ARS | Publication request: BIOCONTROL OF HEMP SESBANIA [SESBANIA EXALTATA (RAF.) RYDB. EX A.W. HILL] WITH COLLETOTRICHUM TRUNCATUM MICROSLEROTIA FORMULATED IN 'PESTA' GRANULES

Submitted to: Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2005
Publication Date: January 5, 2005
Citation: Boyette, C.D., Jackson, M.A., Bryson, C.T. 2005. Biocontrol of hemp sesbania [sesbania exaltata (raf.) rydb. ex a.w. hill] with colletotrichum truncatum microslerotia formulated in 'pesta' granules. Proc. Weed Sci. Soc. Am. 45:63-64. CD-ROM.

Technical Abstract: Hemp sesbania was effectively controlled in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] field test plots over a two-year testing period (1997-1998) with microsclerotia of the bioherbicidal fungus Colletotrichum truncatum formulated into wheat gluten-kaolin granules called 'Pesta'. Weed control averaged 84% in plots treated preplant incorporated (PPI) at 'Pesta' rates of 168 kg/ha or 336 kg/ha, and 78% in plots treated preemergence (PE) over the two-year testing period. Postemergence (POE) control averaged 30% and 50%, respectively for the 168 kg/ha and 336 kg/ha treatments, respectively, and was significantly less effective than either preemergence or preplant incorporated treatments. Soybean yields were significantly greater in test plots treated PPI or POE, as compared to yields from test plots treated either POE, with inert 'Pesta' granules, or from untreated controls. These results suggest that microsclerotia of C. truncatum formulated in 'Pesta' granules offers an effective method for controlling this important weed.