Efficacy of Selected Herbicide Programs in 2,4-D Tolerant Cotton (<i>Gossypium hirsutum</i> L.)

Abstract

The use of transgenic crops has grown significantly over the past couple of decades. Many agronomic crops produced today are tolerant to glyphosate. Glyphosate-tolerant crops were commercially introduced in 1996, and, about nine years later, glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth was confirmed in Georgia. Glyphosate-resistant weeds arose from reliance on postemergence only glyphosate programs to control weeds in crops. New transgenic traits for glufosinate and 2,4-D choline have been developed, and evaluations of stacked traits and concurrent use of multiple herbicides have provided additional tools in the management of glyphosate-resistant weeds. Field experiments were conducted in 2012 and 2013 at the Edisto Research and Education Center near Blackville, SC, USA to determine the efficacy of 2,4-D-based herbicide programs in transgenic cotton tolerant to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate, and glufosinate. The treatments provided good to excellent Palmer amaranth and pitted morningglory control in 2012 and 2013. Seed cotton yields across treatments ranged from 0 to 2057 kg ha -1 . This new trait technology package in cotton permits in-season postemergence use of 2,4-D choline, a herbicide mode of action not previously used postemergence in cotton, which can control resistant weeds, including Palmer amaranth if applied at the proper growth stage.