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Research Project: Improved Plant Genetic Resources for Pastures and Rangelands in the Temperate Semiarid Regions of the Western U.S.

Location: Forage and Range Research

Title: Photosynthetic Responses of 15 Range Grasses to the Selective Herbicide Sulfosulfuron

Authors
item Monaco, Thomas
item Creech, J - UTAH STATE UNIV.

Submitted to: Journal Of Range Management
Publication Acceptance Date: November 19, 2003
Publication Date: September 15, 2004
Citation: Monaco, T.A. And J.E. Creech. 2004. Sulfosulfuron Effects On Growth And Photosynthesis Of 15 Range Grasses. Journal Of Range Management 57:490-496.

Interpretive Summary: Sulfosulfuron, a selective herbicide was applied to 15 range grasses to determine its photosynthetic impacts. Photosynthesis was most damaged in rhizomatous grasses. Caespitose grasses were less damaged. The reasons for selectivity are unknown, but may be associated with a species ability to metabolize the herbicide making it less harmful to photosynthetic function.

Technical Abstract: There is considerable need to control invasive and undesirable grasses in pastures and rangelands without negatively impacting existing desirable perennial grasses. We conducted a greenhouse experiment to compare photosynthetic and growth responses of 2 invasive annual grasses (cheatgrass = Bromus tectorum L. and medusahead = Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski), 6 caespitose grasses ('Goldar' bluebunch wheatgrass = Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Love, 'Secar' Snake River wheatgrass = Elymus wawawaiensis J. Carlson & Barkw., 'CD II' crested wheatgrass = Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertner x A. desertorum [Fisch. ex Link] Schultes, Sand Hollow big squirreltail germplasm = Elymus multisetus (J.G. Smith) M.E. Jones, basin wildrye = Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) Love, and 'Bozoisky' Russian wildrye = Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski) and 7 rhizomatous grasses ('Rosana' western wheatgrass = Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) Love, 'Critana' thickspike wheatgrass = Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & Sm.) Gould, 'Greenar' intermediate wheatgrass = Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkw. & Dewey), 'NewHy' wheatgrass = Elymus hoffmannii, beardless wildrye = Leymus triticoides (Buckley) Pilger, quackgrass = Elytrigia repens (L.), and 'Manchar' smooth brome = Bromus inermis Leysser) to the herbicide sulfosulfuron (1-(2-ethylsulfonylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-ylsulfonyl)-3-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)urea). Plants of each grass were established in 3-L pots and assigned to the following treatments (n = 4): 1) untreated control, 2) sulfosulfuron low rate (53 g ha-1), and 3) sulfosulfuron high rate (93 g ha-1). In general, 6 of the 7 rhizomatous grasses showed significant (P<0.05) reductions in photosynthetic (i.e., carbon assimilation, stomatal conductance, and leaf transpiration) and growth (shoot dry mass) parameters compared to the control. In contrast, only 1 of the 6 caespitose grasses consistently showed a significant (P<0.05) reduction in photosynthetic and growth parameters. Of the 2 invasive annual grasses, only cheatgrass showed a significant (P<0.05) reduction in both photosynthetic and growth parameters. These results indicate a strong association between herbicide impact, photosynthetic performance, and subsequent reduction in growth. Sulfosulfuron may be an effective management tool to selectively suppress some invasive annual and rhizomatous grasses without adversely affecting desirable grass species.

 
Project Team
Chatterton, N - Jerry
Johnson, Douglas
Monaco, Thomas
Peel, Michael
Larson, Steven
Waldron, Blair
Jensen, Kevin
Jones, Thomas
Wang, Richard

Publications

Related National Programs
  Rangeland, Pasture, and Forages (205)
  Plant, Microbial & Insect Genetic Res., Genomics, & Genetic Improv. I (301)

Related Projects
   Great Basin Native Plant Selection and Increase Project
   Develop & Monitor Improved Plants for Revegetation of Areas Disturbed by Fire and Army Activities
   Evaluate the Success of Using Perennial Grasses to Restore Desirable Vegetation to Cheatgrass-Infested Rangelands
   Grasses of North America
   Develop and Evaluate Plants for Improved Livestock Performance
   Lakeside Native Ecosystem Restoration Project
   Integrated Restoration Strategies Towards Weed Control on Western Rangelands

 
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