Imidazolinone-Resistant Soft Red Winter Wheat Weed Control and Crop Response to ALS-Inhibiting Herbicides

Inability to control Italian ryegrass in soft red winter wheat can result in reduced yields, reduced quality, or both and cause double-crop planting to be inefficient. Experiments were conducted at Plains, GA, to evaluate diclofop-susceptible Italian ryegrass control in a single-gene imidazolinone (IMI)-resistant wheat using imazamox, mesosulfuron, and diclofop. Treatments were applied at variable rates and tank mixtures to the IMI-resistant soft red winter wheat 'AGS CL7' at Feekes' stages 1 (EMERG) or 2 (POST). Lower Italian ryegrass control of 78% or less was observed with single treatments of EMERG or POST herbicide applications. Diclofop provided maximum Italian ryegrass control of 79% or greater with minimal injury to wheat cultivar AGS CL 7. Sequential applications of diclofop at EMERG followed by imazamox, mesosulfuron, or diclofop POST provided maximum Italian ryegrass control at 86% or greater. The efficacy of the acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibiting herbicides registered for wheat weed control for AGS CL7 and 'AGS 2000' (conventional) was also evaluated. Mesosulfuron at 40 g ai ha(-1) resulted in 17% injury at 7 d after application (DAA), tribenuron at 40 g ai ha(-1) caused 9% injury 7 DAA, and pyroxsulam at 190 g ai ha(-1) caused 7% injury at 7 DAA, but was transient and not observed after heading or at harvest. No yield differences were noted between the nontreated control for AGS 2000 and AGS CL 7 for chlorsulfuron, mesosulfuron, thifensulfuron, tribenuron, prosulfuron, and pyroxsulam.