Effect of Different Temperatures on Herbicide Efficacy for the Management of the Invasive Weed Solanum rostratum Dunal (Family: Solanaceae)

Solanum rostratum Dunal, an invasive weed first recorded in Israel in the 1950s, undergoes multiple germination waves from early spring to late summer. Recently, its distribution has significantly expanded, with new populations reported throughout the country. This study assessed the efficacy of various herbicides for controlling S. rostratum populations under two distinct temperature regimes, focusing on temperature-dependent variations in herbicide performance. The results demonstrated that fluroxypyr and tembotrione consistently achieved high levels of control across all temperature conditions. Conversely, oxyfluorfen exhibited low performance under elevated temperatures and showed greater population-specific variability, while metribuzin proved more effective at higher temperatures across all S. rostratum populations. These findings emphasize the pivotal role of post-application temperature in influencing herbicide efficacy and underscore the importance of a precise application timing to optimize the control outcomes. Temperature-optimized herbicide strategies could play a critical role in limiting the spread and establishment of S. rostratum in agricultural systems, contributing to a sustainable and effective weed management.