Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 January 2017
Annual bluegrass is a problematic turfgrass weed. Methiozolin is a new,currently unregistered herbicide that selectively controls annual bluegrassin desirable turfgrasses. Studies were conducted to evaluate and compareannual bluegrass control from PRE-applied methiozolin as influenced by rateand soil type and from POST-applied methiozolin as influenced by rate, soiltype, annual bluegrass growth stage, and treatment placement. Studies werealso conducted to evaluate foliar and root absorption and subsequenttranslocation of methiozolin by annual bluegrass using radio-tracertechniques. PRE-applied methiozolin controlled annual bluegrass > 99%.POST-applied methiozolin resulted in < 80% control regardless of foliarversus root exposure. POST applications are more effective at higher ratesand smaller growth stages. Foliar-plus-soil methiozolin application trendedto result in the best control, compared to foliar-only and soil-onlyapplications. Absorption and translocation data indicate that methiozolin isabsorbed by both leaves and roots and moderately translocates upward in theplant toward the leaf tip with little to no basipetal translocation. Becausecontrol is limited from a single methiozolin application (as observed inPOST experiments), successful field application of methiozolin requiresmultiple and timely applications directed toward the roots and/or foliage ofannual bluegrass.