Georgia growers can benefit from double-cropping grain sorghum following watermelon to maximize land use and add economic value to their operations. However, capitalizing on the economic advantages of harvesting two crops within a single season must account for potential herbicide injury to rotational crops. An integrated weed management strategy that includes a preplant application of fomesafen and terbacil is recommended for weed control in watermelon production systems. However, currently labeled plant-back restrictions for grain sorghum require a minimum of 10 and 24 mo for fomesafen and terbacil, respectively. Therefore this research aimed to determine the tolerance of grain sorghum to fomesafen and terbacil following soil applications applied 90 to 100 d before planting (DBP). Experiments were conducted at the University of Georgia Ponder Research Farm from 2019 to 2023. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replicates. Five rates of fomesafen (35, 70, 140, 210, and 280 g ai ha−1), four rates of terbacil (3.5, 7.0, 10.5, and 14.0 g ai ha−1), and a nontreated control were evaluated. In 2019, fomesafen caused significant sorghum leaf necrosis, plant density reductions, height reductions, and yield reductions of at least 16%, especially when applied at rates ≥ 210 g ai ha−1. Terbacil had little to no effect on sorghum injury, density, height, or yield in any year. These results suggest that sorghum has sufficient tolerance to terbacil when applied 90 to 100 DBP. In four of five years, sorghum had an acceptable tolerance to fomesafen when applied 90 to 100 DBP. However, yield losses observed in 2019 suggest that caution should be taken when fomesafen is applied 90 to 100 DBP grain sorghum at ≥ 210 g ai ha−1.

Cultivation of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton), an important crop in the eastern part of North America, is unique, as it is carried out over the course of two consecutive growing seasons. Pest management, particularly weed management, is impacted by this biennial cultural practice. The choice of methods to control weeds is narrow, and such a system relies heavily on herbicides for weed management. Availability of unique herbicide active ingredients for weed management is limited, and available herbicides are used repeatedly, so the risk of developing resistance is acute. Hair fescue (Festuca filiformis Pourr.), a perennial grass weed, has evolved resistance to hexazinone, a photosystem II inhibitor frequently used in lowbush blueberry production. We show that substitution of phenylalanine to isoleucine at position 255 is responsible for a decreased sensitivity to hexazinone by a factor of 6.12. Early diagnosis of resistance based on the detection of the mutation will alert growers to use alternative control methods and thus help to increase the sustainability of the cropping system.

Hair fescue is a common tuft-forming perennial grass weed that reduces yields and hinders mechanical harvest in lowbush blueberry fields. PRE terbacil applications traditionally controlled hair fescue but currently only provide suppression in most fields. Terbacil use has not, however, been evaluated in conjunction with other currently registered herbicides in lowbush blueberry. The objective of this research was to evaluate a range of terbacil-based herbicide treatments for hair fescue management in lowbush blueberry. The experiment was conducted at three lowbush blueberry fields in Nova Scotia, Canada. Spring nonbearing-year terbacil applications (2,000 g ai ha–1) exhibited variable efficacy on hair fescue with reduced total tuft density at one site and reduced flowering-tuft density and flowering-tuft inflorescence number at two sites. Suppression was limited to the year of application only. Terbacil followed by (fb) foramsulfuron (35 g ai ha–1) did not improve suppression. A terbacil tank mixture with glufosinate (750 ai ha–1), however, reduced flowering-tuft density and flowering-tuft inflorescence number at each site and reduced total tuft density at one site, suggesting improved suppression with terbacil + glufosinate relative to terbacil alone. Terbacil + glufosinate fb foramsulfuron gave additional reductions in total tuft density at two sites and reduced bearing-year flowering-tuft density at two sites, indicating that hair fescue suppression with this herbicide combination extends into the bearing year. Although less effective than the industry standard pronamide applications, terbacil + glufosinate or terbacil + glufosinate fb foramsulfuron could be used as part of a weed management program for hair fescue in lowbush blueberry.

Hair fescue is a widespread, seed-limited perennial grass in lowbush blueberry fields. Growers rely on pronamide, an expensive and difficult herbicide to use, for hair fescue management. Recent herbicide registrations provide opportunity to reduce pronamide use, though effects of these herbicides on hair fescue suppression and seedbank reduction are not well understood. The objectives of this research were to determine (1) the effects of herbicides currently registered in lowbush blueberry on suppression of hair fescue tufts and (2) whether suppression of hair fescue with these herbicides reduces hair fescue seedbanks. Pronamide gave the most consistent reductions in flowering tuft density, though applications after both autumn pruning and autumn of the nonbearing year were required to reduce the hair fescue seedbank by >60% across sites. Nonbearing-year hexazinone applications did not control hair fescue or reduce the seedbank. Nonbearing-year terbacil applications reduced flowering tuft density, but hair fescue recovered in the bearing year, and the seedbank was not reduced. Glufosinate applications following autumn pruning or in the spring of the nonbearing year did not suppress hair fescue or reduce the seedbank. Spring nonbearing-year foramsulfuron applications, alone or after autumn or spring glufosinate applications, reduced hair fescue flowering tuft density, but hair fescue recovered in the bearing year, and the seedbank was not reduced. In contrast, autumn and spring glufosinate applications followed by spring nonbearing-year foramsulfuron applications, when combined with autumn nonbearing-year pronamide applications, reduced flowering tuft density in both the nonbearing and bearing years and reduced the hair fescue seedbank by 58% to 83% across sites. Results indicate that hair fescue seedbanks can be reduced in lowbush blueberry fields and that a reduction in pronamide use will require alternative bearing-year treatments to prevent tuft recovery and seed production.

Diuron, fluorochloridone, hexazinone, metribuzin, norflurazon, oryzalin, prodiamine, simazine, and terbacil controlled seedling asparagus planted in sprinkler-irrigated plots similarly (>89%). In furrow-irrigated plots, cinmethylin, diuron, fluorochloridone, hexazinone, napropamide, oryzalin, and prodiamine provided similar control (>86%) of planted seedling asparagus. Herbicides with high water solubilities that depended upon root uptake for maximum activity tended to control seedling asparagus better in sprinkler-irrigated tests than in furrow-irrigated tests. Fluorochloridone, norflurazon, and prodiamine provided partial control of volunteer asparagus (48 to 84%) in an established stand of furrow-irrigated asparagus.

The effect of annual spring PRE applications of fenac, metribuzin, and terbacil on the competitiveness of sugarcane with bermudagrass during a 3-yr crop cycle was evaluated. For each herbicide treatment, bermudagrass was allowed to interfere with sugarcane during the growing season for 0, 1 (plant-cane crop only), 2 (plant-cane and first-ratoon crops), or 3 (plant-cane through second-ratoon crops) yr. Predicted total yields of cane from the three harvested crops was 3600 kg ha−1 higher on average in plots maintained free of bermudagrass and treated with metribuzin than where fenac and terbacil were applied. Bermudagrass biomass increased with each growing season. Greatest biomass production occurred in the fenac plots and the smallest in terbacil plots. Bermudagrass did not reduce the predicted total yields of cane where metribuzin or terbacil was applied. With fenac, predicted total cane yields were 4, 7, and 11% lower than the weed-free control where bermudagrass interference was allowed for 1, 2, and 3 yr, respectively. Season-long bermudagrass interference in the fenac plots reduced actual cane yields 10% (plant-cane crop), 6% (first-ratoon crop), and 14% (second-ratoon crop) when compared with plots maintained free of bermudagrass for the entire growing season.

Two experiments were conducted near Scottsbluff, NE, to evaluate the efficacy of fall-and spring-applied herbicides for downy brome control in established alfalfa. Downy brome was effectively removed from established alfalfa, and alfalfa yield increased with fall applications of hexazinone, metribuzin, pronamide, and terbacil. Regression analysis indicated a linear relationship between alfalfa yield and downy brome biomass. Glyphosate or paraquat suppressed downy brome when applied to dormant alfalfa in the spring. If glyphosate or paraquat application was delayed until after alfalfa had resumed spring growth, injury was observed. Alfalfa yield did not increase following spring applications of glyphosate or paraquat.

Preemergence control of itchgrass in sugarcane with nonincorporated pendimethalin and prodiamine increased as rate for each herbicide increased from 2.2 to 3.4 kg ai ha-1. Itchgrass control at 3.4 kg ha-1 was similar for both herbicides, ranging from 78 to 94% (86% mean) for pendimethalin in six field experiments and 83 to 91% (86% mean) for prodiamine in three experiments. Incorporated trifluralin at 2.2 kg ha-1, the standard, gave 99% mean control of itchgrass. None of the nonincorporated treatments with pendimethalin or prodiamine consistently prevented a decrease in the sugarcane stalk population at harvest. Asulam applied postemergence at 3.7 kg ae ha-1 controlled itchgrass that survived the preemergence herbicides, and sugarcane stalk populations were maintained. Preemergence control of johnsongrass with nonincorporated treatments of pendimethalin or prodiamine at 2.8 kg ha-1, in a mixture with atrazine at 2.2 kg ai ha-1, ranged from 86 to 95% (89% mean) for pendimethalin and 80 to 95% (88% mean) for prodiamine. Metribuzin at 2.2 kg ha-1, the standard, gave 97% mean control of johnsongrass. Mixtures of pendimethalin with metribuzin or terbacil generally gave more effective control of johnsongrass than mixtures with atrazine. When used in conjunction with other herbicides, nonincorporated pendimethalin and prodiamine were effective alternatives to soil-incorporated treatments for weed control in sugarcane.

Soil- and foliar-applied herbicide treatments were evaluated for the control of seedling johnsongrass in the interim between row formation and the planting of fallowed sugarcane fields approximately 90 d later. Soil-surface applications of metribuzin at 1,680 g ai/ha, pendimethalin plus atrazine each at 2,240 g ai/ha, terbacil at 1,680 g ai/ha, and sulfometuron at 35 and 70 g ai/ha and an incorporated application of trifluralin at 2,240 g ai/ha followed by a surface application of atrazine at 2,240 g/ha did not consistently control seedling johnsongrass until the crop was planted. Rhizome johnsongrass populations originating from seedling johnsongrass that escaped the fallow treatments were lowest in the newly planted crop when sulfometuron at 140 to 280 g/ha was applied to the soil surface and when glyphosate was applied POST at 2,240 g ai/ha, particularly as a sequential treatment alone or as a spot treatment at 2% by volume following applications of metribuzin, terbacil, and pendimethalin or trifluralin with atrazine. Sugarcane shoot populations in the fall after planting and sugar yields at the end of the crop's first growing season were highest where fallow treatments minimized johnsongrass development. These treatments also provided broad spectrum control of other seedling weeds, the residues of which influenced crop development.

Terbacil (3-tert-butyl-5-chloro-6-methyluracil), diuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea], hexazinone [3-cyclohexyl-6-(dimethylamino)-1-methyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione], and metribuzin [4-amino-6-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazin-5(4H)-one] controlled palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats. ♯ AMAPA) in established alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) when applied after first harvest. However, these same herbicides did not control palmer amaranth when applied early-season in March. Alfalfa forage yields were increased when palmer amaranth was controlled. Residue levels of terbacil and its metabolites in alfalfa forage from plots treated postharvest with 1.1 kg/ha of terbacil were well below the 5-ppm tolerance level established for terbacil in alfalfa. There was some chlorosis of alfalfa foliage following the postharvest use of the 1.1 kg ai/ha of terbacil. There was also a yield reduction of alfalfa in two of the six experiments (one from a March and one from a June application) where 1.1 kg ai/ha of terbacil was evaluated.

Eurasian watermilfoil, an aquatic flowering plant, was found to be a suitable bioassay plant for the detection of photosynthetic inhibitor herbicides in water and aqueous extracts of soil. Stock cultures of Eurasian watermilfoil were maintained in an algal-free medium under constant environmental conditions. Oxygen evolution from three lateral shoots 3 to 5 cm in length was measured before and after herbicide treatment. Inhibition of photosynthesis was detected within 10 min of treatment. Concentrations as low as 5.9 × 10–8M terbacil and 6.4 × 10–8M diuron were detected in water. Simazine, atrazine, and metribuzin were detected in water at a concentration of 10–7M. Eurasian watermilfoil bioassays in lake water spiked with various concentrations of terbacil, metribuzin, atrazine, and simazine indicated that the bioresidual activity of these chemicals can be estimated in samples of natural water without extraction or purification. Using aqueous extracts taken from herbicide-treated soil, the Eurasian watermilfoil bioassay detected minimum levels of 0.047 and 0.07 kg/ha terbacil and atrazine, respectively. Neither soybean nor oat showed visible injury symptoms at these concentrations. The Eurasian watermilfoil bioassay has the advantage of being more rapid and/or more sensitive than methods using algae, oat seedlings, or leaf discs.

We conducted several experiments on linuron-resistant and -susceptible Portulaca oleracea and on atrazine-resistant and -susceptible Chenopodium album to determine their immediate and long-term responses to photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides. Several photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides were used, and O2 evolution was measured with a Clark-type O2 electrode. Resistance ratios (RRs) for P. oleracea, based on O2 evolution inhibition, were 8 and > 6 for linuron and diuron, respectively; > 800 for atrazine; and > 20 for terbacil. Linuron-resistant P. oleracea was negatively cross-resistant to bentazon and pyridate (RR = 0.5 and 0.75, respectively). Time-course measurements of fresh weight, photosynthetic CO2 assimilation, and photochemical efficiency indicated that linuron and atrazine inhibited electron transport in susceptible (S) P. oleracea and C. album, ultimately resulting in death. Measurements of photochemical efficiency and CO2 assimilation of linuron-resistant P. oleracea treated with linuron indicated a transient injury from which plants recovered within 14 d. Recovery of linuron-resistant P. oleracea from atrazine injury was more rapid than from linuron injury for all measured variables. Atrazine-resistant C. album had no cross-resistance to linuron. Sequence analysis of the D1 protein revealed that linuron-resistant P. oleracea had a serine-to-threonine substitution at position 264.

Field studies of herbicidal antagonism were conducted in corn (Zea mays L.), soybeans (Glycine max L. Merr.), and on industrial sites. The addition of chlorbromuron [3-(4-bromo-3-chlorophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea], cyanazine {2-[[4-(chloro-6-(ethylamino)-s-triazin-2-yl] amino]-2-methylpropionitrile}, bifenox [methyl 5-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-2-nitrobenzoate], or atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine] wettable powder plus dicamba (3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid) to glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine]-alachlor[2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)acetanilide] combinations reduced the activity of glyphosate on quackgrass [Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.], common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber), and Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.] in no-till corn. Reduced weed control from antagonism resulted in decreased corn yields. Linuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea], chlorbromuron, or metribuzin [4-amino-6-tert-butyl-3-(methylthio)-as-triazin-5(4H)-one], when added to glyphosate, reduced the control of quackgrass but not that of Canada thistle, alfalfa, or common dandelion in soybeans. Antagonsim was not evident in annual weed species. In perennial weeds, the degree of antagonism was often reduced with increased dosages of glyphosate. The inclusion of terbacil (3-tert-butyl-5-chloro-6-methyluracil), bromacil (5-bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyluracil), and simazine [2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine] with glyphosate in mixes interfered with the control of smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.), but not when applications of the residual herbicides were delayed. Quackgrass control was reduced when amitrole (3-amino-s-triazole) was mixed with glyphosate, or when applied separately.

A semi- and high-density apple and peach orchard was established at Blacksburg, VA. Starting 1 yr after transplanting, tree rows were treated with paraquat, 2,4-D, or amitrole plus simazine for 4 yr. Thereafter, diuron, simazine, or terbacil was applied in conjunction with paraquat or glyphosate. During the 12th growing season, young trees planted between existing trees failed to make proper growth. Oat bioassay of soils collected from treated rows revealed that the tree row topsoil (0 to 7.5 cm) produced less oat biomass than did deeper row soils (to 30 cm) or soils of corresponding depths from adjacent non-treated tall fescue sod alleyways. Poor growth of trees may have been related to other factors (competition from older trees, drought conditions, etc.) since herbicide residues in the upper 7.5 cm would have little effect on tree roots below this depth. After 3 yr the trees developed normally. Tree rows became heavily infested with weeds 1 yr following cessation of 23 yr of consecutive herbicide treatments.

Field experiments were conducted during 1981 to 1984 to evaluate paraquat for weed control in alfalfa established for less than one year. Treatments were applied in March to alfalfa up to 4 cm tall and/or after cuttings to alfalfa up to 10 cm tall. Weeds were up to 20 cm tall. Paraquat applied in March controlled common chickweed and shepherd's-purse in some experiments. It did not control birdsrape mustard when applied after cuttings. Paraquat suppressed growth of perennial broadleaf weeds and grasses and reduced pressure from annual grasses in some experiments. March treatments generally did not increase, but sometimes decreased alfalfa yields. Paraquat applied after cuttings did not affect alfalfa yields in the majority of the experiments.

Ten herbicides were evaluated for poison-hemlock control in established alfalfa in Utah. Hexazinone, metribuzin, and terbacil controlled poison-hemlock 90% or more but diuron and pronamide did not. Either glyphosate or 2,4-D applied in May at 1.1 kg ae ha-1 controlled poison-hemlock 97 to 98% compared to 60 to 75% with 2,4-DB at that rate. Dicamba and bromoxynil did not control poison-hemlock.

DC X2-5309 organosilicone adjuvant added at 1% (v/v) spray solution increased the efficacy of bentazon, pyridate, and terbacil on kochia in greenhouse trials. DC X2-5309 decreased the rain-free period needed after application of bentazon and bromoxynil to 6 and 1 h, respectively, and increased the uptake of 14C-bentazon and 14C-bromoxynil by kochia at 1, 3, 6, and 24 h after application compared with crop oil concentrate (COC). In field trials, bentazon and bromoxynil rates required to control equal amounts of kochia were reduced by half when adding DC X2-5309 compared with adding crop oil concentrate. DC X2-5309 added at 0.5% (v/v) spray solution with bentazon did not injure spearmint and controlled kochia equal to or better than bentazon with COC added at 1% (v/v) spray solution.

Greenhouse and field herbicide evaluation, flooding, and soil saturation studies were conducted to investigate the control of oldfield cinquefoil in cranberry. Chlorimuron ethyl and dichlobenil were found to be promising herbicides for control of this weed in both greenhouse and field studies. The number of leaves, leaf area, shoot, root, and total dry weight of oldfield cinquefoil were reduced by dichlobenil at 1.1 to 4.5 kg ha-1 and chlorimuron ethyl at 17.5 to 35 g ha-1, at 12 wk after treatment. The higher rate of dichlobenil, however, caused reduction in cranberry height and total dry weight. Field treatment at time of cinquefoil emergence did not provide adequate weed control. Postemergence application to cinquefoil of 4.5 kg ha-1 dichlobenil, 35 g ha-1 chlorimuron ethyl, and 2.2 to 4.5 kg-1 ha terbacil reduced the number of leaves and shoot dry weight. Only terbacil at 4.5 kg ha-1 reduced cranberry shoot and fruit fresh and dry weight. Flooding for up to 72 h did not affect oldfield cinquefoil growth. At 22/18 C, 4 wk of soil saturation reduced runner development and fresh and dry weight of oldfield cinquefoil. At 13/9 C, no runners developed in either saturated or control soils, and there was no effect of soil saturation on fresh and dry weights. This suggests that oldfield cinquefoil grows better in an unsaturated soil condition, but needs a relatively warm climate to develop.

This paper reports on a microtitre plate version of the 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol (DCPIP) reduction assay. DCPIP reduction rates of alfalfa thylakoid membranes were determined by measuring absorbance at 600 nm before and after a 1 min illumination period. The membranes were near light-saturated at intensities above 600 μE m–2 s–1. Saturation of thylakoid membranes with DCPIP occurred above 120 μM. DCPIP reduction rates increased linearly with chlorophyll concentrations from 0.25 to 2 μg. The rate of DCPIP reduction was linear throughout a 2 min illumination period (R2 = 0.99). The assay was sensitive enough to terbacil to differentiate between a 20% change in the I50 concentration. DCPIP reduction rates were sensitive to concentrations of terbacil as low as 100 nM. It only takes 13 minutes to load and read 96 samples using the microtitre plate assay compared to 5.5 h using the conventional procedure.

The potential diversity in tolerance of eight commercial sugarcane cultivars to metribuzin, terbacil, and hexazinone was investigated. Herbicides were applied preemergence in the fall after planting and postemergence to the crop in the spring each year over the 3-yr crop cycle. Reductions in shoot counts and heights were not observed with any of the herbicide treatments in the fall following planting. Cultivar differences in growth and yield responses were obtained, particularly in the plant cane year of the 3-yr crop cycle. Metribuzin was the least phytotoxic and hexazinone the most phytotoxic. Reductions in sugar yields (kg/ha) were attributed to reductions in stalk populations and, to a lesser extent, to reductions in stalk height and sugar (sucrose) content. Cultivars sensitive to hexazinone either were equally sensitive to terbacil or were less sensitive to terbacil. Terminal fluorescence (FT)3 measurements indicated that photosynthesis following postemergence applications of terbacil and hexazinone was no longer inhibited 5 weeks after treatment in the tolerant cultivars, CP 70–321 and CP 74–383, but continued to be reduced in the cultivars showing sensitivity, CP 65–357 and CP 48–103. The order of cultivar tolerance to hexazinone and terbacil from least tolerant to most tolerant is CP 48–103 < CP 65–357 ≤ CP 72–370 < CP 70–321 = CP 70–330 < CP 72–356 = CP 73–351 = CP 74–383.