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EVALUATION OF PLANT GROW'I'H REGULATORS FOR MANAGING FESCUE TURF ALONG HIGHWAY RIGHTS-OF-WAY. bY Joseph Gerard Vollmer Dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in EVALUATION OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS FOR MANAGING FESCUE TURF ALONG HIGHWAY RIGHTS-OF—WAY by Joseph Gerard Vollmer Samuel Wayne Bingham, Chairman Weed Science (ABSTRACT) Plant growth regulators (PGR's) including metsulfuron plus mefluidide at 10 plus 140 g ha'l, chlorsulfuron plus mefluidide at 20 plus 140 g ha'1, imazethapyr plus imazapyr at 67.5 plus 2.5, 96.4 plus 3.6, and 115.7 plus 4.3 g ha'l, ACP 2100 at 60, 120, and 180 g ha'l, and DPX L5300 plus mefluidide at 10 plus 140, 20 plus 140, and 70 plus 140 g ‘KY ha'l were applied to 31' tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). All rates of imazethapyr plus p imazapyr, ACP 2100, and chlorsulfuron plus mefluidide afforded a significantly higher turf quality than metsulfuron plus mefluidide. ACP 2100 at 120 and 180 g ha' 1, imazethapyr plus imazapyr, DPX L5300 plus mefluidide at ha'l, 70 plus 140 g and metsulfuron plus mefluidide gave the most consistent seedhead suppression. When treating seven month old tall fescue, DPX L5300 plus mefluidide did not adequately suppress seedhead elongation. Metsulfuron plus mefluidide, regardless of timing, caused excessive injury. All rates of imazethapyr plus imazapyr and the upper rates of ACP 2100 afforded the best turf quality followed by chlorsulfuron plus mefluidide in 1988 to ‘Rebel' and both years to ‘KY 31'. Red fescue (Festuca rgbgg L.) quality was best with chlorsulfuron plus mefluidide and the high rate of DPX L5300 plus mefluidide. All other treatments resulted in a poorer quality turf. For all field studies on all turf types, in general, multiple applications were not practical and often caused excessive injury regardless of timing. Root studies conducted in the greenhouse revealed that with one application, imazethapyr plus imazapyr, ACP 2100, and DPX L5300 plus mefluidide provided root dry weights ranging from 0.5 to 0.7 g, which was greater than metsulfuron plus mefluidide, chlorsulfuron plus mefluidide, and the mowed check which afforded root dry weights of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.2, respectively. With two applications ACP 2100 and DPX L5300 plus mefluidide afforded 350, 1100, 200 and 200% greater root volume than metsulfuron plus mefluidide and chlorsulfuron plus mefluidide and 200, 630, 600 and 600%” greater root dry weights. Three applications are not recommended. In laboratory studies using ‘KY 31' tall fescue, mefluidide enhanced the uptake of l4C—DPX L5300 after 48 hours by as much as 11% and the translocation of 14C by 8.4% to the young leaves, 9.3% to the old leaves and 6.1% to the culm. Radioactive material concentrated in the tips of leaves. No significant accumulation of 14C occurred in the crown or roots. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT................................................ii TABLE OF CONTENTS.......................................iv LIST OF TABLES..........................................vii LIST OF FIGURES.........................................xii CHAPTER I Literature Review........................... 1 Literature Cited............................13 CHAPTER II EFFECTS OF MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS OF SELECTED PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON ‘KY 31' TALL FESCUE.........................25 Abstract....................................25 Introduction................................28 Materials and Methods.......................32 Results and Discussion......................35 Literature Cited............................46 Tables......................................51 CHAPTER III EFFECTS OF MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON RED FESCUE ............. Abstract....................................56 Introduction................................58 Materials and Methods.......................61 iv Results and Dissussion.......................64 Literature Cited.............................72 Tables.......................................74 CHAPTER IV EFFECTS OF MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON NEWLY ESTABLISHED TALL FESCUE..................................77 Abstract.....................................77 Introduction.......;.........................80 Materials and Methods........................83 Results and Discussion.......................86 Literature Cited.............................98 Tables......................................103 CHAPTER V TALL FESCUE ROOT RESPONSES TO PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS...........................110 Abstract....................................110 Introduction................................113 ~ Materials and Methods.......................116 Results and Discussion......................119 Literature Cited............................123 Tables......................................126 CHAPTER VI UPTAKE AND TRANSLOCATION OF DPX L5300 BY TALL FESCUE AS EFFECTED BY MEFLUIDIDE.......128 Abstract....................................128 v Introduction................................130 Materials and Methods.......................132 Results and Discussion......................136 Literature Cited............................140 Tables......................................143 Figure......................................147 CHAPTER VII SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.....................152 APPENDIX TABLES.........................................159 VITA....................................................213 vi LIST OF TABLES Chapter Table Page II 1 Effects of one, two, and three annual applications of PGR's ‘KY on height of 31' tall fescue four weeks after each application and 8 weeks after initial application in 1987................51 2 Effects of one, two, and three annual applications of PGR's on height of ‘KY 31' tall fescue four weeks after each application and 8 weeks after initial application in 1988................52 3 Effects of one, two, and three annual applications of PGR's on quality of ‘KY 31' tall fescue four weeks after each application and 8 weeks after initial application in 1987................53 4 Effects of one, two, and three annual applications of PGR's on quality of ‘KY 31' tall fescue four weeks after each application and 8 weeks after initial vii application in 1988................54 ‘Ky 5 3l' tall fescue seedhead suppression for 1987 and 1988. Data from combined means of all application schedules..............55 III 1 Effects of one, two, and three annual applications of PGR's on height of red fescue four weeks after each application and 8 weeks after initial application..........74 2 Evaluation of one, two, and three annual applications of PGR's for phytotoxicity to red fescue four weeks after each application and 8 weeks after initial application..75 3 Effects of one, two, and three annual applications of PGR's on quality of red fescue four weeks after each application and 8 weeks after initial application..........76 IV 1 Effects of one, two, and three annual applications of PGR's on height of ‘Rebel' tall fescue four weeks after each application viii and 8 weeks after initial application in 1987................103 2 Effects of one, two, and three annual applications of PGR's on height of ‘Rebel' tall fescue four weeks after each application and 8 weeks after initial application in 1988................104 3 Effects of one, two, and three annual applications of PGR's on quality of ‘Rebel' tall fescue · four weeks after each application and 8 weeks after initial application in 1987................105 4 Effects of one, two, and three annual applications of PGR's on quality of ‘Rebel' tall fescue four weeks after each application and 8 weeks after initial application in 1988................106 5 Effects of one, two, and three annual applications of PGR's on height of ‘KY 31' tall fescue four weeks after each application and 8 weeks after initial application in 1988................107 ix 6 Effects of one, two, and three annual applications of PGR's ‘KY on quality of 3l' tall fescue four weeks after each application and 8 weeks after initial application in 1988................108 7 ‘KY 3l' and ‘Rebel' tall fescue seedhead data for 1987 and 1988. Data from combined means of all ‘KY application schedules. 3l' data from combined years...........109 V 1 Class comparisons and means for shoot fresh and dry weights, and root volume and dry weights for 1 to 4 annual treatments of ACP 2100, ACP 1911X, and DPX L5300 plus mefluidide on tall fescue contrasted with metsulfuron plus mefluidide, chlorsulfuron plus mefluidide, mowed, and nonmowed treatments.........................126 2 Regression equations and R2 values for the relationship between tall fescue shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root volume, x or root dry weight and rate of ACP 191lX and ACP 2100.............127 ‘KY VI 1 Uptake of 14C DPX L5300 by 31' tall fescue at 2, 12, 48, and 120 hours after treatment alone and in combination with mefluidide........143 2 Distribution of absorbed 14C DPX L5300 by ‘KY 31' tall fescue at 2, 12, 48, and 120 hours after treatment alone and in combination 4 with mefluidide....................144 xi LIST OF FIGURES Chapter Figure Page VI 1 Left autoradiograph, right tall fescue plant at 2 (top) and 12 (bottom) hours after spot treatment with 0.1 uCi 14C-DPX L5300. Representative autoradiographs were used as no visible differences occurred between ratios of formulated mefluidide:DPX L5300 (0:1, 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1). Arrow indicates site of 14C—DPX L5300 application..147