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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Protection and Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #192034
Title: EXTENSION AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS ADDRESSING THE THREAT OF TROPICAL SPIDERWORT (COMMELINA BENGHALENSIS) IN GEORGIA

Author
item PROSTKO, E - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item FLANDERS, J - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item CULPEPPER, A - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item Webster, Theodore
item GREY, T - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item VENCILL, W - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item CARTER, J - VALDOSTA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/12/2006
Publication Date: 2/13/2006
Citation: Prostko, E.P., Flanders, J.T., Culpepper, A.S., Webster, T.M., Grey, T.L., Vencill, W.K., Carter, J.R. 2006. Extension and research programs addressing the threat of Tropical spiderwort (Commelina benghalensis) in Georgia [abstract]. Weed Science Society of America Abstracts. 46:66.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Tropical spiderwort (or Benghal dayflower) has become one of the most troublesome weed species in GA. It is found in 33 counties infesting numerous crops. Spiderwort was first recognized as a potential problem for production agriculture in 1999. Since 2000, more than 85 field, greenhouse, and laboratory studies have been conducted. Publications, including 1 extension circular, 3 popular press articles, 4 refereed journal articles, 6 research-extension reports, 7 newsletter articles, 8 slide sets, and 15 abstracts have been developed based on this research. This information has been presented at over 390 meetings at the county, state, regional, and national levels. Important discoveries include: 1) the majority (60%) of spiderwort emergence occurs after June 1, later than most common summer annual weeds in GA; 2) planting cotton in May minimizes yield losses from spiderwort (<20%) relative to June-planted cotton (>45%); 3) season-long interference can eliminate peanut pod production; 4) a spiderwort seedling produced up to 1570 mature seeds, 352 aerial spathes, and 6 subterranean spathes in 19 weeks; 5) underground spathes were detected by 6 weeks after emergence, nearly 2 weeks before aerial spathes. Herbicides that were identified for use in specific management programs include metolachlor, 2,4-D, paraquat, carfentrazone, imazapic, imazethapyr, diclosulam, clomazone, MSMA, and bentazon. Although this research and extension program has been beneficial to growers, spiderwort continues to spread at an alarming rate.