Method for assessing the influence of additives on the effect of foliar-applied herbicides

The principles of parallel-line assay were employed lo assess the influence of various additives on the herbicidal activity of alloxydim-sodium, fluazifop-butyl and sethoxydim on winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Igri). The dose-response curves of the herbicides were parallel, only differing in their horizontal location, i.e., the relative potencies of the herbicide preparations were independent of the dose-response level considered. Except for one herbicide-additive combination, increasing the concentration of the additives in the spray solution increased herbicide activity. The prospects of using the parallel-line assay in studies examining the effect of additives on the activity of herbicides and its application in other kinds of herbicide studies are discussed. Méthode d'estimation de l'influence d'adjuvants sur l'efficacite de certains herbicides appliqués en pulvérisation foliaire Le principe d'essai des lignes parallèles a été utilise pour estimer l'influence d'adjuvants variés sur l'activité herbicide de l'alloxydine sodium, le fluazifop-butyl et la séthoxydine en orge d'hiver (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Igri). Les courbes de réponse à la dose entre les herbicides étaient parallèles, différant seulement dans leur localisation horizontale, par exemple les puissances relatives des préparations herbicides étaient indépendantes du niveau de la réponse à la dose pris en considération. Excepté pour un mélange herbicide-adjuvant, l'activité des herbicides a augmenté quand on a augmenté la concentration en adjuvants dans la bouillie de pulvérisation. Les possibilités d'utilisation de cette méthode des parallèles pour étudier l'effet des adjuvants sur l'activité des herbicides, et son application à d'autres secteurs d'étude des herbicides, fait l'objet d'une discussion. Eine Methode zur Beurteilung des Einflusses von Additiven auf die Wirkung von blattwirksamen Herbiziden Basierend auf den Grundlagen von ‘parallel line’-Bioassays wurde der Einfluss verschiedener Additive auf die herbizide Wirkung von Alloydim-Natrium, Fluazifop-Butyl und Sethoxydim auf Wintergerste (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Igri) untersucht. Die Dosis/Wirkungs—Kurven waren parallel; sie unterschieden sich nur in ihrer horizontalen Lage, d.h. die relative Wirksamkeit der Herbizidformulierungen war unabhängig von einem bestimmten Dosis/Wirkungs–Niveau. Nur für eine Herbizid/Additiv—Kombination wurde eine zunchmende Aktivität der Herbizide mit steigender Additivkonzentration in der Spritzbrühe gefunden. Es werden die Möglichkeiten der Verwendung von ‘parallel line’-Bioassays zum Studium des Einflusses von Additiven auf den Effekt von Herbiziden sowie für andere Herbziduntersuchungen diskutiert.     

Is dose‐splitting of graminicides as effective as a single application?

Dose‐splitting or reduced dose repeat application, i.e. the application of a herbicide twice to the same plant, is likely to become a more common scenario in future, if farmers adopt the use of novel techniques for prediction of herbicide efficacy shortly after application. Fourteen pot experiments were conducted to study whether graminicides applied to annual grass weeds as dose‐splitting treatments were as effective as single applications. The influence of time interval between applications and the ratio of the doses of the two applications were studied. Two statistical approaches were applied: comparison of the ED₉₀ of the single treatments and a joint action model. The study revealed that flupyrsulfuron, iodosulfuron, sulfosulfuron, clodinafop and glyphosate could be applied as repeat treatments with up to 14 days’ interval between the two applications without loss of activity. In some experiments, particularly with iodosulfuron, dose‐splitting enhanced herbicide performance. By contrast, prosulfocarb responded adversely, most likely due to the pronounced impact of weed growth stage on the activity of this herbicide. The ratio of the doses and the timing between the two applications had no significant influence on herbicide responses. The results of the present studies showed that even if a reduced dose of a graminicide results in an unsatisfactory control and it is necessary to re‐spray, the overall use of herbicide will not increase, if methods are available that can predict the efficacy of a herbicide application within the first 1–2 weeks after application.     

Influence of broad-leaved weed herbicides on the activity of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl

The activity of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl applied alone or in tank-mixture with different formulations of mecoprop or sulfonylurea herbicides was compared in a series of pot experiments using Avena fatua L. (wild oat) as a test plant. A logistic model was fitted to the results and dose–response curves of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl applied alone and in mixture with the broad-leaved weed herbicides were estimated using non-linear regressions. Tank-mixtures of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl and mecoprop or metsulfuron-methyl were antagonistic. In general, the activity of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl decreased with increasing doses of the broad-leaved herbicides. In mixture with 1200 g a.i. ha^?1 mecoprop, doses of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl had to be increased by 60% to 130% (dependent on formulation) to obtain the same effect as when fenoxaprop-P-ethyl was applied alone. Both the active and the inactive isomers of mecoprop were involved in the antagonism, and the ester formulation of mecoprop-P was less antagonistic than the amine formulation. In mixture with the recommended dose of 8 g a.i. ha^?1 of metsulfuron-methyl, doses of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl had to be increased by 20% to 110% to obtain the same effect as with fenoxaprop-P-ethyl applied alone. Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl did not lose activity when applied in mixture with recommended doses of chlorsulfuron, tribenuron and amidosulfuron. Antagonism of the sulfonylurea herbicides seemed to be related to the susceptibility of A.?fatua to these herbicides.     

Effects of broadleaf herbicides on imazamet habenz-met hyl performance on wild oat (Arena fatua L.)

The influence of broadleaf herbicides on imazamethabenz-methyl performance on wild oat (Avena fatua L.) plants grown outdoors in pots was examined. The foliar activity of imazamethabenz-methyl was reduced when applied in mixture with salt formulations of MCPA and mecoprop, salt and ester formulations of bromoxynil and bentazone. In contrast, chlorsulfuron had no influence and ester formulations of MCPA and mecoprop either had no effect or promoted imazamethabenz-methyl performance. A comparison of the activity of imazamethabenz-methyl in mixture with the ester formulation of MCPA and the corresponding formulation blank revealed that the antagonistic effect of MCPA active ingredient in the salt and ester formulations were similar. However, because of an enhancing effect of the formulation constituents in the ester formulation antagonism was masked in mixture with the latter. Similarly, addition of a mineral oil adjuvant only masked but did not eliminate the antagonistic interaction between the two herbicides. Volume rate did not affect imazamethabenz-methyl activity nor the antagonistic effect of the salt formulation of MCPA. The ester formulation of MCPA, however, promoted imazamethabenz-methyl performance significantly more at the low than at the high volume rate. Sequential application reduced antagonism of the salt formulation of MCPA on imazamethabenz-methyl. Selective placement of droplets revealed that antagonism occurred only if imazamethabenz-methyl and the salt formulation of MCPA were applied in the same droplet but not as separate droplets. Neither foliarnor root-applied MCPA reduced the performance of root-applied imazamethabenz-methyl. The results indicate that antagonism of MCPA was caused by a reduced uptake. The implications of the results of the present study in relation to the performance of tank mixtures of imazametha-benz-methyl and broadleaf herbicides under field conditions are discussed. Effet d'herbicides antidicotylédones sur l'efficacité de l'imazaméthabenz-méthyle contre la folle avoine (Avena fatua L.) L'effet d'herbicides antidicotylédones sur l'efficacité de l'imazaméthabenz-méthyle contre la folle avoine (A vena fatua L.) a étéétudié sur des plantes cultivées en pot à l'extérieur. L'activité foliaire de l'imazaméthabenz-méthyle était réduite quand il était appliqué en mélange avec des formulations sel de MCPA, et de mécoprop, et des formulations sel ou ester de bromoxynil et de bentazone. Par contre, le chlorsulfuron n'avait aucun effet, et les formulations ester ou sel de mécoprop et de MCPA, soit n'avaient aucun effet, soit augmentaient l'efficacité de l'imazaméthabenz-méthyle. Une comparaison de l'efficacité de l'imazaméthabenz-méthyle en mélange avec une formulation ester de MCPA et avec le blanc de formulation correspondant, a montré que l'effet antagoniste de la matiére active MCPA était similaire dans les formulations sel et ester. Cependant à cause de l'effet stimulateur de constituants de la formulation ester, l'antagonisme était masqué dans le mélange. De mßme, l'addition d'une huile minérale masquait mais ne supprimait pas l'antagonisme entre les deux herbicides. Le volume d'application n'affectait pas l'efficacité de l'imazaméthabenzméthyle non plus que l'effet antagoniste de la formulation sel du MCPA. L'augmentation d'efficacité de l'imazaméthabenz-méthyle par la formulation ester du MCPA était significativement plus élevée à bas qu'à haut volume. Une application séquentielle réduisait l'antagonisme de la formulation sel du MCPA sur l'imazaméthabenz-méthyle. Des applications sélectives de gouttelettes ont montré que l'antagonisme ne se produisait que si l'imazaméthabenz-méthyle et la formulation sel de MCPA étaient appliquées dans la même gouttelette mais non dans des gouttelettes séparées. Le MCPA, qu'il soit appliqué sur le feuillage ou par les racines, n'affectait pas l'efficacité de l'imazaméthabenz-méthyle appliqué par les racines. Les résultats indiquent que l'antagonisme était provoqué par une réduction de la pénétration. Les implications pratiques des résultats de cette étude sur l'efficacité des mélanges d'imazaméthabenz-méthyle et d'herbicides antidicotylédones au champ sont discutées. Einfluß von Herbiziden gegen Dikotyle auf die Wirkung von Imazamethabenz-methyl auf Flug-Hafer (Avena fatua L.) Der Einfluß von Herbiziden gegen Dikotyle auf die Wirkung von Imazamethabenz-methyl auf Flug-Hafer (A vena fatua L.) wurde im Freiland in Topfversuchen untersucht. Die Wirkung von Imazamethabenz-methyl über das Blatt war herabgesetzt, wenn es in Mischung mit Salzformulierungen von MCPA und Mecoprop sowie Salzund Esterformulierungen von Bromoxynil und Bentazon ausgebracht wurde. Chlorsulfuron dagegen hatte keinen Einfluß, und Esterformulierungen von MCPA und Mecoprop beeinflußten die Wirkung von Imazamethabenz-methyl weder positiv noch negativ. Ein Vergleich der Wirksamkeit des Imazamethabenz-methyls in der Mischung mit der Esterformulierung von MCPA und der entsprechenden Leerformulierung zeigte, daß der antagonistische Effekt des Wirkstoffs MCPA in der Salz-und der Esterformulierung ähnlich war; die wirkungsfördernden Bestandteile der Esterformulierung maskierten jedoch den Antagonismus. In ähnlicher Weise wurde der Antagonismus zwischen zwie Herbiziden durch den Zusatz von Mineralöl nur überdeckt, aber nicht aufgehoben. Die Aufwandmenge blieb sowohl auf die Wirksamkeit des Imazamethabenz-methyls als auch auf den Antagonismus der MCPA-Salz formulierung ohne Einfluß. Aber bei der niedrigen Aufwandmenge förderte die Esterformulierung von MCPA die Wirkung von Imazamethabenz-methyl signifikant mehr als bei der hohen. Aufeinander folgende Anwendung mäßigte den Antagonismus der MCPA-Salz-formulierung auf Imazamethabenz-methyl. Der Antagonismus trat nur auf, wenn Imazamethabenz-methyl mit MCPA-Salzformulierung zusammen, nicht aber in getrennten Tröpfchen nebeneinander appliziert wurde. Weder übers Blatt noch über die Wurzeln appliziertes MCPA minderte die Wirkung von wurzel-appliziertem Imazamethabenz-methyl. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß der Antagonismus von MCPA durch eine reduzierte Aufnahme zustande kam. Die Untersuchungsergebnisse werden hinsichtlich der Wirksamkeit von Tank-mischungen von Imazamethabenz-methyl mit Herbiziden gegen Dikotyle unter Freiland-bedingungen diskutiert.     

The influence of temperature, humidity and simulated rain on the performance of thiameturon-methyl

The influence of temperature, humidity and simulated rain on thiameturon-methyl activity was examined on white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) plants grown in controlled environment cabinets or in a glasshouse. The performance of thiameturon-methyl was markedly improved with increasing temperature and humidity. Addition of a non-ionic surfactant increased the activity of thiameturon-methyl, reduced the in fluence of humidity on herbicide performance but had no effect on the influence of tempera ture on herbicide activity. Increasing the amount of simulated rain from 0.11 to 3 mm reduced the activity of thiameturon-methyl. However, reduction in activity by 3 mm rain became less pronounced as the interval between herbicide application and rain treatment was in creased from 0.5 to 6 h. With a 6-h interval 3 mm rain had little effect. Rain intensity was found only to have a minor influence on the rainfast-ness of thiameturon-methyl.     

Sulfonylurea resistance in Stellaria media [L.] Vill.

A sulfonylurea resistant biotype of common chickweed (Stellaria media L. Vill.) was found in a field treated with chlorsulfuron or metsulfuron for eight consecutive years. In pot experiments the biotype was resistant to postemergence treatments with the following acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors: chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron, tribenuron, triasulfuron, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron, flumetsulam and imazapyr. The level of resistance to chlorsulfuron and sulfometuron was higher than to the other sulfonylurea herbicides. Whereas the level of cross resistance to the triazolopyrimidine herbicide, flumetsulam was comparable to that of metsulfuron, that of imazapyr was significantly lower. In contrast to imazapyr the biotype was not resistant to imazethapyr, an other imidazolinone herbicide. ALS in vitro assays revealed that resistance was due to an ALS enzyme that was less sensitive to ALS inhibiting herbicides. Herbicides with different modes of action were equally effective on the susceptible and resistant biotypes.     

Variability of bioassays with metsulfuron-methyl in soil

A total of 74 independently run bioassays with soil incorporated metsulfuron-methyl from 12 different laboratories was analysed by a logistic dose-response curve to assess the precision of regression parameters and relate ED₅₀ to soil properties. The potency in terms of ED₅₀ of metsulfuron-methyl in Brassica rapa L., which was used by all laboratories, varied between 0.05 and 3.9 g a.i. ha^-1. ED₅₀ was negatively correlated with pH and positively correlated with organic matter. The majority of laboratories had ED₅₀ within the interval 0.1-1.0 g a.i. ha^-1. At one laboratory using three test species, the most sensitive species was Beta vulgaris L. followed by Brassica rapa L. and Lepidium sativum L. The coefficients of variation were smallest for the ED₅₀ and ED₉₀ response levels and largest for the ED₁₀. The slope of the response curves had considerably lower coefficients of variation than the EDs. The results are discussed in relation to a previous collaborative bioassay study. Finally it is suggested that standardization of bioassays with herbicides could be achieved in the same way as standardization of chemical analyses.     

Effect of adjuvants on the rainfastness and performance of tribenuron‐methyl on broad‐leaved weeds

The influence of a non‐ionic surfactant (20% isodecyl alcohol ethoxylate plus 0.7% silicone surfactants), an anionic surfactant (25.5% alkylethersulfate sodium salt), and a vegetable oil (95% natural rapeseed oil with 5% compound emulsifiers) on the performance and rainfastness of a new commercial formulation of tribenuron‐methyl was assessed on four broad‐leaved weeds: wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis), scentless mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum), common poppy (Papaver rhoeas), and common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album). In one experiment, six doses of tribenuron‐methyl alone or in a mixture with each of the three adjuvants were applied to each weed species at two different leaf stages. In another experiment, the plants of T. inodorum were sprayed and subsequently subjected to 3 mm of rain at 1, 2, and 4 h after treatment (HAT). The activity of tribenuron‐methyl was significantly enhanced by all the adjuvants on all the weed species and only minor differences were observed among the tested adjuvants. The impact of the adjuvants varied among the weed species and growth stages. The highest response to the inclusion of adjuvants in the spray liquid was found at the late growth stage and on C. album, followed by P. rhoeas and T. inodorum, while S. arvensis was less responsive to the adjuvants. All the adjuvants significantly improved the rainfastness of tribenuron‐methyl on T. inodorum, with differences among the adjuvants being more pronounced when rain occurred shortly after herbicide application. The effect of the vegetable oil on tribenuron‐methyl's rainfastness was significantly lower than that of the surfactants with rain at 1 HAT, while no significant differences among the three adjuvants were observed when rain occurred at 2 and 4 HAT.     

Response of wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) to sulfosulfuron: The role of degradation

Wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) is one of the most troublesome weed species in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Iran. Two bioassay experiments were conducted in order to study the response of wild barley and wheat to different herbicides and to study the efficacy of pre‐emergence (PRE), postemergence (POST), and PRE followed by POST applications of sulfosulfuron on wild barely. Moreover, the degradation of sulfosulfuron was studied by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). The results showed that wild barley was highly tolerant to clodinafop‐propargyl and its dry weight was reduced by only 15%, compared to the control, at the recommended dose (64 g ai ha^?1). Sulfosulfuron reduced the wild barley biomass by ≤50% at the highest dose (90 g ai ha^?1) in the first bioassay but by not more than 20% and 12% at the recommended dose (22 g ai ha^?1) in the first and second bioassay, respectively. Significant differences were found among the application methods of sulfosulfuron, with the POST application being the least effective method. In contrast to the POST application, wild barley was severely injured by the PRE application of sulfosulfuron, with an ED₅₀ dose of 7.3 g ai ha^?1. The degradation study showed that wild barley can metabolize sulfosulfuron that is applied POST, but at a lower rate than wheat. By 4 h after application, wild barley had metabolized 26% of the sulfosulfuron, compared to 46% by wheat. In conclusion, wild barley can metabolize the recommended dose of sulfosulfuron that is applied POST; thus, the PRE application of sulfosulfuron or other integrated methods should be considered for the effective control of wild barley in wheat.