New Opportunities for Control of Bindweed in Blackberries
Overview
The objectives of this project were to determine: 1) whether the herbicide Quinclorac can be used to control or suppress bindweed in blackberries without impacting crop performance; and 2) whether a biological control of bindweed, the gall-forming mite Aceria malherbae, can be established in berry fields and used in concert with herbicides to enhance bindweed control.
Quinclorac was applied 30 days before harvest, after harvest, and near the first frost in the fall to both EY and AY blackberries, raspberries, and blackberry and raspberry transplants. Quinclorac provided 80 to 90% control of bindweed and did not harm caneberries.