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Because of the development of glyphosate-resistant weed species, the lack of new herbicide chemistry, and the late-season emergence of annual grass species, efforts are underway to expand the use of currently available herbicides for use in cotton. Field studies were conducted in 2005 and 2006 to evaluate the effect of POST-applied pendimethalin formulation and application rate on cotton fruit partitioning. Oil- and water-based pendimethalin formulations as well as S-metolachlor were applied to cotton that had four true leaves. All pendimethalin and S-metolachlor applications included glyphosate for broad-spectrum weed control. Pendimethalin formulation and application rate had no effect on seed-cotton partitioning to horizontal fruiting zones, on second- or third-position horizontal fruiting sites, or on monopodial branches. However, increased seed-cotton partitioned to plants that had lost apical dominance was observed when the water-based pendimethalin formulation was applied at rates of 1.7 kg ai/ha and higher as well as when the oil-based pendimethalin formulation was applied at 3.3 kg ai/ha. Application of water-based pendimethalin at rates of 1.7 and 3.4 kg ai/ha and oil-based pendimethalin at rates of 0.8, 1.7, and 3.3 kg ai/ha resulted in reduced seed-cotton located at position 1 fruiting sites compared with the untreated check. POST application of S-metolachlor had no effect on fruit partitioning to horizontal fruiting positions or vertical fruiting zones. Minor differences in seed-cotton partitioning to cohorts and individual fruiting nodes were observed from application of glyphosate, pendimethalin, and S-metolachlor. However, no differences in seed-cotton yield were observed from application of glyphosate, S-metolachlor, or pendimethalin, regardless of formulation or application rate. POST pendimethalin application at rates less than 1.7 kg ai/ha is relatively safe and should provide cotton producers with an additional tool for herbicide-resistant weeds and late-season annual grasses.
M. Joy M. Abit, Kassim Al-Khatib, Randall S. Currie, Phillip W. Stahlman, Patrick W. Geier, Barney W. Gordon, Brian L. S. Olson, Mark M. Claassen, David L. Regehr
Field experiments were conducted at Belleville, Colby, Hays, Hesston, Garden City, and Manhattan, KS, to determine grain sorghum response to POST application of mesotrione at three application timings. Mesotrione was applied at 52, 105, 157, and 210 g ai/ha in combination with 280 g ai/ha atrazine to grain sorghum at heights of 5 to 8, 15 to 20, and 30 cm, which correspond to early POST (EPOST), mid-POST (MPOST), and late POST (LPOST), respectively. All mesotrione rates caused injury at all application timings. Overall, grain sorghum injury from mesotrione was greatest at 1 wk after treatment (WAT); plants partially recovered from injury by 4 WAT. Mesotrione applied EPOST injured grain sorghum more than when applied at MPOST and LPOST timings. The EPOST application injured grain sorghum 19 to 88%, whereas injury from MPOST and LPOST application was 1 to 66% and 0 to 69%, respectively, depending on rate. Mesotrione injury was least at Belleville and most at the Hesston and Garden City (irrigated) sites regardless of growth stage. Correlation coefficient analyses indicated that observed mesotrione injury symptoms were not well correlated with grain sorghum yield; thus, mesotrione injury to grain sorghum did not influence grain yield. However, initial grain sorghum injury was severe, and this will likely be a major concern to producers.
Se condujeron experimentos de campo en Belleville, Colby, Hays, Hesston, Garden City y Manhattan, KS para determinar la respuesta de aplicaciones post-emergentes en sorgo de grano de mesotrione en 3 intervalos de aplicación. El mesotrione fue aplicado en dosis de 52, 105, 157 y 210 g ia/ha en combinación con 280 g ia/ha de atrazine en etapas de crecimiento de 5 a 8 cm., de 15 a 20 cm y de 30 cm, las cuales corresponden a la emergencia temprana (EPOST), emergencia media (MPOST) y emergencia tardía (LPOST) respectivamente. Todas las dosis de mesotrione causaron daño en todos los intervalos de aplicación. De todos los tratamientos el que mayor daño causó al sorgo de grano fue el de mesotrione aplicado una semana después del tratamiento (1 WAT), las plantas se recuperaron parcialmente de los daños a las 4 semanas después del tratamiento (4 WAT). La aplicación temprana de mesotrione (EPOST) causó más daño al sorgo que cuando fue aplicado en la emergencia media (MPOST) y la emergencia tardía. La aplicación temprana dañó el sorgo de un 19% a un 88% mientras que el daño en la emergencia media y emergencia tardía fue de un 1% a un 66% y de un 0 % a un 69% respectivamente, dependiendo de la dosis. El menor daño causado por mesotrione ocurrió en Belleville y el mayor en Hesston y Garden City, ambos sitios irrigados, independientemente de la etapa de crecimiento. El análisis del coeficiente de correlación indicó que los daños observados por la aplicación de mesotrione no fueron bien correlacionados con los rendimientos del sorgo, mientras que el daño de mesotrione no incluyó los rendimientos del grano. Sin embargo, el daño inicial fue severo, y esto será probablemente una preocupación importante para los productores de sorgo.
Field studies were conducted to determine if POST applications of the p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors mesotrione (105 g ai/ha), topramezone (18 g ai/ha), and tembotrione (92 g ai/ha) applied alone and in mixtures with the photosystem-II (PSII) inhibitors atrazine (560 g ai/ha), bentazon (560 g ai/ha), or bromoxynil (280 g ai/ha) would control volunteer potato. Mesotrione alone controlled potato 62%, but topramezone and tembotrione only provided 10 to 22% control by 6 wk after treatment (WAT). All PSII inhibitors applied alone provided less than 36% control of potato. Overall, mixtures of PSII inhibitors plus mesotrione improved initial potato control by 2 WAT; however, by 6 WAT, few differences were observed between mesotrione applied alone or in mixtures with PSII inhibitors. PSII inhibitors did not always improve activity of topramezone or tembotrione on potato, and in some instances appeared to antagonize control. HPPD inhibitors applied alone or in combinations with PSII inhibitors reduced potato yields in comparison to the untreated check.
A 2-yr field study was conducted during 2007 and 2008 at Stoneville, MS, to determine the effect of twin-row (two rows 38 cm apart on 102-cm beds) and single-row (on 102-cm beds) patterns and glyphosate POST applications with and without fluometuron S-metolachlor PRE on cotton canopy closure, weed control, and lint yield in two cultivars (‘DP117B2RF’, early maturity, hairy leaf; ‘DP164B2RF’, mid to full maturity, smooth leaf) under an irrigated environment. The experiment was conducted in a split–split plot arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design with row pattern as the main plot, cultivars as the subplot, and herbicide programs as the subsubplot. Cotton canopy closed 2 wk earlier in the twin-row pattern compared to the single-row pattern. Canopy closure was unaffected by cultivars and herbicide programs. Control of nine predominant weeds was sufficient (≥ 95%) to support cotton production. Total weed dry biomass was reduced by 35% in twin rows compared to the single-row pattern, 15% in DP117B2RF compared to DP164B2RF cultivar, and ≥ 97% with glyphosate early POST (EPOST), EPOST followed by (fb) mid-season POST (MPOST), EPOST fb MPOST fb late POST (LPOST) following PRE herbicides or three applications of glyphosate POST only without PRE herbicides compared to no herbicide. Cotton grown in twin-row pattern produced 6% higher lint yield than single-row cotton. Cultivar DP117B2RF produced 23% higher lint yield than cultivar DP164B2RF. Lint yields were higher with glyphosate EPOST fb MPOST, EPOST fb MPOST fb LPOST following PRE herbicides or three applications of glyphosate POST only without PRE herbicides (1,210 to 1,230 kg/ha) compared to glyphosate EPOST following PRE herbicides (1,130 kg/ha). These results demonstrated that cotton grown in twin-rows closed canopy early and produced higher lint yields than cotton grown in single-rows.
Flaxleaf fleabane is a difficult-to-control weed in dryland minimum tillage farming systems in the northeast grains region of Australia. Experiments were conducted between 2003 and 2005 to identify effective control strategies on flaxleaf fleabane in wheat and sorghum. A preplant application of chlorsulfuron at 15 g ai/ha in wheat controlled flaxleaf fleabane ≥ 90%. The efficacy of early postemergent applications of metsulfuron–methyl at 4.2 g ai/ha varied between years. However, the flaxleaf fleabane was controlled > 85% with metsulfuron–methyl at 4.2 g ai/ha plus MCPA at 420 g ae/ha plus picloram at 26 g ae/ha, or metsulfuron–methyl followed by late postemergent 2,4-D amine at 300 g ae/ha. In sorghum, a preplant application of glyphosate at 900 g ae/ha plus 2,4-D amine at 900 g ae/ha or dicamba at 500 g ae/ha at 1 mo before sorghum planting provided ≥ 95% control. Preplant atrazine at 2,000 g ai/ha controlled flaxleaf fleabane 83 to 100% in sorghum. At-planting atrazine at 2,000 or 1,000 g ai/ha can be applied to control new emergence of flaxleaf fleabane and grasses, depending on the weed pressure and spectrum. Flaxleaf fleabane reduced sorghum yield 65 to 98% if not controlled.
The inclusion of winter cereals in spring-annual rotations in the northern Great Plains may reduce weed populations and herbicide requirements. A broad range of spring and winter cereals were compared for ability to suppress weeds and maximize grain yield at Lacombe (2002 to 2005) and Lethbridge (2003 to 2005), Alberta, Canada. High seeding rates (≥ 400 seeds/m2) were used in all years to maximize crop competitive ability. Spring cereals achieved high crop-plant densities (> 250 plants/m2) at most sites, but winter cereals had lower plant densities due to winterkill, particularly at Lethbridge in 2004. All winter cereals and spring barley were highly effective at reducing weed biomass at Lacombe for the first 3 yr of the study. Weed suppression was less consistently affected by winter cereals in the last year at Lacombe and at Lethbridge, primarily due to poor winter survival. Grain yields were highest for spring triticale and least for spring wheat at Lacombe, with winter cereals intermediate. At Lethbridge, winter cereals had higher grain yields in 2003 whereas spring cereals had higher yields in 2004 and 2005. Winter cereals were generally more effective at suppressing weed growth than spring cereals if a good crop stand was established, but overlap in weed-competitive ability among cultivars was considerable. This information will be used to enhance the sustainable production of winter and spring cereals in traditional and nontraditional agro-ecological zones.
A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of imazosulfuron, halosulfuron, and trifloxysulfuron POST-directed on six fresh-market tomato varieties. Injury 7 d after treatment (DAT) was 3% or less from all treatments, and no injury was observed 28 DAT. Imazosulfuron, halosulfuron, and trifloxysulfuron did not reduce yield relative to the nontreated check. There was no detectable herbicide effect on fruit shape and earliness. Data suggest that imazosulfuron, halosulfuron, and trifloxysulfuron can be applied POST-directed without negatively affecting yield or quality of several fresh-market tomato varieties.
Alligator weed is a serious weed in many countries. In Australia, it is a “weed of national significance” because of its actual and potential impact. We surveyed all local governments in New South Wales in 2001 and 2007 to determine whether the weed is being contained. We found an increased number and extent of infestations, despite more resources and a better knowledge base. Most considered that further research is needed in tactics for control of the weed. On the basis of current containment in urban gardens, we recommend that governments better mobilize the community (e.g., bush restoration consultants, Landcare groups) to deal with alligator weed infestations.
Field trials were conducted to evaluate imazosulfuron applied POST at 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 kg/ha to watermelon at the two- to four-leaf stage or to vines 30.5 cm long. At 7 d after treatment (DAT), crop injury to watermelon increased linearly for both growth stages as rate increased. The least injury to watermelon observed 7 DAT was 19 and 15%, respectively, for the two- to four-leaf and 30.5-cm growth stages treated with 0.01 kg/ha imazosulfuron. The 0.4 kg/ha imazosulfuron treatment caused the greatest watermelon injury (approximately 30%) at both application timings. Yield of watermelon treated with 0.1 and 0.2 kg/ha imazosulfuron applied at the two- to four-leaf and 30.5-cm stages were similar to the nontreated check (all plots were maintained weed-free). For both application timings, yield decreased linearly as imazosulfuron rate increased. The application of imazosulfuron to watermelon at the 30.5-cm stage averaged across rates resulted in less injury at 15 DAT (16%) and greater yield (92,869 kg/ha) than watermelon treated at two- to four-leaf stage averaged across rates (29%, 83,560 kg/ha). Internal fruit quality was not affected by imazosulfuron.
The objective of this experiment was to determine the effectiveness and crop safety of glyphosate vs. alternative herbicides for weed control in glyphosate-resistant alfalfa. Glyphosate-resistant alfalfa was established at two sites in Pennsylvania in 2004 and in 2005, and herbicides were applied either PRE or POST for weed control. Data were collected on herbicide performance, alfalfa and weed yield, and forage quality. Alfalfa forage response to weed control was variable and depended on weed severity. A single or split application of glyphosate provided similar or better weed control than conventionally based herbicide programs. The most differences from weed control occurred during the first harvest and dissipated in subsequent harvests. Cumulative alfalfa yield for the establishment year of the spring seeding was 26% lower in the untreated check relative to the mean of the herbicide-treated plots in 2004; but no differences were detected in 2005. Forage quality was highest where weed content of the forage was lowest. Effective management of weeds with herbicides during alfalfa establishment can improve forage yield and quality, and weed control is particularly important when summer annual weed populations are severe and emerge with the crop.
Weed management systems used by sweet corn growers, including the role of atrazine, are poorly characterized. Management records of 175 fields throughout the major sweet corn production areas of the Midwest were surveyed from 2005 to 2007. Seventy-four percent of sweet corn fields in the Midwest were grown in rotation with soybean or corn. Interrow cultivation was used on 48% of fields, and atrazine use was higher in those fields without interrow cultivation. A majority of fields (54%) received both PRE and POST herbicide applications. Mesotrione was applied below the registered use rate in two-thirds of the fields in which it was used POST. Atrazine rates in sweet corn were highest when the preceding crops were other vegetables, compared to preceding crops of soybean or corn. Selective herbicides are used extensively in U.S. sweet corn production, accounting for 94% of total weed management expenditures which average $123/ha. Growers treated 66% of fields with one or more applications of atrazine at an average total use rate of 1.35 kg ai/ha. The estimated annual net cost to replace atrazine in U.S. sweet corn production with the broad spectrum broadleaf herbicide, mesotrione, is $9.2 million.
There is little information on the tolerance of leguminous crops to saflufenacil. A field study was conducted three times over a 2-yr period (2006, 2007) in Ontario, Canada, to determine the tolerance of adzuki bean, cranberry bean, lima bean, processing pea, snap bean, soybean, and white (navy) bean to saflufenacil applied PRE at 100 and 200 g ai/ha. Saflufenacil caused 51 to 99% injury, reduced height 25 to 93%, reduced shoot dry weight 92 to 99%, and reduced seed yield 56 to 99% in adzuki bean, cranberry bean, lima bean, snap bean, and white bean. Injury was lower in soybean and processing pea. Saflufenacil caused 1 to 25% injury, reduced height 3 to 13%, reduced shoot dry weight 5 to 30%, and reduced seed yield 0 to 4% in soybean and processing pea. Cranberry bean, snap bean, white bean, and lima bean were the most sensitive crops to saflufenacil followed by adzuki bean. Soybean and processing pea were the most tolerant to saflufenacil. Based on these results, saflufenacil applied PRE can be safely used in specific cultivars of pea and soybean at the proposed rate of 100 g/ha. However, there is not an acceptable margin of crop safety for saflufenacil PRE at 100 or 200 g/ha in adzuki, cranberry, lima, snap, and white bean.
Existe muy poca información sobre la tolerancia del cultivo de leguminosas hacia el saflufenacil. Un estudio de campo fue llevado al cabo tres veces durante un período de 2 años (2006, 2007) en Ontario para determinar la tolerancia del Vigna angularis L. ‘Erimo’, Phaseolus vulgaris L. ‘Etna’, Phaseolus lunatus L. ‘Kingston’, Lathyrus odoratus L. ‘Durango’, Phaseolus vulgaris L. ‘Matador’, Glycine max L. ‘DK 28-52R’, y Phaseolus vulgaris L. ‘OAC Rex’ al saflufenacil aplicado en pre-siembra a 100 y 200 g ia/ha. El saflufenacil causó de un 51 a un 99% de daño, redujo la altura de las plantas en un 25 a un 93%, disminuyó el peso seco de la parte aérea de un 92 a un 99%, así como también redujo la producción de semilla de un 56 a un 99% en Vigna angularis, Phaseolus vulgaris Etna, Phaseolus lunatus, Phaseolus vulgaris Matador, y Phaseolus vulgaris OAC Rex. El daño fue menor en Glycine max y en Lathyrus odoratus. El saflufenacil ocasionó del 1 al 25% de daño, redujo la altura de un 3% a un 13%, el peso seco de la parte aérea disminuyó de un 5 a un 30% y bajó el rendimiento de semilla de 0 a 4% en la soya y el chícharo. Phaseolus vulgaris Etna, Phaseolus vulgaris Matador, Phaseolus vulgaris OAC Rex, y Phaseolus lunatus fueron los cultivos más sensibles al saflufenacil seguidos por Vigna angularis. Glycine max y Lathyrus odoratus fueron los más resistentes al herbicida. Basándose en estos resultados, el saflufenacil aplicado en pre-siembra puede ser usado con seguridad en los cultivares específicos de Lathyrus odoratus y Glycine max a la dosis propuesta de 100 g ia /ha. Sin embargo, no existe margen aceptable de seguridad para el saflufenacil aplicado en pre-siembra a 100 o 200 g ia/ha en el cultivo de Vigna angularis, Phaseolus vulgaris Etna, Phaseolus lunatus,
Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate pumpkin cultivar injury and control of three grass species from tank-mixtures of halosulfuron with either clethodim or sethoxydim in combination with nonionic surfactant (NIS), crop-oil concentrate (COC), methylated seed oil (MSO), and high-surfactant oil concentrate (HSOC). Pumpkin injury, in the form of chlorosis and visual growth reduction, was 13 to 21% by 7 d after treatment (DAT) for all pumpkin cultivars. The specific adjuvant used with halosulfuron did not influence pumpkin injury or final plant dry weight. Pumpkin growth reduction at 21 DAT from halosulfuron was less than 9% for all pumpkin cultivars with the least growth reduction (5% or less) observed with Cucurbita pepo ‘Howden’, C. pepo ‘Appalachian’, and Cucurbita moschata ‘Libby's Select’. The efficacy of sethoxydim or clethodim on large crabgrass was antagonized by the addition of halosulfuron with NIS or COC. However, only combinations of sethoxydim and halosulfuron with COC or MSO were antagonistic on smooth crabgrass. Giant foxtail dry weight reduction was decreased 4 to 24% by the addition of halosulfuron to sethoxydim with NIS and clethodim regardless of adjuvant. Although the frequency and magnitude of grass antagonism was variable, the use of clethodim and MSO with halosulfuron most often provided the greatest level of grass control compared with sethoxydim or other adjuvants.
Field experiments were conducted at Oakes, Absaraka, and Tappen, ND, in 2006 and repeated at Oakes and Absaraka, ND, in 2007 to evaluate early season weed control of common lambsquarters and redroot pigweed in onion with POST herbicides applied at multiple reduced rates (microrates) and to determine whether microrate herbicide treatments effectively reduced early season broadleaf weed competition, caused crop injury, or affected yield. Application rates of bromoxynil, oxyfluorfen, metribuzin, and acifluorfen were reduced to 0.25, 0.13, and 0.06× of their lowest labeled rate and applied in sequential applications (every 7 d) either two or three times. The 0.25× rate of bromoxynil (70.1 g ae/ha) provided the greatest control of common lambsquarters (95%). The 0.25× rates of bromoxynil and oxyfluorfen (70.1 g ai/ha) provided the greatest control of redroot pigweed (93 and 85%, respectively). Microrate applications of metribuzin or acifluorfen did not effectively control common lambsquarters or redroot pigweed. In 2006, no onion injury was observed. However, in 2007, applications of oxyfluorfen resulted in approximately 15% injury, regardless of the herbicide rate or the number of applications. Plants outgrew symptoms by 4 wk after treatment and were similar to the untreated plants. Onion treated with oxyfluorfen had the greatest total yield, followed by onion treated with bromoxynil. Onion treated with acifluorfen had a greater total marketable bulb yield than onion treated with metribuzin, but yield was considered poor compared to the other herbicide treatments. Three microrate applications provided greater weed control and increased yield compared with two applications across herbicides and rates. Results suggest that microrate applications of bromoxynil and oxyfluorfen will provide early season broadleaf weed control in onion.
Field studies were conducted in 2006 and 2007 to evaluate the tolerance of autumn-planted cabbage and turnip green to halosulfuron applied the previous spring to cantaloupe. Main plots were three levels of soil pH: maintained at a natural pH level, pH raised with Ca(OH)2, and pH lowered with Al2(SO4)3. Subplots were a factorial arrangement of two halosulfuron application methods and three halosulfuron rates. Halosulfuron application methods were PPI or POST after transplanting to the edges of mulch-covered seedbeds. Halosulfuron rates were 35 and 70 g ai/ha, along with a nontreated control. Cantaloupe were transplanted, maintained weed-free, and evaluated for yield response. After cantaloupe harvest, direct-seeded turnip green and transplanted cabbage were established in September of each year and evaluated for crop tolerance and yield. Data indicated nonsignificant main effects of soil pH and halosulfuron application method on cantaloupe yield. However, in 2007 cantaloupe yields were significantly reduced, by 16 and 20% for halosulfuron applied at 35 and 70 g/ha, respectively. For all turnip green and cabbage response parameters, interactions were nonsignificant between application method and rate, soil pH and rate, and soil pH and application method, along with the three-way interaction. After 6 mo, there was no evidence of stunting from halosulfuron carryover in 2006 to direct-seeded turnip green and in both years to transplanted cabbage. Visual estimates of stunting to direct-seeded turnip green ranged from 9 to 16% for halosulfuron at 35 and 70 g/ha, respectively, in 2007, but all stunting was transient and turnip green yield was not affected.
Tropical signalgrass (TSG) causes serious problems for sod production and turf maintenance in Florida. Other grasses such as large crabgrass (CG), smutgrass (SG), thin paspalum (TP), and torpedograss (TG) can be problematic as well. Several emulsion formulations composed of mycelium or mycelium-free culture filtrate (or both) of the fungal pathogen Drechslera gigantea (DG) and Sunspray 6E oil were tested with or without ammonium sulfate or pelargonic acid (n-nonanoic acid; a natural product registered as a biorational herbicide) in greenhouse and field trials. A 30% Sunspray 6E oil formulation containing DG mycelium (10 g), DG culture filtrate (70 ml), and 4.5 g of ammonium sulfate caused 88 to 100% injury on TSG, CG, SG, and TG in greenhouse trials. The injury resulted from disease as well as phytotoxicity of the culture filtrate, oil, and ammonium sulfate. An emulsion formulation composed of 30% Sunspray 6E oil and 70% DG culture filtrate amended with 2% (v/v) pelargonic acid killed SG 2 wk after application. DG formulations containing ammonium sulfate or pelargonic acid produced lower levels of injury when treated grasses were exposed to a 24-h dew period compared with those treated and not exposed to dew. Formulations containing DG mycelium, DG culture filtrate, and ammonium sulfate or pelargonic acid are effective and promising for control of weedy grasses. Further evaluations of these formulations under field conditions are justified.
A field survey was conducted in 2007 to characterize weed populations in different turfgrass sites throughout the Klang Valley of western Peninsular Malaysia. Sites included golf course putting greens, athletic fields, sod farms, and residential lawns. Weeds present in each site were identified and the data were used to calculate frequency, distribution uniformity, density, relative abundance, and community coefficient values for each species. Seventy-nine weed species, belonging to 16 families, were found. The most species were found on residential lawns, and the fewest were found on golf course putting greens; athletic fields and sod farms ranked intermediately. A total of 19 different weed species were classified as major (relative abundance ≥ 15), and abundance rankings varied by turfgrass area. Greater kyllinga had the highest relative abundance values on athletic fields (45.5) and golf course putting greens (71.5), and the second highest value (21.7) on residential lawns. Forked fringerush and annual sedge had the greatest relative abundance values on residential lawns and sod farms, respectively. Cogongrass was reported on 15% of the residential lawns evaluated. The heterogeneity of weed species composition suggests that control strategies will vary by turfgrass use area. Quantifying weed population dynamics will help researchers delineate integrated weed management strategies to turfgrass managers in Malaysia.
Dr. Raghavan Charudattan has worked in the area of biological control of weeds with plant pathogenic fungi for nearly four decades. He has maintained his research program in this line throughout his career. The scientific discoveries and contributions that he has made have been recognized by his peers and demonstrated through his election as fellow of both the Weed Science Society of America and the American Phytopathological Society. The basic knowledge that he has contributed to our understanding of the fundamental biology of weed/pathogen interactions and his contributions in the areas of mycology, etiology, and natural products will have long-lasting effects. Equally important to the basic and applied research that he has conducted is his role as a mentor and colleague. Dr. Charudattan has contributed to the scientific development of more than 60 students, postdocs, and scientists from more than 20 countries. Dr. Charudattan has contributed to the establishment of biological control of weeds with pathogens as a permanent and highly productive area of weed control research.
A complex coacervate formulation was developed for Colletotrichum truncatum 00-003B1 (Ct), a bioherbicidal fungus against scentless chamomile, and tested in the greenhouse. A two-step process was developed to formulate Ct conidia: (1) invert emulsion preparation—emulsify an aqueous suspension of Ct conidia in nonrefined vegetable oil with the aid of a surfactant, and (2) encapsulate the Ct conidia invert emulsion by complex coacervation. Formulation ingredients, including nonrefined vegetable oils, surfactants, proteins, and carbohydrates, and formulation-processing parameters, including mixing speed and the amount of oil added to invert emulsions, were examined for maximum retention of Ct conidia in the formulation. Most formulation ingredients considered and tested in this study were compatible with Ct, with no significant reduction in conidial germination and mycelial growth. The surfactant soya lecithin promoted the greatest retention of Ct conidia (88%) in the invert emulsion, followed by sorbitan monooleate (82%), glycerol monooleate (70%), and sorbitan trioleate (55%). Optimal retention of Ct conidia in the invert emulsion was observed with a water ∶ oil ratio of 1 ∶ 1.8 to 1 ∶ 3.7, and an overhead paddle stirring speed of 300 rpm when preparing the emulsion. Complex coacervate wall ingredients of 1% gelatin and 2% gum arabic were most effective for Ct conidia retention. In greenhouse studies, scentless chamomile disease rating, following a 24-h dew period, was higher on plants sprayed with the Ct conidia complex coacervate formulation than on plants with Ct conidia suspended in 0.1% Tween 80.
Broad- host-range pathogens are appealing as candidates for commercial development as bioherbicides because of the wider market potential of a product that is effective against a range of weeds. But when these pathogens are able to spread in space (or time), a risk analysis is necessary. Here we test the hypothesis that a safety zone around a bioherbicide application site is adequate so long as it is wide enough to ensure that dispersing inoculum has diluted sufficiently that the density of inoculum occurring naturally in a susceptible crop is no more than doubled by the influx of bioherbicide spores. To this end the plant disease–pathogen inoculum density relationship using data from nine published experiments was modeled using the logistic equation. This revealed that a doubling of the natural spore density of a plant pathogen in the range of 103.4 to 106.7 spores/ml may generally be expected to result in unacceptable increases in disease in a susceptible crop. A doubling outside this range (< 103.4 or > 106.7) is less likely to do so. Therefore when the natural density of inoculum in a crop's environment occurs outside this range, an “acceptable” safety zone for the pathogen's use as a bioherbicide can in most cases be defined by the 1 ∶ 1 ratio of added ∶ natural inoculum. However, if a more “risk averse” safety zone is desired, it can be defined using a 1 ∶ 10 ratio of added ∶ natural inoculum.
Tenuazonic acid (TeA), a naturally occurring product of Alternaria alternata, a pathogen to croftonweed, was discovered to be a novel natural photosystem II (PSII) inhibitor. However, herbicidal activity of AAC-toxin, a metabolite of this fungus containing TeA as the main active ingredient, has not been evaluated systematically. In this study, we conducted activity-evaluation experiments in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field trials to assess the herbicidal potential of this fungal metabolite. AAC-toxin had high herbicidal activity on all species tested: croftonweed, large crabgrass, barnyardgrass, redroot pigweed, and eclipta. The AAC-toxin caused brown, leaf spot symptoms and leaf necrosis, subsequently killing the seedlings. When AAC-toxin was applied POST at 83 ml ai/ha, more than 95% of large crabgrass, barnyardgrass, and redroot pigweed plants were controlled 2 d after treatment in field trials. It can be concluded that AAC-toxin has broad-spectrum, rapid, and high herbicidal activity similar to that of paraquat and may have the potential to be developed as a microbe-based herbicide.
Pathogens were not seriously considered as biological control agents for aquatic plants in the United States until the Chesapeake Bay Eurasian watermilfoil decline occurred in the 1960s. The decline and suggestion that it was induced by pathogens spawned interest in the use of pathogens as biological control agents for nuisance aquatic species. In the years that followed, emphasis was placed on finding pathogen agents for some of the most problematic aquatic weeds, including waterhyacinth, Eurasian watermilfoil, and hydrilla. The scientist that has contributed the most to our knowledge of pathogen biological control in aquatic plants has been Dr. Raghavan Charudattan (University of Florida, Gainesville, FL). For the past 40 yr, he has authored or coauthored more than 50 manuscripts devoted to the subject in peer-reviewed journals, books, and proceedings.
Los patógenos no fueron seriamente considerados como agentes de control biológico para plantas acuáticas en los Estados Unidos hasta que empezó a deteriorarse la Myriophyllum spicatum L. en la Bahía de Chesapeake en los sesentas. Este deterioro y la idea de que fue inducido por patógenos despertaron el interés en el uso de patógenos como agentes de control biológico para especies acuáticas difíciles de controlar. En los años posteriores, se puso especial énfasis en la búsqueda de agentes patógenos para algunas de las malezas acuáticas más problemáticas incluyendo la Eichhornia crassipes, la Myriophyllum spicatum L y la Hydrilla verticillata. El científico que más ha contribuido a ampliar nuestros conocimientos en el uso de patógenos como agentes de control biológico en plantas acuáticas ha sido el Dr. Raghavan Charadattan de la Universidad de Florida en Gainesville. Durante los últimos 40 años, él ha sido autor o co-autor de más de 50 ensayos dedicados a este tema, publicados en revistas científicas, libros, minutas y otros medios de comunicación.
When I began my foray into the field of biological control of weeds in 1971, the concept of deliberately using pathogens to control weeds was novel and untested and met with skepticism and resistance. Soon, a worldwide network of plant pathologists, weed scientists, microbial technologists, formulation specialists, and regulatory personnel came together to study, develop, and apply pathogens in safe and effective ways of control of a variety of weeds in crops and natural areas. Several new weed–pathogen systems were studied; a few dozen products and pathogens were brought to use, albeit on a very small scale compared to conventional weed-control products; and along the way, some valuable lessons were learned in phytopathology and weed ecology. A seminal body of information was published on the etiology and epidemiology of several diseases of weeds, many new pathogens were discovered and described, and methods were developed for mass production, formulation, and storage of pathogens. Numerous pathogen-produced herbicidal metabolites were discovered and characterized. Protocols were developed, tested, and applied for safe importation and release of exotic pathogens and for registration of microbial herbicides. Spectacular success was achieved with some pathogens used as classical biocontrol agents, and a new class of herbicide, the bioherbicides, came on the scene. Yet some key opportunities were missed. Notably, weed biocontrol research remained largely preoccupied with agent or product development and deployment while great strides were made during this period in phytopathology to understand the genetic–molecular basis of virulence, host range, host specificity, host response to infection, cell death, and pathogen population structure. Nevertheless, the accomplishments in the field of weed biocontrol by pathogens are truly significant. Certainly, we are poised to apply the knowledge gained toward discovery and development of additional weed-control pathogens, but increased effort should be directed also at using pathogen genes, gene products, and genetic mechanisms for weed control. An investment in the latter could help us gain insights into genetically programmed host–pathogen interactions that may be exploited to kill weeds, restrain weed growth, or knock out traits for invasiveness. In our continuing struggle to manage weeds, biocontrol with pathogens should remain a major thrust. Here I present perceptions I have gained from the work that my students, postdoctoral and technical associates, colleagues, and I have done with several weed–pathogen systems.
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