A field experiment was conducted in 2000, 2001, and 2002 at Stoneville, MS, to determine the effect of spurred anoda interference on yield loss of two cotton cultivars, ‘Delta Pine 5415’ and ‘Pima S-6’, grown under wide (1 m) (WR) and ultra narrow (0.25 m) row (UNR) spacings. The relationship between spurred anoda density and dry weight per plot was linear each year. At a spurred anoda density of 8 m−2, spurred anoda dry weight per plot was 507, 322, and 777 g m−2 in 2000, 2001, and 2002, respectively. However, spurred anoda did not interfere with seed cotton yield in 2001, which was probably attributable to the low branch development in that year. Yield losses exceeded 55% at a spurred anoda density of 8 m−2 compared with controls in both WR and UNR. The effect of spurred anoda density on boll numbers was nearly identical in 2000 and 2002, regardless of cotton cultivar and row spacing. Boll weights decreased in response to spurred anoda interference. Spurred anoda interference resulted in a decrease in cotton branch dry weight in WR but not in UNR. The yield decrease as a result of spurred anoda interference in WR was due to reduction in boll retention or fruiting sites (predicated on a decrease in branch weight). However, in UNR, the yield decrease was due to plant mortality; the plant density of both cotton cultivars decreased by one plant for each additional spurred anoda, but the yield per plant for surviving plants remained constant. Neither WR nor UNR cotton had significant advantage in response to spurred anoda interference. The decreased boll weight observed in UNR, and the failure to increase boll numbers m−2 to compensate for decreased boll weight in UNR compared with WR, may limit its appeal to cotton producers.

Plant canopy radiation-use efficiency (RUE), defined as unit of dry biomass produced per unit of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR), has been widely studied both in experimental and theoretical contexts because the use of this relationship greatly simplifies estimating biomass production in plant growth models. Previous studies have indicated that RUE may be sensitive to changes in the fractions of diffuse and direct radiation; RUE has been shown experimentally to increase under conditions of increased diffuse light caused either by atmospheric conditions or by shading from other plants in intercrops. Therefore, we hypothesized that weed species RUE would be greater for weeds grown in mixed weed–crop communities than for weeds grown in more uniform and less dense monotypic communities. To address this question, field experiments were conducted during 2001 and 2002 to determine the vegetative-stage RUE of giant ragweed, velvetleaf, woolly cupgrass, and wild-proso millet grown in monotypic communities or in corn. ANOVA indicated that the effect of community type on RUE was significant (P < 0.0001) and that the interaction between species and year effects was significant (P = 0.0152). Paired comparisons showed that giant ragweed RUE differed from velvetleaf RUE in 2001 (P = 0.0381) and that giant ragweed RUE differed between years (P = 0.0455). Pooled across species types and years, RUE was approximately 50% greater for weeds grown in weed–corn communities than for weeds grown in monotypic communities. These results indicate that more complex canopy architecture in mixed-species communities (i.e., greater total leaf area index [LAI] and heterogeneity of height among individuals) was associated with greater weed RUE. Including weed RUE response to the competitive environment may be one approach to improving the predictive accuracy of process-based growth models for weed biomass accumulation in mixed-species communities.

Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the effect of several environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of Crofton weed. Seeds germinated over a range of 10–30 C, with optimum germination at 25 C. High temperature markedly restricted germination, with no germination occurring at 35 C. Crofton weed was moderately photoblastic, with 17% germination occurring in the dark. Crofton weed germinated in a narrow range of pH (5–7). Maximum germination (94%) was observed in distilled water at pH 5.7. Germination was totally inhibited at osmotic stress higher than −0.7 MPa. Germination was greater than 65% at less than 100 mM NaCl, with no germination at 300 mM NaCl. Maximum emergence occurred when seeds were planted on the soil surface. No seedlings emerged when seeds were planted 1.5 cm deep. These results suggest that the future range of Crofton weed in China will be restricted largely to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, which includes major parts of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, the southwestern part of Sichuan province, and the western part of Guangxi province. Crofton weed also tends to be a sporadic problem in other regions, where the climatic and edaphic conditions are suitable for the seed germination.

Signals from both leaves and apical or axillary meristems of leafy spurge are known to inhibit root bud growth. To test the hypothesis that carbohydrates and growth regulators affect root bud growth, decapitated leafy spurge plants were hydroponically treated with glucose, sucrose, gibberellic acid (GA), abscisic acid (ABA), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), and a GA biosynthesis inhibitor, paclobutrazol. Both glucose and sucrose caused suppression of root bud growth at concentrations of 30 mM. The inhibitory effect of sucrose was counteracted by GA at 15 μM. In contrast, BA, ABA, NAA, and paclobutrazol inhibited root bud growth at concentrations as low as 1, 2, 1, and 16 μM, respectively. Sugar and starch levels were also determined in root buds at various times after decapitation. Buds of intact plants contained the highest level of sucrose compared with buds harvested 1, 3, and 5 d after decapitation. To determine how seasonal changes affect root bud dormancy, growth from root buds of field-grown plants was monitored for several years. Root buds of field-grown leafy spurge had the highest level of innate dormancy from October to November, which persisted until a prolonged period of freezing occurred in November or early December. Our data support the hypothesis that carbohydrates may be involved in regulating dormancy status in root buds of leafy spurge.

Actinonin is a naturally occurring hydroxamic acid and a potent inhibitor of the essential cotranslational protein processing enzyme peptide deformylase. Actinonin has both pre- and post-emergence herbicidal activity, but it is rapidly metabolized by plants, thus limiting herbicidal efficacy. Studies designed to elucidate the metabolic fate of actinonin revealed that after absorption actinonin was metabolized by tobacco plants with only about 17% of the parent compound remaining 48 h after application. Subcellular fractionation revealed that a microsomal fraction was capable of metabolizing actinonin in vitro. Two actinonin metabolites were isolated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and identified by mass spectrometric analyses. The major metabolite was derived from the hydrolysis of the hydroxamate group to its corresponding acid, and a relatively minor metabolite through reduction of the hydroxamate group to the corresponding amide. Both metabolites were functionally inactive as inhibitors of peptide deformylase. These results provide rationale for the low efficacy of actinonin as a broad-spectrum herbicide, and identify functional groups in actinonin targeted by plants during detoxification. This information may facilitate the design and synthesis of actinonin analogues with increased herbicidal efficacy.

Distance-based redundancy analysis (db-RDA), a recently developed ordination technique useful for both multivariate hypothesis testing and data interpretation, was used to evaluate treatment effects on weed communities in a long-term study of alternative potato cropping systems. The experiment consisted of a factorial arrangement of three pest management systems, conventional (CON), reduced input (RI), and biointensive (BIO), two soil management systems (amended vs. unamended), and two crop-rotation entry points. Soil samples collected in the spring of 1998 were subjected to exhaustive germination as a means of characterizing the weed community. Using partial ordinations, each factor in the factorial treatment structure was tested separately, revealing a significant interaction between pest and soil management systems. An ordination diagram of the pest by soil management interaction was used to interpret the results. Weed species that were highly correlated with the first two ordination axes included: common lambsquarters, broadleaf plantain, oakleaf goosefoot, common hempnettle and a complex of the Brassicaceae that included wild mustard, birdsrape mustard, and wild radish. Univariate analyses confirmed the response of these species to the factors examined. The BIO pest management system showed a different response to soil amendments than the other systems. Soil amendments caused an increase in the total weed density in the CON and RI systems, but caused a decrease in the BIO system. Given the need for better multivariate hypothesis testing and data interpretation in many types of weed science research, the use of db-RDA is expected to grow.

The effects of environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of Oriental mustard were studied in laboratory and field experiments. Seed germination was stimulated by light; however, some germination occurred in the dark. In light/dark, potassium nitrate at 0.02 M stimulated germination of 1-mo-old seed to a maximum level of 45% as compared with the control (18%). Oriental mustard germination was inhibited by high levels of salt and osmotic stress. Seed germination was greater than 50% over a pH range of 4 to 10. Seedling emergence of 4- to 5-mo-old seeds was highest when present on the soil surface (70%) but declined with depth, and no seedlings emerged from a soil depth of 10 mm. In the field, seedling emergence was greater under no-till than minimum tillage systems.

Differences in periodicity and depth of weed seedling recruitment due to agronomic management practices, such as reduced tillage, have implications for weed competitive ability and management strategies. Periodicity and depth of seedling recruitment of 10 different weed species was measured in the field in 2004 and 2005. The seedling recruitment of rigid ryegrass, threehorn bedstraw, and wild radish seedlings was higher under minimum tillage than under no-till scenarios. In contrast, the seedling recruitment of Oriental mustard, annual sowthistle, squirreltail fescue, little mallow, and turnipweed was higher under the no-till system. The seedling recruitment of wild oat and African mustard was not influenced by the tillage system. The mean seedling recruitment depth of wild oat, rigid ryegrass, threehorn bedstraw, wild radish, and turnipweed was greater under minimum tillage than under the no-till system. These weeds are able to emerge from deeper in the soil profile. In contrast, the seedling recruitment depth under minimum-tillage and no-till systems was similar for African mustard, Oriental mustard, annual sowthistle, little mallow, and squirreltail fescue. These are all small-seeded species, which failed to emerge from deeper depths under either tillage system. In addition, all of these species except African mustard showed higher total seedling recruitment under the no-till system. Results of this study will facilitate weed-control timing decisions and provide validation data for weed seedling recruitment models.

Alien weed species rank among the most important threats to conservation of biodiversity, making understanding the extent to which protected natural areas are vulnerable to invasion by weeds pivotal in long-term maintenance and conservation of biodiversity. We investigated the potential geographic range of the invasive paleotropical weed, smooth crotalaria, in protected natural areas across Brazil. The ecological niche dimensions of smooth crotalaria in Africa (its putative original distribution) were modeled using a genetic algorithm. Models for the native range and their projections to South America showed good predictive ability when challenged with independent occurrence data. All Brazilian protected natural areas were predicted as highly vulnerable to invasion by this species. However, smooth crotalaria appears more likely to occur in open (savanna-like vegetation, such as cerrado and pantanal) and highly fragmented (Atlantic forest) areas than in extensive closed forests (Amazon). Management suggestions and research priorities are outlined based on these results.

Field experiments were established in fall 1999 and 2000 near Huntley, MT, to determine the effects of soil water content on wild oat seed mortality and seedling emergence. Four supplemental irrigation treatments were implemented from June through September to establish plots with varying soil water content. Wild oat seed mortality during the summer increased linearly as soil water content increased. For seed banks established in 1999 (1999SB), seed mortality increased, on average, from 36 to 55% in 2000, and 15 to 55% in 2001 as soil water content increased from 6 to 24%. For seed banks established in 2000 (2000SB), seed mortality increased, on average, from 38 to 88% in 2001 and 53 to 79% in 2002 as soil water content increased from 6 to 24%. Increasing soil water content likely increased the activity of microorganisms that cause mortality in wild oat seeds. The increasing seed mortality rates (due to increasing soil water content) resulted in greater annual declines of wild oat seed banks and 2-yr cumulative decline rates. Total season emergence percentage was not affected by irrigation treatment. Results show that weed seed bank decline is more rapid in moist than in dry soils and suggest that management practices that increase or conserve soil moisture will also increase the rate of wild oat seed bank decline.

Experiments were conducted on the seed of turnipweed collected from southern Australia. Seed germinated over a range of temperatures (25/15, 20/12, and 15/9 C) under both light/dark and dark conditions. Regardless of the light condition, germination of naked seed (63 to 88%) was greater than the seed in intact silique (0 to 13%). Seed germination was relatively unaffected (greater than 60%) at a low level of salinity (80 mM NaCl), and some germination occurred even at 160 mM NaCl (11%). Seed germination decreased as osmotic potential decreased from 0 to −1.0 MPa; however, some germination occurred even at an osmotic potential of −1.0 MPa (22%). Seed germination was greater than 76% over a pH range of 4 to 10. Seedling emergence of turnipweed was greater (60%) for seed buried at 1 cm than on the soil surface (23%). No seedlings emerged from seed buried at 5 cm. Information gained in this study will be important in developing a better understanding of the requirements for turnipweed germination and emergence.

In a 6-yr study on four farms (36 fields) in Ontario, Canada, we tested the effects of tillage (moldboard, chisel plow, no tillage) and crop rotations (continuous corn, corn-soybean, corn-soybean-winter wheat) on emerged and seedbank weed species diversity and density. Aside from the imposed experimental treatments, all other management was generally consistent among farms. Tillage had the largest effect on weed diversity and density. No tillage promoted the highest weed species diversity, chisel plow was intermediate, and moldboard plow resulted in the lowest species diversity. These results are consistent with ecological succession theory. The increase in weed species diversity resulted from 20 species being associated with no tillage systems, 15 of which were winter annuals, biennials, or perennials. Emerged weed density was affected only by tillage. Over 6 yr, seedbank declined in no-tillage systems from 41,000 to 8,000 seeds m−3. Crop yields were not affected by tillage or crop rotation. In practical terms, reduced tillage in combination with a good crop rotation may reduce weed density and expenditures on weed management.

Several studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of different tillage systems on the vertical seed distribution, seedling recruitment pattern, and persistence of the rigid ryegrass seed bank. Experiments were conducted in South Australia at two locations (Roseworthy Campus and Minlaton, a site on the Yorke Peninsula) in 2003 and 2005. The distribution of surface seeds through the soil profile was associated with the level of soil disturbance. The low–soil-disturbance tillage systems left more seed on the soil surface, whereas the high–soil-disturbance systems buried most of the seeds. The seedling recruitment of rigid ryegrass was lower under the low–soil-disturbance tillage systems than under the high–soil-disturbance tillage systems at both locations. The seedling recruitment was two- to fourfold greater under minimum tillage than under no-till. Not only was the seedling recruitment lower under the low–soil-disturbance tillage systems, biomass accumulation by rigid ryegrass seedlings was also lower under these systems. The carryover of residual viable seeds from one season to the next was similar between the tillage systems. However, seed decay under no-till (48 to 60%) was much greater than under minimum tillage (12 to 39%).

Threehorn bedstraw is an important dicotyledonous weed of winter crops in southern Australia, which can be difficult to control in some field crops. Knowledge of the germination ecology of this weed would facilitate development of effective weed control programs. Seed germination in the laboratory was greater for seeds that after-ripened while buried in the soil relative to those that after-ripened on the soil surface. The timing of greatest seed germination in the laboratory was found to coincide with the period of low temperature in the field. Seed germination of threehorn bedstraw was moderately sensitive to salt stress but moderately tolerant to osmotic stress. Seeds of threehorn bedstraw germinated over a broad range of pH from 4 to 10. No seedlings emerged from seeds placed on the soil surface. Maximum seedling emergence occurred at depths of 1 to 2 cm (89 to 91%) and declined at greater depths.

Understanding weed seedling emergence patterns is important for successful implementation of many weed management strategies. Identifying the sources of variation of emergence patterns could greatly improve our ability to predict emergence timing. Differences in seed dormancy levels between populations or biotypes are usually not considered when studying seedling emergence of many weed species despite evidence that dormancy levels can affect weed seedling emergence patterns. We studied the importance of seed dormancy on seedling emergence patterns of common waterhemp using three biotypes (Ames, Everly, and Ohio) that differed in dormancy regulation and level (5, 26, and 87% germination, respectively) and three tillage systems (no-tillage, chisel plow, and moldboard plow) in 2004 and 2005. Seedling emergence was at least four times greater under no-tillage than under chisel or moldboard plow conditions. Fewer seedlings emerged in moldboard plow than in other tillage systems. Furthermore, seedling emergence occurred in no-tillage over a longer period than in chisel and moldboard plow. In no-tillage the largest emergence events occurred at the end of June, whereas in other tillage systems most emergence occurred during May and the first week of June. Among biotypes, differences in number of emerged seedlings were more evident than differences in emergence timing. For Everly and Ohio biotypes, the number of emerged seedlings was the same between chisel and moldboard plow plots. For the Ames biotype, in 2004, the number of emerged seedlings was 25-fold higher in chisel plow than in moldboard plow, and the emergence pattern in no-tillage was longer and peaked later than in the other tillage systems. However, these results were not observed in 2005. Overall, we did not observe consistent differences in seedling emergence patterns among biotypes, which suggested that under field conditions, other factors can compensate for differences in seed dormancy levels.

Observational studies of weed emergence provide essential data for the creation and testing of predictive emergence models, with data ideally being collected from a wide range of sites representing a range of environments under which the seedlings of a given species emerge. The spring emergence of genetically engineered glyphosate-resistant volunteer canola was monitored in 20 farmers' commercial wheat fields over 2 yr, 2003 and 2004, in the southwestern region of Manitoba, Canada. Three different tillage systems, low-disturbance direct-seeded, high-disturbance direct-seeded, and conventionally tilled fields, were represented in this sample. Tillage system did not significantly influence the emergence periodicity of volunteer canola, but did influence total densities observed. Total volunteer canola densities in the surveyed fields were variable and ranged from 6 to 2,015 seedlings m−2. Conventionally tilled fields had the lowest densities of volunteer canola seedlings, and high-disturbance direct-seeded fields (no autumn tillage) had the highest densities. Volunteer canola is a relatively early spring emerging plant species requiring minimal accumulated growing degree days for emergence (calculated using a base temperature of 5 C). Emergence curves were steep, with a short window of volunteer canola emergence either prior to or within a spring-seeded wheat crop. To determine what proportion of autumn-broadcast canola seed (simulated harvest losses) would recruit the following spring and the influence of fall or spring tillage on this recruitment, a small plot experiment also was conducted at three sites. The following spring the percentage of canola seedlings that emerged ranged from 1.3 to 9.4% of the seed broadcast, depending upon the tillage treatment. The effect of tillage treatment on canola densities in the small plot experiment was similar to the field survey results.

A study at Fairbanks, AK, was started in 1984 to determine soil seed longevity of 17 weed species. Seeds were buried in mesh bags 2 and 15 cm deep and were recovered 0.7, 1.7, 2.7, 3.7, 4.7, 6.7, 9.7, and 19.7 yr later. Viability was determined by germination and tetrazolium tests. Seed viability data were fit to an exponential model, separately for each depth, and the likelihood-ratio test was used to determine whether seed-viability decline was affected by burial depth. Depth of burial had a significant effect on viability decline of prostrate knotweed, marsh yellowcress, bluejoint reedgrass, and wild oat. By 19.7 years after burial (YAB), all seeds of common hempnettle, quackgrass, wild oat, foxtail barley, and bluejoint reedgrass were dead. Seeds of 12 other species were still viable: corn spurry (0.1%), prostrate knotweed (0.3% at 2 cm, 0.8% at 15 cm), flixweed (0.5%), pineapple-weed (0.6%), shepherd's-purse (1.3%), wild buckwheat (1.5%), common chickweed (1.6%), rough cinquefoil (1.8%), common lambsquarters (3.0%), Pennsylvania smartweed (3.3%), marsh yellowcress (8.5% at 2 cm, 0.3% at 15 cm), and American dragonhead (62.2%). Seed dormancy at 19.7 YAB was very low for all species (< 4%) except for American dragonhead, common lambsquarters, Pennsylvania smartweed, and shepherd's-purse, which had seed dormancies of 100, 27, 25, and 38%, respectively. Seed longevity was not increased by cold, subarctic temperatures.

Pitted morningglory is an adaptable species with an indigenous range encompassing the southern Midwest and southeast United States. In 2000 through 2002, 64 pitted morningglory accessions from 11 states were grown in Fayetteville, AR, to compare their morphology in a common environment to document potential morphological variation and to determine whether variation proves the existence of pitted morningglory morphological ecotypes. Accessions were evaluated for leaf size and vine length 8 wk after emergence (WAE), date of flower initiation, flower color, leaf pubescence 12 WAE, capsule and sepal pubescence, sepal length and width, plant weight, and seed number at physiological maturity. Morphological variables were standardized and analyzed with cluster analysis to differentiate the morphological variation among accessions. Documented variation was best described by eight clusters. Four clusters distinguished themselves morphologically. Accessions within these distinct clusters were originally from Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri and were documented with leaf size, vine length, and day of flower initiation generally increasing with decreasing latitude. The other four clusters were nondistinct because most variables differed very little, but characteristics such as capsule pubescence separated these clusters. Accessions within these nondistinct clusters originated from Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Leaf shapes of arrow, heart, an arrow and heart mixture, and heart with pointed projections and white or purple flower colors were documented. Documented differences indicate the existence of pitted morningglory morphological ecotypes.

Knowledge about how the type, timing, and arrangement of cultural practices influence weed species composition is important for understanding the ecological results of control strategies and designing alternative crop management systems. We evaluated weed seed density, diversity, and community composition from 1997 to 1999 in a 35-yr-old study comparing cropping sequences (continuous corn, corn–soybean, corn–oat–hay) and tillage systems (conventional, minimum, and no-tillage) in Wooster, OH. Weed seedbank diversity, as measured by species richness (S), evenness (J), and the Shannon–Weiner index (H′), was influenced by crop diversity; mean values for each of the indices were generally higher for all combinations of the three-crop sequence than for the corn monoculture or the corn–soybean rotation. Except for 1998, mean seed density (to a depth of 10 cm) was higher in continuous corn than in corn and soybean rotations Species richness and seed density were also affected by tillage. Mean values for and mean germinable seeds were greatest in the no-tillage system, where the soil was disturbed only by the coulter units of the planter. Differences in weed seedbank community composition among tillage and rotation treatments were examined using two multivariate analyses. Using a multiresponse permutation procedure and canonical discriminant analysis, results suggest that the weed seed community in a corn–oat–hay rotational system differs in structure and composition from communities associated with continuous corn and corn–soybean systems. Additionally, germinable weed seed communities in no-tillage differed in composition from those in conventional and minimum tillage. Crop sequence and tillage system influenced weed species density and diversity and therefore community structure. Manipulation of these factors could help reduce the negative impact of weeds on crop production.

Specific knowledge about the dormancy, germination, and emergence patterns of weed species aids the development of integrated management strategies. The after-ripening period for jointed goatgrass seed was quantified, and the effects of germination conditions and spikelet structures on jointed goatgrass seed germination were measured. As the duration of after-ripening increased, jointed goatgrass seed germinated earlier, at faster rates, and to greater final percentages compared to non–after-ripened seed. Both primary and secondary positioned seed within jointed goatgrass spikelets were nondormant after 16 wk after-ripening at 22 ± 2 C. Germination of dormant seed depended on incubation temperature and dark/light conditions. Sixty-seven percent of spikelets produced a radicle when exposed to low temperatures in the dark, and light at warm temperatures increased germination by 7%. The relationship between light and incubation temperature was similar also for germination of the primary positioned seed in nondormant spikelets; however, the magnitude of the effect increased. Light increased germination of seed incubated at warm temperatures by 18%. Coleoptile emergence was dependent on planting depth for three jointed goatgrass populations, winter wheat, and spring wheat. Under optimum conditions in the greenhouse, no planting depth selectively allowed wheat germination and emergence while preventing jointed goatgrass germination and emergence. Glume removal increased jointed goatgrass secondary positioned seed final germination percentage to 96%, increased the germination rate, and decreased the number of days required to reach 50% germination to 6 d. Glume removal also promoted germination of the primary seed within jointed goatgrass spikelets. Glume removal resulted in 80% of the spikelets having two coleoptiles, but did not alleviate dormancy completely in jointed goatgrass seed. Tillage and herbicide applications for jointed goatgrass control will be most effective in the fall when primary dormancy is lost, but before secondary dormancy is imposed.