Spring 2002

WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dr. Dunk Porterfield

Greetings fellow weed scientists. They say time flies when your having fun! I must be having a lot of fun for the days seem to come and go quickly. The Weed Science Society of North Carolina held its 20th annual meeting three months ago. For those of you who were unable to attend, you missed an excellent meeting. This year's focus was on issues related to the horticultural industry in the state. North Carolina is blessed with tremendous crop diversity and there are many weed science challenges that go with it. These challenges become even greater in the face of budget crises, loss of product registrations, changes in personnel and job responsibilities, etc. Perhaps drought should be included at the top of the list. One thing that remains is that there will always be challenges and we must continue to look for new solutions and new ways of doing things. We must also become more vocal. As a member of the WSSNC, each of us has an obligation to voice our opinions as to how our society can better serve the needs of its members. Your ideas are critical for the future of our society. Please feel free to contact any board member or me with suggestions.

We have several members rotating off the board as well as several elected to the board. Thanks to each of you for serving in the past or agreeing to serve in the future.
I am looking forward to serving as your President and working with the new board. I am also in the process of naming new committee members for those positions left vacant by those members who assumed new roles. If you would like to serve on a committee, please contact me 919-380-1812.

I would also like to commend the graduate students who participated at our meeting. The posters and the presentations were excellent! It is easy to see why NCSU is a leader in Horticultural and Crop Sciences. Best of luck as you begin or continue your professional careers.
Plans are underway for 2003 meeting. Stay tuned for more from the cutting edge!

Program for 2002 Annual Meeting
March 7, 2002
University Club

8:30 am Registration
9:00 am Opening Remarks
John Wilcut, President, WSSNC
9:10 am Overview of Vegetable Industry in North Carolina
Dr. John Schultheis, Department of Horticulture
9:35 am Overview of the Fruit Industry in
North Carolina
Dr. Mike Parker, Department of
Horticulture

10:00 am BREAK

10:20 am Tree Fruit Weed Control issues in
North Carolina
Mr. Wayne Mitchem, Department
of Horticulture
10:40 am Small Fruit Weed Control Issues
in North Carolina
Dr. David Monks, Department of
Horticulture
11:00 am Vegetable Weed Control Issues in
North Carolina
Dr. David Monks, Department of
Horticulture
11:20am The IR-4 Program and It's
Successes in Fruit and Vegetable
Weed Control
Dr. Dan Kunkel, IR-4 Headquarters

11:50 am LUNCH

1:00 pm Student Presentations
Lane Crooks, Crop Science
Andrew MacRae, Horticulture
Carrie Judge, Horticulture
Wendy Pline, Crop Science

2:00 pm Business Meeting
Dr. John Wilcut, President,
WSSNC

2:45 pm Industry Updates
Dr. Dunk Porterfield, President
Elect, WSSNC

3:15 pm ADJOURN

Minutes of the North Carolina Weed Science Society Meeting 2002

Prepared by Tom McKemie, Secretary, WSSNC

John Wilcut called the meeting to order at 2:15pm. The Meeting was held at the NC University Club on Hillsborough Street. John welcomed and thanked everyone for coming to the meeting and began with Student awards and accomplishment. John Wilcut made called attention to the fact that over the past several years North Carolina State University has received many awards at the various meetings including the Southern Weed Science Society, Northeastern Weed Science Society, WSSA, and the Weed Contest. Tom McKemie started with the reading of the 2001 meeting minutes. The minutes were passed around while Tom read them out loud. Tom continued with the finical report. The report was projected from a computer for all members to see. Both the minutes and the finical report were voted on and passed. Sue Rick continued with an update on the WSSNC Dean Whitter fund and indicated that our fund manager recommended that we should remain were we are. Sue also reported on the new board members: The following people were elected to the 2002-2003 Board: Roger Batts (Vice President), Tom McKemie (Secretary/Treasurer), Steve Hoyle (At-Large Member), and Andrew McRae (Student Representative). Leon Warren presented the WSSNC Distinguished Service award to Dr. Jack Sheets. Dr. Sheet stood and thanked the Society. Mary Paulsgrove, Student Affair Committee, recognized the poster judges; Sue Rick, Leslie Fuquay, and Daryl Wyatt.

Awards: Outstanding Ph.D Student, Wendy Pline; Outstanding MS Student, Shawn Troxler; First Place Poster, Poster, Walter Thomas; Second Place Poster, Shawn Troxler.

News Update: The Website for the Society is www.wssnc.ncsu.edu . Thanks to Steve Hoyle for his work on this project. John Wilcut introduced Dr. Mike Burton as the new professor of weed Biology in the Crop Science Department. Old Business: The WSSNC will remain a separate society and not merger with the VM group. "Stay as we are!" Dunk Porterfield presented John Wilcut a plaque for his service to the society and the meeting was adjourned. Special Thanks to our Sponsors: BASF, Dow Agroscience, DuPont, FMC, Monsanto, Rowan-Chowan Ag Consultants, and Syngenta

Newsletter Editor's Report
Prepared by David Jordan, Newsletter Editor, WSSNC

The Newsletter is mailed to members in late November (Fall Issue) and mid to late April (Spring Issue). Abstracts from the annual meeting are included in the Spring Issue. Abstracts from the General Session and Graduate Student oral presentations are to be provided to the Newsletter Editor at the annual meeting in electronic form with one hard copy. The abstracts do not have to be long but need to briefly describe what was said in the presentations. Abstracts for poster presentation are not published in the Newsletter. The Spring Issue of the Newsletter will also include a presidential address, a list of current members of the Board of Directors, and a list of committee chairs and members. This information given to the Newsletter Editor by April 1 to ensure a mid-April mailing of the Newsletter.

A ballot and membership application was mailed three weeks prior to the annual meeting. Several members of the Society have indicated that the voter's choices are no longer anonymous using this process. Several years ago it became apparent that a greater portion of members were able to participate in the election process using this method because some members are not able to attend the annual meeting. Members can bring the ballot to the annual meeting separate from the membership or the two items can be returned separately if anonymity is a concern. This issue needs to be addressed in the business meeting. Having the voting and registration process completed prior to the annual meeting reduces confusion at the meeting and allows the Secretary and supporting individuals to "attend" more of the meeting.

If NC State University weed scientists conduct a weed tour or weed science related raining session the Board of Directors may decide to have an event in conjunction with that activity. A notice will be sent from the Newsletter Editor to the membership, at the request of the Board of Directors, announcing that such an event will take place. The Board of Directors can decide to call a meeting or have a special event during the summer apart from NC State University activities.

Results from a survey of the membership during the summer of 2001 indicated that the membership does not want to change how the Society operates and conducts the annual meeting (See below). This needs to be considered when the Board of Directors discusses relationships with other organizations and plans future events.

The group discussed the recent survey. The general consensus from the 31 people returning surveys was to not change the meeting format. The following tabulation was presented, with the lower number denoting the most appealing choice.

58 points, No change, continue formal meeting as is.

74 points, No change, continue with formal meeting as is but include a social gathering.

83 points, Meet with another society.

106 points, Change to an informal gathering only.

Officers

President, Dunk Porterfield, Syngenta
Past President, John Wilcut, NC State University
Vice President, Roger Batts, NC State University
Secretary-Treasurer, Tom McKemie, BASF Corp.
Director at Large, Richard Lemons, BASF Corp.
Director at Large, Jim Burton, NC State University
Director at Large, Steve Hoyle, NC State University
Director at Large, Andrew McRae, NC State University
Newsletter Editor, David Jordan, NC State University

Important dates to Remember

SWSS Annual Meeting, January 27-29, 2003, Houston, TX
WSSA Annual Meeting, February 9-12, 2003, Jacksonville, FL
WSSNC Annual Meeting, early March 2003, University Club, Raleigh, NC
APRES Annual Meeting, July 15-19, 2002, Research Triangle Park, NC
ASA/CSA/SSSA Annual Meeting, November 11-14, 2003, Indianapolis, IN

 

DISTINQUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Dr. Jack Sheets was recognized at the 2002 Annual Meeting of the WSSNC for his many contributions to the WSSNC and weed science and other pesticide-related programs at North Carolina State University. Congradulations and thank you for all of the service you have provided the Society.

Abstracts provided by speakers at the 2002 Annual Meeting of the WSSNC and other information relating to the WSSNC can be found at the WSSNC web site (http://www.wssnc.ncsu.edu).

Industry Trends in North Carolina Fruit Crops
Mike Parker, Tree Fruit Crops (all)
Barclay Poling, Strawberries and Muscadines
Andy Allen, Bunch Grapes
Bill Cline, Blueberries
Gina Fernandez, Brambles
Summary statistics for 2001 - Fruit Crops ($109 million)
1. Apples - 18.8 million
2. Peaches - $8.7 million
3. Pecans - $2.0 million
4. Bunch Grapes& Muscadines - 850 acres; 22 wineries; $2.7 million grapes; $25 million value in wine sales; $27.7 million total
5. Strawberries - $29.25 million total (excludes nursery production)
6. Blueberries - $21.05 million total
7. Brambles - $1.5 million

1. Apples
(10-12,000 acres, $18.8 million)
The NC apple industry is located primarily in the western counties of NC. At present there are approximately 10-12,000 acres of trees with an average value over the past five years of $18.8 million. The apple industry has been set back in recent years because of several factors with the major problem being Chinese concentrate being dumped onto US markets. In addition, three apple processors have moved out of NC during the past four years that have historically purchased a large portion of the NC apple crop. The NC apple industry is in the middle of significant changes from an industry that grew fruit primarily for processing markets to one that produces fruit primarily for fresh markets. This transition is one that takes years to incorporate with having to plant new orchards on size-controlling rootstocks, planting new cultivars that the market demands as well as having to develop new markets. This problem is also compounded with the increasing value of land on which apples are planted making the decisions difficult in some instances. However, new orchards are being established with newer cultivars and a new group of individuals are emerging into leadership positions. Some of the newer cultivars being planted are Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, SunCrisp and Pink Lady. The North Carolina apple industry is still very viable and may be somewhat smaller but will be a stable industry with a higher value crop
.
2. Peaches - 4,000 acres, $8.7 million and increasing
The North Carolina peach industry compromises approximately 4,000 acres with an average value over the past five years of $8.7 million with one year of a complete crop loss. The peach industry has historically been identified as being located primarily in the Sandhills region of the state. Peach acreage decreased significantly in the 1980's in the Sandhills region of the state due to frost/freeze crop loss and tree death due to peach tree short life (PTSL). However, at present peach acreage is on the rebound in all areas of the state, primarily in smaller acreage plantings of 3-8 acres as part of a diversified farming operation. Peaches are a high value crop and there is a great demand from local wholesale and retail markets for high quality peaches. With the development and release of high quality cold hardy peach cultivars from the NCSU peach breeding program (Contender, Intrepid, Challenger and China Pearl) and rootstocks from SC and GA that are tolerant to PTSL, the potential for profits in peach production are very real.

3. Pecans:
$2 million and increasing:
The pecan industry in North Carolina has been in existence for many years, historically in small plantings around the family farm with a farm gate value of $3-5 million. The hurricanes during the 1990's had a devastating effect on pecan trees in eastern NC, especially the very large and established trees, reducing the average value of the crop over the past five years to approximately $2 million. However, the industry is increasing significantly with many new orchards being planted as a commercial enterprise and many others interested into the potential of planting pecans. Pecan plantings must be considered as a long-term investment and those establishing pecan orchards are looking 10-15 years into the future.

4. Bunch Grapes and Muscadines
Official state fruit- 2001 General Assembly):
There are currently 22 wineries in the state, and there are at least 10 more expected to open within the next 2-3 years. We have been estimating that NC has 850+ acres (bunch and muscadine), of which approximately 70% are bunch winegrapes, mainly vinifera. The leading varieties have been Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet franc, but Viognier and Syrah are gaining acreage. Pinot noir has been tried by several vineyards with poor results (much bunch rot). Other varieties are gaining interest, and there is some small acreage of Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, and Petit Verdot, plus several other vinifera varieties of limited acreage. Chambourcin is the most popular hybrid, but along with Seyval blanc and Vidal blanc it only makes up a small portion of the current acreage. There is very little production of American varieties, mainly Concord and Niagra. With a few notable exceptions (Shelton Vineyards @ 200 acres, Biltmore Estate @ 74 acres, WestBend Winery @ ~60 acres, Raylen Vineyards @ 40 acres, Joe Mize Vineyards @ 40 acres, plus a few other smaller operations), most new bunch grape vineyards in the state are around 2-3 acres. The majority of vineyards and acreage are in the upper area of what is called the Yadkin Valley, in the upper Piedmont region surrounding the Yadkin River. But there are significant numbers of vineyards and acres being planted in the central and eastern Piedmont areas as well, and growing interest in the Mountains. Muscadine acreage is also expanding rapidly throughout the piedmont, sandhills and coastal plain. The most recent statistical summary can be found at this web address: www.agr.state.nc.us/stats/fruit/survey/index.htm

5.Strawberries:
There are an estimated 1900 acres of strawberry plasticulture in the state worth an estimated $28.5 million. The per acre value of the NC strawberry plasticulture crop compares very favorably to other states, including California (25,000 acres) and Florida (6,000 acres) because strawberries in NC are direct marketed (ave. value $15,000/acre). The nursery industry is beginning to grow again, and plug production has now reached 15 million plugs/year. The main varieties are Chandler and Camarosa. Sweet Charlie is being largely discontinued due to poor adaptation. This industry continues to enjoy a steady 5-10% growth rate each year. Some of the most important strawberry educational programs of this industry are conducted by the NC Strawberry Growers Assn., which has members from more than a dozen states. The industry continues to make efforts to improve transplant quality though support of the NC Micropropagation Unit (NCMPU), Dept. Plant Pathology. Both Dr. Charles Averre and Dr. Robert Milholland, assist Dr. Zvezdana Pesic-Vanesbroeck, Director, NCMPU.

6.Blueberries:
The NC blueberry industry is located primarily in the southeastern part of the state, although small pick-your-own and home garden plantings exist throughout. Acres reported in 2001 for commercial sites total 4,483 (only farms of one-half acre or more in size were included). This is an increase of about 500 acres from the last survey in 1996 (Source: NCDA&CS Agricultural Statistics). Seventy-five percent of commercial acres are planted with highbush or southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) with the remaining twenty-five percent in later-ripening rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei). Trends include increased planting of mechanically harvestable cultivars, and increased use of irrigation for drought relief and frost protection. North Carolina's industry continues to enjoy higher prices than more northern states due to our ability to produce an earlier crop. Prices have also increased in recent years due to favorable publicity about the health benefits of eating blueberries and other fruits and vegetables high in antioxidant activity.
Total NC production for 1999, 2000 and 2001 was 13.0, 18.0 and 13.0 million pounds, respectively, for a three year average of 14.7 million pounds. These figures include processed and fresh berries (Source: North American Blueberry Council). The NC crop is sold about 80% fresh and 20% processed. Average price per 12 pt flat in 2000 and 2001 for fresh NC blueberries was over $14.00, well above the 20-yr historical average (1978-1998) of around $12.00/flat. Based on 2001 returns of $1.64/lb fresh and $0.60/lb processed, the NC blueberry crop is valued at $19.29 million fresh and $1.76 million processed, for a total of $21.05 million.

7. Brambles:
150 acres, $1,500,000. No official statistics are available on this crop. However ,an increasing demand but limited supply of these fruit is driving up acreage. Acreage of blackberries in NC has increased dramatically over the past 6 years, approximately 50% and stands at 150 acres and growing. North Carolina is likely the largest producer of fresh market blackberries outside of the Pacific Northwest. The primary varieties grown are from the Native
American Series (Arapaho, Kiowa, Navaho etc) from the University of Arkansas. In the fall of 2001, the breeding program at University of Arkansas entered into an agreement with the NCMPU to have all their patented cultivars processed through the unit to ensure that clean plant material is made available to nurseries and growers. The NCSU Specialty Crops program has supported bramble research, marketing and extension/outreach efforts
since 2000. Other support has come from the North American Bramble Growers Association, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium. North Carolina recently hosted the North American Bramble Growers Association annual meeting.

The IR-4 Project - Providing pest management solutions to growers.
D.L. Kunkel
Interregional Project Number 4 (IR-4), Cook College, Rutgers University,
New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08902-3390, USA
ABSTRACT
In 1962, the State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors recognized the needs of growers and requested the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Cooperative State Research Service to initiate an interregional research project to coordinate the agricultural community's efforts and assist growers in obtaining registrations of agricultural pesticides for their minor use needs. The Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) was established in 1963. The IR-4 Minor Use Program has grown in scope since its beginning. In 1975, Regional Leader Laboratories were established at SAES to provide regional coordination and analytical services. In 1976, the USDA-ARS established a minor use program to provide further support for IR-4. The objectives of IR-4 were expanded in 1977 to include registration of pesticides needed for the protection of crops from nursery and floral crops to forestry seedlings and turfgrass. The program was further expanded in 1982 to include the registration of biological pest control agents such as microbials and biochemicals.
IR-4 has supported more than 6,000 food use clearances since 1963. In 2001 alone, IR-4 data help to establish one hundred and sixty two tolerances and these tolerances should support a total of 564 new minor uses being added to pesticide labels. These clearances comprise over 40% of the total granted by EPA. Many of the new approvals are a direct result of the partnerships that IR-4 has built with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as with those companies that produce pest control products. In recent years IR-4 has expanded its partnerships across its U.S. boarders to Canada and even with Germany to assist in resolving various trade irritants and to pursue global registration for minor crops.
THE IR-4 MISSION
The IR-4 Mission is to provide pest management solutions to growers of fruits, vegetables and other minor crops. People who benefit from IR-4 are minor crop growers, food processors and consumers.
IR-4 develops data for submission to EPA to support registrations of new crop protection chemicals on minor food and ornamental crops and assists in the maintenance of existing product registrations. IR-4 provides help in the development and registration of biopesticides and expedites new pest control technologies for minor crops.
ORGANIZATION
An IR-4 organization has developed to accomplish this mission. The organization involves coordination of both state and federal components. The national headquarters coordinates the U.S. and International programs and is located at Rutgers University/Cook College in New Jersey. The Executive Director and Study Directors are located here. Four regional offices are located at the University of California at Davis, Michigan State University, University of Florida, and Cornell University at the Experiment Station in Geneva, New York. Each region has a Regional Director, a Leader Laboratory Coordinator, and a Field Coordinator. A Quality Assurance Office is located in each region and at IR-4 headquarters. The Project Management Committee provides strategic focus and policies to the program and is comprised of the four Regional Directors, ARS and CSREES Representatives, the Commodity Liaison Committee Chair, the Administrative Advisory Committee Chair and IR-4's Executive Director and Executive Secretary. The Administrative Advisory Committee provides liaison between State Agricultural Experiment Stations, the USDA, and IR-4 and is comprised of one representative from each region, CSREES and ARS. The Commodity Liaison Committee is a stakeholder organizational link between IR-4 and minor food and ornamental crop growers and provides guidance and advice on how the program can best serve minor crop producers.
The four regional offices of IR-4 and ARS oversee approximately 27 field research centers located throughout the U.S. Each field research center employs one or two individuals whose sole responsibility is to conduct IR-4 residue trials. This has allowed these individuals to focus their full attention on conducting the trials and completing the field notebooks. Each field research center conducts from 15 to 40 field trials. Residue analysis is conducted at the four regional leader laboratories, three ARS laboratories, as well as several satellite laboratories and a number of private and chemical company laboratories. All of the laboratories conduct their work for IR-4 using Good Laboratory Practices.
HOW IR-4 OPERATES
IR-4 is a grass roots organization. Pest management needs are identified and requested of IR-4 by individual growers, grower organizations, nurserymen, agricultural scientists and extension personnel. In addition, there is a network of state and federal IR-4 liaison representatives throughout the U.S. and its Territories.
Pest control needs are made known to IR-4 in a number of ways. Requests can be submitted through the regional offices, through the IR-4 liaison at state land-grant universities and more recently through the IR-4 web site: http://www.cook.rutgers.edu/~ir4. Requests are submitted in the form of a Project Clearance Request (PCR). Once a PCR is submitted, it is shared with the regional offices and sent to the pesticide registrant. The registrant must give IR-4 approval to proceed and be willing to register the use before IR-4 will consider a project. IR-4 limits its scope to testing for effectiveness against the target pest, crop safety (phytotoxicity), and magnitude of residue studies on food crops. Therefore, IR-4 must check with the registrant to ensure that all the necessary core data requirements, such as chemistry, toxicology and environmental fate, have been completed and accepted by EPA.
IR-4 sponsors a Food Use Workshop, in September, to review and prioritize all of the approved requests. State and Federal minor-crop pest control experts, growers, commodity organizations and representatives from EPA and industry attend the workshop. Industry representatives are provided time prior to each session to make presentations on new chemistry. Priorities are set for the upcoming year's research based on the importance of the pest problem, the availability of alternatives, the existence of data gaps, and the value to integrated pest management programs. Only high priority projects (priority A and B) are slated for research. Following the Food Use workshop, the Regional Field Coordinators seek additional advice from minor-crop pest control experts, growers, and commodity organizations regarding specific needs of their region. Planning for the upcoming year takes place at a National Planning meeting October. At this meeting, field trials are assigned to specific Field Research Directors by the Regional Field Coordinators and ARS leadership. The location and number of research trials is predetermined by EPA, and relates to the major growing regions of a crop. Laboratory analyses are assigned to specific laboratories. In recent years, the average workload has been 130 residue studies with over 600 field trials (over 700 field trials in 2000). In addition, approximately 35 biopesticide projects, and 600 ornamental field trials are conducted each year.
All of the data generated during the field and laboratory phases of the research are sent to IR-4 Headquarters. The data are reviewed by scientists and written in final format for submission to EPA. For food crops, the final format is a petition that requests either the establishment of a tolerance (MRL) or an exemption from the tolerance requirement.
EPA carefully reviews the petitions and data packages. When EPA approves a petition, a Notice, followed by a Final Rule is published n the Federal Register. Registration follows after the registrant requests EPA's approval of the specific directions for use, which will appear on the label. The product may be made available for national use, be confined to a limited geographical region, or be identified for a Special Local Need (24c) in a specific state or states.
FOOD QUALITY PROTECTION ACT
The 1996 Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) has posed federal legislative challenges for all crops by establishing new health based standards for crop protection chemicals in food. The FQPA requires that all of the nearly 10,000 chemical tolerances in effect in 1996 be reassessed over a 10-year period. The ultimate impact of the FQPA on existing crop protection tools for minor crop growers is uncertain, but minor crops will be impacted by this act.
STRATEGIC PLAN
In the last decade, the agrochemical industry has developed a range of new, safer products. These newer crop protection tools are much more selective against target pests, exhibit low human toxicity and have minimal impact on the environment. The EPA recognized this trend and created a classification of Reduced Risk for compounds that meet strict criteria. IR-4 recognized these trends, and in its 1995 strategic plan focused on the new, Reduced Risk chemistries. When FQPA was enacted in August 1996, IR-4's strategy was already being implemented and in the subsequent four years IR-4 has increased the number of these projects to over 75% of IR-4's recent program focused on Reduced Risk active ingredients.
BIOPESTICIDE RESEARCH
IR-4 supported the registration of the Bt products in the early 1970's which is used today by many organic growers and other producers. In 1982, IR-4 started a dedicated biopesticide program. The program was expanded in 1994 to provide competitive grant funds to land-grant university and government researchers to support studies on early stage development biopesticides for minor crop uses. Beginning in 1999, funding was also provided to develop efficacy and performance data on biopesticides currently being commercialized to speed these newer technologies to minor crop agriculture. These newer products can compete with traditional chemistries as part of total integrated pest management programs and will provide resistance management alternatives. Organic growers will benefit from these new biopesticides. Organic agriculture contributed $4 billion to the agricultural economy in 1999 and sales are growing at a rate of 20% per year. In 1999, IR-4 received 58 biopesticide clearances for food crops. IR-4 was recently added as an Ad Hoc member of Biopesticide Industry Alliance (new trade association).
EPA PARTNERSHIP
Both the EPA and IR-4 recognized the potential serious impacts FQPA could have on minor crop growers and acted in 1998 to strengthen and expand its current working relationships through the Minor Use Team to optimize IR-4's Reduced Risk chemical strategy. The result has been the formation of the EPA/IR-4 Technical Working Group, which meets quarterly to develop procedures to facilitate minor crop registrations. The initiatives have resulted in IR-4 submitting a three-year work plan enabling more efficient petition scheduling and bundling of product submissions for risk assessments. The Agency and IR-4 continue making extensive use of residue data by using crop groupings which allows for representative minor crops in various crop and sub-crop groupings to be tested for residues and a tolerance established on the entire crop group or sub-group. For a limited number of Reduced Risk compounds, EPA has accepted arguments from IR-4 to extend uses by means of surrogate data to other crops. This has allowed the new Reduced Risk products to be registered more rapidly for use on many more minor and ultra minor crops without generating residue data.
CURRENT FUNDING AND CAPABILITIES
IR-4 is fortunate to have financial support from several sources to fund the minor use program. These include direct funding by Congress through USDA, from the land-grant university system, commercial registrants and commodity groups and from in-kind support from the land-grant university system and federal research institutions. In 2001, direct funding from USDA-CSREES was 10.5 million. The minor use program in USDA-ARS is presently funded at $3.5 million and additional Federal Hatch funding of around $0.5 million brings the total federal budget support to around $15 million. Funding support from private sector sources varies year by year, but has averaged between $0.5 and $0.8 million in recent years.

Effect of Weed-Free Intervals on Peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] Tree Growth, Yield, and Fruit Quality
A.W. MacRae, W.E. Mitchem, D.W. Monks, R.K. Galloway, and M.L. Parker
Studies were conducted to determine the critical weed-free period for 'Summerprince' and 'Norman' peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] in North Carolina. Weed-free intervals of 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 weeks from tree bloom were established. Paraquat at 3 pt/A plus non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% v/v was applied every ten days after treatments were initiated to maintain weed-free plots. Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] (most common weed), smooth pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus L.), and common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) were the primary weeds in 'Summerprince'. Horseweed [Conyza candensis (L.) Cronq.] (most common weed), smooth crabgrass [Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb.) Muhl.], and large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.] were the primary weeds in 'Norman'. No differences in trunk cross-sectional area were observed between the weed-free periods from bloom. For the most part, the highest values for individual fruit weight, individual fruit diameter, and total marketable yield resulted when weeds were controlled in orchards 9 weeks or longer. Maintaining the orchard floor weed-free until at least 9 weeks from bloom resulted in the greatest fruit quality (individual fruit weight and diameter), total marketable yield, and percent marketable fruit.

Predicting Herbicide Dissipation in Container Nursery Crop Production -A Method for Improving Herbicide Performance and Reducing Hand Weeding.
Caren A. Judge, Joseph C. Neal, Jerome B. Weber and Ross B. Leidy, North Carolina State Univ.
In container nursery crop production systems in the southeastern U.S., the most common substrate is a soilless pine-bark based mix. Due to the lack of selective postemergence herbicides for broad-spectrum weed control in container nurseries, frequent applications (every 8 to 10 weeks) of preemergence herbicides are made when chemical weed control is employed. Most preemergence herbicide programs include dinitroaniline herbicides (ie. trifluralin, pendimethalin, oryzalin or prodiamine) for grass control. Often, they are pre-packaged or tank-mixed with a broadleaf herbicide to achieve broad-spectrum weed control. An experiment was conducted to determine the dissipation of trifluralin in a pine bark:sand (7:1 v/v) potting substrate over time and to compare grass inhibition over the same time period. The experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Field Laboratory in Raleigh, N.C. and at the Horticultural Crops Research Station in Castle Hayne, N.C. during 2001. Trifluralin was applied at 4.48 kg ai/ha, the highest labeled use rate for container nurseries. Large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) were seeded at 0, 7, 14, 28, 42 and 56 days after treatment (DAT) as bioassay species. Shoot and root measurements were taken 2 and 3 weeks after seeding. Additionally, samples were taken from the top 2 cm of the potting substrate at 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 42 and 56 DAT. Trifluralin was extracted from the potting substrate using Soxhlet extraction, followed by column chromatography for clean up, and analyzed using gas chromatography with a transionic specific detector. Trifluralin lost effectiveness about 1 to 3 weeks after treatment during the warmest months of the growing season, after which time weeds emerged. Laboratory analyses suggest the trifluralin residues in the surface of the potting substrate decrease rapidly within 24 hours after application and slowly thereafter, reaching what may be considered critically low levels (13 to 23 mg/g) approximately 21 days after application. These results suggest that the common reapplication interval of 8 to 10 weeks may need to be shortened in the southeastern U.S.

Italian Ryegrass Control in Wheat with Mesosulfuron-Methyl
H.L. Crooks and A.C. York; Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
Diclofop-resistant Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) is a serious problem for small grain producers throughout the South. There are currently no adequately effective control options for diclofop-resistant Italian ryegrass in wheat. Mesosulfuron-methyl is an acetolactate-synthase (ALS) inhibitor being developed by Aventis for the control of Italian ryegrass and other annual grasses in wheat. Research was conducted to determine the efficacy of mesosulfuron-methyl as affected by rate, time of application, and ryegrass biotype. Wheat tolerance to mesosulfuron-methyl was also investigated.
Experiments were conducted in 2000 and 2001 at three locations in North Carolina heavily infested with Italian ryegrass. NKC 9704 wheat was planted at each location. Location 1 had a mixed population of diclofop-resistant and -susceptible biotypes, while populations at locations 2 and 3 were 100% susceptible and resistant, respectively. Mesosulfuron-methyl was applied as experimental compound AE F130060, a 5:1 ratio of mesosulfuron-methyl to iodosulfuron-methyl, at 12, 15, and 18 g ai/ha to 3-leaf, 2-tiller, and 6-tiller Italian ryegrass. Iodosulfuron-methyl is primarily for broadleaf weed control and will not be included in the initially registered mesosulfuron-methyl formulation. All treatments included 30% UAN at 1.7% (v/v) plus methylated seed oil at 0.4% (v/v) as recommended by the manufacturer. Diclofop was applied at 1100 g ai/ha to Italian ryegrass at the same growth stages. The rate response of AE F130060 was similar across locations, and data were pooled. At 70 days after treatment, Italian ryegrass control by AE F130060 at all rates decreased as growth stage increased. Mixed biotypes treated at the 3-leaf stage were controlled at least 94% while 69 to 79% control of 2-tiller Italian ryegrass was noted. Control of 6-tiller Italian ryegrass was only 40% by AE F130060 at 12 and 15 g/ha and 66% with 18 g/ha. At location 2, diclofop and AE F130060 both controlled susceptible ryegrass 90 to 100%. Diclofop still provided 99% control at the 2-tiller stage compared to 82% control by AE F130060 at 18 g/ha. Control of 6-tiller Italian ryegrass by AE F130060 at all rates was at least 44% greater than control by diclofop. At location 3, no control by diclofop confirmed a resistant biotype. AE F130060 at 15 g/ha controlled 3-leaf and 2-tiller ryegrass at this location greater than 90% but 6-tiller ryegrass was controlled only 33%. Yield data trends were consistent with ratings data. Greenhouse experiments confirmed that both diclofop-susceptible and -resistant biotypes were equally sensitive to AE F130060.
A safener will be included with mesosulfuron-methyl when the herbicide is commercially available. Tests were conducted in 2001 at two locations in North Carolina to determine the importance of safener rates on wheat tolerance. AE F130060 was applied at 15 and 30 g/ha alone and with H1219 safener added at 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 ratios of AE F130060 to H1219. All treatments included 30% UAN at 1.7% (v/v) plus methylated seed oil at 0.4% (v/v) as recommended by the manufacturer. NKC 9704 wheat was planted in weed-free fields and treated at the 3-leaf, 2-tiller, and 6-tiller growth stages. When the safener was included, injury by AE F130060 at both rates was 10% or less at all growth stages compared to as much as 61% injury without the safener. Yields were reduced when the safener was omitted.
The findings indicate mesosulfuron-methyl applied timely will control diclofop-resistant and -susceptible Italian ryegrass. Early application, preferably to 3-leaf ryegrass, will provide the best control and prevent early season competition. A safener will be necessary to prevent crop injury.

Physiological and Morphological Basis for Reproductive Sensitivity to Glyphosate in Glyphosate-Resistant Cotton
Wendy Ann Pline, John W. Wilcut and Keith L. Edmisten
Transgenic, glyphosate-resistant (GR) cotton has been available to U.S. growers since 1997. Despite wide-spread acceptance, there have been performance complaints by growers citing lower boll retention in GR varieties than in conventional varieties. Field and greenhouse studies confirmed grower observations, demonstrating a glyphosate-associated decrease in boll retention compared to non-treated GR or conventional plants. Late (beyond the 5 leaf stage) foliar applications were the most injurious, presumably because plants were entering early reproductive stages. Boll 'cavitation,' (dessicated bolls attached to plants) also observed by growers following glyphosate treatment, resulted from abnormal abscission zone formation and was related to variety.
14C-glyphosate absorption per cm2 was greater when applied to stem tissue than leaf tissue, but overall absorption is likely greater when applied foliarly, due to a greater total surface area. Because glyphosate typically moves from source tissue to sink tissue, up to 3.7% of applied 14C-glyphosate was translocated to reproductive tissues.
Seedling development in both GR and conventional cotton was inhibited by root-absorbed glyphosate. Root tissues were more sensitive to glyphosate than cotyledons or hypocotyls, as was demonstrated by inhibition of lateral root formation and shikimic acid accumulation. CP4-EPSPS content was significantly lower in GR seedling roots than cotyledons, accounting for glyphosate sensitivity.
Further studies compared the accumulation of shikimic acid in response to glyphosate in reproductive and vegetative tissues in GR and conventional cotton. Shikimic acid accumulation per mM of glyphosate, was greater in reproductive than vegetative leaf tissue in both GR and conventional cotton, suggesting that reproductive tissue is innately more sensitive to glyphosate than vegetative tissue. The quantity of the glyphosate-resistant CP4-EPSPS enzyme was significantly less in stamens than in vegetative leaf tissues.
Several morphological differences were apparent in flowers of glyphosate-treated GR cotton. Glyphosate applications inhibited stamen elongation, resulting in anthers not extending to the tip of the stigma, thereby limiting pollen deposition to the lower, less receptive portion of the stigma. Total pollen deposition on the stigma was less in glyphosate-treated GR cotton than non-treated GR or conventional cotton. Microscopic analysis of pollen revealed that glyphosate arrested maturation in at least 3 pollen developmental stages. At anthesis, pollen grains from glyphosate-treated GR plants were collapsed, highly vacuolated, and had 60% lower viability (ability to germinate) than pollen from non-treated GR or conventional plants. Retained bolls from glyphosate-treated plants had fewer seeds than those from non-treated GR or conventional plants. Hand crosses between glyphosate-treated plants demonstrated that the number of seeds per boll was decreased when the male parent, but not the female parent, was glyphosate treated. Hand pollinations using pollen from treated plants, although overcoming the increased anther-stigma distance, did not restore the normal number of seeds per boll. Treatment of GA onto glyphosate-treated GR plants did not remediate glyphosate effects on pollen viability and floral morphology. Therefore, presumably, several of the bolls that were shed due to glyphosate-treatments, contained an insufficient number of fertilized ovules and are thus shed.
This research proposes that boll shed due to glyphosate in GR cotton is due to insufficient levels of CP4-EPSPS in stamens, which are highly sensitive to glyphosate. As glyphosate accumulates in reproductive structures, stamen elongation and pollen development are inhibited, resulting in poor fertilization of ovules. Because fewer ovules are fertilized, bolls are either shed or contain fewer seeds if retained. Growers should limit glyphosate contact with GR cotton, especially during the reproductive stages in order to minimize the potential for glyphosate-induced boll shed.

Purpose of WSSNC

"To advance the discipline of weed science in North Carolina and improve the well-being of the citizens of the state through a better understanding of weeds and their management".

Objectives of WSSNC

"To promote leadership, unity, and communication among state weed scientists in universities, government and industry, users of weed science technology, workers in interdisciplinary activities, and other organizations with mutual interests, foster and support research, teaching, and extension problem solving efforts in weed science, and promote safe and effective use of herbicides and other weed management technologies in North Carolina.

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Please send comments and suggestions concerning the Newsletter to: David Jordan, Box 7620, NCSU, Raleigh, NC 27695-7620. Please send comments and suggestions concerning the Web Site to: Steve Hoyle, Box 7620, NCSU, Raleigh, NC 27695-7620.

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Newsletters will be mailed in December and June. Ballots will be included in a separate mailing approximately two weeks before the Annual Spring Meeting. Information concerning weed tours at NC State University will be mailed to the membership approximately one month before the event.

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David Jordan
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NC State University
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