Walter E. Thomas

Weed Efficacy Evaluations for Bromoxynil, Glufosinate, Glyphosate, Pyrithiobac, and Sulfosate'

Thirteen field trials were conducted in 1999 and 2000 to evaluate postemergence (POST) weed control with single applications of bromoxynil at 420 or 560 g ai/ha, glufosinate at 291 or 409 g ai/ha, glyphosate at 1,120 g ai/ha, pyrithiobac at 36 or 72 g ai/ha, or sulfosate at 1,120 g ai/ha. Additional treatments evaluated included two applications with glufosinate at both rates in all possible combinations, two applications of glyphosate, and two applications of sulfosate. Weeds were 2 to 5 cm or 8 to 10 cm tall for annual grass and broadleaf weeds whereas yellow nutsedge and glyphosate-resistant corn were 8 to 10 cm tall. All herbicide treatments controlled 2- to 5-cm common cocklebur, Florida beggarweed, jimsonweed, ladysthumb smartweed, Pennsylvania smartweed, pitted morningglory, prickly sida, redroot pigweed, smooth pigweed, and velvetleaf at least 90%. All herbicide treatments except pyrithiobac at either rate controlled 2- to 5-cm common lambsquarters, common ragweed, and tall morningglory at least 90%; pyrithiobac at the lower rate was the only treatment that failed to control entireleaf and ivyleaf morningglory at least 90%. Bromoxynil and pyrithiobac at either rate controlled 2- to 5-cm sicklepod 33 to 68% whereas glufosinate, glyphosate, and sulfostate controlled ≥99%. Glyphosate and sulfosate applied once or twice controlled hemp sesbania less than 70% and volunteer peanut less than 80%. Bromoxynil and pyrithiobac were the least effective treatments for control of annual grass species and bromoxynil controlled Palmer amaranth less than 80%. Glufosinate controlled broadleaf signalgrass, fall panicum, giant foxtail, green foxtail, large crabgrass, yellow foxtail, seedling johnsongrass, Texas panicum, and glyphosate-resistant corn at least 90% but controlled goosegrass less than 60%. Glyphosate and sulfosate controlled all grass species except glyphosate-resistant corn at least 90%. In greenhouse research, goosegrass could be controlled with glufosinate POST plus a late POST-directed treatment of prometryn plus monosodium salt of methylarsonic acid. Nomenclature: Bromoxynil; glufosinate; glyphosate; monosodium salt of methylarsonic acid; prometryn; pyrithiobac; sulfosate; broadleaf signalgrass, Bracharia platyphylla (Griseb.) Nash #3 BRAPP; common cocklebur, Xanthium strumarium L. # XANST; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. # CHEAL; common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. # AMBEL; entireleaf morningglory, Ipomoea hederacea var. integriuscula Gray # IPOHG; fall panicum, Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx. # PANDI; Florida beggarweed, Desmodium tortuosum (Sw.) DC. # DEDTO; giant foxtail, Setaria faberi Herm. # SETFA; goosegrass, Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. # ELIEN; green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv. # SETVI; hemp sesbania, Sesbania exaltata (Raf.) Rybd. ex A. W. Hill # SEBEX; ivyleaf morningglory, Ipomoea hederacea (L.) Jacq. # IPOHE; jimsonweed, Datura stramonium L. # DATST; seedling johnsongrass, Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. # SORHA; ladysthumb smartweed, Polygonum persicaria L. # POLPE; large crabgrass, Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. # DIGSA; Palmer amaranth, Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats. # AMAPA; volunteer peanut, Arachis hypogaea L. # ARAHY; Pennsylvania smartweed L. # POLPY; pitted morningglory, Ipomoea lacunosa L. # IPOLA; prickly sida, Sida spinosa L. # SIDSP; redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L. # AMARE; sicklepod, Senna obtusifolia (L.) Irwin and Barnaby # CASOB; smooth pigweed, Amaranthus hybridus L. # AMACH; tall morningglory, Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth # PHBPU; Texas panicum, Panicum texanum Buckl. # PANTE; velvetleaf, Abutilon theophrasti Medicus # ABUTH; yellow foxtail, Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv. # SETLU; yellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus L. # CYPES; glyphosate-resistant corn, Zea mays L. ZEAMA. Additional index words: Herbicide-resistant crops, nonselective herbicides, AMACH, AMAPA, AMARE, AMBEL, ARAHY, BRAPP, CASOB, CHEAL, CYPES, DATST, DEDTO, DIGSA, ELEIN, IPOHE, IPOHG, IPOLA, PANDI, PANTE, PHBPU, POLPE, POLPY, SEBEX, SETFA, SETLU, SETVI, SIDSP, SORHA, XANST, ZEAMA. Abbreviations: DAT, days after treatment; POST, postemergence.

Palmer Amaranth Interference and Seed Production in Peanut

Studies were conducted to evaluate density-dependent effects of Palmer amaranth on weed and peanut growth and peanut yield. Palmer amaranth remained taller than peanut throughout the growing season and decreased peanut canopy diameter, although Palmer amaranth density did not affect peanut height. The rapid increase in Palmer amaranth height at Goldsboro correspondingly reduced the maximum peanut canopy diameter at that location, although the growth trends for peanut canopy diameter were similar for both locations. Palmer amaranth biomass was affected by weed density when grown with peanut. Peanut pod weight decreased linearly 2.89 kg/ha with each gram of increase in Palmer amaranth biomass per meter of crop row. Predicted peanut yield loss from season-long interference of one Palmer amaranth plant per meter of crop row was 28%. Palmer amaranth seed production was also described by the rectangular hyperbola model. At the highest density of 5.2 Palmer amaranth plants/m crop row, 1.2 billion Palmer amaranth seed/ha were produced. Nomenclature: Palmer amaranth, Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats. AMAPA; peanut, Arachis hypogaea L. ‘Perry’.

Assessment of two nondestructive assays for detecting glyphosate resistance in horseweed (Conyza canadensis)

Abstract Two rapid, nondestructive assays were developed and tested for their potential in differentiating glyphosate-resistant from glyphosate-susceptible biotypes of horseweed. In one assay, leaves of glyphosate-resistant and -susceptible corn, cotton, and soybean plants as well as glyphosate-resistant and -susceptible horseweed plants were dipped in solutions of 0, 300, 600, and 1200 mg ae L−1 glyphosate for 3 d and subsequent injury was evaluated. In the second assay, plant sensitivity to glyphosate was evaluated in vivo by incubating excised leaf disc tissue from the same plants used in the first assay in 0.7, 1.3, 2.6, 5.3, 10.6, 21.1, 42.3, and 84.5 mg ae L−1 glyphosate solutions for 16 h and measuring shikimate levels with a spectrophotometer. The leaf-dip assay differentiated between glyphosate-resistant and -susceptible crops and horseweed biotypes. The 600 mg L−1 rate of glyphosate was more consistent in differentiating resistant and susceptible plants compared with the 300 and 1,200 mg L−1 rates. The in vivo assay detected significant differences between susceptible and glyphosate-resistant plants of all species. Shikimate accumulated in a glyphosate dose-dependent manner in leaf discs from susceptible crops, but shikimate did not accumulate in leaf discs from resistant crops and levels were similar to nontreated leaf discs. Shikimate accumulated at high (≥ 21.1 mg ae L−1) concentrations of glyphosate in leaf discs from all horseweed biotypes. Shikimate accumulated at low glyphosate concentrations (≤ 10.6 mg L−1) in leaf discs from susceptible horseweed biotypes but not in resistant biotypes. Both assays were able to differentiate resistant from susceptible biotypes of horseweed and might have utility for screening other weed populations for resistance to glyphosate. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; horseweed, Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq. ERICA; corn, Zea mays L. ‘Dekalb 687RR’, ‘Pioneer 31B13’; cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. ‘Delta and Pine Land 444RR’, ‘Suregrow 747’; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Delta and Pine Land 4748’, ‘Asgrow 4702RR’.

Weed Management in Glyphosate-Resistant Corn with Glyphosate, Halosulfuron, and Mesotrione1

Four field studies were conducted at the Peanut Belt Research Station near Lewiston Woodville, NC, in 2000, 2001, and 2002 to evaluate crop tolerance, weed control, grain yield, and net returns in glyphosate-resistant corn with various herbicide systems. Preemergence (PRE) treatment options included no herbicide, atrazine at 1.12 kg ai/ha, or atrazine plus metolachlor at 1.68 kg ai/ha. Postemergence (POST) treatment options included glyphosate at 1.12 kg ai/ha as either the isopropylamine salt or the diammonium salt, either alone or in mixtures with mesotrione at 105 g ai/ha plus crop oil concentrate at 1% (v/v) or halosulfuron at 53 g ai/ha plus 0.25% (v/v) nonionic surfactant. All response variables were independent of glyphosate formulation. Addition of metolachlor to atrazine PRE improved large crabgrass and goosegrass control but did not always improve Texas panicum control. POST control of these annual grasses was similar with glyphosate alone or in mixture with halosulfuron or mesotrione. Glyphosate POST controlled common lambsquarters and common ragweed 89 and 93%, respectively. Glyphosate plus halosulfuron POST provided more effective yellow nutsedge control than glyphosate POST. Atrazine PRE or atrazine plus metolachlor PRE followed by any glyphosate POST treatment controlled Ipomoea spp. at least 93%. Glyphosate plus mesotrione in total POST systems always provided greater control of Ipomoea spp. than glyphosate alone. The highest yielding treatments always included glyphosate POST, either with or without a PRE herbicide treatment. Similarly, systems that included any glyphosate POST treatment had the highest net returns. Nomenclature: Atrazine; glyphosate; halosulfuron; mesotrione; metolachlor; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L. #3 CHEAL; common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. # AMBEL; goosegrass, Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. # ELEIN; large crabgrass, Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. # DIGSA; Texas panicum, Panicum texanum Buckl. # PANTE; yellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus L.; corn, Zea mays L. # ZEAMX. Additional index words: Diammonium salt, isopropylamine salt, net returns. Abbreviations: ALS, acetolactate synthase; DAT, days after early postemergence treatment; fb, followed by; GR, glyphosate-resistant; POST, postemergence; PRE, preemergence.

Glyphosate negatively affects pollen viability but not pollination and seed set in glyphosate-resistant corn

Abstract Experiments were conducted in the North Carolina State University Phytotron greenhouse and field locations in Clayton, Rocky Mount, and Lewiston-Woodville, NC, in 2002 to determine the effect of glyphosate on pollen viability and seed set in glyphosate-resistant (GR) corn. Varieties representing both currently commercial GR corn events, GA21 and NK603, were used in phytotron and field studies. All glyphosate treatments were applied at 1.12 kg ai ha−1 at various growth stages. Regardless of hybrid, pollen viability was reduced in phytotron and field studies with glyphosate treatments applied at the V6 stage or later. Scanning electron microscopy of pollen from affected treatments showed distinct morphological alterations correlating with reduced pollen viability as determined by Alexander stain. Transmission electron microscopy showed pollen anatomy alterations including large vacuoles and lower starch accumulation with these same glyphosate treatments. Although pollen viability and pollen production were reduced in glyphosate treatments after V6, no effect on kernel set or yield was found among any of the reciprocal crosses in the phytotron or field studies. There were also no yield differences among any of the hand self-pollinated (nontreated male × nontreated female, etc.) crosses. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to examine CP4-5-enolpyruvlshikimate-3-phosphate synthase expression in DKC 64-10RR (NK603) at anthesis, we found the highest expression in pollen with progressively less in brace roots, ear leaf, anthers, roots, ovaries, silks, stem, flag leaf, and husk. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; corn, Zea mays L.; ‘DK 662RR’; ‘DK 687RR’; ‘DKC 64-10RR/SIL’.

Influence of environmental factors on slender amaranth (Amaranthus viridis) germination

Abstract Germination response of slender amaranth to temperature, solution pH, moisture stress, and depth of emergence was evaluated under controlled environmental conditions. Results indicated that 30 C was the optimum constant temperature for germination. Germination of slender amaranth seed at 21 d was similar, with 35/25, 35/20, 30/25, and 30/20 alternating temperature regimes. As temperatures in alternating regimes increased, time to onset of germination decreased and rate of germination increased. Slender amaranth germination was greater with acidic than with basic pH conditions. Germination declined with increasing water stress and was completely inhibited at water potentials below −0.6 MPa. Slender amaranth emergence was greatest at depths of 0.5 to 2 cm, but some seeds emerged from as deep as 6 cm. Information gained in this study will contribute to an integrated control program for slender amaranth. Nomenclature: Slender amaranth, Amaranthus viridis L. AMAVI.

Influence of environmental factors on broadleaf signalgrass (Brachiaria platyphylla) germination

Abstract Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the effect of temperature, solution pH, water stress, and planting depth on broadleaf signalgrass germination. Broadleaf signalgrass seed required removal of the husk for germination. When treated with constant temperature, broadleaf signalgrass germinated over a range of 20 to 35 C, with optimum germination occurring at 30 and 35 C. Onset, rate, and total germination (87%) was greatest in an alternating 20/30 C temperature regime. Germination decreased as solution pH increased, with greatest germination occurring at pH values of 4 and 5. Germination decreased with increasing water potential, and no germination occurred below − 0.8 mPa. Emergence was above 42% when seed were placed on the soil surface or buried 0.5 cm deep. Germination decreased with burial depth, but 10% of broadleaf signalgrass seed emerged from 6.0-cm depth. No seed emerged from 10-cm depth. These data suggest that broadleaf signalgrass may emerge later in the season, after rains, and could germinate rapidly and in high numbers. These attributes could contribute to poor control later in the season by soil-applied herbicides or allow broadleaf signalgrass to emerge after final postemergence treatments were made. Nomenclature: Broadleaf signalgrass, Brachiaria platyphylla (Griseb.) Nash BRAPP.

Influence of environmental factors on after-ripened crowfootgrass (Dactyloctenium aegyptium) seed germination

Abstract Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the effect of temperature, pH, water stress, and planting depth on crowfootgrass germination. When treated with constant temperature, crowfootgrass germinated over a range of 15 to 40 C, with the optimum germination occurring at 30 C (42%). Onset, rate, and total germination (94%) were greatest in an alternating 20 and 35 C temperature regime. Germination decreased as pH increased, with greatest germination occurring at pH 4 and 5. Germination was reduced when seed was subjected to water stress, and no germination occurred below −0.8 mPa. Emergence was similar when seed were placed on the soil surface or buried at depths of 0.5 or 1 cm. Germination decreased with burial depth, and no seed emerged from 10 cm. These data suggest that crowfootgrass may emerge later in the season with warmer temperatures and after a precipitation event, and may emerge rapidly. These attributes could contribute to poor control later in the season by soil-applied herbicides or allow crowfootgrass to emerge after final postemergence treatments are made. Nomenclature: Crowfootgrass, Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd. DTTAE.

Critical Period of Weed Interference in Peanut

Field studies were conducted near Lewiston–Woodville and Rocky Mount, NC to evaluate the effects of mixed weed species on peanut yield. A combination of broadleaf and grass weeds were allowed to interfere with peanut for various intervals to determine both the critical timing of weed removal and the critical weed-free period. These periods were then combined to determine the critical period of weed control in peanut. The effects of various weedy intervals on peanut yield were also investigated. The predicted critical period of weed control, in the presence of a mixed population of weeds, was found to be from 3 to 8 wk after planting (WAP). Peanut yield decreased as weed interference intervals increased, demonstrating the need for weed control throughout much of the growing season in the presence of mixed weed populations. Nomenclature: Peanut, Arachis hypogaea L

Yield and Physiological Response of Peanut to Glyphosate Drift

Five experiments were conducted during 2001 and 2002 in North Carolina to evaluate peanut injury and pod yield when glyphosate was applied to 10 to 15 cm diameter peanut plants at rates ranging from 9 to 1,120 g ai/ha. Shikimic acid accumulation was determined in three of the five experiments. Visual foliar injury (necrosis and chlorosis) was noted 7 d after treatment (DAT) when glyphosate was applied at 18 g/ha or higher. Glyphosate at 280 g/ha or higher significantly injured the peanut plant and reduced pod yield. Shikimic acid accumulation was negatively correlated with visual injury and pod yield. The presence of shikimic acid can be detected using a leaf tissue assay, which is an effective diagnostic tool for determining exposure of peanut to glyphosate 7 DAT. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; peanut, Arachis hypogaea L. ARHHY.