ALBERT

Notes: The effects of a range of herbicide doses on crop:weed competition were investigated by measuring crop yield and weed seed production. Weed competitivity of wheat was greater in cv. Spark than in cv. Avalon, and decreased with increasing herbicide dose, being well described by the standard dose–response curve. A combined model was then developed by incorporating the standard dose–response curve into the rectangular hyperbola competition model to describe the effects of plant density of a model weed, Brassica napus L., and a herbicide, metsulfuron-methyl, on crop yield and weed seed production. The model developed in this study was used to describe crop yield and weed seed production, and to estimate the herbicide dose required to restrict crop yield loss caused by weeds and weed seed production to an acceptable level. At the acceptable yield loss of 5% and the weed density of 200 B. napus plants m–2, the model recommends 0.9 g a.i. metsulfuron-methyl ha–1 in Avalon and 2.0 g a.i. in Spark.

Notes: The imposition of water stress before or al the time of spraying diclofop-methyl reduced efficacy against wild oat (Avena fatua L.). Similar reductions in herbicide performance were obtained by application of 20 μg of the methyl ester of abscisic acid (ABA) to plants with three to four leaves before spraying with I kg ha−1 diclofop-methyl. Application of 40–100 μg ABA per plant effectively protected plants against damage from diclofop-methyl applied at 1 5–2 0 kg ha −1. The application of 20 μg ABA induced rapid stomatal closure and a reduction in leaf extension rate, which were sustained for 7–8 days after treatment. These changes were associated with an overall reduction in shoot growth. ABA-treated plants that were additionally sprayed with diclofop-methyl sustained ABA symptoms, but no additional weight loss or leaf chlorosis. The mechanism of the protective action of ABA on diclofop-methyl has not been determined.

Notes: The effect of site of application was studied on the performance of barban, benzoylprop-ethyl and difenzoquat agaínst Avena fatual, and of glyphosate against Agropyron repens (L,) Beauv. In all cases, performance was increased when the herbicide was applied towards the leaf or plant base. In general, treating the youngest, fully expanded leaf gave the best performance. Thus for plants at growth stages 12, 13 and 14 (Zadoks, Chang & Konzak, 1974) a greater reduction in foliage weight was obtained when the first, the first or second, and the third leaves were treated respectively. Lengthening the drying time of the herbicide solution also helped to increase the efficacy of difenzoquat. The amount of epicuticular wax varied considerably between different areas on the leaf and it is suggested that this could be an important factor in determining herbicide performance. Influence du site d'application sur l'efficaeité du glyphosate contre Agropyron repens ainsi que du barbane, du benzoylprop-éthyle et du difenzoquat contre Avena fatua.L'influence du site d'application sur l'efficacité a étéétudié pour le barbane, le benzoylpropéthyle et le difenzoquat contre Avena fatua (L.) ainsi que pour le glyphosate contre Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. Dans tous les cas, l'efficacité a été accrue quand l'herbicide a ésé appliqué vers la base de la feuille ou de la plante. En géneral le traitement de la plus jeune feuille complétement développée a donné le meilleur résultat. Ainsi, pour des plantes aux stades de croissance 12, 13 et 14 (Zadoks, Changet Konzak, 1974). une réduction plus importante du feuillage a été obtenue lorsque, respectivement, la première, la première ou la seconde. et la troisième feuille ont été traitées. L'augmentation de la durée du séehage de la solution herbicide a aussi aidéà accroïtre l'efficacité du ilifenzoquat. La quantité de cire épicuticulaire variant considérablement selon les différentes régions de la feuille, il est suggéré que ceci pourrait ètre un facteur important susceptible de modifier l'efficacité de l'herbicide. Der Einfluss des Applikationsortes auf die Wirkung von Glyphosat gegen Agropyron repens und von Barban, Benzoylprop-äthly und Difenzoquat gegen Avena fatuaEs wurde der Einfluss des Applikationsortes auf die Wirtung von Barban. Benzoylprop-äthyl und Difenzoquat gegen Avena fatua (L.) und von Glyphosat gegen Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv, untersucht. In allen Fällen war die Wirkung verbessert, wenn das Herbizid in die Nähe des Blattgrundes oder der Pflanzen-basis apptiziert wurde. Im allgemeinen wurde die beste Wirkung durch Behandlung des jüngsten, voll entwickelten Blattes erzielt. Daher wurde bei Pflanzen im Entwicklungsstadiurn 12, 13 und 14 (Zadoks, Chang und Konzak, 1974) eine stärkere Erniedrigung des Blattgewichts erreicht, wenn das erste, das erste oder zweite, bzw, das dritte Blatte behandelt wurde. Durch Verlängerung der Antrocknungszeit der Herbizidlösung wurde ausserdem die Wtrksamkeit von Difenzoquat verbessert. Die Menge an epikutikulärem Wachs war zwischen den versthiedenen Blattbezirken recht verschieden und es wird angenommen, dass diese Tatsache ein wichtiger Faktor ist, der die Herbizidwirkung bestimmt.

Notes: Benfuresate (2-3-dihydro-3,3-dimethylbenzofu-ran-5-yl ethanesulfonate) is a selective herbicide for the control of purple nutsedge in cotton. Under outdoor conditions, purple nutsedge was sensitive to benfuresate incorporated in soil up to eight days after initiation of shoot sprouting from the tuber. Older seedlings recovered from the damage. During the period of susceptibility to benfuresate, young shoots more sensitive than the roots. Under controlled environmental conditions, benfuresate applied directly to apical buds developing from the tuber caused severe damage to the treated bud and induced abrupt development of axillary buds. Negligible amounts of the applied herbicide were translocated from the treated part to the other buds and roots. Application of the herbicide to fully developed leaves had no effect, probably because of its rapid metabolism and low basipetal mobility. Its relatively high volatility may also contribute to its low foliar post-emergence activity. Tubers also absorbed herbicide vapours. Root uptake of 14C-benfuresate resulted in a rapid accumulation of 14C in the shoot, which had no effect on the purple nutsedge plant, regardless of concentration. The herbicide is rapidly converted, mainly to a non-phytotoxic polar product. These results may explain the high sensitivity of the weed to benfuresate at early growth stages, and the lack of sensitivity in mature plants.

Notes: Control of Avena fatua with tralkoxydim was significantly reduced in glasshouse experiments when the herbicide was tank-mixed with either 2,4-D amine or bentazone. Antagonism increased with increasing rates of these broadleaf herbicides in the tank-mixture and it could, in turn, be decreased by increasing rates of tralkoxydim. When herbicide solutions were applied to single leaves with a micropipette applicator, bentazone was antagonistic only when mixed in the same droplet with tralkoxydim and not when the two herbicides were applied adjacently in separate droplets. In contrast, both separate and combined applications of 2,4-D amine and tralkoxydim were antagonistic. There was no antagonism when mixtures with either 2,4-D amine or bentazone were applied between the leaf sheath and culm. Antagonism could be circumvented by sequential applications of the herbicides. When tral-oxydim was applied first, there was no loss of A. fatua control if bentazone application was delayed 0.5 h or if 2,4-D amine was delayed 24 h. Results suggest that bentazone affects only cuticular penetration of tralkoxydim, whereas 2,4-D amine also influences subsequent translocation.