Donn G. Shilling

Hydrilla control with split treatments of fluridone in Lake Harris, Florida

After several unsuccessful management efforts, a split treatment of fluridone was applied to the 6700 ha Lake Harris in March and June 1987, at a rate of 3.4 kg ha−1 (680 and 340 kg fluridone, respectively) to two 3 m deep, hydrilla-infested bays. Fluridone concentrations in the water were sampled following the June treatment. Average fluridone concentrations were 2.1 µg l−1 prior to this second application, and a maximum concentration of 30.2 µg l−1 was detected in the treated area on the day following application. Fluridone residues dissipated out of the plot quickly due to dilution but concentrations declined lake-wide more slowly, following a logarithmic model, with an estimated fluridone half-life of 97 days. Control of hydrilla in Lake Harris resulted from the long exposure (over 25 weeks due to the split application) to fluridone concentrations of 2 µg l−1, well below the maximum labelled rate of 150 µg l−1.

Evaluation of Fungal Pathogens as Biological Control Agents for Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica)1

Based on field surveys and evaluations in the greenhouse, two fungal pathogens, Bipolaris sacchari and Drechslera gigantea, were identified as promising biological control agents for cogongrass. In greenhouse trials, the application of spore suspensions of these fungi containing 105 spores/ ml in a 1% aqueous gelatin solution to cogongrass plants and their incubation in a dew chamber for 24 h resulted in disease symptoms that ranged from discrete lesions to complete blighting of leaves. Disease severity (DS), based on a rating scale for southern corn leaf blight with 50% as the maximum DS rating, ranged from 42 to 49%. In greenhouse experiments, the application of spores formulated in an oil emulsion composed of 4% horticultural oil, 10% light mineral oil, and 86% water resulted in higher levels of foliar blight with no dew exposure or shorter periods of dew exposure (4, 8, or 12 h) as compared with the application of spores formulated in 1% gelatin. Field trials demonstrated that under natural conditions, the application of a spore and an oil emulsion mixture containing 105 spores/ml of either fungus could cause foliar injury from disease and phytotoxic damage from the oil emulsion. Depending on the application rate (100 or 200 ml/plot), the level of foliar injury ranged from 40 to 86% (based on a field assessment scale of 0 to 100% foliar injury) with B. sacchari as the test fungus. However, with D. gigantea as the test fungus, foliar injury ranged from 9 to 70% depending on the application volume and the oil concentration used. Although B. sacchari and D. gigantea were capable of causing foliar blight on cogongrass, the regenerative ability of the rhizomes allowed cogongrass to recover from the damage caused by these fungi. However, the level of injury caused by these fungi is sufficient to support their use as components for integrated management of cogongrass. Nomenclature: Cogongrass, Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. #3 IMPCY; corn, Zea mays L. Additional index words: Bioherbicide, biological control, Bipolaris sacchari (E.J. Butler) Shoemaker, Drechslera gigantea (Heald & F.A. Wolf) Ito. Abbreviations: CRD, completely randomized design; DAI, days after inoculation; DS, disease severity; RH, relative humidity; SOE, spore and oil emulsion mixture; WAI, weeks after inoculation; WM, weed mortality.

Suppression of cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) by a bioherbicidal fungus and plant competition

Abstract The possibility of using the fungus Bipolaris sacchari as a bioherbicide to suppress cogongrass and to allow the establishment of bahiagrass in cogongrass–bahiagrass mixed plantings was investigated under greenhouse conditions. The bioherbicide was prepared by mixing B. sacchari spore suspension containing 105 spores ml−1 with an oil emulsion composed of 16% horticultural oil plus 10% light mineral oil and 74% sterile water. The bioherbicide caused severe foliar blight in cogongrass and slight phytotoxic damage on bahiagrass. In the first experiment, the bioherbicide reduced cogongrass biomass without affecting bahiagrass biomass. In the second experiment, the bioherbicide caused a 64% reduction in fresh weight, a 74% reduction in the number of rhizomes, and a 47% reduction in the height of cogongrass. The latter experiment also showed an increase in bahiagrass fresh weight in the presence of cogongrass when the bioherbicide was applied. This study indicates the potential of combining bioherbicide application with competition from a desirable grass species as a strategy for the integrated management of cogongrass. Nomenclature: Bahiagrass, Paspalum notatum Fluegge var. saurae Parodi PASNO ‘Pensacola’; Bipolaris sacchari (E. J. Butler) Shoemaker; cogongrass, Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. IMPCY.

Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) Control with Glyphosate in Soybean and Cotton1

Studies were conducted at the University of Florida, West Florida Research and Education Center to determine the effect of glyphosate on purple nutsedge control and nutsedge tuber production when glyphosate was applied to the same plots over 3 y in glyphosate-resistant soybean and cotton. Greater than 90% control of purple nutsedge foliage was achieved with a single POST application of glyphosate at 0.9 kg ai/ha in soybean or a sequential glyphosate application of 1.1 kg/ha POST followed by 0.6 kg/ha POST-directed in cotton. By the end of the third year of the study, these same treatments reduced purple nutsedge tuber density to less than 0.2% of the nontreated. In cotton, cultivation alone reduced tuber numbers by greater than 90%. Viability of tubers was also reduced by 80% in soybean and by 65% in cotton in the glyphosate-treated plots. Comparison treatments of imazaquin PRE followed by imazaquin POST in soybean or norflurazon PRE followed by cyanazine plus MSMA POST-directed in cotton also reduced purple nutsedge tuber density by ≥85% after three consecutive years of treatment. Nomenclature: Cyanazine; glyphosate; fluometuron; imazaquin; MSMA; norflurazon; pendimethalin; purple nutsedge, Cyperus rotundus L., #3 CYPRO; cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. ‘Delta Pine 5415 RR’; soybean, Glycine max L. ‘Hartz 7555RR’. Additional index words: CYPRO, transgenic cotton, cultivation, purple nutsedge population dynamics. Abbreviations: DAP, days after planting; POST-directed, postemergence directed; Early-POST, early postemergence.

Mechanisms of interference of smooth pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus) and common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) on lettuce as influenced by phosphorus fertility

Abstract Greenhouse studies were conducted to assess the intensity of smooth pigweed and common purslane aboveground interference (AI) and belowground interference (BI) with lettuce and to determine primary mechanisms of interference of each species as affected by P fertility rates. Lettuce was transplanted in mixtures with either smooth pigweed or common purslane according to four partitioning regimes: no interference, full interference, BI, and AI. Soil used was low in P for optimum lettuce yields, therefore P was added at rates of 0, 0.4, and 0.8 grams of P per liter of soil. Shoot and root biomass and plant height were measured for each species, as well as P tissue content. The data obtained indicated that smooth pigweed interfered with lettuce primarily through light interception by its taller canopy. A secondary mechanism of interference was the absorption of P from the soil through luxury consumption, increasing the P tissue content without enhancing smooth pigweed biomass accumulation. In contrast, common purslane competed aggressively with lettuce for P. Because the weed grew taller than lettuce, light interception was a secondary interference factor. Nomenclature: Common purslane, Portulaca oleracea L. POROL; smooth pigweed, Amaranthus hybridus L. AMACH; lettuce, Lactuca sativa L.

Evaluation of Factors That Influence Benghal Dayflower (Commelina benghalensis) Seed Germination and Emergence

Abstract A perennial species in its native range of Asia and Africa, Benghal dayflower in North America establishes annually from seed. This species has the unique ability to produce aerial and subterranean flowers and seeds. Information on how various environmental factors affect Benghal dayflower aerial and subterranean seed germination and emergence in the United States is lacking. Studies were conducted to determine the effect of temperature, planting depth, salt concentration, and pre-emergence herbicides on germination or emergence of aerial and subterranean Benghal dayflower seed. Maximum aerial seed germination occurred at 30 C, whereas maximum subterranean seed germination occurred at 30 and 35 C. Germination at 40 C was delayed relative to optimum temperatures. The seed coats in this study were mechanically disrupted to evaluate the response of seeds to temperature in the absence of physical dormancy. The physical dormancy imposed by the seed coat could require additional study. Benghal dayflower was not tolerant to ≥ 10 mM NaCl, indicating that this exotic species is not likely to become problematic in brackish marshes and wetlands of coastal plain regions. There was an inverse linear response of Benghal dayflower emergence and planting depth, with no emergence occurring at a planting depth of 12 cm. A field survey of Benghal dayflower emergence revealed that 42% of plants established from a depth of 1 cm in the soil profile, with 7 cm being the maximum depth from which seedlings plants could emerge. This suggests that PRE herbicides must remain in the relatively shallow depths of the soil profile to maximize control of germinating seedlings. Subterranean seeds were less sensitive than aerial seeds to S-metolachlor, the primary means of controlling this species in cotton. There were no differences between the germination of aerial and subterranean seed in response to treatment with diclosulam. Nomenclature: Diclosulam; S-metolachlor; Benghal dayflower, Commelina benghalensis L., COMBE; cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L.; peanut, Arachis hypogaea L.

Interactive Effect of Photoperiod and Fluridone on Growth, Reproduction, and Biochemistry of Dioecious Hydrilla (Hydrilla Verticillata)

Abstract Hydrilla is one of the most serious aquatic weed problems in the United States, and fluridone is the United States Environment Protection Agency (USEPA)-approved herbicide that provides relatively long-term systemic control. Mature (6-wk-old) and young (freshly planted from 10-cm apical shoot apices) hydrilla were grown in 540 L fiberglass vaults under short- (natural 8 to 10 hr light/14 to 16 hr dark photoperiod) or long- (artificially extended 16 h light/8 h dark photoperiod) day greenhouse conditions. Fluridone treatments of 0, 1, 5, and 10 µg L−1 were applied after 2 wk and maintained within each population and photoperiodic regime throughout the study. Short days promoted subterranean turion formation, but this effect was reduced by long days and 5 and 10 µg L−1 fluridone. Fluridone caused a reduction in chlorophyll and carotenoid levels but the effect on anthocyanin content was variable. Short days caused elevated anthocyanin, and this effect was diminished by fluridone. Fluridone reduced the abscisic acid content of mature apical stems and was higher under short days in younger plants. These studies provide further evidence that fluridone can be used as a fall herbicide application to reduce turion production. Nomenclature: Fluridone; hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle HYLLI

Phosphorus absorption in lettuce, smooth pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus), and common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) mixtures

Abstract Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the influence of phosphorus (P) concentrations on the growth of lettuce, smooth pigweed, and common purslane in monocultures and in mixtures and to determine the P-absorption rate of each species over time. For the P-competition studies, lettuce–smooth pigweed and lettuce–common purslane mixtures were established in P-less hydroponic solutions. Each lettuce–weed mixture was established separately. Concentrations of P were 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg L−1. Lettuce to weed planting proportions were 2:0, 0:2, and 1:1. In the mixtures, biomass of common purslane increased sharply between 10 and 20 mg P L−1, depressing lettuce growth. No biomass changes were observed in smooth pigweed as P concentration increased. However, both weeds increased their P content within this range, depriving lettuce of this nutrient. Common purslane competed for P for its own growth, whereas smooth pigweed absorbed P luxuriously. For the P-absorption studies, roots of lettuce, smooth pigweed, and common purslane plants were submersed in a 20 mg P L−1 solution for 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 90, 180, 360, 720, and 1,440 min. Common purslane was shown to be the most aggressive species for the nutrient, absorbing 50% of the content in 295 min, whereas lettuce and smooth pigweed needed 766 and 825 min to absorb 10 mg P L−1. Nomenclature: Common purslane, Portulaca oleracea L. POROL; smooth pigweed, Amaranthus hybridus L. AMACH; lettuce, Lactuca sativa L.

Influence of method of phosphorus application on smooth pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus) and common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) interference in lettuce

Abstract Field trials were conducted to investigate the influence of P application method on the critical period of smooth pigweed and common purslane interference in lettuce. Studies were carried out in low-P histosols, where supplemental P fertilization is needed for lettuce production. Phosphorus was either broadcast or banded 5 cm beneath the lettuce rows at rates of 250 or 125 kg ha−1, respectively. Seedlings of either smooth pigweed or common purslane were transplanted at a density of 16 plants per 5.4 m2 (6-m row by 0.9 m wide). Weed interference duration was achieved by manual removal 2, 4, 6, or 8 wk after lettuce emergence and subsequently keeping the plot weed free until harvest. A weed-free control within each P regimen was also established. Marketable head number, head fresh yield, and head diameter were measured at harvest. Weed-free lettuce fresh yield was 20% higher with banded P than broadcast applications. In the weed–lettuce mixtures, the P regimen by weed removal interaction affected lettuce fresh yield and head diameter but not head number. Compared with broadcast P application, banded P extended the time needed to cause significant weed interference in lettuce by 10 d: from 24 to 34 d for smooth pigweed and from 37 to 47 d for common purslane. Nomenclature: Common purslane, Portulaca oleracea L. POROL; smooth pigweed, Amaranthus hybridus L. AMACH; lettuce, Lactuca sativa L.

Effect of Glyphosate and MSMA Application Timing on Weed Control, Fruiting Patterns, and Yield in Glyphosate-Resistant Cotton

The limited window of opportunity for glyphosate postemergence (POST) over-the-top applications in glyphosate-resistant cotton poses a problem for growers where a midseason salvage weed control remedy is necessary. The objectives of these experiments were to compare glyphosate and MSMA for midseason weed control and their subsequent effect on cotton fruiting characteristics and yield. Glyphosate at 0.85 kg ai/ha was more effective than MSMA at 1.7 kg ai/ha for POST control of sicklepod, redweed, and pitted morningglory. Single glyphosate treatments applied at the 8-, 10-, or 12-leaf cotton stage resulted in less-effective weed control than when applied at the four-leaf cotton stage. Glyphosate applied at the four-leaf cotton stage followed by a sequential POST-directed application at 6-, 8-, 10-, or 12-leaf cotton stage increased season-long weed control and yield compared with a single application at the four-leaf stage. Both glyphosate and MSMA controlled Florida beggarweed, regardless of POST application timing. Generally, cotton was more tolerant to glyphosate than MSMA when applied over-the-top. Glyphosate applied POST over-the-top to weed-free 12-leaf cotton resulted in a 19 and 14% yield loss compared with the weed-free nontreated cotton in 1997 and 1999. MSMA reduced yield by 58 and 36% in 1997 and 1999, respectively. Glyphosate did not affect weed-free cotton fruit development or yield when applied over-the-top to four-leaf cotton or when a POST-directed application was followed at the 12-leaf stage. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; MSMA; Florida beggarweed, Desmodium tortuosum (Sw.) DC. #3, DEDTO; pitted morningglory, Ipomoea lacunosa L. # IPOLA; redweed, Melochia corchorifolia L. # MEOCO; sicklepod, Senna obtusifolia L. #3 SENOB; cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. Additional index words: Application timing, cotton boll retention, salvage weed control. Abbreviations: POST, postemergence; POST-directed, postemergence-directed; PPI, preplant incorporated; PRE, preemergence.