Preplant and Postemergence Control of Glyphosate-Resistant Giant Ragweed in Corn

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) giant ragweed has recently been identified in southwestern Ontario and has the potential to be a significant problem for regional corn producers. Eight field trials [four with preplant (PP) and four with postemergence (POST) herbicides] were conducted from 2013 to 2014 on various Ontario farms infested with GR giant ragweed to determine the efficacy of PP and POST tank-mixes in corn. Glyphosate tank-mixed with atrazine, dicamba, dicamba/atrazine, mesotrione plus atrazine, flumetsulam, isoxaflutole plus atrazine, saflufenacil/dimethenamid-P, S-metolachlor/atrazine and rimsulfuron applied PP provided up to 54%, 95%, 93%, 95%, 40%, 89%, 91%, 50% and 93% control of GR giant ragweed and reduced dry weight 69%, 100%, 99%, 100%, 30%, 92%, 98%, 66% and 99%, respectively. POST application of glyphosate alone and tank-mixed with 2,4-D ester, atrazine, dicamba, dicamba/diflufenzopyr, dicamba/atrazine, bromoxynil plus atrazine, prosulfuron plus dicamba, mesotrione plus atrazine, topramezone plus atrazine, tembotrione/thiencarbazone-methyl and glufosinate provided up to 31%, 84%, 39%, 94%, 89%, 86%, 83%, 78%, 72%, 43%, 63% and 58% GR giant ragweed and reduced dry weight 55%, 99%, 72%, 99%, 99%, 98%, 96%, 96%, 93%, 89%, 91% and 95%, respectively. In general, PP control of GR giant ragweed was greater than POST applied herbicides evaluated. Based on these results, glyphosate tank-mixes containing dicamba or mesotrione plus atrazine applied PP, and dicamba applied POST will provide the most consistent control of GR giant ragweed in corn.