TROPICAL SODA APPLE (SOLANUM-VIARUM) CONTROL

Hexazinone (1.12 kg ai/ha), triclopyr (1.12 kg ai/ha), metsulfuron (0. 008 kg ai/ha), dichlorprop + 2,4-D, glyphosate (2.8%), and triclopyr ( 2%) + diesel oil (98%), applied as a broadcast or spot (individual pla nt) treatment, were evaluated over two years in south Florida for trop ical soda apple (TSA) control and their effects on grass ground cover. For broadcast treatments, triclopyr (98%) and hexazinone (93%), had s ignificantly (P < 0.05) higher percent control of marked TSA plants 90 d after herbicide application. However, triclopyr (99%) had significa ntly higher grass ground cover than hexazinone (78%). Hexazinone sever ely damaged Pangola digitgrass, but had no effect on bahiagrass. For s pot treatments, dichlorprop + 2,4-D (100%) had the highest percent tot al control of TSA and least effect on grass ground cover (96%) 90 d af ter herbicide application, followed by glyphosate (96% control) and tr iclopyr + diesel oil (95% control). Based on acceptable (>90%) TSA con trol and grass ground cover, triclopyr broadcast or dichlorprop + 2,4- D spot provided the greatest control. With either application method, repeated herbicide applications will be necessary to eliminate TSA bec ause of rapid seedling emergence following control of existing plants.