Dow AgroSciences announces the registration of penoxsulam, a new proprietary molecule that delivers postemergence control of broadleaf weeds in turf at low use rates.
Penoxsulam, which was accepted for review and registration under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Reduced Risk Pesticide Initiative, conquers a broad-spectrum of weeds, provides some residual control and can be used on both cool- and warm-season turf. The new active ingredient gives improved control of weeds in granular applications compared to other currently available products.
Dow AgroSciences will market penoxsulam under the trade name, LOCKUP specialty herbicide. LockUp will be available to distributors as a formulated product alone and in combination with other selective herbicides on fertilizers or straight granules.
Penoxsulam is the first ALS inhibitor formulated on a granule. This mode of action inhibits plant enzyme acetolactate synthase (ALS), which is essential for the synthesis of amino acids. Inhibition of amino acid production subsequently inhibits cell division and causes death in susceptible plants.
In trials, university researchers found penoxsulam provided better results than other granular herbicides and showed activity on susceptible species when applied to wet and dry foliage. It also showed enhanced efficacy on white clover, Virginia buttonweed, dandelion and dollar weed when combined with phenoxy herbicides. Penoxsulam, a nonphenoxy, systemic herbicide, provides activity at low use rates (generally 0.02 to 0.06 pounds of active ingredient per acre) compared with the most commonly used turf herbicides often found on fertilizer such as MCPP, atrazine, 2,4-D and dicamba.
Mark Urbanowski, marketing specialist for Dow AgroSciences, calls penoxsulam an innovative, high-performance herbicide with a great overall profile. “There are many years of research in the technology behind penoxsulam. This active brings powerful, consistent control with residual activity and will easily replace the old industry standbys found in favorite three-ways,” he says. “Superintendents will value combinations containing LockUp for use in roughs and fairways; and weed control and fertilization in the same application will offer time savings as well.”
In addition to the weeds listed above, penoxsulam also controls a wide variety of other weeds, including but not limited to sedge weeds, ground ivy, chickweed, oxalis, bittercress, pigweed, kyllinga, sagebrush, Florida betony and broadleaf plantain. It is labeled for use on most cool- and warm-season turf, including St. Augustinegrass.
Liquid formulation also available
Dow AgroSciences has also developed a liquid formulation of penoxsulam, SAPPHIRE specialty herbicide, for use and sale as a stand-alone product for key problem weeds, such as English lawn daisy found on golf courses in California and the Pacific Northwest.
Learn more at www.dowagro.com.
