Netherland, M.D. and K.D. Getsinger, 1995. Potential Control of Hydrilla and Eurasian Watermilfoil Under Various Fluridone Half-Life Scenarios, US Army Corps of Engineers.

Reprinted with from Journal of Aquatic Plant Management (1995) 33: 36-42

Potential Control of Hydrilla and Eurasian Watermilfoil Under Various Fluridone Half-Life Scenarios

Abstract
Fluridone {1-methyl-3-phenyl-5-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4(1H)-pyridinone} efficacy against Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.) and hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle) was evaluated by simulating herbicide degradation/dissipation half-lives (t ˝) under controlled- environment conditions. Fluridone treatment rates of 100 μg/L for 7,10, and 14 d t ˝, 50 μg/L for 14 and 21 d t ˝, 25 μg/L for a 28 d t ˝, and static treatments of 5 and 15 μg/L for 105 d were tested. Chlorophyll content and net photosynthesis were measured at 7, 28, 56, 77, and 105 d post treatment, and biomass was collected at 28, 56, 77 or 84, and 105 or 108 d post treatment to assess efficacy. The 7 and 10 d t ˝ treat­ments dissipated to 0 μg/L at 42 and 62 d respectively, resulting in rapid recovery of both hydrilla and Eurasian watermilfoil. The 14 d t ˝ resulted in exposures of 82 to 84 d, and although hydrilla biomass remained significantly reduced, physiological recovery indicated the potential for biomass recovery. Eurasian watermilfoil was completely controlled at 84 d post treatment following both 14 d t ˝ treatment. The 21 and 28 d t ˝ and static treatments maintained low fluridone exposures throughout the 105 d study period. These treatments reduced hydrilla biomass significantly (> 90%), and physiological variables showed no evidence of recovery at completion of the study. These treatments also resulted in near 100% control of milfoil biomass by the 84 d harvest. Results indicate that following initial injury at higher treatment levels, extremely low levels of fluridone (1 to 3μg/L) prevent recovery. Herbicidal activity of these low concentrations may explain the long-term control achieved with fluridone in situations that allow long degradation half-lives (>14-d).

Entire Paper
Contact
: Kurt Getsinger, US Army Corps of Engineers, Waterways Experiment Station, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180
Key Words: Hydrilla, Eurasian_watermilfoil, Chemical_control
Product Type: Research, Control
User Type: Resource Management