Glyphosate and Paraquat Effects on Weed Seed Germination and Seedling Emergence

Abstract

Glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] (30, 125, 250 mg/L) in petri dishes had no effect on germination of prickly sida (Sida spinosa L.), velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic), barnyardgrass [Echinocloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.] and johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] seeds, but additional experimentation indicated that glyphosate stimulated germination of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) seeds. Paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium ion) (30, 125, 250 mg/L) did not affect germination of the three broadleaf species, but inhibited johnsongrass and barnyardgrass germination. In the greenhouse, soil surface applications of glyphosate (1.1, 2.2, 9.0 kg/ha) did not significantly affect emergence of these five weed species when they were on or beneath the soil surface at time of treatment. Paraquat (same rates) did not affect broadleaf weed emergence but some rates inhibited grass weed emergence when the seeds were treated while on the soil surface. It is unlikely that normal field use rates of glyphosate will influence weed emergence; whereas paraquat may inhibit the emergence of some grass weeds if the herbicide contacts seeds on the soil surface.