Characterization of Fluazifop-P-butyl Tolerance in Zoysiagrass Cultivars

Abstract

POST control of grass weed species and contaminant turfgrass species, such as common and hybrid bermudagrass, is a major challenge in zoysiagrass. Fluazifop-P-butyl is a POST herbicide that can provide selective grass weed control with limited injury to zoysiagrass. However, because of the extent of genetic variation among zoysiagrass cultivars, it was proposed that fluazifop-P-butyl tolerance was cultivar dependent. Dose–response field studies were conducted in Jay, FL, in 2012 and 2013, evaluating the tolerance of 11 commercial zoysiagrass cultivars and common bermudagrass to 0, 44, 88, 131, 175, and 263 g ai ha−1of fluazifop-P-butyl. ‘Empire' and ‘Meyer' zoysiagrass were injured 30% or less at 2 wk after treatment (WAT) when treated with 131 g ha−1of fluazifop-P-butyl or less. Conversely, ‘Zeon' and ‘PristineFlora' reached from 30 to more than 50% injury between 2 and 4 WAT with 44 and 88 g ha−1fluazifop-P-butyl. ‘Geo', ‘Crowne', ‘JaMur', and ‘UltimateFlora' showed intermediate injury (i.e. ≤ 60% with 175 and 264 g ha−1) and a recovery period longer than 4 WAT. ‘Emerald', ‘Palisades', and ‘Royal' also showed intermediate injury (i.e., 30 to 65% with 175 and 264 g ha−1), which peaked at 2 WAT and then rapidly declined below 25% injury at 4 WAT. By 8 WAT, all zoysiagrass cultivars had recovered, and no injury was observed. Results from a greenhouse experiment demonstrated that differences observed in the field were cultivar related, especially for the lower tolerance level observed in Zeon and PristineFlora. There is potential to increase fluazifop-P-butyl tolerance in zoysiagrass because of the observed variation among 80 zoysiagrass breeding lines.