ARS | Publication request: Máodò: weed management issues in North American edamame

Submitted to: International Weed Science Congress
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: March 5, 2012
Publication Date: July 18, 2012
Citation: Williams, M., Herman, T., Nelson, R.L. 2012. Máodò: weed management issues in North American edamame. International Weed Science Congress. Available: www.iwss.info/proceedings.asp.

Technical Abstract: Despite the fact that the United States is a global leader in commodity soybean production, most of the vegetable soybean (i.e. edamame or máodò) consumed in North America is imported from Asia. Interest in domestically grown edamame is on the rise among consumers; however, the U.S. vegetable processing industry cites weed interference as the single most important threat to production of the crop. This paper reports a brief history of edamame in the U.S., current interest in the crop, the registration status of key herbicides, and recent weed management research by state and federal scientists in Illinois. Field trials were used to examine the effectiveness of various weed management systems that included the few herbicides that are either currently registered for use or could be registered in the near future. Results are promising for systems that also integrate seedbed preparation, scouting, timely intervention, different modes of action, and mechanical weed control. In order to quantify weed management-related traits, including risk of crop injury from certain herbicides, a wide range of edamame and soybean germplasm was evaluated. In 2011, 122 edamame entries were tested, as well as 33 commodity soybean entries with known sensitive or tolerant herbicide responses. Several soybean growth characteristics important to competitive ability against weeds, such as emergence rate and early leaf area, varied widely among edamame cultivars. Responses to bentazon and imazamox applied postemergence indicated relatively high levels of tolerance among edamame entries. Several chemical and non-chemical weed management tactics look promising; however, utility of herbicides is dependent upon additional product registration.