Glenn Wehtje

Behavior of sulfentrazone in ionic exchange resins, electrophoresis gels, and cation-saturated soils.

Abstract Sulfentrazone persistence in soil requires many crop rotational restrictions. The sorption and mobility of sulfentrazone play an important role in its soil persistence. Thus, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted to mimic the soil properties of cation and anion exchange with different intermediates. The molecular characterization and ionization shift of sulfentrazone from a neutral molecule to an anion were determined using a three-dimensional graphing technique and titration curve, respectively. Sorption and mobility of 2.6 × 10−5 M 14C-sulfentrazone were evaluated using a soil solution technique with ion exchange resins and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively. Solution pH ranged from 4.0 to 7.4. As pH increased, sulfentrazone sorption to an anion resin increased and its sorption to a cation resin decreased. Percent sulfentrazone in solution was pH-dependent and ranged between 0 to 18% and 54 to 88% for the anion and cation resins, respectively. Mobility of sulfentrazone on a 20% polyacryalmide gel resulted in Rf values of +0.02 and +0.39 for pH of 4.0 and 7.4, respectively. A double peak for sulfentrazone was detected in the polyacrylamide gel when the pH (6.0 and 6.8) was near the reported pKa of 6.56. There was no clear interaction for the sorption of sulfentrazone at 1.0 mg kg−1 to Congaree loamy sand or Decatur silty clay loam saturated with either calcium or potassium. Sulfentrazone behavior with the polyacrylamide electrophoresis gels and ion resins indicate the potential for this herbicide to occur as a polar or Zwitter ion. Sulfentrazone was adsorbed by potassium, calcium, and sodium saturated resins and subsequently desorbed using variable pH solutions. The level of sulfentrazone adsorption will vary among soil types and the amount of desorption into solution may be soil cation-dependent. Nomenclature: Sulfentrazone.

A Trp574 to Leu Amino Acid Substitution in the ALS Gene of Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua) Is Associated with Resistance to ALS-Inhibiting Herbicides

Abstract Annual bluegrass is commonly controlled by acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides in managed turfgrass. An annual bluegrass population with suspected resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides was collected from Grand National Golf Course in Opelika, AL (GN population). Subsequent testing confirmed resistance of the GN population to foramsulfuron, trifloxysulfuron, bispyribac-sodium (bispyribac), and imazaquin when compared to a susceptible population collected locally at Auburn University (AU population). Sequencing of the ALS gene revealed a point mutation resulting in an amino acid substitution at Trp574. Cloning of the ALS gene surrounding the Trp574 region yielded two distinct ALS gene sequences: one producing Trp574 and one producing Leu574. Trp574 to Leu has been previously correlated with resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Both AU and GN gene sequences contained other similar silent and missense mutations. This research confirms resistance of annual bluegrass to ALS-inhibiting herbicides with Trp574 to Leu amino acid substitution being the most likely mode of resistance based on past literature. Nomenclature: Bispyribac; foramsulfuron; imazaquin; trifloxysulfuron; annual bluegrass, Poa annua L.

Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) populations exhibit variation in germination response to temperature, photoperiod, and fenarimol

Abstract Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate variation in germination response of eight annual bluegrass ecotypes (‘Augusta 4’, ‘Augusta 8’, ‘Augusta 14’, ‘Augusta 17’, ‘Auburn’, ‘Birmingham’, ‘Columbia’, and ‘Purchased’) to photoperiod, temperature, and fenarimol, a fungicide–herbicide used for preemergence annual bluegrass. Seed collected from greenhouse-grown plants and stored for > 2 mo were evaluated under 18 environments (three day and night temperatures by six day and night durations). There was a significant ecotype by environment interaction affecting annual bluegrass germination. High temperature markedly restricted germination, with only the Birmingham ecotype exceeding 20% germination at day and night temperatures of 39 and 29 C, respectively. Maximum germination of all ecotypes was observed at a day and night temperature of 19 and 10 C, respectively. Maximum germination for a specific photoperiod was not consistent across ecotypes; however, all ecotypes germinated to some degree in complete darkness, which indicates that maintaining a dense turf canopy to eliminate annual bluegrass germination may not be completely effective. Ecotypes did not differ with respect to root length response to fenarimol but did vary with respect to shoot length response. Purchased and Columbia shoot growth were the most tolerant to increasing fenarimol concentrations. This information will be used to develop improved management strategies for annual bluegrass. Nomenclature: Fenarimol, α-(2-chlorophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-pyrimidine-methanol; annual bluegrass, Poa annua var. annua (L.) Timm. and Poa annua var. reptans (Hauskn.) Timm. POANN.

Physiological basis for the differential tolerance of Glycine max to sulfentrazone during seed germination

Abstract Glycine max cultivars exhibit differential tolerance to soil-applied sulfentrazone. The intent of this study was to determine the physiological basis for this differential tolerance by evaluating sulfentrazone absorption and metabolism during the earliest stages of G. max development (i.e., germinating seeds, and germinal seedlings). Imbibed seeds (24 h) of the sulfentrazone-tolerant cultivar ‘Stonewall’ absorbed 37% less sulfentrazone than the sulfentrazone-sensitive cultivar ‘Asgrow 6785’. Similarly, germinal seedlings (i.e., 60 h from start of imbibition) of the sulfentrazone-tolerant cultivars Stonewall and ‘Pioneer 9593’ absorbed 22% less sulfentrazone than the sulfentrazone-sensitive cultivars Asgrow 6785 and ‘Carver’ when exposed to sulfentrazone-containing solution for either 24 or 48 h. The amount of root-absorbed 14C-sulfentrazone that was translocated into cotyledon or hypocotyl tissues did not exceed 11% of the amount absorbed and was similar for all four cultivars. Sulfentrazone metabolism by both imbibed seeds and by germinal seedlings was independent of cultivar. Increasing the sulfentrazone concentration in the seed imbibition solution and increasing the temperature resulted in greater seedling height reduction at 10 d in Asgrow 6758 than in Stonewall. Results indicate that differential absorption during the earliest stages of development is the basis for the differential response among G. max cultivars. Comparatively limited sulfentrazone absorption by Stonewall, as reflected in acceptable seedling injury, remained relatively consistent across the range of concentrations and temperatures evaluated. Nomenclature: Sulfentrazone; Glycine max (L.) Merr., soybean.

Herbicide Combinations in Tomato to Prevent Nutsedge (Cyperus esulentus) Punctures in Plastic Mulch for Multi-Cropping Systems

Yellow nutsedge can readily puncture the plastic mulch used in plasticulture tomato production, compromising the benefits of the mulch and hastening its deterioration. Our objective was to identify a PRE-applied (i.e., under the plastic) treatment to minimize yellow nutsedge puncturing. In a greenhouse study a series of halosulfuron rates were PRE-applied to soil planted with yellow nutsedge tubers. These rates were also applied to established plants but with selective spray contact. Nonlinear regression revealed that the concentration of halosulfuron required to reduce dry weights by 90% (GR90) for PRE-applied halosulfuron was 11.6 g/ha. The GR90 for POST-applied halosulfuron was 17.1, 28.1, and 11.6 g/ha for foliar-only, soil-only and foliar plus soil spray contact, respectively. Thus halosulfuron was more effective as a POST-applied, foliar-contacting treatment. However, soil activity was deemed likely sufficient to suppress plastic puncturing. In a noncrop field study, suppression of puncturing was influenced (P < 0.05) by the rate of both PRE-applied halosulfuron and S-metolachlor. A field study with tomato was conducted to evaluate six selective treatments using plastic mulch, PRE-applied S-metolachlor, and the combination of PRE or PRE/POST-split applications of halosulfuron. Plastic alone increased tomato yield threefold compared with bare ground. The addition of various herbicide programs neither increased nor reduced yield compared with plastic alone. Selected herbicide treatments did reduce mulch puncturing but not to the extent or duration that would allow sequential crops to receive the full benefit of nonpunctured plastic. Nomenclature: Halosulfuron, S-metolachlor, yellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus L. CYPES, tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. ‘Florida 91’

Pesticide retention by inorganic soil amendments

Abstract Pesticide retention by eight inorganic soil amendments, the majority of which are used in turf, was evaluated using a laboratory-based technique with radiolabeled pesticides. Amendments evaluated were derived from various naturally-occurring deposits of zeolites, diatomaceous earths, and fired clays and are intended to provide long-lived, stable, and uniformly sized particles that can contribute favorable water- and nutrient-retention properties to the root zone. Sand, sedge peat, and a Marvyn loamy sand soil (Ap horizon) were included for comparative purposes. Pesticides evaluated included the herbicides imazaquin and oxadiazon and the fungicide/herbicide fenarimol. Pesticide retention was evaluated with a soil solution technique. Amendments evaluated had considerable variation in cation exchange capacity (CEC), effective CEC (ECEC), surface area (SA), and field capacity with lesser variation in particle size distribution and particle density. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that surface texture was variable but frequently rough and porous. Pesticide retention was also variable but generally more than that of sand and frequently equivalent to sedge peat. Only with fenarimol and amendments that had been Ca+2-saturated could retention be correlated with any of the individual physical or chemical parameters that are generally assumed to govern pesticide adsorption, which in this case were CEC and SA. Imazaquin retention by unaltered amendments was correlated only with the products of SA and CEC, and SA and ECEC. Retention of both oxadiazon and fenarimol by unaltered amendments could not be correlated with any individual physical and chemical parameters or products thereof. Pesticide retention by these amendments is probably the cumulative sum of both true adsorption and physical entrapment. Nomenclature: Imazaquin; oxadiazon; fenarimol, a-(2-chlorophenyl)-a-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-pyrimidinemethanol.

Using Electrolyte Leakage to Detect Soybean (Glycine max) Cultivars Sensitive to Sulfentrazone

Abstract: Laboratory studies were conducted to determine if electrolyte leakage from either leaf tissue, germinating seeds, or excised roots correlated with previously established soil-applied field response of soybean cultivars and target weeds to sulfentrazone. Sulfentrazone-induced electrolyte leakage from leaf tissue of coffee senna (sensitive), sicklepod (tolerant), and soybean cultivars ‘Asgrow 6785’ and ‘Carver’ (sensitive) and ‘Stonewall’ and ‘DPL 3606’ (tolerant) was monitored over time. Electrolyte leakage from leaf tissues, caused by 25 ppm (65 μM) sulfentrazone, agreed directly with the known response of these weeds, but response of the four soybean cultivars was equivalent. Furthermore, sulfentrazone-induced electrolyte leakage from leaf tissue of Asgrow 6785 and Stonewall was not affected by sulfentrazone concentration as high as 100 ppm (258 μM) nor by light intensity (4 and 120 μmol/m2/s photosynthetically active radiation). For germinating seeds, sulfentrazone-induced electrolyte leakage was also independent of soybean cultivar. In contrast, electrolyte leakage from excised roots of germinal soybean seedlings did concur directly with the previously established cultivar sensitivity to soil-applied sulfentrazone. Results indicate that electrolyte leakage from excised roots of soybean germinal seedlings can be used to assess cultivar sensitivity to soil-applied sulfentrazone. Nomenclature: Sulfentrazone, coffee senna, Cassia occidentalis L. #3 CASOC; sicklepod, Senna obtusifolia L. # CASOB; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Asgrow 6785’, ‘Carver’, ‘Stonewall’, ‘DPL 3606’. Additional index words: Herbicide tolerance, membrane leakage, Protox, light intensity. Abbreviations: Ie, index of relative electrolyte leakage; PAR, photosynthetically active radiation; Protogen, protoporphyrinogen; Proto IX, protoporphyrin; Protox, protoporphyrinogen oxidase.

Nontuberous Sedge and Kyllinga Species' Response to Herbicides1

Annual, cylindric, and globe sedges were controlled > 90% with a single application of MSMA at 2.2 kg ai/ha in field studies. But this same treatment controlled fragrant and green kyllingas only 69 and 52%, respectively. Control was increased to 82 and 81%, respectively, with a repeat application. Other postemergence-applied (POST) herbicides evaluated included bentazon, halosulfuron, imazapic, imazaquin, and CGA-362622. Postemergence-applied herbicides were applied either once or twice, as well as alone and in combination with MSMA. In general, a sequential application of MSMA, either alone or in combination with any of the aforementioned herbicides, except bentazon, provided maximum control of the sedge and kyllinga species evaluated. Preemergence-applied (PRE) oxadiazon and S-metolachlor, controlled annual sedge ≥ 94% at 7 wk after treatment (WAT) in field studies and 96 and 70% at 9 WAT, respectively. Dithiopyr and prodiamine provided 86 to 80% control of annual sedge over the 9-wk rating period. In a hydroponic-type laboratory study, oxadiazon and S-metolachlor were more effective than atrazine, bensulide, imazaquin, oryzalin, or simazine, in reducing seedling development of annual, cylindric, and globe sedges, and green kyllinga. Nomenclature: Atrazine; bensulide; bentazon; CGA-362622 (proposed common name trifloxysulfuron), N-([(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)amino]carbonyl)-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-pyridin-2-sulfonamide sodium salt; dithiopyr; halosulfuron; imazapic; imazaquin; S-metolachlor; MSMA; oryzalin; oxadiazon; prodiamine; simazine; annual sedge, Cyperus compressus L. #3 CYPCP; cylindric sedge, Cyperus retrorsus Chapm. # CYPRT; fragrant kyllinga, Kyllinga odorata Vahl. [Cyperus sesquiflorus (Torr.) Mattf. and Kuekenth.](no code); globe sedge, Cyperus globulosus Aubl. # CYPGL; green kyllinga, Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb. # KYLBR. Additional index words: CYPCP, CYPGL, CYPRT, KYLBR, turfgrass weed control. Abbreviations: POST, postemergence; PRE, preemergence; WAIT, weeks after initial treatment; WAT, weeks after treatment.

Residual Herbicide Weed Control Systems in Peanut1

Field studies were conducted to evaluate residual herbicides applied alone and with a contact weed control program in peanut in Georgia and Alabama. Residual herbicide treatments included pendimethalin preemergence (PRE) at 924 g ai/ha, diclosulam PRE at 18 and 26 g ai/ha, flumioxazin PRE at 70 and 104 g ai/ha, sulfentrazone PRE at 168 and 280 g ai/ha, and imazapic postemergence (POST) at 71 g ai/ha. All herbicides were applied alone and in combination with an early postemergence (EPOST) application of paraquat plus bentazon. Peanut injury ranged from 0 to 7% for diclosulam, from 0 to 28% for flumioxazin, from 0 to 59% for sulfentrazone, from 0 to 15% for imazapic, and from 4 to 12% for paraquat plus bentazon. Across locations and years, Florida beggarweed control was 92% or greater with flumioxazin PRE at 104 g/ha, 77% or greater with diclosulam PRE at 26 g/ha, 80% or greater with sulfentrazone PRE at 280 g/ha, ranged from 54 to 86% for imazapic POST, and was 68% or less for paraquat plus bentazon EPOST. For diclosulam, sulfentrazone, and imazapic, including paraquat plus bentazon EPOST improved Florida beggarweed control vs. these treatments alone. However, flumioxazin alone provided consistent and season-long Florida beggarweed control without paraquat plus bentazon EPOST. Sicklepod control with imazapic was consistently greater than 90%, but it was 70% or less with diclosulam, flumioxazin, and sulfentrazone. Paraquat plus bentazon EPOST used with the residual herbicide treatments resulted in variable sicklepod control ranging from 40 to 99%. Yellow nutsedge control was 95% or greater with sulfentrazone, varied from 56 to 93% with diclosulam, and was 87% or greater with imazapic. Tall and smallflower morningglory, wild poinsettia, Palmer amaranth, and bristly starbur control varied by residual herbicide treatment. Yields were similar for diclosulam, flumioxazin, sulfentrazone, and imazapic treated peanut. Nomenclature: Bentazon; diclosulam; flumioxazin; imazapic; paraquat; pendimethalin; sulfentrazone; bristly starbur, Acanthospermum hispidum DC. #3 ACNHI; Florida beggarweed, Desmodium tortuosum (Sec) L. # DEDTO; sicklepod, Senna obtusifolia (L.) Irwin and Barneby # CASOB; smallflower morningglory, Jacquemontia tamnifolia (L.) Griseb. # IAQTA; tall morningglory, Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth # PHBPU; wild poinsettia, Euphorbia heterophylla L. # EPHHL; yellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus L. # CYPES; peanut, Arachis hypogaea L. Additional index words: Peanut injury, peanut yield, susceptibility to herbicides. Abbreviations: EPOST, early postemergence; POST, postemergence; PPI, preplant incorporated; PRE, preemergence.

Synergism of Dicamba with Diflufenzopyr with Respect to Turfgrass Weed Control

Abstract Diflufenzopyr is an auxin-transport inhibitor that can increase the phytotoxicity of certain auxin-mimicking herbicides such as dicamba on broadleaf species. Dicamba is commonly used alone and in combination with other auxin herbicides for broadleaf weed control in various species of turfgrass. Dicamba efficacy applied over a series of rates either alone or as an admixture with either 20 or 40% by weight of diflufenzopyr relative to the weight of dicamba was evaluated on purple cudweed and common lespedeza. The 20% admixture reduced the LD50 of dicamba on purple cudweed from 23 to 20 g/ha. Similarly, LD50 on common lespedeza was reduced from 36 and 27 g/ha. The 20% admixture was 13 and 25% more active than dicamba alone for these two weed species, respectively. However, the synergistic benefit was limited to a relatively narrow range of rates that are below the minimal registered rate of dicamba. Turfgrass injury, as expressed by the suppression of foliage growth, was similar whether dicamba was applied alone or with diflufenzopyr for all species evaluated except St. Augustinegrass. The admixture was less injurious than dicamba alone in St. Augustinegrass. The synergistic benefit with respect to weed control was obtained without a corresponding increase in injury on the turfgrasses. Nomenclature: Dicamba; diflufenzopyr; common lespedeza, Kummerowia striata (Thunb.) Schindl. LESST; purple cudweed, Gnaphalium purpureum L. GNAPU; St. Augustinegrass, Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze ‘Raleigh’