Tillers do not influence phytotoxicity of imazamethabenz in wild oat (Avena fatua)

The response of wild oat to imazamethabenz varies with the growth stage, but the role of tillers in this regard is unclear. Removal of tillers at the three-leaf stage before spraying with imazamethabenz did not significantly affect the total shoot fresh weight measured 3 weeks later. The leaf area and dry weight of intact plants at the three-leaf stage were 17-21% greater than for plants with coleoptilar and first leaf main shoot tillers (TO and TI) removed. The greater leaf area may have increased herbicide interception per plant. Similar fresh weight reductions in main shoot, total tillers, and total shoots were found whether imazamethabenz was applied to the plant at the two-leaf without tillers or the three-leaf with two tillers stage. Imazamethabenz applied only to the main shoot reduced total shoot dry weight more than an equivalent amount of imazamethabenz applied only to tiller TI or applied over the whole shoot. Imazamethabenz had the least inhibitory effect on whole plant growth when applied only to T1. When C-14-herbicide was applied to the first main shoot leaf of plants at the three-leaf stage with two tillers, the C-14 translocated 38% to roots, 33% to the main shoot, and nearly 30% to all tillers. When C-14-herbicide was applied to the first leaf of T1 then the C-14 translocated 50% to T1, 25% to the main shoot, 20% to roots, and 5% to all other tillers. The translocation pattern and fresh weight values suggested that the presence of early tillers during herbicide application neither increased nor decreased imazamethabenz efficacy in wild oat.