Proceedings of the Sixty-first Annual Meeting of the Northeastern ...

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GENERIC PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS AND HERBICIDES IN TURF: HOW DO
THEY COMPARE? T.W. Gannon and F.H. Yelverton, North Carolina State Univ.,
Raleigh.
ABSTRACT
Recently, several generic herbicide and plant growth regulators have been
formulated and have been or will likely be registered for use in turfgrass environments.
Minimal research has been completed looking at the efficacy of these herbicides and
plant growth regulators compared to proprietary products. Therefore, some concern
exists if these products perform similarly or if differences exist.
Research trials were initiated to evaluate several generic herbicide and plant
growth regulator formulations to determine if they performed similarly to proprietary
products. Generic formulations of prodiamine, oxadiazon, and oryzalin were evaluated
for preemergence control of smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum), while dithiopyr
and quinclorac were evaluated for early postemergence control of smooth crabgrass.
Additionally, generic formulations of trinexapac-ethyl were evaluated for foliar
suppression of 'Tifsport' bermudagrass. All generic products were compared to
proprietary labeled herbicides or plant growth regulators.
Data collected from these trials indicates evaluated generic herbicides and plant
growth regulators performed similarly to proprietary products as no differences existed
within evaluated parameters. Throughout each of the research trials, no significant
reductions in smooth crabgrass control were observed. Likewise, bermudagrass foliar
suppression was consistent with each formulation of trinexapac-ethyl. These data
indicate generic herbicides and plant growth regulators may offer a viable solution in
select turfgrass environments.
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