Response of Corn and Palmer amaranth to Mesotrione

Mesotrione is a herbicide used for the selective pre- and post-emergence control of a wide range of broadleaf and grass weeds in corn (Zea mays). It inhibits the enzyme 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) which leads to stop biosynthesis of plastoquinone, a key factor in the synthesis of carotenoid pigment. The depletion of carotenoids leading to bleaching symptoms followed by necrosis in sensitive plants. Palmer amaranth (Amaranth Palmeri) is one of the major weeds in corn production system. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that mesotrione may be effective to control Palmer amaranth and safe for use in corn. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate response of corn and Palmer amaranth to mesotrione. Corn and Palmer amaranth plants were treated with mesotrione at 105 g ai ha-1,and plant survival data was collected at 3 week after application. There was no injury reported to any of the corn plant, and plant survival rate was reported 100%. However, Palmer amaranth plants showed bleaching symptoms followed by necrosis and plant death. Only 12.5% Palmer amaranth plants survived after mesotrione application. These results demonstrated the tolerance of corn and sensitivity of Palmer amaranth to mesotrione

Interaction of Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) and Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) with Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) Genotypes

Greenhouse replacement series studies were conducted to determine the relative competitiveness of NC10-275 (unreleased, drought tolerant; upright, bushy, and vining growth with large leaves) and Covington (most commonly grown genotype in North Carolina; vining growth with smaller leaves) sweetpotato genotypes with weeds. Sweetpotato genotypes were grown with Palmer amaranth (tall growing) or common purslane (low growing) at five planting (sweetpotato:weed) proportions of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100% at density of four plants pot-1. Reduction in common purslane shoot dry biomass was greater when growing with NC10-275 than when growing with Covington or alone. When growing with common purslane, shoot dry and root fresh biomass of Covington was 18 and 26% lower, respectively, than NC10-275. Relative yield (shoot dry biomass) and aggressivity index (AI) of common purslane was lower than both sweetpotato genotypes. Palmer amaranth shoot dry biomass was similar when growing alone or with Covington; whereas, it was reduced by 10% when growing with NC10-275 than alone. Palmer amaranth competition reduced shoot dry biomass and root fresh biomass of Covington by 23 and 42%, respectively, relative to NC10-275. Relative yield and AI of Palmer amaranth was greater than Covington but lower than NC10-275. This research indicates that sweetpotato genotypes differ in their ability to compete with weeds. Both sweetpotato genotypes were more competitive than common purslane, and the following species hierarchy exists: NC10-275 > Covington > common purslane. In contrast, NC10-275 was more competitive than Covington with Palmer amaranth, and the following species hierarchy exists: NC10-275 ≥ Palmer amaranth>Covington.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author