Seasonal Variation in Macartney Rose (Rosa bracteata) Response to Herbicide Treatment

Abstract

Macartney rose is an aggressive, thorny shrub that suppresses forage production and strongly hinders cattle grazing in southern pastures. Previous studies have found this weed to be extremely difficult to control with most pasture herbicides. We conducted two studies in central Alabama to assess several new herbicide chemistries applied at spring, early fall, and late fall timings. In the first study, we compared aminocyclopyrachlor, tank mixed with either 2,4-D, triclopyr, metsulfuron, or chlorsulfuron, with the commercial standard, picloram + 2,4-D. In the second study, we compared aminopyralid, tank mixed with either 2,4-D or metsulfuron and triclopyr + fluroxypyr, to the commercial standard, picloram + 2,4-D. Aminocyclopyrachlor + chlorsulfuron or metsulfuron and aminopyralid + 2,4-D or metsulfuron provided acceptable control and were comparable to picloram + 2,4-D at the early fall timing. Macartney rose control with treatments applied at the late fall timing tended to be less than commercially acceptable levels. We found that no herbicide treatment controlled Macartney rose at the spring timing. In addition, triclopyr + fluroxypyr did not control Macartney rose at any application timing. These results indicate that the early fall timing was optimal and that both aminocyclopyrachlor and aminopyralid can provide good Macartney rose control when mixed with certain other herbicides, including metsulfuron.