Johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] and mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) are both rhizomatous perennial weeds that are capable of rapidly colonizing a variety of different environments. Separate experiments were conducted throughout Virginia from 1996 to 1999 to determine more effective methods for reducing infestations of these perennial weeds in the future. Field and greenhouse experiments conducted on a resistant johnsongrass population discovered in New Kent County, Virginia revealed that this biotype exhibits low levels of resistance to the aryloxyphenoxypropionate (APP) herbicides quizalofop-P and fluazifop-P and the cyclohexanedione (CHD) herbicide sethoxydim. Additional laboratory experiments revealed that resistance is not due to differential absorption, translocation, or metabolism of the APP and CHD herbicides in the resistant vs. the susceptible biotype. However, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) assays revealed that resistance to the APP and CHD herbicides is conferred by an overproduction of the ACCase enzyme in the resistant compared to the susceptible johnsongrass biotype. In field experiments conducted on mugwort infestations discovered in several counties throughout Virginia, 100% mugwort control was achieved with standard application rates of picloram at 4 months after treatment (MAT), and also greater than 70% mugwort control was achieved with the higher application rates of clopyralid, glyphosate, and dicamba at 4 MAT. However, all other herbicides evaluated in these experiments provided less than 65% mugwort control at 4 MAT, even at exceptionally high use rates. Additionally, the results from these trials revealed that sequential herbicide applications and sequential mowings prior to herbicide application are both effective mugwort control strategies. / Ph. D.

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) is a woody perennial crop that can remain productive for decades. Competition for resources between cranberries and weeds can depress cranberry farm yields, resulting in large annual crop losses. Renewed interest in reducing chemical inputs into cranberry systems has provided the motivation to evaluate methods, such as flame cultivation (FC), as potential nonchemical options for weed control. Also known as thermal weeding, FC exposes plants to brief periods of high temperature that causes the water in the plant tissue to expand rapidly, rupturing plant cells and leading to necrosis. Various FC methods have been used successfully in annual crops as both a preemergence and postemergence weed control, but few scientific reports have been published on the use of FC on perennial weeds in a woody perennial crop system. Dewberry (Rubus spp.), sawbrier (Smilax glauca), and common rush (Juncus effusus) are cranberry weeds that are difficult to control, spread quickly and can cause significant crop loss. Flame cultivation may be an effective non-chemical means for controlling these weeds in cranberry systems. FC would ideally be used as a spot treatment for weeds growing in the cranberry canopy, as well as on larger non-production areas where cranberry vines are not as abundant, such as bog edges, ditches, and dikes. Using FC to treat weeds within the cranberry canopy will likely cause localized damage to cranberry plants immediately surrounding the weeds, thus cranberry response to FC is also of interest. The following experiments were designed to examine the response of weeds and cranberry plants to FC. Perennial plants rely on reserves of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) for growth and survival, thus the efficacy of FC treatments to weeds will likely be impacted by the timing and frequency of treatments as they relate to the specific carbohydrate cycles of targeted weeds, such as dewberry. An additional experiment studied the seasonal fluctuations of NSC in dewberry roots. Cranberry growers were also surveyed on their past experiences with FC, as well as their willingness to adopt FC if proven an effective method for controlling weeds.

Magistrantūros studijų baigiamajame darbe pateikiami piktžolių dygimo dinamikos (trumpaamžių, daugiamečių ir vyraujančių rūšių piktžolių) ir burokėlių derlingumo duomenys tiriant įvairių organinių mulčių ir skirtingo storio sluoksnių liekamąjį poveikį. Darbo objektas – raudonojo burokėlio (Beta vulgaris var. vulgaris) agrofitocenozė. Darbo metodai: piktžolių daigų skaičiavimui kiekviename laukelyje buvo pažymėtos keturios pastovios aikštelės 0,2 x 0,5 m. Apskaita atlikta kas 10 dienų, nuo gegužės 20 d. iki rugsėjo 30 d. Kiekvienos rūšies piktžolių daigai suskaičiuoti ir išrauti. Piktžolių kiekis perskaičiuotas vnt. m-2. Pagal piktžolių biologinį grupavimą išskirtos trumpaamžės ir daugiametės piktžolės. Nustatytos vyraujančios piktžolių rūšys. Burokėlių derlingumas nustatytas svėrimo metodu. Gautas derlius iš laukelio perskaičiuotas į t ha-1 absoliučiai švarių burokėlių derlių. Darbo rezultatai. Gausiausiai piktžolės dygo gegužės trečią – 765,6 vnt. m-2 ir birželio pirmą – 270,6 vnt. m-2 dekadas. Vėliau piktžolių dygimas mažėjo visų variantų laukeliuose. Anksčiau įterpti šiaudų, durpių ir žolės mulčiai nežymiai (4,7-6,7 proc.) skatino piktžolių dygimą per visą tyrimų laikotarpį. Nustatytas nevienodas mulčių liekamasis poveikis trumpaamžių piktžolių dygimui. Įterpti durpių ir žolės mulčiai skatino trumpaamžių piktžolių dygimą nuo 5,2 iki 12,6 proc. Paprastosios rietmenės 20 proc. gausiau rasta ankstesniais metais durpių mulčiu mulčiuotuose laukeliuose, smulkiažiedės galinsogos... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Master degree final research paper provides weed germination dynamics (annual, perennial and predominant weeds sorts) and red beet productivity data when researching residual effect of various organic mulches and different thickness layers. Object of the work – red beet (Beta vulgaris var. vulgaris) crop. Method of the work – to compute weed sprouts each field was divided into four permanent sites 0.2 x 0.5 m. These were observed every 10 days from May 20 till August 30. Each weed species sprouts were counted and torn out. Number of weeds was translated into units. m-2. According to biological grouping of weeds annual and perennial were distinguished. Predominant weed species were established. Red beet productivity was determined by weighting. Received yield from the field was translated into t ha-1 totally useful red beet yield. The results of work. Most of the weeds germinated in the 3rd decade of May – 765.6 weeds number m-2 and 1st decade of June – 270.6 weeds number m-2. Later germination of the weeds decreased in the plots of all treatments. Straw, peat and grass mulches, previously incorporated, moderately (4.7 to 6.7 percent) stimulated weed germination during the entire study period. The different residual effect of mulches was determined for germination of annual weeds. The incorporated peat and grass mulches promoted germination of the annual weeds from 5.2 to 12.6 percent. Echinochloa crus - galli were found thicker by 20 percent in the plots that in previous... [to full text]