminated red rice seedhead production. Soybean yields were reduced when graminicide application was delayed until the boot stage at both locations, and following two-leaf stage applications at the naturally infested location.

Acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) assays and absorption, translocation, and metabolism experiments were conducted to investigate the mechanism(s) responsible for resistance in a johnsongrass biotype that exhibited low levels of resistance to the cyclohexanedione (CHD) herbicide sethoxydim and the aryloxyphenoxypropionate (APP) herbicides quizalofop-P and fluazifop-P. The rate of [14C]quizalofop-ethyl absorption was significantly higher in the resistant compared to the susceptible biotype 8, 24, and 48 h after treatment (HAT), but by 72 HAT, there was no significant difference in the amount of [14C]quizalofop-ethyl detected in either biotype. Additionally, little or no differences in the translocation of [14C]quizalofop-ethyl were observed in the resistant and susceptible biotypes at any time interval after application. In [14C]quizalofop-ethyl metabolism experiments, similar levels of quizalofop-ethyl and quizalofop metabolites were observed in the resistant and susceptible biotypes 8, 24, 48, and 72 HAT, but slightly higher levels of quizalofop acid were detected in the resistant biotype 48 and 72 HAT. In ACCase assays, the concentrations of quizalofop-P, clethodim, and sethoxydim that inhibited ACCase activity by 50% (I50) were statistically similar in the two biotypes, indicating that the resistant johnsongrass biotype contains an ACCase that is sensitive to the APP and CHD herbicides. In the absence of APP or CHD herbicides, however, the specific activity of ACCase in the resistant biotype was two to three times greater than that of the susceptible biotype. The specific activity of ACCase in the resistant biotype was also significantly greater than that of the susceptible biotype in the presence of all concentrations of quizalofop-P and sethoxydim and in the presence of 0.1, 1, and 10 µM clethodim. These results suggest that resistance to quizalofop-P and sethoxydim is conferred by an overproduction of ACCase in the resistant johnsongrass biotype.

The integration of cover crops with selected postemergence herbicides was evaluated on the basis of weed control and grain yields in no-till soybean and corn. Soybean was planted into wheat residue, whereas corn was planted into hairy vetch residue. Full, half, and quarter rates and sequential herbicide applications were made. The wheat cover crop did not increase weed suppression but increased soybean grain yields. Half rates of thifensulfuron plus quizalofop-P as single or split applications were as effective as full rates in reducing weed weight in soybean. Soybean grain yields were similar in the half- and full-rate treatments in 1994, but yield was highest in the full-rate treatment in 1995. The hairy vetch cover crop did not increase weed suppression but lowered corn stands and grain yields in 1995 and enhanced corn grain yields in 1996. Full, half, and quarter rates (1996 only) of nicosulfuron plus primisulfuron were equally effective in reducing weed weight. Corn grain yields were similar at all herbicide rates in 1995 but were inversely related to herbicide rate in 1996. Split herbicide applications did not improve weed suppression over single applications of the same herbicide rate in either crop. Results indicate that cover crops can improve crop productivity and reduced rates of environmentally benign herbicides can minimize the herbicide requirements in no-till corn and soybean.

Field and greenhouse dose-response experiments were conducted to investigate the potential for resistance in a johnsongrass biotype from New Kent County, VA that survived repeated applications of quizalofop and quizalofop-P. During 1996 and 1997, foliar injury (30 to 60%) was initially observed on the johnsongrass at the New Kent field site, but this biotype eventually recovered and survived applications of fluazifop-P, quizalofop-P, and sethoxydim at twice the recommended field use rates. However, applications of clethodim at twice the recommended field use rates during 1997 provided essentially complete control of the New Kent johnsongrass biotype. In greenhouse dose-response experiments, the amount of quizalofop-P required to inhibit shoot growth by 50% (GR50) was 13.6 g/ha in the New Kent johnsongrass biotype and 0.8 g/ha in the susceptible johnsongrass biotype. In response to sethoxydim, the GR50 for the New Kent biotype was 122.5 g/ha while that of the susceptible biotype was 21.6 g/ha. Additionally, the New Kent biotype was least sensitive to fluazifop-P, which provided a GR50 value of 148.7 g/ha for the New Kent biotype and 5.1 g/ha for the susceptible biotype. As in the field trials, the New Kent biotype was sensitive to clethodim, which provided a GR50 value of 49.8 g/ha and 69.1 g/ha for the susceptible biotype. These values indicate that the New Kent biotype was 17 times more resistant to quizalofop-P, 5.7 times more resistant to sethoxydim, and 29.5 times more resistant to fluazifop-P than the susceptible biotype, and that the New Kent and susceptible johnsongrass biotypes are equally sensitive to clethodim. These GR50 values for the New Kent johnsongrass biotype are inconsistent with the much higher GR50 values most commonly observed in graminicide-resistant weed biotypes, and suggest a mechanism of resistance other than an insensitive ACCase in the New Kent johnsongrass biotype.

In spring 2005, a downy brome population with possible resistance to fluazifop-P, an acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitor (group 1) herbicide was found in a commercial creeping red fescue seed production field, near La Grande, OR, where fluazifop-P had been used to control downy brome repeatedly over 7 yr. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to confirm resistance to a number of group 1 herbicides. The suspected resistant downy brome accession was tested for resistance to fluazifop-P and tested for cross-resistance to other aryloxyphenoxy propionate (APP) and cyclohexanedione (CHD) herbicides, including quizalofop-P, sethoxydim, and clethodim. Data recorded included plant-mortality counts and biomass. Tests revealed that the La Grande downy brome accession was highly resistant to fluazifop-P and sethoxydim at all tested rates. The La Grande accession suffered no mortality from fluazifop-P or sethoxydim treatments up to the maximum tested rate of eight times (8×) the labeled recommendation. The La Grande accession was resistant to quizalofop-P and clethodim at the labeled rate or less but was susceptible to application rates higher than the labeled rate. The control downy brome accession was completely susceptible to fluazifop-P, quizalofop-P, and clethodim at all rates and exhibited increasing susceptibility with increasing sethoxydim rate. This pattern of cross-resistance differs from that of a previously reported case of ACCase resistance in downy brome.

Experiments were conducted from 2003 through 2006 to compare annual grass control by graminicides applied alone or with other pesticides and to determine whether graminicide formulation affected annual grass control and interactions with co-applied pesticides. Formulation and rate had no affect on broadleaf signalgrass or large crabgrass control by clethodim. The efficacy of clethodim in tank mixtures with acifluorfen plus bentazon, bentazon, chlorothalonil, imazapic, pyraclostrobin, or tebuconazole were not affected by clethodim formulation. Broadleaf signalgrass and large crabgrass control by clethodim was slightly reduced by acifluorfen plus bentazon, chlorothalonil, imazapic, and pyraclostrobin, but not by tebuconazole. Chlorothalonil and pyraclostrobin reduced broadleaf signalgrass control with quizalofop-P but did not reduce fall panicum control. Azoxystrobin, propiconazole, and tebuconazole did not affect efficacy of quizalofop-P.

Field experiments were conducted at three locations in 2003 and 2004 to examine clethodim and quizalofop-P efficacy on spring wheat seedlings when applied alone or in tank mixtures with herbicides used to control broadleaf weeds. Clethodim at the recommended rate of 30 g/ha reduced spring wheat biomass by 63 to 98% and was only >90% in three of six site years. In contrast, quizalofop-P at the recommended rate of 36 g/ha reduced wheat biomass >90% in all cases. Clethodim or quizalofop-P could be tank mixed with 2,4-D ester, bromoxynil, or bromoxynil plus MCPA ester with little risk of reduced efficacy on wheat. However, 2,4-D amine was highly antagonistic to both herbicides. The commercial mixture of thifensulfuron plus tribenuron reduced clethodim, but not quizalofop-P, efficacy on wheat. Herbicide options exist for simultaneous control of volunteer glyphosate-resistant canola and glyphosate-resistant wheat if the latter technology were to be commercialized in the future.

Recent research at Mississippi State has shown that eastern gamagrass, switchgrass, and tall fescue grown as filter strips reduce herbicide losses in runoff from cotton. Field experiments were conducted in 1997 and 1998 to evaluate the response of these perennial grasses to postemergence drift and registered rates of glyphosate and paraquat in mid-April and clethodim, fluazifop-P, glyphosate, MSMA, pyrithiobac, quizalofop-P, and sethoxydim in early June. Results indicate that filter strip implementation will not simply involve establishment and maintenance. In most instances, reductions in harvested biomass were as high or higher than visual injury assessments in mid-June. This finding suggests an inability of these perennial grasses to recover from an accidental overspray or drift, within the year of the event. Management decisions must be made to protect the filter strips from contact with herbicides used in the production system to ensure filter strip integrity and survival.

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) volunteer corn is a significant problem weed in soybean grown in rotation with corn in the midwestern United States and eastern Canada. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of glufosinate applied in single or sequential applications compared with acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors applied alone or tank mixed with glufosinate for controlling GR volunteer corn in glufosinate-resistant soybean. At 15 d after early-POST (DAEP), ACCase inhibitors applied alone controlled volunteer corn 76 to 93% compared to 71 to 82% control when tank mixed with glufosinate. The expected volunteer corn control achieved by tank mixing ACCase inhibitors and glufosinate was greater than the glufosinate alone, indicating that glufosinate antagonized ACCase inhibitors at 15 DAEP, but not at later rating dates. ACCase inhibitors applied alone or tank mixed with glufosinate followed by late-POST glufosinate application controlled volunteer corn and green foxtail ≥ 97% at 30 DAEP. Single early-POST application of glufosinate controlled common waterhemp and volunteer corn 53 to 78%, and green foxtail 72 to 93% at 15 DAEP. Single as well as sequential glufosinate applications controlled green foxtail and volunteer corn greater than or equal to 90%, and common waterhemp greater than 85% at 75 d after late-POST (DALP). Contrast analysis suggested that glufosinate applied sequentially provided greater control of volunteer corn at 15 and 75 DALP compared to a single application. Similar results were reflected in volunteer corn density and biomass at 75 DALP. Volunteer corn interference did not affect soybean yield, partly because of extreme weather conditions (hail and high winds) in both years of this study.

Snap bean was evaluated for sensitivity to a number of herbicides in field studies conducted during a 2-yr period in Exeter, ON. Preemergence (PRE) applications of metolachlor (1,600 and 3,200 g ai/ha), imazethapyr (75 and 150 g ai/ha), and clomazone plus metobromuron (840 + 1,000 g ai/ha and 1,680 + 2,000 g/ha) were evaluated for visual injury at 7, 14, and 28 d after emergence. Postemergence (POST) applications of imazamox plus fomesafen (25 + 200 g ai/ha and 50 + 400 g/ha), quizalofop-P (72 and 144 g ai/ha), and clethodim (90 and 180 g ai/ha) also were evaluated for visual injury 7, 14, and 28 d after treatment. Plant height and crop yield were assessed for all treatments. Visual injury, stunting, and yield loss were not observed in the metolachlor treatments. Imazethapyr (150 g/ha) caused stunting and reduced snap bean yield in both study years. Clomazone plus metobromuron (1,680 + 2,000 g/ha) injured and stunted snap bean in both years of the study and reduced yield in 2000. Imazamox plus fomesafen (50 + 400 g/ha) injured snap bean in both years but only reduced yield in 2000. Quizalofop-P injured snap bean but did not reduce plant height or yield. Clethodim did not injure, stunt, or reduce yield of snap bean. Metolachlor (PRE), imazamox plus fomesafen (POST), quizalofop-P (POST), and clethodim (POST) have excellent potential as weed management tools in snap bean in Ontario.

The potential weediness of hybrid bermudagrass cultivars in nontarget areas is an important factor when considering the development of herbicide-resistant cultivars. Field studies evaluated the response of common bermudagrass, hexaploid hybrid ‘Tifton-10’, and two triploid hybrid bermudagrass cultivars (‘TifEagle’ and ‘TifSport’) to clethodim, fluazifop-p, glufosinate, glyphosate, and quizalofop-p. Glyphosate was more consistent than clethodim and clethodim plus glyphosate in controlling common bermudagrass. The triploid cultivars were equally sensitive to each of these treatments, whereas Tifton-10 control was highest with treatments that included glyphosate. Variability between years in control of common bermudagrass was attributed to differences in plant size at application, with greater control of smaller plants. All herbicides reduced common bermudagrass plant diameters ≥ 93% in 1999 when grown without a crop. However, in 2001, only herbicide treatments that included two applications of 1.1 kg ai/ha glyphosate reduced plant diameters 6 to 59%. None of the other treatments reduced common bermudagrass plant diameters compared with pretreatment values. When grown with cotton, fluazifop-p and 4.5 kg/ha glyphosate were the only treatments consistent across cultivars and years. All herbicide treatments reduced triploid hybrid bermudagrass plant diameters ≥ 90%, whereas Tifton-10 plant diameters were reduced > 86% by all treatments, with the exception of clethodim. As in the non-cropland study, common bermudagrass plant diameters were reduced ≥ 97% by herbicides in 1999, whereas in 2001, only fluazifop-p and glyphosate treatments reduced plant diameters compared with the nontreated control. Both the lack of aggressiveness and susceptibility to common herbicides of the triploid hybrid cultivars relative to common bermudagrass indicates that these non–pollen-producing or -receiving cultivars are reasonable candidates for the introduction of herbicide resistance.