The uptake and translocation of 2,4,5-T in gorse (Ulex emopaeus L.)

The uptake of 2,4,5-T by spines of gorse (Ulex europaeus L.) was limited and not enhanced when picloram was added to the application solution. Translocation of 2,4,5-T in 6-month-old cuttings after treatment of a single spine or lateral branch was poor. The most significant accumulation of translocated herbicide occurred in stem tissue, with lesser amounts detected in root tissues, root nodules, stem apices and flowers. Untreated lateral branches or spines accumulated minimal amounts of herbicide. The pattern and extent of distribution of 2,4,5-T was not increased by addition of picloram. The lack of efficient control of gorse by 2,4,5-T can largely be attributed to its inadequate uptake and lack of true systemic translocation.     

Competition between vegetative plants of wild oat (Avena fatua L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Competition between wild oat (Avena fatua L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was studied in two experiments; a replacement series model and a technique for separation of root and shoot systems. Wild oat and wheat in association resulted in a relative yield total very close to unity showing that the two species were‘crowding for the same space’(or competing for the same resources) and were‘mutually exclusive'. Wild oat was more competitive than wheat, as shown by its aggressivity relative to wheat, relative yields, shoot dry weights and other plant attributes. The greater competitive ability of wild oat was predominantly due to its greater root competitive ability, while the two species had similar shoot competitive ability. Root competition had a much greater effect on the relative performance of the two species than did shoot competition. The effects of root and shoot competition were additive.     

Environmental and physiological factors affecting the fate of seeds of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) in arable land in New Zealand

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) has arisen as a problem weed in arable land in New Zealand. A spring-sown yarrow population of 58 plants m^?2 produced approximately 243000 seeds. These were capable of immediate germination in the autumn, but virtually no germination occurred in the winter and up to 80–100% at other times of the year. Seeds are positively photoblastic, but a considerable percentage of seed (>30%) may germinate in the dark after chilling, coat pricking, exposure to high nitrate concentrations or to alternating temperatures. Seed buried at 32 cm in undisturbed soil lost viability slowly over 4 years while seed in the top 8 cm lost viability almost completely within 2 years.     

Growth of seedling Achillea millefolium L. (yarrow) in association with pea (Pisum sativum L.)

When Achillea millefolium L. (yarrow) seedlings were grown in the field in association with a pea (Pisum sativum L.) crop vegetative growth of yarrow was significantly reduced by 6 weeks after emergence. Flowering was totally suppressed while the pure stand of yarrow developed flower clusters at 13 weeks after seedling emergence. Rhizome development occurred at 8 weeks after seedling emergence in the pure stand, but not until 15 weeks when grown with pea. The early suppression of seedling yarrow in a glasshouse experiment was associated with root interference, although by 5 weeks shoot interference by pea plants was important in reducing yarrow growth. The greatest suppression of yarrow occurred when both roots and shoots of the two species were allowed to interfere. Yarrow had low aggressivity against pea when grown in various combinations in a replacement series experiment in the glasshouse.     

The nature of competition between perennial ryegrass and white clover

Perennial ryegrass and white clover were grown in boxes with either no competition, root competition only, shoot competition only, or both root and shoot competition between them, Boxes received either no nitrogen or 200 kg N ha⁻¹ as a split application. The experiment was harvested at 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks after sowing. Perennial ryegrass was more competitive than white clover throughout the experiment and its overall competitive ability increased with Lime. The effects of root competition were greater than those of shoot competition at the first harvest, with both forms of competition having similar affects at the second harvest, while at the third and final harvests shoot competition had greater effects than root competition. At the later harvests N application increased the overall competitive ability of perennial ryegrass, relative to white clover, mainly owing to the increase in its shoot competitive ability.     

Abscisic acid as a protectant of Avena fatua L. against diclofop-methyl activity

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.     

Effect of simulated mowing on the translocation of mefluidide in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Young plants of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) absorbed approximately 50% of an application of the grass growth retardant, mefluidide, while from 6.5 to 21.9% of the applied dose was translocated during a 2- or 7-day period respectively. After the 2-day period 93.4% of extractable radioactivity was identified as mefluidide. This potentially useful chemical was made unavailable as a result of mowing before or after spraying. Mowing before spraying increased the proportion of cut mature laminae and young laminae, neither of which translocated mefluidide to other plant organs as efficiently as intact, mature leaves. Mowing after spraying removed potentially translocatable mefluidide with the cut mature laminae and reduced mefluidide accumulation in untreated plant parts. While mowing treatments may be aesthetically desirable they probably increase the amount of mefluidide necessary for effective growth retardation.