some aspects of management and biology of grand cherry weed (physalis divaricata) in sugar beet farms

grand cherry (physalis divaricata) is considered as the most problematic weed in sugar beet farms in alashtar county, iran. special experiments involving chemical control of this weed were carried out using trifluralian, etalfluralian and chloridazon herbicides under laboratory conditions. the experiments were designed in a randomized complete block design in three replications, carried out in 2007. the study showed that more than 50 percent of the weed germination was obstructed by chloridazon herbicide application showing a significant difference with control at 5 percent level. trifluralian, etalfluralin and mixture of the two herbicides treatments did not show any significant difference in weed germination as compared with control. but all the seedlings were demolished except those in control after a passage of three weeks. it became euident that these herbicides can obstruct the root development growth of this weed. a study of the growth and density of this weed in wheat fields showed that wheat crop can effectively decrease the density as well as growth of the weed grand cherry.