ABSTRACT
Silverleaf nightshade is a difficult-to-control perennial weed. Field experiments were conducted in northern Greece to evaluate the control of silverleaf nightshade with POST applications of glufosinate (1,500 g a.i. ha-1), glyphosate (3,600 g a.i. ha-1), tembotrione (148.5 g a.i. ha-1), and a mixture of tembotrione plus bentazon (148.5 plus 1,440 g a.i. ha-1) at an early vegetative stage (plant height 10-15 cm) and at the beginning of flowering (plant height 30-50 cm). Glufosinate provided > 95% control of silverleaf nightshade from 7 to 39 days after treatment (DAT), regardless of the vegetative stage at herbicide application. Similarly, glyphosate provided up to 90% control around 39 DAT at either growth stage applied, exhibiting gradually increasing efficacy. Tembotrione alone controlled silverleaf nightshade 85% when applied at the early vegetative stage and 48% when applied at the beginning of flowering. The mixture of tembotrione plus bentazon applied at the beginning of flowering exhibited 74% control at 21 DAT; however, the control was decreased to 41% at 35 DAT. When the mixture was applied at the early vegetative stage, S. elaeagnifolium control was 61% at 23 DAT, which was decreased to 27% at 39 DAT. Glufosinate and glyphosate were found to be reliable options for control of silverleaf nightshade when applied at either weed growth stage; tembotrione could be also another reliable option, however, when applied only at an early vegetative stage. The results have significant implications for developing appropriate management practices for silverleaf nightshade, taking into account chemical options for preventing the evolution of herbicide resistance.
Keywords:
application stage; herbicide efficacy; invasive weed