Assessment of oxyfluorfen‐tolerant rice systems and implications for rice‐weed management in California1

BACKGROUND Weeds are a significant barrier to rice production in California, exacerbated by lack of chemical control options and herbicide‐resistance in persistent aquaphilic species. Oxyfluorfen‐tolerant rice, created at the Rice Experiment Station (RES) in Biggs, California, was developed to provide an agronomic program for managing problematic grass and sedge rice‐weeds including Oryza sativa f. spontanea Roshev. (weedy ‘red’ rice). Hand‐pulling is the most common removal method for O. sativa spontanea because there are no herbicides registered for this pest in California. Oxyfluorfen was used in combination with oxyfluorfen‐tolerant rice in 2019 and 2021 field studies to evaluate rice injury and weed control efficacy on prevalent rice‐weed species. Additional studies were conducted in 2021 on University of California Davis campus to determine pre‐emergent oxyfluorfen efficacy on four California O. sativa spontanea accessions. RESULTS Fields studies indicated minimal crop injury in the first 28 days after seeding (DAS), but no observable injury at 60 DAS in both years. Weed control with oxyfluorfen alone was 87% or greater for all weeds rated with the exception of Schoenoplectus mucronatus (L.) Palla (ricefield bulrush), and Leptochloa fascicularis (Lam.) A. Gray (bearded sprangletop) in both years. All O. sativa spontanea exposed to soil‐applied oxyfluorfen successfully emerged through the soil surface, but became completely necrotic 28 days after flooding. CONCLUSION Oxyfluorfen‐tolerant rice system was demonstrated to be a viable management strategy for California rice growers who struggle with grass‐ and sedge‐weed control as well as provide a novel herbicide option for California O. sativa spontanea management. © 2022 University of California, Davis. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. Oxyfluorfen‐tolerant rice systems were demonstrated to be a viable option for managing problematic weeds including Oryza sativa spontanea in California rice cropping systems.