Toxicity and Site of Uptake of Soil-Applied Imazaquin in Yellow and Purple Nutsedges (Cyperus esculentus and C. rotundus)

Imazaquin {2-(4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid} site of uptake and toxicity from soil application were investigated in yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L. #3 CYPES) and purple nutsedge (C. rotundus L. # CYPRO). Imazaquin concentrations of 0.1 to 0.5 ppmw inhibited yellow nutsedge shoot emergence completely, while purple nutsedge shoots emerged at the lower concentrations. Herbicide placement above the tuber reduced shoot emergence and shoot and root dry weights of both species more than did placement below the tuber. Increasing herbicide rate increased the number of tuber buds that sprouted. Three-day-old nutsedge propagules absorbed 14C-imazaquin from both rhizome shoots and roots and the herbicide moved both acropetally and basipetally in nutsedge propagules.