Control of Volunteer Wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Fall-Planted Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perennne) with Ethofumesate

Abstract

Ethofumesate [(±)-2-ethoxy-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethyl-5-benzofuranyl methanesulfonate] was evaluated in field experiments at rates from 0.6 to 4.5 kg/ha for control of volunteer wheat (Triticum aestivumL. ‘Hyslop’, ‘Stephens’) in fall-planted perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenneL. ‘Cropper’, ‘Pelo’, ‘Pennfine’, ‘Omega’). Ethofumesate applied at 1.7 kg/ha or more in mid-November to wheat in the one-to three-leaf stage eliminated the wheat. Wheat was not eliminated when ethofumesate was applied preemergence soon after planting or when applied at the end of November to wheat in the four-leaf to four-tiller stage. In four experiments in which wheat was present, ethofumesate significantly increased perennial ryegrass seed production. In one experiment in which wheat was not present, ethofumesate did not affect perennial ryegrass seed production. Ethofumesate applied in the fall at rates to 4.5 kg/ha to newly-seeded perennial ryegrass or to well-established bentgrass (Agrostis tenuisSibth. ‘Highland’), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensisL. ‘Newport’), and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorumLam.) did not adversely affect germination of the following seed crop.