Research was conducted in 2012 and 2013 to evaluate the use of saflufenacil in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Studies included a preemergence evaluation of different rates of saflufenacil in comparison to one rate of carfentrazone, a postemergence evaluation of saflufenacil at different rates and carfentrazone at one rate at different postemergence timings, an adjuvant evaluation to assess rice injury and weed control from different adjuvants when mixed with saflufenacil, a Clearfield program evaluation where saflufenacil was compared to other broadleaf herbicides in a Clearfield weed control program, and a cultivar tolerance evaluation where postemergence applications of saflufenacil were compared to carfentrazone on five different commercial rice cultivars.

Glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri [S.] Wats) is an economically troublesome weed to southeastern United States soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) growers. Palmer amaranth is troublesome due to its evolution of resistance to multiple herbicide modes of action, competiveness, and prolific seed production. Greenhouse studies were conducted at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, MS to evaluate different rates of 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for control of Palmer amaranth. Field experiments were conducted at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, MS in 2013 and 2014 to evaluate Palmer amaranth emergence using a cultural practice and a residual herbicide. Field experiments were also conducted at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, MS in 2013 and 2014 to evaluate Palmer amaranth control with applications of glyphosate, glufosinate, and 2,4-D alone and in mixtures.

In an effort to reduce application costs and to integrate plant health management strategies in soybean, growers may combine POST herbicides with foliar fertilizers or cytokinin mixtures. Field experiments were conducted at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, MS in 2015 and 2016 to evaluate soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] injury, weed control, and agronomic performance when combining blended or single-nutrient foliar fertilizers with POST herbicide applications. Field experiments were also conducted at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, MS in 2015 and 2016 to evaluate the influence of cytokinin mixtures on soybean injury and weed control when combined with common POST soybean herbicides.

Glyphosate resistant crops were rapidly adopted by farmers since their introduction in 1996 and currently, greater than 90% of cotton and soybean crops are glyphosate resistant. Glyphosate has been an effective mean for controlling Palmer amaranth, however overreliance on glyphosate based systems resulted in weeds that can no longer be controlled with glyphosate. Palmer amaranth resistance to glyphosate has been confirmed in ten US states including Virginia's bordering neighbor North Carolina. The objectives of this study were to i) determine the spread of Palmer amaranth and evaluate awareness among farmers and agribusinesses of herbicide resistant weeds in Virginia; ii) determine the efficacy of commonly used cotton and soybean herbicides programs for Palmer amaranth control; and iii) conduct greenhouse experiments to quantify the level of glyphosate resistance in a Greensville County, Virginia population. Using a communication network of Virginia county extension agents and crop advisers, Palmer amaranth was found in 15 Virginia counties. A survey was conducted to evaluate awareness of herbicide resistance and management of weeds in Virginia. Ninety percent of producers had fields planted to Roundup Ready® crops for each of the last 3 years. One hundred percent of the responders claimed awareness of the potential for weeds to develop resistance to glyphosate, but when asked about how serious they consider weed resistance to herbicides, the responders average rating was of 7.9 (on a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 is "not at all serious" and 10 is "very serious" ). Eighteen percent of the responder population claimed no awareness of glyphosate resistant weeds documented in Virginia. Herbicide efficacy experiments were established in soybean and cotton fields infested with Palmer amaranth. In soybean, experiments were established in a field where Palmer amaranth was not adequately controlled with glyphosate in the previous year. Glyphosate applied at 0.87 + 0.87 + 1.74 kg ae ha⁻¹ at 1, 3, and 5 weeks after planting (WAP) provided 82 to 85% control in 2009, but only 23 to 30% control in 2010, a hot and dry year. Glyphosate applied after preemergence (PRE) herbicides improved control to 90 percent. Programs that included s-metolachlor + metribuzin applied preemergence and followed by glyphosate + fomesafen applied postemergence provided the best control (93%) at 8 WAP. Glufosinate based herbicide programs provided greater than 85% control when applied alone, and control increased to 95% when preceded by PRE herbicides. Many conventional control systems integrating different modes of action provided more than 80% control at final evaluation of Palmer amaranth in 2009 and 2010. In soybean, the most consistent and effective program was flumioxazin applied PRE followed by chlorimuron + thifensulfuron, which provided 99 and 82% control at final evaluation in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Cotton fields were heavily infested with Palmer amaranth, but control with glyphosate had historically been good. Glyphosate applied early postemergence, late postemergence, and late post-directed provided more than 95 percent control at final evaluation of Palmer amaranth. Preemergence applications of fomesafen, fluometuron, or pendimethalin + fomesafen provided 77 to 99 percent early-season control and control was complete with an additional postemergence glyphosate application. Glufosinate applied at 0.45 kg ha⁻¹ at 1 and 3 WAP or applied at 0.45 kg ha⁻¹ following a preemergence herbicide provided greater than 95% control. Greenhouse experiments confirmed Palmer amaranth resistance in a population collected from Greensville County, Virginia. In the first experiment, the resistant biotype's I₅₀ value (rate necessary for 50% inhibition) for dry weight was 1.47 kg ae ha⁻¹, which is 4.6 times greater than the susceptible biotype and 1.7 times the recommended use rate of glyphosate. For fresh weight, the I₅₀ value of the resistant biotype was 1.60 kg ae ha⁻¹, 4.7 times that of the susceptible biotype of 0.34 kg ae ha⁻¹. In the second experiment, the I₅₀ value for the susceptible population could not be determined because all glyphosate rates resulted in complete control. However, the resistant population required 1.01 and 1.30 kg ae ha⁻¹ of glyphosate to reduce the fresh and dry weight by 50%. / Master of Science

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Curtis R. Thompson / Curtis R. Thompson / Postemergent herbicide options for grain sorghum are limited and increasingly challenged by the development of herbicide resistant weeds. The herbicide pyrasulfotole & bromoxynil (P&B) was evaluated for potential use in grain sorghum and for control of a suspected HPPD-resistant Palmer amaranth population. Field experiments were conducted near Manhattan and Rossville, KS, to evaluate grain sorghum response to P&B with and without 2,4-D applied to growth stages from 1-leaf through the flag leaf stage and tankmixed with 2,4-D ester, amine, or dicamba applied to 3- and 6-leaf sorghum. The addition of 2,4-D ester did not reduce sorghum injury from P&B alone. Increasing the rate of P&B increased injury. Treatments applied to 1- and 4-leaf sorghum were injured the most. All P&B treated sorghum, regardless of timing, yielded 8 to 20% less than the untreated check. Pyrasulfotole & bromoxynil applied alone or with dicamba injured sorghum less than 2,4-D applied at 3- or 6-leaf. Increasing the rate from 140 to 280 g ha[superscript]-1 2,4-D amine or ester increased injury by 6 to 11%. Yields were lowest when P&B was applied with 2,4-D amine at 140 g ha[superscript]-1 and 2,4-D amine or ester at 280 g ha[superscript]-1 compared to all other treatments. Increasing the rate of growth regulator herbicides decreased yields by 8% and did not reduce crop injury from P&B alone. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of two suspected P&B-resistant (R1 & R2) and one susceptible (S) Palmer amaranth population to P&B, atrazine, and tembotrione. Herbicides were applied when plants were 7 to 19 cm tall. The S population was controlled with less than field use rates. A resistance index (RI) of 4.8 to 11.0 was determined for R1 and R2 in greenhouse and field experiments. Tembotrione controlled 100% of S in all experiments, while providing 63 to 86% injury to R1 and R2 populations. Atrazine did not control the resistant populations. Pyrasofotole & bromoxynil will be an valuable tool for weed control in sorghum, however, Palmer amaranth populations exist that will not be controlled.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Johanna Dille / Nitrogen (N) fertilizer intended for the crop may benefit highly competitive weeds to the detriment of the crop. A field experiment was conducted in 2009 to determine the influence of increasing N fertilizer rates and increasing Palmer amaranth densities on weed biomass and grain sorghum biomass and yield. Three rates were 0, 67, and 134 kg N ha-1 and natural populations of Palmer amaranth were thinned to densities of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 plants m-1 of row. Palmer amaranth biomass increased as weed density and N rates increased. Weed-free grain sorghum yields were similar across all three N rates, and parameter estimates of yield across Palmer amaranth densities were not different between N rates. Based on the parameter estimates from the rectangular hyperbola model, initial slope (I) as density approached zero was 16%. Maximum expected yield loss (A) at high Palmer amaranth densities was 68%. Palmer amaranth showed a high response to N and the higher N rate increased the ability of the weed to reduce grain sorghum yield. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the influence of six N rates on growth of six selected plant species, including grain sorghum, soybean, yellow foxtail, velvetleaf, Palmer amaranth and shattercane. Covariance analysis was performed with N rate as a covariate. Biomass of all species increased as N rate increased in both runs of the study. Soybean responded the least to N rate of all species in regards to biomass, height and leaf area production. In the first run, the biomass of three grass species (grain sorghum, yellow foxtail, shattercane) had similar estimates of slope and intercept of biomass across N rates. In the second run, the biomass slopes of grain sorghum and shattercane differed from soybean and were the only slopes that differed between species. Palmer amaranth had the highest rate of response as N increased but slopes of height were similar for Palmer amaranth, grain sorghum and shattercane. Soybean leaf area slopes were different from grain sorghum, yellow foxtail, and velvetleaf, but all other slopes were not different among species. Addition of N to grain sorghum increased weed growth and resulted in more yield loss as a result of weed density. The greenhouse study demonstrated that grain sorghum and Palmer amaranth increased in response similarly to the addition of N. Alternative N fertilizer management could play a role in minimizing Palmer amaranth impacts in grain sorghum production.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Phillip W. Stahlman / Several weed species infest sunflower fields, but herbicidal options for broadleaf weed control are limited. In recent years, imazamox and tribenuron herbicides have been registered for POST use in imidazolinone-tolerant and tribenuron-tolerant sunflowers, respectively. Objectives of this study were to 1) investigate the effects of soil nitrogen level on Palmer amaranth control with imazamox in imidazolinone-tolerant sunflower and 2) evaluate crop response and weed control efficacy of single and sequential applications of tribenuron at two rates and the effectiveness of preemergence herbicides followed by postemergence tribenuron in tribenuron-tolerant sunflower. Greenhouse experiments were conducted in Manhattan, KS and field experiments were conducted near Hays, KS in 2007 and 2008. For the first objective, treatments consisted of a factorial arrangement of three soil nitrogen levels (28, 56, and 84 kg/ha) and two imazamox rates (26 and 35 g ai/ha) in a RCBD. Palmer amaranth growth rate increased with increasing soil nitrogen level. In all experiments, plants grown at the highest soil nitrogen level exceeded the maximum recommended plant height (7.6 cm) by >35% at the time of imazamox application. Generally, imazamox rates did not differ in control effectiveness at the 56 kg/ha soil nitrogen level, but the higher 35 g/ha rate was superior to the lower rate at the 84 kg/ha soil nitrogen level because of greater weed size. For the second objective, tribenuron was applied singly at 9 and 18 g/ha, sequentially in all combinations of those rates, and singly at those rates following PRE herbicide treatments. In general, tribenuron at 18 g/ha applied with methylated seed oil adjuvant before weeds exceeded 10 cm in height provided excellent control of most species with insignificant injury to the crop. The need for supplemental PRE herbicides for weed control in tribenuron-tolerant sunflower depends on weed species present and their size at the time of tribenuron application.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Agronomy / Mithila Jugulam / Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) is one of the most aggressive, troublesome and damaging broadleaf weeds in many cropping systems including corn, soybean, cotton, and grain sorghum causing huge yield losses across the USA. As a result of extensive and intensive selection of pre- and -post emergence herbicides, Palmer amaranth has evolved resistance to multiple herbicide modes of action, microtubule-, 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS)-, acetolactate synthase (ALS)-, photosystem II (PS II)-, hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)- and more recently to protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO)-inhibitors. A Palmer amaranth population from Kansas was found resistant to HPPD-, PS II-, and ALS-inhibitors. The overall objective of this research was to investigate the target-site and/or non-target-site resistance mechanisms in Palmer amaranth from KS (KSR) to mesotrione (HPPD-inhibitor), atrazine (PS II-inhibitor), and chlorsulfuron (ALS-inhibitor) relative to known susceptible Palmer amaranth from Mississippi (MSS) and KS (KSS). Whole plant dose-response assays showed high level of resistance in KSR to mesotrione, atrazine and chlorsulfuron. KSR was 10-18, 178-237 and >275 fold more resistant to mesotrione, atrazine, and chlorsulfuron, respectively, compared to MSS and KSS. Metabolism studies using [¹⁴C] labeled mesotrione and atrazine demonstrated non-target-site resistance to both herbicides, particularly, enhanced metabolism of [¹⁴C] mesotrione likely mediated by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and rapid degradation of [¹⁴C] atrazine by glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). In addition, molecular and biochemical basis of mesotrione resistance was characterized by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunoblotting. These results showed 4-12 fold increased levels of the HPPD transcript and positively correlated with the increased HPPD protein. Sequencing of atrazine and chlorsulfuron target genes, psbA and ALS, respectively, showed interesting results. The most common mutation (serine264glycine) associated with atrazine resistance in weeds was not found in KSR. On the other hand, a well-known mutation (proline197serine) associated with chlorsulfuron resistance was found in 30% of KSR, suggesting ~70% of plants might have a non-target-site, possibly P450 mediated metabolism based resistance. Over all, KSR evolved both non-target-site and target-site based mechanisms to mesotrione and chlorsulfuron with only non-target-site based mechanism of resistance to atrazine leaving fewer options for weed control, especially in no-till crop production systems. Such multiple herbicide resistant Palmer amaranth populations are a serious threat to sustainable weed management because metabolism-based resistance may confer resistance to other herbicides and even those that are yet to be discovered. The findings of this research are novel and valuable to recommend appropriate weed management strategies in the region and should include diversified tactics to prevent evolution and spread of multiple herbicide resistance in Palmer amaranth.

Em 2015, o caruru palmer (Amaranthus palmeri) foi identificado pela primeira vez no Brasil, na região do núcleo algodoeiro do estado de Mato Grosso, em áreas normalmente cultivadas com rotação das culturas de algodão, soja e milho. Esta espécie possui reconhecida importância internacional, no entanto, não se conhece seu comportamento biológico nos sistemas de produção brasileiros. Ainda, também é desconhecido o grau de suscetibilidade do biótipo introduzido no país aos herbicidas, principalmente ao glyphosate e inibidores da ALS, que são os principais herbicidas utilizados para seu controle em outros países. Deste modo, este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de caracterizar o crescimento e desenvolvimento do biótipo de A. palmeri originário do Estado do Mato Grosso, em condição de casa-de-vegetação; caracterizar o nível de resistência deste biótipo ao herbicida glyphosate (inibidor da EPSPS); verificar a existência de resistência múltipla EPSPS-ALS, bem como resistência cruzada entre os grupos químicos dos herbicidas inibidores da ALS; além de testar herbicidas alternativos aplicados em condição de pós-emergência da planta daninha. O biótipo brasileiro de A. palmeri teve rápido desenvolvimento fenológico, com início de emissão de inflorescências aos 50 dias após semeadura; o desenvolvimento fenológico de A. palmeri teve ajuste linear conforme equação y =0,8866.x; o biótipo teve acúmulo máximo de 45 g planta-1, com pico de crescimento absoluto aos 60 DAS; o crescimento da espécie foi considerado moderado quando comparado às espécies nacionais de Amaranthus, bem como aos dados internacionais de A. palmeri. Quanto aos herbicidas inibidores da EPSPS, pôde-se concluir com segurança tratar-se de biótipo resistente ao herbicida glyphosate. Ainda, constatou-se resistência múltipla aos inibidores da EPSPS-ALS. Considerando-se somente os inibidores da ALS, trata-se de população com resistência cruzada entre sulfoniluréias - triazolopirimidinas - imidazolinonas. Estas plantas foram adequadamente controladas pelos seguintes tratamentos herbicidas (g ha-1): fomesafen a 250, lactofen a 168, mesotrione + atrazina a 120 + 1.500, tembotrione + atrazina a 75,6 + 1.500, amônio glufosinato a 400 e paraquat a 400 g i.a. ha-1. O estádio de aplicação de 2 a 4 folhas, com até 5 cm de altura, é o mais indicado para o controle da planta daninha. / In 2015, Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) was firstly identified in Brazil, at the cotton nucleus region of the State of Mato Grosso, in areas usually maintained under cotton, soybean and corn crop rotation. This species has recognized importance worldwide, however its biological behavior in Brazilian cropping systems is unknown. In addition, it is also unknown the degree of herbicide susceptibility of the biotype introduced in the country, mainly its susceptibility to glyphosate and ALS inhibiting herbicides, that are the main products used to control this species in other countries. Therefore, this work was developed with the objective of characterizing growth and development of the A. palmeri biotype collected in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, under greenhouse condition; verifying the resistance level of this biotype to glyphosate (EPSPS inhibiting herbicide); verifying the existence of EPSPS-ALS multiple resistance, as well as crusade resistance between chemical groups of ALS-inhibiting herbicides; testing alternative herbicides for post-emergence control of this weed. Brazilian biotype of A. palmeri had fast phenological development, with beginning of flowering at 50 days after seeding. Species phenology was adjusted to the linear equation y =0,8866.x. In average, the maximum dry matter accumulated was 45 g plant-1, with edge of absolute growth at 60 DAS. In conclusion, growth parameters of the Brazilian biotype of A. palmeri were considered moderated when compared to national species of Amaranthus, as well as with international data of A. palmeri. Regarding to EPSPS inhibiting herbicides, it was possible to conclude that Brazilian biotype of A. palmeri is glyphosate resistant. Therefore, multiple resistance to EPSPS-ALS inhibiting herbicides was also identified. Considering exclusively ALS-inhibiting herbicides, this population has sulfonilurea-triazolopirimidine-imidazolinone crusade resistance. Plants were adequately controlled with the following herbicides (g ha-1): fomesafen at 250, lactofen at 168, mesotrione + atrazine at 120 + 1,500, tembotrione + atrazine a 75.6 + 1,500, ammonium-glufosinate at 400 and paraquat at 400. Phenological stage of 2 to 4 leaves, with up to 5 cm of height, was the most indicated to Palmer amaranth control.

Em 2015, o caruru palmer (Amaranthus palmeri) foi identificado pela primeira vez no Brasil, na região do núcleo algodoeiro do estado de Mato Grosso, em áreas normalmente cultivadas com rotação das culturas de algodão, soja e milho. Esta espécie possui reconhecida importância internacional, no entanto, não se conhece seu comportamento biológico nos sistemas de produção brasileiros. Ainda, também é desconhecido o grau de suscetibilidade do biótipo introduzido no país aos herbicidas, principalmente ao glyphosate e inibidores da ALS, que são os principais herbicidas utilizados para seu controle em outros países. Deste modo, este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de caracterizar o crescimento e desenvolvimento do biótipo de A. palmeri originário do Estado do Mato Grosso, em condição de casa-de-vegetação; caracterizar o nível de resistência deste biótipo ao herbicida glyphosate (inibidor da EPSPS); verificar a existência de resistência múltipla EPSPS-ALS, bem como resistência cruzada entre os grupos químicos dos herbicidas inibidores da ALS; além de testar herbicidas alternativos aplicados em condição de pós-emergência da planta daninha. O biótipo brasileiro de A. palmeri teve rápido desenvolvimento fenológico, com início de emissão de inflorescências aos 50 dias após semeadura; o desenvolvimento fenológico de A. palmeri teve ajuste linear conforme equação y =0,8866.x; o biótipo teve acúmulo máximo de 45 g planta-1, com pico de crescimento absoluto aos 60 DAS; o crescimento da espécie foi considerado moderado quando comparado às espécies nacionais de Amaranthus, bem como aos dados internacionais de A. palmeri. Quanto aos herbicidas inibidores da EPSPS, pôde-se concluir com segurança tratar-se de biótipo resistente ao herbicida glyphosate. Ainda, constatou-se resistência múltipla aos inibidores da EPSPS-ALS. Considerando-se somente os inibidores da ALS, trata-se de população com resistência cruzada entre sulfoniluréias - triazolopirimidinas - imidazolinonas. Estas plantas foram adequadamente controladas pelos seguintes tratamentos herbicidas (g ha-1): fomesafen a 250, lactofen a 168, mesotrione + atrazina a 120 + 1.500, tembotrione + atrazina a 75,6 + 1.500, amônio glufosinato a 400 e paraquat a 400 g i.a. ha-1. O estádio de aplicação de 2 a 4 folhas, com até 5 cm de altura, é o mais indicado para o controle da planta daninha. / In 2015, Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) was firstly identified in Brazil, at the cotton nucleus region of the State of Mato Grosso, in areas usually maintained under cotton, soybean and corn crop rotation. This species has recognized importance worldwide, however its biological behavior in Brazilian cropping systems is unknown. In addition, it is also unknown the degree of herbicide susceptibility of the biotype introduced in the country, mainly its susceptibility to glyphosate and ALS inhibiting herbicides, that are the main products used to control this species in other countries. Therefore, this work was developed with the objective of characterizing growth and development of the A. palmeri biotype collected in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, under greenhouse condition; verifying the resistance level of this biotype to glyphosate (EPSPS inhibiting herbicide); verifying the existence of EPSPS-ALS multiple resistance, as well as crusade resistance between chemical groups of ALS-inhibiting herbicides; testing alternative herbicides for post-emergence control of this weed. Brazilian biotype of A. palmeri had fast phenological development, with beginning of flowering at 50 days after seeding. Species phenology was adjusted to the linear equation y =0,8866.x. In average, the maximum dry matter accumulated was 45 g plant-1, with edge of absolute growth at 60 DAS. In conclusion, growth parameters of the Brazilian biotype of A. palmeri were considered moderated when compared to national species of Amaranthus, as well as with international data of A. palmeri. Regarding to EPSPS inhibiting herbicides, it was possible to conclude that Brazilian biotype of A. palmeri is glyphosate resistant. Therefore, multiple resistance to EPSPS-ALS inhibiting herbicides was also identified. Considering exclusively ALS-inhibiting herbicides, this population has sulfonilurea-triazolopirimidine-imidazolinone crusade resistance. Plants were adequately controlled with the following herbicides (g ha-1): fomesafen at 250, lactofen at 168, mesotrione + atrazine at 120 + 1,500, tembotrione + atrazine a 75.6 + 1,500, ammonium-glufosinate at 400 and paraquat at 400. Phenological stage of 2 to 4 leaves, with up to 5 cm of height, was the most indicated to Palmer amaranth control.