Feral rye ( Secale cereale L.) control in quizalofop-resistant winter wheat in Oregon

Managing winter annual grass weeds has long been a challenge in the dryland regions of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) where soft white winter wheat is grown. The recent development of quizalofop-resistant (CoAXium) wheat varieties allows growers to use quizalofop (QP), a herbicide that inhibits acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) for postemergence grass control. Field experiments were conducted over two winter wheat growing seasons in 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 near Adams, OR, to evaluate QP efficacy on feral rye and for crop safety. Downy brome and jointed goatgrass control with QP were assessed in 2021–2022 and 2022–2023, respectively. QP treatments provided effective control of feral rye (≥95%), downy brome (≥87%), and jointed goatgrass (99%) regardless of rate, adjuvant, and spray volume tested. Spring-applied QP caused no injury to winter wheat. Results indicate that the QP-resistant wheat technology can help PNW wheat growers selectively control winter annual grasses.