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Raphanus raphanistrum L. (wild radish) is a widespread and economically problematic weed of winter crops including wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in southern Australia. Management of the weed is achieved by a range of non-chemical and chemical techniques. Current management is failing to contain the weed, which is increasing in abundance and distribution. The characteristics of staggered recruitment, dormancy, rapid growth, competitive ability and high levels of seed production contribute to its persistence. The literature review concludes that weeds formed the basis for perpetuation of R. raphanistrum, a claim further investigated by simulation modeling. The effective management of R. raphanistrum should aim to achieve declining populations and this requires the integration of all factors that regulate seed production. Reducing seed production of R. raphanistrum in wheat can be achieved by applying herbicides at reproductive stages of development. This technique has been demonstrated to be an effective, safe and practical method of reducing seed production of R. raphanistrum in wheat. Reducing seed production of R. raphanistrum by herbicides applied at reproductive stages of development is a technique that can be incorporated into an integrated weed management program to improve control / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Surface water quality of the Liverpool Plains (NSW), a series of floodplains comprising the floodplain of the Mooki River, is poor despite the introduction of conservation tillage that has reduced soil erosion and, with it, the transport of sediment, nutrients and chemicals to streams.The aim of this thesis was to provide a basis for recommending the possible wider use of biofilters, by determining their effectiveness in reducing pollutant (mainly atrazine) transport at multiple scales in the Liverpool Plains, quantifying the importance of relevant processes, including the capacity of soil biofilters to degrade the retained pollutants, and evaluating the effect of pollutants on the biofilter vegetation. These objectives were explored in two sub-catchments within the Liverpool Plains, namely Big Jacks Creek and the Blackville.Soils are predominantly vertosols that crack deeply on drying, resulting in initially high infiltration rates on wetting and high water holding capacity. Field monitoring revealed that biofilters such as grassed waterways, natural grasslands or vegetated filter strips (VFS) positioned at multiple catchment scales can significantly reduce pollutant concentrations in runoff. The use of biofilters is discussed, along with other best management practices that will be needed to manage pesticide loads both at source and in the transport pathway. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Bibliography: leaves 67-72. / ix, 72 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / The main objective of this research project was to study the environmental fate and mobility of two herbicides registered for use in Australian viticulture, namely norflurazon and haloxyfop-R methyl ester. / Thesis (M.App. Sc.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Environmental Science and Management, 2000

Bibliography: leaves 185-200. The herbicides norflurazon, oxadiazon, oxyfluoren, trifluralin and simazine used in South Australian viticulture were assessed for mobility and degradation through a combination of laboratory and field experiments. Sorption, leaching and dissipation rates were measured, as was presence in shallow groundwater. The fate of herbicides from vine to wine was also investigated, tests being conducted on herbicide residue in both white and red grapes and presence in wine. A proposal for good environmental management of herbicide use in vineyards to minimise the effects of herbicides was also developed.

L'objectif de ce travail est d'évaluer et de comparer le comportement environnemental du glyphosate, utilisé dans un contexte d'introduction de plantes génétiquement modifiées (GM), par rapport aux comportements d'autres herbicides classiquement utilisés pour le désherbage des mêmes cultures non résistantes au glyphosate: trifluraline et métazachlore pour le colza, métamitrone pour la betterave, sulcotrione pour le maïs. En effet, les conséquences sur l'environnement de ces modifications des pratiques de désherbage ont été jusqu'à présent peu étudiées. Trois sites représentatifs des principales situations où sont cultivées ces plantes, aux points de vue climatique et pédologique, ont été choisis pour cette étude (localisés près de Châlons-en-Champagne, Dijon et Toulouse). Dans la première partie de ce travail, les comportements des herbicides dans les trois sols ont été comparés au laboratoire dans les mêmes conditions (sol, température, humidité, dose). Leur rétention, dégradation dans les sols après application directe ou après absorption dans les tissus végétaux dans les cas particuliers du glyphosate et de la sulcotrione (herbicides foliaires) ont été déterminées. Dans la seconde partie, les résultats obtenus au laboratoire ont été utilisés pour estimer les impacts environnementaux des herbicides à partir de trois méthodes de précision croissante: indice de lixiviation GUS (risque de contamination des eaux souterraines), indicateur I-Phy (risque de contamination de l'air, de l'eau de surface et de l'eau souterraine), et modèle numérique de devenir des pesticides, PRZM. Les stocks et flux des herbicides et de leurs métabolites obtenus par modélisation ont ensuite été agrégés avec le modèle USES (analyse de cycle de vie et d'impacts) pour estimer les impacts finaux des différents systèmes de culture existants sur les trois sites (rotations avec colza et betterave GM ou non-GM, monoculture de maïs GM ou non-GM) sur plusieurs cibles de l'environnement (eau, sédiments, écosystèmes, population humaine). Le glyphosate est généralement l'herbicide pour lequel les risques de dispersion dans l'environnement sont les plus faibles (rétention élevée, dégradation rapide), mais ils dépendent cependant du type de sol. Les vitesses et taux de minéralisation des herbicides diminuent fortement avec la température, de même que la formation de résidus non extractibles, avec une préservation des molécules sous forme extractible donc potentiellement disponible. La formation d'un métabolite majeur plus persistant a été observée dans les cas du glyphosate (acide aminométhylphosphonique, AMPA), du métazachlore (non identifié) et de la sulcotrione (acide 2-chloro-4-méthylsulfonylbenzoïque, CMBA). En conséquence, ces métabolites présentent des risques pour l'environnement plus importants que les molécules herbicides. Enfin, l'absorption du glyphosate dans les tissus végétaux diminue sa dégradation. L'accumulation de glyphosate non dégradé dans les tissus végétaux pourrait augmenter les quantités de glyphosate dans le sol après restitution des résidus de récolte ou lors de la chute des feuilles traitées. Ce résultat a été pris en compte dans la modélisation. Le calcul de l'indice GUS a montré que les herbicides présentent peu de risque de contamination des eaux souterraines, le calcul de l'indicateur I-Phy a conduit à des résultats similaires pour les eaux souterraines, ainsi que pour les eaux de surface et l'air. Le modèle PRZM a été préalablement testé à partir d'une expérimentation en conditions de plein champ: il permet des simulations correctes du devenir des herbicides à partir des données obtenues au laboratoire, mais a néanmoins été calé dans les cas du glyphosate et de la trifluraline. Les résultats des simulations des différentes pratiques de désherbage ont montré que plus la fréquence de retour des cultures GM est élevée et plus l'impact sur l'environnement du glyphosate pourrait être important comparé aux herbicides sélectifs. En particulier, les stocks d'AMPA dans le sol après douze ans d'application annuelle de glyphosate dans une monoculture de maïs pourraient être particulièrement élevés. Du point de vue de la contamination de l'environnement par les herbicides, les bénéfices des cultures GM dépendent donc des types de sol, des cultures et des herbicides remplacés. La persistance de l'AMPA dans les sols soulève néanmoins un problème général de durabilité de cette innovation, et impose d'étudier plus en détail le comportement de cette molécule à long terme.

Graduation date: 2004

Graduation date: 1994

Organophosphate hydrolase (OPH, EC 3.1.8.1) is a bacterial enzyme with a broad spectrum of potential substrates that include organophosphorus pesticides, herbicides, and chemical warfare agents. OPH has been expressed successfully in bacterial, fungal, and insect cell culture systems; however, none of these systems produces amounts of enzyme suitable for applications outside of the research laboratory. Therefore, a transgenic Zea mays L. (maize) system was developed to express OPH as an alternate to the current OPH expression systems. The bacterial gene encoding the OPH protein was optimized for transcriptional and translational expression in maize. The optimized gene was inserted into the maize genome under the control of embryo specific, endosperm specific, and constitutive plant promoters. Select transformants were analyzed for the expression of OPH. Expression was observed in the seeds of plants transformed with each of the three constructs with the highest expression observed with the embryo specific and constitutive promoter constructs. The highest OPH expressing lines of transgenic maize had expression levels higher than those reported for the E. coli expression system. OPH was purified from transgenic maize seed and analyzed for posttranslational modification and kinetic properties. OPH was observed to undergo a glycosylation event when expressed in maize that yielded at least two forms of OPH homogolous dimer. The glycosylated form of OPH bound tightly to the Concanavalin A sepharose and remained active after months of storage at room temperature. OPH activity was checked against a number of organophosphate herbicides. Enzymatic activity was observed against the herbicide Amiprophos-methyl and kinetic properties were measured. Enzymatic activity was also tested against the organophosphate Haloxon. Transgenic maize callus, leaf, and seed tissue could be screened for the presence of the optimized opd gene by enzymatic activity. Comparison of the growth of transgenic and control callus on media containing organophosphates showed that the transgenic callus was resistant to the herbicidal effects of haloxon. Transgenic plants expressing OPH were also resistant to the herbicide bensulide when compared to control plants. This indicates that OPH can be used as a screenable marker in plant systems and may be a potential scorable marker system as well.

Glasshouse and growth-chamber experiments were conducted to evaluate primisulfuron phytotoxicity and the influence of adjuvants on downy brome and Kentucky bluegrass. GR₅₀ (50% growth reduction) values were 0.97 ± 0.57 and 8.07 ± 1.85 g/ha for downy brome and Kentucky bluegrass, respectively. Primisulfuron was applied to downy brome and Kentucky bluegrass at 3 placement sites; foliar, soil, and foliar plus soil. Foliar or foliar plus soil applications were more effective at reducing downy brome dry weights than the soil application of primisulfuron, while Kentucky bluegrass was injured more from the soil or foliar plus soil applications than from the foliar application of primisulfuron. Primisulfuron at 5 g/ha applied alone reduced downy brome dry weights by 5%, whereas, when an adjuvant was added, dry weights were reduced by 52 to 83%. Primisulfuron was more phytotoxic to downy brome at alternating temperatures of 8-16 C and 16-24 C than at 0-8 C. Phytotoxicity of primisulfuron was less when downy brome plants were stressed for soil moisture after herbicide treatments than when the plants were not stressed or only stressed before treatment. / Graduation date: 1999