A study of mugwort: I. growth habits and control II. effects of 2,3,6-trichlorophenylacetic acid on certain respiratory enzymes

Abstract

Several studies were conducted with Artemisia vulgaris (mugwort). The first study involved the observation of shoot initiation from various length rhizome sections arxi positions. A second study was conducted to observe growth habits of mugwort and to determine the amount of infestation and production in a growing season. The third study was conducted to determine fenac rates that would prevent shoot growth from mugwort rhizomes. Also, various herbicides were evaluated in field experiments for the control of mugwort. The last study involved the effects of fenac on respiration and some respiratory enzymes.

The most unifonn plants were observed from two-inch rhizome sections. There was no difference in bud viability of older or younger areas of rhizomes.

New rhizome production became rapid about seven weeks after small muqwort plants were transplanted to the field. There was a continuous increase in shoots and rhizomes throughout the growing period. New plants were initiated in the spring of the next year from rhizomes that had overwintered in the soil.

Fenac, when mixed with soil at two ppn or above, prevented shoot initiation from rhizome buds. When fenac was present in nutrient solution at rates above two ppm, no shoot growth was observed. In the field control experiments, fenac, dicamba, and Tordon tended to give the best control of mugwort.

There tended to be an increase in the enzymatic activity of mugwort after the plants were sprayed with fenac.