Methiozolin [5‐(2,6‐difluorobenzyl)oxymethyl‐5‐methyl‐3,3(3‐methylthiophen‐2‐yl)‐1,2‐isoxazoline], a new annual bluegrass ( Poa annua L.) herbicide for turfgrasses

BACKGROUND Selective control of annual bluegrass ( Poa annual L.) has been difficult in turfgrasses. The potential of methiozolin in this area was investigated.RESULTS Methiozolin was safe on established zoysiagrass ( Zoysia japonica Steud.), creeping bentgrass ( Agrostis palustris Huds.), Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L.), and perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) at 1000 g ha −1 , and controlled annual bluegrass with GR 50 values of 23, 52, 104, and 218 g ha −1 at PRE , two‐, four‐ and eight‐leaf stage, respectively, in the greenhouse. When applied at early flowering, methiozolin suppressed >80% of annual bluegrass seed heads at 2000 g ha −1 . 14 C ‐Methiozolin was readily absorbed by both leaves and roots, but translocation was mainly acropetal. No herbicidal activity resulted from application to the leaf only; however, application to the soil surface only showed equivalent herbicidal activity to that of broadcast application to the leaf and soil. Methiozolin at 500 to 1000 g ha −1 provided 80 to 100% control of annual bluegrass when applied in the fall with acceptable and temporary injury to creeping bentgrass, and about 60% control when applied in the spring with no bentgrass injury in the field.CONCLUSION Methiozolin is an excellent candidate for annual bluegrass management in turfgrasses. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry