Growth and reproduction of triazine-susceptible and -resistant Solanum nigrum in a maize crop.

Growth and berry production of triazine-susceptible and -resistant Solanum nigrum L. in the field with and without a maize crop were studied over 3 years. Delayed transplanting reduced the final dry matter production and berry production greatly. In most of the experiments, the final total dry matter production and berry production of the triazine-resistant biotype were lower than those of the susceptible biotype. However, relative growth rates of both biotypes in a maize crop were similar during the exponential growth phase. One important determinant of final dry matter and berry production could be dry matter growth in the very young seedling phase. Although dry matter production and reproduction of the resistant biotype in a maize crop will be lower than that of the susceptible biotype in the absence of the selecting herbicide, management strategies to control resistant biotypes of S. nigrum should not only be based on this characteristic.