Herbicide composition and weed control method

Abstract

Provided are a herbicide composition having an excellent control effect on weeds and a weed control method.　The herbicide composition includes epyrifenacil and methoproxybicyclon, wherein the weight ratio of the epyrifenacil to the methoproxybicyclon is in the range of 1:1 to 1:10.

Description

Herbicidal composition and weed control method

[0001] The present invention relates to a herbicidal composition and a method for controlling weeds.

[0002] Currently, many herbicides are used for the purpose of weed control, and for example, epirifenacil and metroproxibicyclon are known (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] U.S. Patent No. 6,537,948 International Publication No. 2015 / 197468

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a herbicidal composition and a weed control method that have excellent weed control effects.

[0005] The present inventors have found that the combined use of epirifenacil and metroproxybicyclon exerts an excellent weed control effect. The present invention includes the following aspects.

[0006] [1] A herbicide composition comprising epirifenacil and metoproxybicyclon, wherein the weight ratio of epirifenacil to metoproxybicyclon is in the range of 1:1 to 1:10. [2] The herbicide composition according to [1], wherein the weight ratio of epirifenacil to metoproxybicyclon is approximately 1:5. [3] The herbicide composition according to [1], which contains at least one organic solvent. [4] A method for weed control, comprising a step of applying epirifenacil and metoproxybicyclon, together or separately in any order, wherein the application rate of epirifenacil is in the range of 15 to 40 g / ha and the application rate of metoproxybicyclon is in the range of 40 to 150 g / ha. [5] The method for weed control according to [4], wherein epirifenacil and metoproxybicyclon are applied to a crop field. [6] The method for weed control according to [5], wherein the crop field is a soybean field.

[0007] The present invention makes it possible to control weeds with high effectiveness.

[0008] The herbicidal composition of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the composition of the present invention) contains epirifenacil and methoproxybicyclon.

[0009] Epirifenacil is a known compound and can be prepared by known methods such as the method described in US Pat. No. 6,537,948.

[0010] Metoproxibicyclon (CAS Registry Number: 1848207-89-5) is a known compound represented by the following formula (I), and can be produced by known methods such as the method described in WO 2015 / 197468.

[0011] The composition of the present invention is typically a formulation prepared by mixing epirifenacil and metroproxibicyclon with a solid or liquid carrier, optionally adding formulation adjuvants such as surfactants. Preferred formulations include aqueous suspension concentrates, oil dispersions, wettable powders, water-dispersible granules, granules, oil-in-water emulsions, water-in-oil emulsions, and emulsifiable concentrates. An emulsifiable concentrate is a more preferred formulation. The content of epirifenacil in the composition of the present invention is typically 0.01 to 80% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 50% by weight. Specific examples of the content of epirifenacil in the composition of the present invention include 1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, 4 wt%, 5 wt%, 6 wt%, 7 wt%, 8 wt%, 9 wt%, 10 wt%, 11 wt%, 12 wt%, 13 wt%, 14 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt%, 30 wt%, and 40 wt%. The content of metroxibicyclon in the composition of the present invention is usually in the range of 0.01 to 80 wt%, preferably 0.1 to 50 wt%. Specific examples of the content of metroxibicyclon in the composition of the present invention include 5 wt%, 6 wt%, 7 wt%, 8 wt%, 9 wt%, 10 wt%, 12 wt%, 14 wt%, 16 wt%, 18 wt%, 20 wt%, 25 wt%, 30 wt%, 35 wt%, 40 wt%, and 45 wt%. The total content of epirifenacil and metroproxibicyclon in the composition of the present invention is usually 0.01 to 99% by weight, preferably 1 to 80% by weight. Specific examples of the total content of epirifenacil and metroproxibicyclon in the composition of the present invention include 2% by weight, 4% by weight, 5% by weight, 8% by weight, 10% by weight, 15% by weight, 20% by weight, 25% by weight, 30% by weight, 40% by weight, 50% by weight, 60% by weight, 70% by weight, and 90% by weight.

[0012] The weight ratio of epirifenacil to metoproxibicyclon in the composition of the present invention is typically in the range of 1:1 to 1:10. Specific examples of weight ratios of epirifenacil to metoproxibicyclon in the composition of the present invention include 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, 1:7, 1:8, 1:9, and 1:10. The above weight ratios can also be expressed as "approximately." "Approximately" means plus or minus 10%, for example, approximately 1:5 means 1:4.5 to 1:5.5. "Approximately" can be used in the same sense not only for the above weight ratios, but also for any numerical values ​​described herein, such as the amount of spray solution and the application rate.

[0013] The composition of the present invention may contain an organic solvent as a liquid carrier. Examples of organic solvents that can be used in the composition of the present invention include aliphatic hydrocarbons (hexane, 1-hexene, cyclohexane, octane, isooctane, 1-heptene, d-limonene, pinene, hexadecane, etc.), aromatic hydrocarbons (alkylbenzenes (toluene, xylene, isopropylbenzene, p-diethylbenzene, etc.), alkylbenzene derivatives, alkylnaphthalenes, alkylnaphthalene derivatives, tetrahydronaphthalene, etc.), chlorinated hydrocarbons (monochloroethylene, dichloroethylene, trichloroethylene, tetra ... Chloroethylene, dichloromethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,2-dichloropropane, etc.), ketones (cyclohexanone, acetone, 2-heptanone, isophorone, mesityl oxide, methyl isoamyl ketone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, acetophenone, diacetone alcohol, methylcyclohexanone, etc.), esters (fatty acid esters (ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, amyl acetate, isoamyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, hexyl acetate, heptyl acetate, acetic acid octyl myristate, isopropyl myristate, methyl octanoate, methyl oleate, methyl laurate, dibutyl adipate, tributyl citrate, dibutyl phthalate, etc.), lactate esters (ethyl lactate, propyl lactate, etc.), carbonate esters (ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, diethyl carbonate, dibutyl carbonate, etc.), esterified polyols (glycerol acetate, glycol acetate, glycerin monoacetate, glycerin diacetate, glycerin triacetate, diethylene glycol abietate, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ester, etc.), lactones (γ-butyl lactone, etc.)), ethers (1,4-dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, etc.), amides (N-octyl-caprolactam, N-dodecyl-caprolactam, N,N-dimethylformamide, fatty acid dimethylamides (N,N-dimethylacetamide, N,N-dimethyldecanamide, N,N-dimethyloctanamide, etc.), alkylpyrrolidones (N-methylpyrrolidone, N-octylpyrrolidone, N-dodecylpyrrolidone, etc.), lactams (α-lactam, β-lactam, γ-lactam, δ-lactam, etc.), amines (octylamine, octylamine acetate, oleylamine, diethanolamine, laurylamine, etc.), alcohols (methanol, ethanol, butanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, amyl alcohol, hexanol, heptanol, octanol, 2-ethylhexanol, etc.), hexylene glycol, cyclohexanol, phenol, benzyl alcohol, methoxypropanol (1-methoxy-2-propanol), tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, furfuryl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, hexylene glycol, ethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol Examples of suitable oils include glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl ether, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, glycerin, etc.), mineral oils (naphtha, petroleum ether, kerosene, diesel oil, paraffin, olefin, etc.), oils derived from animals and plants, oils derived from plants (palm oil, rapeseed oil, castor oil, coconut oil, soybean oil and derivatives thereof, etc.), oils derived from animals (sardine oil, saury oil, whale oil and derivatives thereof, etc.), dimethyl sulfoxide, silicone oil, acetonitrile, propanenitrile, acid anhydrides (such as acetic anhydride), triethyl phosphate, oleic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, and xylene sulfonic acid.

[0014] When the composition of the present invention contains an organic solvent, the total content of the organic solvent in the composition of the present invention is usually 10 to 90% by weight. Specific contents of the organic solvent in the composition of the present invention include 15% by weight, 20% by weight, 25% by weight, 30% by weight, 35% by weight, 40% by weight, 50% by weight, 60% by weight, 70% by weight, and 80% by weight. In this case, it is preferable that one or both of epirifenacil and metroproxybicyclon are dissolved in the solvent.

[0015] The composition of the present invention is used to control weeds. The method for using the composition of the present invention is similar to the weed control method of the present invention described below. The composition of the present invention exhibits a synergistic herbicidal effect against a wide range of weeds that is greater than would be expected from the herbicidal effects of epirifenacil and metroproxibicyclon when used alone, and can effectively control a wide range of weeds in crop fields, vegetable fields, orchards, and non-agricultural lands where conventional tillage and no-tillage cultivation is practiced, without causing any significant phytotoxicity to useful plants.

[0016] The compositions of the present invention may further contain other agriculturally active ingredients, such as insecticides, nematicides, and fungicides, including neonicotinoid compounds, diamide compounds, carbamates, organophosphate compounds, biological nematicides, and other insecticides, as well as azole compounds, strobilurin compounds, metalaxyl compounds, SDHI compounds, other fungicides, and plant growth regulators.

[0017] The weed control method of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the method of the present invention) includes a step of applying epirifenacil and methoproxybicyclon together or separately in any order (hereinafter referred to as the application step). The application step is carried out in a crop field, vegetable field, orchard, or non-agricultural land, and in the application step, epirifenacil and methoproxybicyclon are applied to a location where weeds are present or will be present. When epirifenacil and metoproxybicyclon are applied together, the composition of the present invention may be used, or a composition containing epirifenacil and a composition containing metoproxybicyclon may be used in combination. When epirifenacil and metoproxybicyclon are applied separately, the composition containing epirifenacil is applied first, followed by the composition containing metoproxybicyclon, or they are applied in the reverse order. The compositions containing epirifenacil and the compositions containing metroxibicyclon are generally preparations prepared by mixing epirifenacil and metroxibicyclon with carriers such as solid carriers and liquid carriers, respectively, and adding formulation adjuvants such as surfactants as needed.

[0018] Methods for applying epirifenacil and methoproxybicyclon include, for example, spraying epirifenacil and methoproxybicyclon on soil (soil treatment) and spraying them on emerged weeds (foliage treatment). Soil treatment and foliage treatment are typically carried out by mixing the composition of the present invention with water to obtain a spray solution, which is then sprayed onto the soil or weeds using a sprayer. The amount of spray solution typically ranges from 50 to 1,000 L / ha, and may be, for example, from 100 to 500 L / ha or from 140 to 300 L / ha. When epirifenacil and methoproxybicyclon are sprayed separately, the epirifenacil-containing composition and the methoproxybicyclon-containing composition are sprayed separately in the same manner as the composition of the present invention.

[0019] The application rate of epirifenacil and metroproxibicyclon in the method of the present invention is typically in the range of 1 to 10,000 g / ha, for example, 2 to 5,000 g / ha or 5 to 2,000 g / ha, as the total amount of epirifenacil and metroproxibicyclon.

[0020] The application rate of epirifenacil in the method of the present invention is usually in the range of 15 to 40 g / ha, preferably in the range of 20 to 33 g / ha. Specific application rates of epirifenacil include, for example, 17, 22, 25, 30, and 35 g / ha.

[0021] The application rate of metroxibicyclon in the method of the present invention is usually in the range of 40 to 150 g / ha, preferably in the range of 80 to 120 g / ha. Specific application rates of metroxibicyclon include, for example, 50, 60, 70, 90, 100, 110, 130, and 140 g / ha.

[0022] The weight ratio of epirifenacil to metoproxibicyclon in the method of the present invention is typically in the range of 1:1 to 1:10. Specific examples of weight ratios of epirifenacil to metoproxibicyclon in the method of the present invention include 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, 1:7, 1:8, 1:9, and 1:10.

[0023] The spray solution to be sprayed in the method of the present invention may contain an adjuvant. The type of adjuvant is not particularly limited, and when the spray solution contains an oil-based adjuvant such as Agri-Dex or MSO (a mineral oil such as paraffinic hydrocarbons, naphthenic hydrocarbons, or aromatic hydrocarbons, or a methylated seed oil obtained by esterifying a vegetable oil (soybean oil or rapeseed oil)), the adjuvant concentration in the spray solution is 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, or 6% (volume / volume). When a nonionic adjuvant such as Induce (polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether, polyoxyalkylene fatty acid ester, alkylaryl alkoxylate, or alkylaryl polyoxyalkylene glycol) is contained in the spray solution, the adjuvant concentration in the spray solution is 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.25%, or 0.5% (volume / volume). Other adjuvants include anionic adjuvants (substituted sulfonates) such as Gramin S, cationic adjuvants (polyoxyethyleneamines) such as Genamin T 200BM, and organosilicon adjuvants such as Silwet L77. The spray solution sprayed in the method of the present invention may further contain a drift-reducing agent such as Intact (polyethylene glycol).

[0024] The pH and hardness of the spray solution prepared in the method of the present invention are not particularly limited, but the pH is usually in the range of 5 to 9, and the hardness is usually in the range of 0 to 500 ppm on the American hardness scale. The time of day when epirifenacil and metroproxybicyclon are applied is not particularly limited, but is usually between 5:00 AM and 9:00 PM, the photon flux density at the application site is usually in the range of 10 to 2,500 micromoles / m² / sec, the temperature at the application site is usually in the range of 0 to 35°C, and the wind speed at the application site is usually 3 MPH or less. The spray pressure when applying epirifenacil and metroproxybicyclon is not particularly limited, but is usually in the range of 30 to 120 PSI, preferably 40 to 80 PSI.

[0025] Examples of crop fields in which the application step is carried out in the method of the present invention include food crop fields such as peanut fields, soybean (indeterminate, determinate, semi-determinate) fields, corn (horse-tooth, hard, soft, burst, glutinous, sweet, field corn) fields, wheat (bread wheat (hard, soft, medium, red, white), durum, spelt, club wheat, and their respective autumn- and spring-sown types), and barley (two-rowed barley (=malting barley), six-rowed barley, hulless barley, and waxy barley, and their respective autumn- and spring-sown types), forage crop fields such as sorghum fields and oat fields, industrial crop fields such as cotton (upland, pima) fields, rapeseed fields, and canola (autumn- and spring-sown types), and sugar crop fields such as sugarcane fields and sugar beets. Among these, soybean fields are preferred.

[0026] Vegetable fields to which the application step of the method of the present invention is applied include fields in which solanaceae vegetables (eggplant, tomato, bell pepper, chili pepper, potato, etc.) are grown, fields in which gourd vegetables (cucumber, pumpkin, zucchini, watermelon, melon, etc.) are grown, fields in which cruciferous vegetables (radish, turnip, horseradish, kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, mustard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) are grown, fields in which Asteraceae vegetables (burdock, garland chrysanthemum, Examples of suitable fields include fields for cultivating liliaceae vegetables (such as artichokes and lettuce), fields for cultivating liliaceae vegetables (such as leeks, onions, garlic and asparagus), fields for cultivating umbelliferous vegetables (such as carrots, parsley, celery and parsley), fields for cultivating chenopodiaceae vegetables (such as spinach and Swiss chard), fields for cultivating lamiaceae vegetables (such as perilla, mint, basil and lavender), strawberry fields, sweet potato fields, yam fields and taro fields.

[0027] Examples of orchards where the application step in the method of the present invention is carried out include orchards, tea plantations, mulberry plantations, coffee plantations, banana plantations, palm plantations, flower orchards, flower tree fields, nursery fields, nurseries, woodlands, gardens, etc. Examples of fruit trees include pome fruits (apples, European pears, Japanese pears, quince, quince, etc.), stone fruits (peaches, plums, nectarines, plums, cherries, apricots, prunes, etc.), citrus fruits (Satsuma mandarins, oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, etc.), nuts (chestnuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashew nuts, macadamia nuts, etc.), berries (grapes, blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc.), persimmons, olives, loquats, etc.

[0028] Non-agricultural land to which the application step of the method of the present invention is applied includes sports fields, vacant lots, railroad tracks, parks, parking lots, roadsides, riverbeds, areas under power lines, residential areas, factory sites, and the like.

[0029] The crops cultivated in the agricultural crop fields or the like to which the application step of the method of the present invention is carried out are not particularly limited as long as they are plant varieties that are commonly cultivated as crops.

[0030] The plant varieties mentioned above may be plants that can be produced by natural crossbreeding, plants that can be generated by mutation, F1 hybrid plants, transgenic plants (also called genetically modified plants), etc. These plants generally have properties such as conferring herbicide resistance, accumulating toxic substances against pests, suppressing susceptibility to diseases, increasing yield potential, improving resistance to biotic and abiotic stress factors, accumulating substances, improving storability and processability, etc.

[0031] An F1 hybrid plant is a first-generation hybrid obtained by crossing two varieties of different lineages, and generally has hybrid vigor characteristics that are superior to those of either parent. A transgenic plant is a plant obtained by introducing a foreign gene from another organism such as a microorganism, and has characteristics that cannot be easily obtained by cross-breeding, mutagenesis, or natural recombination in a natural environment.

[0032] Technologies for producing the above-mentioned plants include, for example, conventional breeding techniques; genetic engineering; genome breeding; new breeding techniques; and genome editing. Conventional breeding techniques involve obtaining plants with desired characteristics through mutation or crossbreeding. Genetic engineering involves extracting a target gene (DNA) from one organism (e.g., a microorganism) and introducing it into the genome of another target organism to confer new characteristics to that organism. Antisense or RNA interference techniques also involve silencing other genes present in the plant to confer new or improved characteristics. Genomic breeding techniques use genomic information to improve the efficiency of breeding and include DNA marker (also called genome marker or gene marker) breeding and genomic selection. For example, DNA marker breeding is a method of selecting progeny carrying a desired gene for a useful trait from a large number of progeny by using a DNA marker, a DNA sequence that marks the location of a specific gene for a useful trait on the genome. Analyzing the progeny of hybrids using DNA markers at the seedling stage effectively shortens the time required for breeding. Genomic selection, which creates a predictive formula based on previously obtained phenotype and genomic information, predicts characteristics from the formula and genomic information without phenotypic evaluation, is a technology that can contribute to improving breeding efficiency. New breeding techniques are a general term for plant improvement (breeding) techniques that combine molecular biological techniques. Examples include cisgenesis / intragenesis, oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, RNA-dependent DNA methylation, genome editing, grafting onto GM rootstocks or scions, reverse breeding, agroinfiltration, and seed production technology (SPT). Genome editing is a technique for sequence-specifically modifying genetic information, allowing for deletion of base sequences, substitution of amino acid sequences, and introduction of foreign genes.For example, such tools include zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), TALENs, CRISPR / Cas9, CRISPR / Cpf1, and meganucleases, which are capable of sequence-specific DNA cleavage, as well as sequence-specific genome modification technologies such as CAS9 nickase and Target-AID, which are created by modifying the aforementioned tools.

[0033] Examples of the aforementioned plants include those listed in the GM Approval Database on the electronic information site of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) (http: / / www.isaaa.org / ). More specifically, these include herbicide-resistant plants, pest-resistant plants, disease-resistant plants, plants with modified product (e.g., starch, amino acids, fatty acids, etc.) quality (e.g., increased or decreased content or altered composition), fertility-modified plants, abiotic stress-tolerant plants, and plants with modified growth or yield traits.

[0034] Plants to which herbicide resistance has been imparted by genetic engineering technology also include plants to which resistance to 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (hereinafter abbreviated as HPPD) inhibitors such as isoxaflutole, mesotrione, etc., acetolactate synthase (hereinafter abbreviated as ALS) inhibitors such as imidazolinone herbicides including imazethapyr and sulfonylurea herbicides including thifensulfuron methyl, 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (hereinafter abbreviated as EPSPS) inhibitors such as glyphosate, glutamine synthase inhibitors such as glufosinate, auxin-type herbicides such as 2,4-D, dicamba, oxynil herbicides including bromoxynil, and protoporphyrinogen oxidase (hereinafter abbreviated as PPO) inhibitors such as flumioxazin has been imparted by genetic engineering technology. Preferred herbicide-tolerant transgenic plants are cereals such as wheat, barley, rye, and oats, canola, sorghum, soybean, rice, rapeseed, sugar beet, sugarcane, grapes, lentils, sunflower, alfalfa, pome fruits, stone fruits, and vegetables such as coffee, tea, strawberry, turfgrass, tomato, potato, cucumber, and lettuce, more preferably cereals such as wheat, barley, rye, and oats, soybean, rice, vine, tomato, potato, and pome fruits.

[0035] Specific herbicide-resistant plants are shown below: Glyphosate herbicide-resistant plants can be obtained by introducing one or more of the following: a glyphosate-resistant EPSPS gene (CP4 epsps) derived from Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain CP4; glyphosate-metabolizing enzyme genes (gat4601, gat4621) derived from Bacillus licheniformis, whose metabolic activity has been enhanced by shuffling a glyphosate-metabolizing enzyme (glyphosate N-acetyltransferase) gene; a glyphosate-metabolizing enzyme (glyphosate oxidase gene, goxv247) derived from Ochrobacterum anthropi strain LBAA; or a maize-derived EPSPS gene (mepsps, 2mepsps) with a glyphosate-tolerant mutation. The main plants to be tolerant to glyphosate include alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Argentine canola (Brassica napus), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera), corn (Zea mays L.), Polish canola (Brassica rapa), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), and wheat (Triticum aestivum). Several glyphosate-tolerant transgenic plants are commercially available. For example, genetically modified plants that express glyphosate-resistant EPSPS derived from Agrobacterium are sold under trade names including "Roundup Ready (registered trademark)," genetically modified plants that express glyphosate-metabolizing enzymes derived from Bacillus bacteria whose metabolic activity has been enhanced by shuffling technology are sold under trade names such as "Optimum (registered trademark) GAT (trademark)" and "Optimum (registered trademark) Gly canola," and genetically modified plants that express EPSPS with a glyphosate-resistant mutation derived from corn are sold under the trade name "GlyTol (trademark)."

[0036] Glufosinate herbicide-tolerant plants can be obtained by introducing one or more of the phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase (PAT) gene (bar), which is a glufosinate-metabolizing enzyme derived from Streptomyces hygroscopicus, the phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase (PAT) enzyme gene (pat), which is a glufosinate-metabolizing enzyme derived from Streptomyces viridochromogenes, or the synthetic pat gene (pat syn) derived from Streptomyces viridochromogenes strain Tu494. The main plants include Argentine canola (Brassica napus), chicory (Cichorium intybus), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), corn (Zea mays L.), Polish canola (Brassica rapa), rice (Oryza sativa L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). Several glufosinate-tolerant transgenic plants are commercially available. Transgenic plants derived from Streptomyces hygroscopicus (bar) and Streptomyces viridochromogenes are sold under brand names including LibertyLink™, InVigor™, and WideStrike™.

[0037] Oxynil herbicide (e.g., bromoxynil)-resistant plants include transgenic plants resistant to oxynil herbicides, such as bromoxynil, into which a nitrilase gene (bxn), an oxynil herbicide (e.g., bromoxynil)-metabolizing enzyme derived from Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. Ozaenae, has been introduced. Major plants include Argentine canola (Brassica napus), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), and are sold under brand names including "Navigator™ canola" or "BXN™."

[0038] ALS inhibitor-resistant plants: carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) varieties "Moondust™," "Moonshadow™," "Moonshade™," "Moonlite™," "Moonaqua™," "Moonvista™," "Moonique™," "Moonpearl™," "Moonberry™," and "Moonvelvet™" introduced with the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) ALS gene (surB) conferring resistance to ALS inhibitors as a selection marker; flax (Linum usitatissumum L.) "CDC Triffid Flax" introduced with the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) ALS gene (als) conferring resistance to ALS inhibitors; and corn (Zea mays L.) "Optimum™" introduced with the maize ALS gene (zm-hra) conferring resistance to ALS inhibitors, which is resistant to sulfonylurea and imidazolinone herbicides. These include "Cultivance," a soybean that is tolerant to imidazolinone herbicides and that has been introduced with the ALS inhibitor-resistant ALS gene (csr1-2) derived from Arabidopsis thaliana; and "Treus," "Plenish," and "Optimum GAT," soybeans that are tolerant to sulfonylurea herbicides and that have been introduced with the ALS inhibitor-resistant ALS gene (gm-hra) derived from soybean (Glycine max). These are sold under the trade names Treus, Plenish, and Optimum GAT. There is also cotton that has been introduced with the ALS inhibitor-resistant ALS gene (S4-HrA) derived from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi).

[0039] HPPD inhibitor-resistant plants: Soybeans into which the HPPD gene (avhppd-03) derived from oat (Avena sativa) that confers resistance to mesotrione and the gene (pat) for the phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase (PAT) enzyme, a glufosinate-metabolizing enzyme derived from Streptomyces viridochromogenes, have been introduced are sold under the trade name "Herbicide-tolerant Soybean line."

[0040] 2,4-D-tolerant plants: Maize introduced with the aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase gene (aad-1), a 2,4-D metabolic enzyme derived from Sphingobium herbicidovorans, is sold under the trade name Enlist™ Maize. Soybeans and cotton introduced with the aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase gene (aad-12), a 2,4-D metabolic enzyme derived from Delftia acidovorans, are sold under the trade name Enlist™ Soybean.

[0041] Dicamba-tolerant plants include soybeans and cotton introduced with the dicamba monooxygenase gene (dmo), a dicamba-metabolizing enzyme derived from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain DI-6. Soybeans (Glycine max L.) introduced with the glyphosate-tolerant EPSPS gene (CP4 epsps) derived from Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain CP4 are sold under the trademark "Genuity® Roundup Ready™ 2 Xtend™."

[0042] Examples of PPO inhibitor-resistant plants include plants imparted, by genetic engineering, with the ability to produce PPO with reduced affinity for PPO inhibitors, and plants imparted, by genetic engineering, with the ability to detoxify and degrade PPO inhibitors by cytochrome P450 monooxygenase. Furthermore, the plant may be a crop imparted, by genetic engineering, with both the ability to produce PPO with reduced affinity for PPO inhibitors and the ability to detoxify and degrade PPO inhibitors by cytochrome P450 monooxygenase. These resistant plants are described in patent documents such as WO2011085221, WO2012080975, WO2014030090, WO2015022640, WO2015022636, WO2015022639, WO2015092706, WO2016203377, WO2017198859, WO2018019860, WO2018022777, WO2017112589, WO2017087672, WO2017039969, WO2017023778, WO2018022777, and WO2019118726, as well as in non-patent documents (Pest Management Science, 61, 2005, 277-285).

[0043] Examples of commercially available transgenic plants that have been conferred herbicide tolerance include glyphosate-tolerant corn ('Roundup Ready Corn', 'Roundup Ready 2', 'Agrisure GT', 'Agrisure GT / CB / LL', 'Agrisure GT / RW', 'Agrisure 3000GT', 'YieldGard VT Rootworm / RR2', and 'YieldGard VT Triple'); glyphosate-tolerant soybean ('Roundup Ready Soybean' and 'Optimum GAT'); glyphosate-tolerant cotton ('Roundup Ready Cootton' and 'Roundup Ready Flex'); glyphosate-tolerant canola ('Roundup Ready Canola'); glyphosate-tolerant alfalfa ('Roundup Ready Alfalfa'); glyphosate-tolerant rice ('Roundup Ready Rice'); and glufosinate-tolerant corn ('Roundup Ready 2', 'Liberty Link', 'Herculex 1', and 'Herculex RW," "Herculex Xtra," "Agrisure GT / CB / LL," "Agrisure CB / LL / RW," and "Bt10"; glufosinate-tolerant cotton "FiberMax Liberty Link"; glufosinate-tolerant rice "Liberty Link Rice"; glufosinate-tolerant canola "in Vigor"; bromoxynil-tolerant cotton "BXN"; and bromoxynil-tolerant canola "Navigator" and "Compass."Further plants modified with herbicides are widely known, for example glyphosate-tolerant alfalfa, apple, barley, eucalyptus, flax, grape, lentil, rapeseed, pea, potato, rice, sugar beet, sunflower, tobacco, tomato, turfgrass and wheat (see, for example, US 5,188,642, US 4,940,835, US 5,633,435, US 5,804,425, US 5,627,061); dicamba-tolerant beans, cotton, soybean, pea, potato, sunflower, tomato, Tobacco, corn, sorghum and sugarcane (see, for example, WO2008051633, US7105724 and US5670454); glufosinate-tolerant soybeans, sugar beets, potatoes, tomatoes and tobacco (see, for example, US6376754, US5646024, US5561236); 2,4-D-tolerant cotton, peppers, apples, tomatoes, sunflowers, tobacco, potatoes, corn, cucumber, wheat, soybeans, sorghum and millet (see, for example, US6153401, US6100446, WO2005107437, US5608147 and See US5670454); canola, corn, millet, barley, cotton, mustard, lettuce, lentil, melon, foxtail millet, oat, nata, potato, rice, rye, sorghum, soybean, sugar beet, sunflower, tobacco, tomato, and wheat resistant to ALS inhibitors (e.g., sulfonylurea herbicides and imidazolinone herbicides) (see, e.g., US5013659, WO2006060634, US4761373, US5304732, US6211438, US6211439, and US6222100). In particular, rice resistant to imidazolinone herbicides is known, and acetolactate synthase (acetohydroxyacid synthase) genes are known. Rice and the like having specific mutations in the α-glucan gene (e.g., S653N, S654K, A122T, S653(At)N, S654(At)K, A122(At)T) are known (see, for example, US2003 / 0217381 and WO200520673).Barley, sugarcane, rice, corn, tobacco, soybean, cotton, rapeseed, sugar beet, wheat, and potato are also known to be resistant to HPPD inhibitors (e.g., isoxazole herbicides such as isoxaflutole, triketone herbicides such as sulcotrione and mesotrione, pyrazole herbicides such as pyrazolinates, and diketonitrile decomposition products of isoxaflutole) (see, for example, WO2004 / 055191, WO199638567, WO1997049816, and US6791014).

[0044] Examples of plants that have been conferred herbicide tolerance by classical or genomic breeding techniques include "Clearfield Rice," "Clearfield Wheat," "Clearfield Sunflower," "Clearfield lentils," and "Clearfield canola" (BASF products) that are resistant to imidazolinone ALS inhibitors such as imazethapyr and imazamox; "STS soybean," which is resistant to sulfonylurea ALS inhibitors such as thifensulfuron methyl; and "SRcorn," "Poast Protected (registered trademark)," which is resistant to sethoxydim-resistant corn that is resistant to acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitors such as trione oxime and aryloxyphenoxypropionic acid herbicides. corn"; sunflower "ExpressSun (registered trademark)" that is resistant to sulfonylurea herbicides such as tribenuron; rice "Provisia (trademark) Rice" that is resistant to acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitors such as quizalofop; and canola "Triazine Tolerant Canola" that is resistant to PSII inhibitors.

[0045] Examples of plants conferred herbicide tolerance using genome editing include "SU Canola®," a canola with sulfonylurea herbicide tolerance developed using the Rapid Trait Development System (RTDS®). RTDS® is a genome editing technology called oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, which uses Gene Repair Oligonucleotide (GRON), a chimeric DNA-RNA oligonucleotide, to introduce mutations without cleaving the plant's DNA. Other examples include maize with reduced herbicide tolerance and phytic acid content achieved by deleting the endogenous IPK1 gene using zinc finger nucleases (see, for example, Nature 459, 437-441, 2009); and rice conferred herbicide tolerance using CRISPR-Cas9 (see, for example, Rice 7, 5, 2014).

[0046] New breeding techniques for imparting herbicide resistance include grafting, a breeding technique that uses grafting. One example of imparting the properties of a GM rootstock to a scion is the use of the glyphosate-tolerant Roundup Ready® soybean as a rootstock to impart glyphosate resistance to non-transgenic soybean scion (see Weed Technology 27:412-416, 2013).

[0047] The above-mentioned plants include lines that have been imparted with two or more of the aforementioned abiotic stress resistance, disease resistance, herbicide resistance, pest resistance, growth or yield traits, nutrient uptake, product quality, fertility traits, etc. using genetic engineering techniques, classical breeding techniques, genomic breeding techniques, new breeding techniques, genome editing techniques, etc., as well as lines that have been imparted with two or more traits possessed by parent lines by crossing plants with similar or different traits.

[0048] Commercially available plants that have been made tolerant to two or more herbicides include, for example, cotton "GlyTol™ LibertyLink™" and "GlyTol™ LibertyLink™" that are tolerant to glyphosate and glufosinate; corn "Roundup Ready™ LibertyLink™ Maize" that is tolerant to glyphosate and glufosinate; soybean "Enlist™ Soybean" that is tolerant to glufosinate and 2,4-D; soybean "Genuity™ Roundup Ready™ 2 Xtend™" that is tolerant to glyphosate and dicamba; corn and soybean "OptimumGAT™" that are tolerant to glyphosate and ALS inhibitors; and genetically modified soybeans "Enlist E3™" and "Enlist™ Roundup Ready 2" that are tolerant to three herbicides, glyphosate, glufosinate, and 2,4-D. Yield (registered trademark); Enlist (trademark) Roundup Ready (trademark) Corn 2, a genetically modified corn that is tolerant to glyphosate, 2,4-D, and aryloxyphenoxypropionic acid (FOP) herbicides; Enlist (trademark) Roundup Ready (trademark) Corn 2, a genetically modified corn that is tolerant to glyphosate, 2,4-D, and aryloxyphenoxypropionic acid (FOP) herbicides; Bollgard II (trademark) XtendFlex (trademark) Cotton, a genetically modified cotton that is tolerant to dicamba, glyphosate, and glufosinate; and Enlist (trademark) Cotton, a genetically modified cotton that is tolerant to three herbicides: glyphosate, glufosinate, and 2,4-D. Other genetically modified varieties that have been developed include cotton that is resistant to glufosinate and 2,4-D, cotton that is resistant to both glufosinate and dicamba, corn that is resistant to both glyphosate and 2,4-D, soybeans that are resistant to both glyphosate and HPPD herbicides, and genetically modified corn that is resistant to glyphosate, glufosinate, 2,4-D, aryloxyphenoxypropionic acid (FOP) herbicides, and cyclohexadione (DIM) herbicides.

[0049] Commercially available plants that have been given herbicide tolerance and pest resistance include, for example, "YieldGard Roundup Ready" and "YieldGard Roundup Ready 2" corn that are tolerant to glyphosate and resistant to corn borer; "Agrisure CB / LL" corn that is tolerant to glufosinate and resistant to corn borer; "YieldGard VT Rootworm / RR2" corn that is tolerant to glyphosate and resistant to corn rootworm and corn borer; "YieldGard VT Triple" corn that is tolerant to glyphosate and resistant to lepidopteran pests (Cry1F) (e.g., resistance to western bean cutworm, corn borer, black cutworm, and fall armyworm); and "YieldGard Corn Rootworm / Roundup Ready" corn that is tolerant to glyphosate and resistant to corn rootworm. 2"; Agrisure GT / RW corn, which has glufosinate tolerance and coleopteran resistance (Cry3A) (e.g., resistance to western corn rootworm, northern corn rootworm, and Mexican corn rootworm); Herculex RW corn, which has glufosinate tolerance and coleopteran resistance (Cry34 / 35Ab1) (e.g., resistance to western corn rootworm, northern corn rootworm, and Mexican corn rootworm); Yield Gard VT Rootworm / RR2 corn, which has glyphosate tolerance and corn rootworm resistance; and Bollgard 3® XtendFlex® cotton, which has dicamba tolerance, glyphosate tolerance, glufosinate tolerance, and lepidopteran resistance (e.g., resistance to bollworms, tobacco budworms, armyworms, etc.).

[0050] The nozzle used when applying epirifenacil and metroproxibicyclon in the method of the present invention may be a flat fan nozzle or a drift-reducing nozzle. Examples of flat fan nozzles include Teejet's Teejt110 series and XR Teejet110 series. When these nozzles are used at a normal spray pressure, typically in the range of 30 to 120 PSI, the volume median diameter of droplets discharged from the nozzle is typically less than 430 microns. A drift-reducing nozzle is a nozzle that reduces drift compared to a flat fan nozzle, and is also known as an air induction nozzle or pre-orifice nozzle. The volume median diameter of droplets discharged from a drift-reducing nozzle is typically 430 microns or greater.

[0051] An air induction nozzle has an air introduction section between the nozzle inlet (chemical introduction section) and outlet (chemical discharge section), and forms droplets filled with air by mixing air into the chemical. Examples of air induction nozzles include Green Leaf Technology's TDXL11003-D, TDXL11004-D1, TDXL11005-D1, and TDXL11006-D; Teejet's TTI110025, TTI11003, TTI11004, TTI11005, TTI11006, and TTI11008; and Pentair's ULD120-041, ULD120-051, and ULD120-061. A particularly preferred air induction nozzle is the TTI11004.

[0052] A pre-orifice nozzle has a metering orifice at the nozzle inlet (chemical introduction port), which restricts the flow rate into the nozzle and reduces the pressure inside the nozzle, forming larger droplets. This reduces the pressure during discharge by roughly half compared to before introduction. Examples of pre-orifice nozzles include Wilger's DR110-10, UR110-05, UR110-06, UR110-08, and UR110-10, and Teejet's 1 / 4TTJ08 Turf Jet and 1 / 4TTJ04 Turf Jet.

[0053] The sprayer used to apply epirifenacil and metroproxibicyclon in the method of the present invention may be a hooded sprayer certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for drift reduction technology (DRT). Examples of DRT-certified hooded sprayers include the REDBALL 642, REDBALL 642E, REDBALL SPK645, REDBALL 645, REDBALL 645T, REDBALL SP645, and REDBALL ATV642, all manufactured by Willmar Fabrication LLC.

[0054] When the method of the present invention is carried out in a region where crops are grown, such as a crop field, epirifenacil and methoproxybicyclon may be applied before sowing the crops, or simultaneously with and / or after sowing the crops. That is, the number of times epirifenacil and methoproxybicyclon are applied may be, for example, once before sowing, simultaneously with sowing, or after sowing the crops, twice excluding before sowing, twice excluding simultaneously with sowing, or twice excluding after sowing, or three times, i.e., application at all of the times before sowing, simultaneously with sowing, and after sowing.

[0055] When epirifenacil and metroproxybicyclon are applied before sowing of crops, they are usually applied from 50 days before sowing to just before sowing, preferably from 30 days before sowing to just before sowing, more preferably from 20 days before sowing to just before sowing, and even more preferably from 10 days before sowing to just before sowing. When epirifenacil and metroproxybicyclon are applied after sowing of crops, they are usually applied from immediately after sowing to just before flowering, preferably from immediately after sowing to just before emergence, or during the 1st to 6th true leaf stage of the crop. When epirifenacil and metroproxybicyclon are applied simultaneously with sowing of crops, a machine combining a seed drill and a sprayer is used.

[0056] As described above, methods for applying epirifenacil and metroxibicyclon include soil treatment, in which epirifenacil and metroxibicyclon are applied to soil where weeds occur, and foliar treatment, in which epirifenacil and metroxibicyclon are applied to weeds that have emerged and are growing. When epirifenacil and metroxibicyclon are applied to growing weeds, the treatment can be both foliar and soil treatment. The application time can be determined independently of the above-mentioned crop growth stage; for example, foliar treatment can be performed on growing weeds before sowing the crop, or soil treatment can be performed during crop growth. These treatments can be applied uniformly over the land or as spot treatments.

[0057] In the method of the present invention, spot treatment is a concept that is opposed to uniform, area-wide application of a herbicide and refers to selective application of a herbicide to areas where weeds are growing or where weeds will occur. "Applying to an area" means application to the weeds or the soil where weeds are growing if weeds are currently growing, or application to the soil of areas where weeds are expected to occur in the future if weeds have not yet occurred. Even when epirifenacil and metroproxibicyclon are sprayed to a small extent to areas where weeds have not occurred or will not occur in the future due to drift, transpiration, etc., this also falls under spot treatment, as long as it is not a uniform, area-wide application. Furthermore, selective treatment of all areas where weeds are growing or where weeds will occur in a continuous crop cultivation area is not considered spot treatment. In other words, even if part of the cultivation area is treated as a whole, or even if part of the area where weeds grow or infest is not treated, if there is a spot-treated area in a continuous cultivation area of ​​the crop, it is included in the spot treatment. Spot treatment may be carried out while avoiding the crop, or may be carried out based only on the location of the weeds, regardless of the location of the crop.

[0058] Specific examples of spot treatment methods are given below. Spot treatment may be performed in a crop cultivation area by an applicator visually applying epirifenacil and metroproxibicyclon using a handheld nozzle or robotic arm nozzle while walking or aboard a ground-based or flying device. Alternatively, spot treatment may be performed by mapping the area where weeds grow or occur in advance and applying epirifenacil and metroproxibicyclon based on the map information. In application based on map information, in addition to the above-mentioned methods, spot treatment may be performed by automatically or manually opening and closing the boom nozzle or robotic arm nozzle while the sprayer is traveling or flying, based on the sprayer's position information (obtained by GPS, etc.) and the map information. The map information may be created based on image information captured by a manned or unmanned flying object, or may be created visually by an observer walking on the ground, riding on a ground-based or flying device, or by an observer aboard a flying device. Furthermore, a mobile or flying sprayer may be equipped with a function for detecting where weeds are growing or occurring, and spot treatment may be performed using the boom or robotic arm while performing real-time mapping. Such technologies are described in patent literature (e.g., WO2018001893, WO2018036909) and non-patent literature (e.g., Crop Protection 26, 270-277, Weed Technology 17, 711-717, Applied Engineering in Agriculture 30, 143-152). These technologies are a form of emerging agriculture known as precision agriculture, smart agriculture, or digital agriculture, and the uneven spray pattern resulting from spot treatment is also referred to as VRA (Variable Rate Application) in this emerging agriculture term. Furthermore, technology in which a mobile sprayer performs spot treatment in real time while detecting growing weeds is known as "See & Spray" or "OSST (Optical Spot Spray Technology)."

[0059] The location of weed occurrence can be estimated based on the fact that the weed formed a vegetation patch in the past growing season, or it can be estimated from the distribution of soil seeds, which can be investigated by soil sampling or remote sensing.

[0060] The method of the present invention exerts a synergistic herbicidal effect against a wide range of weeds that is greater than would be expected from the herbicidal effects of epirifenacil and metroproxibicyclon when used alone, and can effectively control a wide range of weeds in crop fields, vegetable fields, orchards, and non-agricultural land where conventional tillage and no-tillage cultivation is practiced, without causing any significant phytotoxicity to useful plants.

[0061] In the method of the present invention, other pesticide active ingredients, such as insecticides, nematicides, and fungicides, may be used in combination. Examples of such insecticides, nematicides, and fungicides include neonicotinoid compounds, diamide compounds, carbamate compounds, organophosphate compounds, biological nematicides, and other insecticides, as well as azole compounds, strobilurin compounds, metalaxyl compounds, SDHI compounds, other fungicides, and plant growth regulators.

[0062] Specific examples of weeds that can be controlled by the composition or method of the present invention include, but are not limited to, the following weeds: Urticaceae weeds: Dwarf nettle (Urtica urens) Polygonaceae weeds: Bindweed (Polygonum convolvulus), Polygonum lapathifolium, Polygonum pensylvanicum, Polygonum persicaria, Polygonum longisetum, Willow (Polygonum aviculare), Willow (Polygonum arenastrum), Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum), Rumex japonicus, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, and Rumex acetosa. Portulacaceae weeds: Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) Caryophyllaceae weeds: Chickweed (Stellaria media), Cow chickweed (Stellaria aquatica), Earweed (Cerastium holosteoides), Dutch earweed (Cerastium glomeratum), Common clover (Spergula arvensis), Silene gallica. Molluginaceae weeds: Woodruff (Mollugo verticillata). Chenopodiaceae weeds: Chenopodium album, Common ragwort (Chenopodium ambrosioides), Kochia (Bassia scoparia), Salsola kali, Atriplex spp..

[0063] Amaranthaceae weeds: Amaranthus retroflexus, Amaranthus viridis, Amaranthus lividus, Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus palmeri, Amaranthus patulus, Waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus = Amaranthus rudis = Amaranthus tamariscinus), American blackweed (Amaranthus blitoides), Amaranthus deflexus, Amaranthus quitensis, Alternant weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides), Alternanthus sessilis, Sanguinaria (Alternanthera tenella) Papaveraceae: Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas), Long-legged poppy (Papaver dubium), Thistle poppy (Argemone mexicana) Brassicaceae: Wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum), Radish (Raphanus sativus), Field mustard (Sinapis arvensis), Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), Common mustard (Brassica juncea), Common oilseed rape (Brassica napus), Descurainia pinnata, Burdock root (Rorippa islandica), Yellow mustard (Rorippa sylvestris), Shepherd's purse (Thlaspi arvense), Mountain mustard (Myagrum rugosum), Lepidium virginicum, Coronopus didymusCapparaceae weed: Cleome affinis

[0064] Legume weeds (Fabaceae): Water hyacinth (Aeschynomene indica), zigzag-jointed vetch (Aeschynomene rudis), American hornbeam (Sesbania exaltata), Slipper grass (Cassia obtusifolia), Boxweed (Cassia occidentalis), Day bush clover (Desmodium tortuosum), Field bush clover (Desmodium adscendens), Illinois bush clover (Desmodium illinoense), White clover (Trifolium repens), Kudzu (Pueraria lobata), Vetch (Vicia angustifolia), Japanese ragwort (Indigofera hirsuta), Indigofera truxillensis, Wild cowpea (Vigna sinensis). Oxalidaceae: Wood sorrel (Oxalis corniculata), Oxalis stricta, Oxalis oxyptera Geraniaceae: American buttercup (Geranium carolinense), Dutch buttercup (Erodium cicutarium) Euphorbiaceae: Spurge (Euphorbia helioscopia), Western jasmine (Euphorbia maculata), Cornus humistrata, Euphorbia esula, Cardamom (Euphorbia heterophylla), Hyssop-leaf sand mat (Euphorbia brasiliensis), Chinese hackberry (Acalypha australis), Tropic croton (Croton glandulosus), Lobed croton (Croton lobatus), Brazilian phyllanthus (Phyllanthus corcovadensis), castor bean (Ricinus communis)

[0065] Malvaceae: Abutilon theophrasti, Sida rhombifolia, Sida cordifolia, Sida spinosa, Sida glaziovii, Sida santaremnensis, Hibiscus trionum, Caladium laurel, Malvastrum coromandelianum. Onagraceae: Ludwigia epilobioides, Ludwigia octovalvis, Ludwigia decurrens, Oenothera biennis, Oenothera laciniata. Sterculiaceae (Sterculiaceae): Waltheria indica (Waltheria indica) Violaceae (Violaceae): Viola arvensis, Viola tricolor (Wild pansy) Cucurbitaceae (Cucurbitaceae): Sicyos angulatus, Echinocystis lobata, Momordica charantia (Wild bitter gourd) Lythraceae (Lythraceae): Ammannia multiflora, Ammannia auriculata, Ammannia coccinea, Lythrum salicaria, Rotala indica (Lythrum weed) Elatinaceae (Elatinaceae): Elatine triandra), California waterwort (Elatine californica)

[0066] Umbelliferae weeds (Apiaceae): Japanese parsley (Oenanthe javanica), wild carrot (Daucus carota), hemlock (Conium maculatum) Araliaceae weeds: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, Brazilian hydrocotyle (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) Ceratophyllaceae weeds: Ceratophyllum demersum Cabombaceae weeds: Cabomba caroliniana Haloragaceae weeds: Water milfoil (Myriophyllum aquaticum), water milfoil (Myriophyllum verticillatum), water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum, Myriophyllum heterophyllum, etc.) Sapindaceae (Sapindaceae): Balloon vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum) Primulaceae (Primulaceae): Red-leaf chickweed (Anagallis arvensis) Asclepiadaceae (Asclepiadaceae): Giant milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), honeyvine milkweed (Ampelamus albidus) Rubiaceae (Rubiaceae): Catchweed bedstraw (Galium aparine), cleaver (Galium spurium var. echinospermon), broadleaf weed (Spermacoce latifolia), Brazilian false hawkweed (Richardia brasiliensis), winged phallus buttonweed (Borreria alata)

[0067] Convolvulaceae weeds: Morning glory (Ipomoea nil), American morning glory (Ipomoea hederacea), round morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea), round morning glory (Ipomoea hederacea var. integriuscula), common morning glory (Ipomoea lacunosa), starry morning glory (Ipomoea triloba), common morning glory (Ipomoea acuminata), ivy morning glory (Ipomoea hederifolia), common morning glory (Ipomoea coccinea), morning glory (Ipomoea quamoclit), Ipomoea grandifolia, Ipomoea aristolochiaefolia, sweet bindweed (Ipomoea cairica), and European bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), Calystegia hederacea, Calystegia japonica, Merremia hederacea, Hairy woodrose (Merremia aegyptia), Roadside woodrose (Merremia cissoides), Morning glory (Jacquemontia tamnifolia) Boraginaceae: Forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis) Lamiaceae: Lamium purpureum, Lamium amplexicaule, Leonotis nepetaefolia, Hyptis suaveolens, Hyptis lophanta, Leonurus sibiricus), Arvensis arvensis

[0068] Solanaceae weeds: Datura stramonium, Solanum nigrum, Solanum americanum, Solanum ptycanthum, Solanum sarrachoides, Solanum rostratum, Solanum aculeatissimum, Solanum sisymbriifolium, Solanum carolinense, Solanum angulata, Solanum subglabrata, Solanum persica (Nicandra physalodes). Scrophulariaceae weeds: Veronica hederaefolia, Solanum persica (Veronica persica), Veronica arvensis, Lindernia procumbens, Lindernia dubia, Lindernia angustifolia, Bacopa rotundifolia, Dopatrium junceum, Gratiola japonica. Plantaginaceae: Plantain (Plantago asiatica), Plantain lanceolata, Common plantain (Plantago major), Water chickweed (Callitriche palustris).

[0069] Asteraceae weeds: Cocklebur (Xanthium pensylvanicum), Giant cocklebur (Xanthium occidentale), Brimbur (Xanthium italicum), Wild sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), Chamomile (Matricaria perforata), Corn marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum), Oriental daisy (Matricaria matricarioides), Wormwood (Artemisia princeps), Artemisia vulgaris, Chinese mugwort (Artemisia verlotorum), Goldenrod (Solidago altissima), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Dead daisy (Galinsoga ciliata), Japanese cornflower (Galinsoga parviflora), Groundsweet (Senecio vulgaris, Senecio brasiliensis, Senecio grisebachii, Ragweed (Conyza bonariensis), Ragweed (Conyza smatrensis), Artemisia canadensis, Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Mulberry (Ambrosia trifida), Bidens tripartita, Bidens pilosa, Bidens frondosa, Bidens subalternans, Thorn thistle (Cirsium arvense), American thistle (Cirsium vulgare), Milk thistle (Silybum marianum), Musk thistle (Carduus nutans), Lettuce (Lactuca serriola), common sowweed (Sonchus oleraceus), common sowweed (Sonchus asper), beach creeping oxeye (Wedeliaglauca), Perfoliate Blackfoot (Melampodium perfoliatum), Pale Bitter Gum (Emilia sonchifolia), Chiaroscuro (Tagetes minuta), Paracles (Blainvillea latifolia), Little Daisy (Tridax procumbens), Yerba Polosa (Porophyllum ruderale), Paraguay Starburst (Acanthospermum australe), Bristle Starburst (Acanthospermum hispidum), Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum), Ageratum (Ageratum conyzoides), Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), Dandlouze (Erechtites hieracifolia), American Everlasting (Gamochaeta spicata), White-legged Weevil (Gnaphalium spicatum), Jaegeria hiera (Jaegeria hirta), Cornflower (Parthenium hysterophorus), Oriental fir (Siegesbeckia orientalis), American snowdrop (Soliva sessilis), Eclipta prostrata, American snowdrop (Eclipta alba), Snowdrop (Centipeda minima)

[0070] Alismataceae: Sagittaria pygmaea, Sagittaria trifolia, Sagittaria sagittifolia, Sagittaria montevidensis, Sagittaria aginashi, Alisma canaliculatum, Alisma plantago-aquatica Limnocharitaceae: Limnocharis flava Hydrocharitaceae: Frogbit (Limnobium spongia), Hydrilla verticillata, Common water nymph (Najas guadalupensis) Araceae: Water duckweed (Pistia stratiotes) Duckweeds (Lemnaceae): Duckweed (Lemna aoukikusa, Lemna paucicostata, Lemna aequinoctialis), duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza), water flea (Wolffia spp.)) Potamogetonaceae: Potamogeton distinctus, pondweeds (Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton illinoensis, Stuckenia pectinata, etc.) Liliaceae: Wild onion (Allium canadense), wild garlic (Allium vineale), wild oak (Allium macrostemon) Pontederiaceae: Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), American boxwood (Heteranthera limosa), Japanese black laurel (Monochoria korsakowii), Japanese boxwood (Monochoria vaginalis) Commelinaceae: Dayflower (Commelina communis), common dayflower (Commelina benghalensis), erect dayflower (Commelina erecta), boxwood (Murdannia keisak).

[0071] Grass weeds (Poaceae): Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli), Oriental watergrass (Echinochloa oryzicola), Lesser Oriental watergrass (Echinochloa crus-galli var. formosensis), Latewatergrass (Echinochloa oryzoides), Lesser barnyard grass (Echinochloa colona), Gulf cockspur (Echinochloa crus-pavonis), Green foxtail (Setaria viridis), Setaria faberi, Golden foxtail (Setaria glauca), American green foxtail (Setaria geniculata), Large crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris), Large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis), Jamaican crabgrass (Digitaria horizontalis), Large crabgrass (Digitaria insularis), Common goosegrass (Eleusine indica), Annual bluegrass (Poa annua), Poa trivialis, Poa pratensis, Alopecurus aequalis, Blackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides), Oat (Avena fatua), Sorghum halepense, Shattercane (Sorghum vulgare), Quackgrass (Agropyron repens), Lolium multiflorum, Lolium perenne, Lolium rigidum, Bromegrass (Bromus catharticus), Bromegrass (Bromus sterilis), Bromegrass (Bromus japonicus), Bromegrass (Bromus secalinus), Bromegrass (Bromus tectorum), Bromegrass (Hordeum jubatum), Goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica), Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), Small canary grass (Phalarisminor), Silky bentgrass (Apera spica-venti), Common bentgrass (Panicum dichotomiflorum), Texas panicum (Panicum texanum), Guinea millet (Panicum maximum), American millet (Brachiaria platyphylla), Ruzigrass (Brachiaria ruziziensis), Alexandergrass (Brachiaria plantaginea), Surinamegrass (Brachiaria decumbens), Palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha), Columbiagrass (Brachiaria humidicola), Sinqueweed moth (Cenchrus echinatus), Small chestnut moth (Cenchrus pauciflorus), Narco barnyard grass (Eriochloa villosa), Pennisetum (Pennisetum setosum), African brown grass (Chloris gayana), African brown grass (Chloris virgata), Eragrostis pilosa), Ruby grass (Rhynchelytrum repens), Seagrass (Dactyloctenium aegyptium), Taiwan grass (Ischaemum rugosum), Japanese bamboo grass (Isachne globosa), Wild rice (Oryza sativa), American paspalum (Paspalum notatum), Coastal sand paspalum (Paspalum maritimum), Knotgrass (Paspalum distichum), Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum), Narrow-beaded grass (Pennisetum setosum), Horngrass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis), Japanese maple grass (Leptochloa chinensis), Japanese maple grass (Leptochloa fascicularis), Japanese threadgrass (Leptochloa filiformis), Amazon spangletop (Leptochloa panicoides), Leersia japonica, Leersiasayanuka), Siberian bog grass (Leersia oryzoides), Duckgrass (Glyceria leptorrhiza), Mutsuoregusa (Glyceria acutiflora), Loach grass (Glyceria maxima), Duckgrass (Agrostis gigantea), Siberian bog grass (Agrostis stolonifera), Horsegrass (Cynodon dactylon), Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata), Centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides), Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), Big fescue (Festuca rubra), Imperata cylindrica, Japanese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis), Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), Zoysia japonica

[0072] Cyperaceae weeds: Cyperus microiria, Cyperus iria, Cyperus compressus, Cyperus difformis, Cyperus flaccidus, Cyperus globosus, Cyperus nipponicus, Cyperus odoratus, Cyperus serotinus, Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus esculentus, Kylerius gracillima, Kylerius brevifolia, Fimbristylis miliacea, Fimbristylis japonica dichotoma), Eleocharis acicularis, Eleocharis kuroguwai, Schoenoplectiella hotarui, Schoenoplectiella juncoides, Schoenoplectiella wallichii, Schoenoplectiella mucronatus, Schoenoplectiella triangulatus, Schoenoplectiella nipponicus, Schoenoplectiella triqueter, Bolboschoenus koshevnikovii, Bolboschoenus fluviatilis. Equisetaceae weeds: Horsetail (Equisetum arvense), Horsetail (Equisetum palustre). Salviniaceae weeds: Salvinia natans Azollaceae weeds: Azolla japonica, Azolla pinnataMarsileaceae weeds: Marsilea quadrifolia Others: Filamentous algae (Pithophora, Cladophora), mosses, liverworts, hornworts, cyanobacteria, ferns, suckers of perennial crops (pome fruits, stone fruits, berries, nuts, citrus fruits, hops, grapes, etc.).

[0073] The above weeds are not particularly limited by intraspecific mutations. In other words, weeds that exhibit reduced sensitivity (also known as resistance) to certain herbicides are also included in the weeds that can be controlled by the compositions or methods of the present invention. Reduced sensitivity may be due to mutations at the target site (active site mutations) or factors other than active site mutations (non-active site mutations). Active site mutations include those resulting in amino acid substitutions in the target site protein due to mutations in the nucleic acid sequence portion (open reading frame) corresponding to the amino acid sequence of the protein, as well as overexpression of the target site protein due to mutations such as deletion of a suppressor sequence in the promoter region, amplification of an enhancer sequence, or increased gene copy number. Factors that can cause reduced sensitivity due to non-active site mutations include enhanced metabolism, inadequate absorption, inadequate translocation, and excretion from the system. Examples of factors that can cause enhanced metabolism include increased activity of metabolic enzymes such as cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, aryl acylamidase, esterase, and glutathione S-transferase. Examples of excretion include transport to vacuoles by ABC transporters. Examples of herbicide-resistant weeds include: Glyphosate resistance: Examples of weeds with reduced susceptibility due to site-of-action mutations include weeds with one or more of the following amino acid substitutions in the EPSPS gene: Thr102Ile, Pro106Ser, Pro106Ala, Pro106Leu, and Pro106Thr. In particular, weeds with both Thr102Ile and Pro106Ser, and those with both Thr102Ile and Pro106Thr, are particularly susceptible. These site-of-action mutations effectively control glyphosate-resistant species such as goosegrass, Lolium multiflorum, Celastrus oryzae, Ryegrass, and Bidens subalternans. Similarly, an example of glyphosate resistance due to site-of-action mutations is an increased copy number of the EPSPS gene (PNAS, 2018 115 (13) 3332-3337). According to the present invention, glyphosate-resistant plants such as amaryllis, water hemp, and kochia with an increased copy number of the EPSPS gene can be effectively controlled.Examples of weeds with reduced susceptibility due to non-active point mutations include artemisia gracilis, ragweed, and ragweed, which are resistant to glyphosate due to ABC transporters, and these can be effectively controlled by the present invention. Another non-active point mutation is barnyardgrass, which is known to have reduced susceptibility to glyphosate due to increased expression of aldo-keto reductase (Plant Physiology 181, 1519-1534), and this can be effectively controlled by the present invention. Also known is large crabgrass, which is resistant to glyphosate due to a non-active mutation (Weed Biology and Management 18, 50-59), and this can be effectively controlled by the present invention. Resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides: Examples of weeds with reduced susceptibility due to active point mutations include weeds with mutations in the ALS gene that cause one or more of the following amino acid substitutions: Ala122Thr, Ala122Val, Ala122Tyr, Pro197Ser, Pro197His, Pro197Thr, Pro197Arg, Pro197Leu, Pro197Gln, Pro197Ala, Pro197Ile, Ala205Val, Ala205Phe, Asp376Glu, Asp376Gln, Asp376Asn, Arg377His, Trp574Leu, Trp574Gly, Trp574Met, Ser653Thr, Ser653Asn, Ser635Ile, Gly654Glu, Gly645Asp. The present invention effectively controls ALS inhibitor-resistant plants such as Amaranthus retroflexus, Amaranthus retroflexus, Amaranthus retroflexus, waterhemp, and Kochia japonica, which have these site-of-action mutations. Examples of weeds with reduced susceptibility due to non-active site mutations include weeds that have become resistant to ALS inhibitors due to the involvement of CYP or GST, and these can be effectively controlled by the present invention. Examples include Bomugi (grass) overexpressing CYP81A10 or CYP81A1v1, Echinochloa oryzicola overexpressing CYP81A12 or CYP81A21, and Black-legged foxtail (grass) overexpressing GSTF1 or GSTU2. ACCase inhibitor resistance: Examples of weeds with reduced susceptibility due to active site mutations include weeds with mutations in the ACCase gene that result in one or more of the following amino acid substitutions:Ile1781Leu, Ile1781Val, Ile1781Thr, Trp1999Cys, Trp1999Leu, Ala2004Val, Trp2027Cys, Ile2041Asn, Ile2041Val, Asp2078Gly, Asp2078Glu, Cys2088Arg, Gly2096Ala, Gly2096Ser. The present invention effectively controls ACCase inhibitor-resistant weeds that have these site-of-action mutations. Examples of weeds with reduced susceptibility due to non-site-of-action mutations include weeds that have become resistant to ACCase inhibitors due to the involvement of CYP or GST, and these weeds can be effectively controlled by the present invention. Examples of these include barnyardgrass (Bomugi) overexpressing CYP81A10 or CYP81A1v1, barnyardgrass overexpressing CYP81A12 or CYP81A21, and black-and-white foxtail overexpressing GSTF1 or GSTU2. Large crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris) is known to be resistant to haloxyfop-methyl due to Trp2027Cys (Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 164, 1-6), and this invention can effectively control it. PPO inhibitor resistance: Examples of reduced susceptibility of weeds due to site-of-action mutations include weeds with mutations in the PPO gene that result in one or more of the following amino acid substitutions. These mutations are known to confer resistance to carfentrazone-ethyl, fomesafen, and lactofen, or are predicted to confer resistance. Arg128Leu, Arg128Met, Arg128Gly, Arg128His, Arg128Ala, Arg128Cys, Arg128Glu, Arg128Ile, Arg128Lys, Arg128Asn, Arg128Gln, Arg128Ser, Arg128Thr, Arg128Val, Arg128Tyr, Gly210 deletion, Ala210 deletion, Gly210Thr, Ala210Thr, Gly211 deletion, Gly114Glu, Ser149Ile, Gly399Ala (all amino acid numbers are standardized to the sequence of PPO2 from Amaranthus palmeri).Typically, weeds have two PPO genes: the PPO1 gene and the PPO2 gene. The mutation may be present in either the PPO1 gene, the PPO2 gene, or both. The mutation is preferably present in the PPO2 gene. For example, Arg128Met means that there is a mutation at the 128th amino acid. In the ragweed PPO2 gene, this mutation corresponds to the 98th amino acid (Weed Science 60, 335-344), and is known as Arg98Leu. This Arg98 is synonymous with Arg128 in this specification. In the PPO genes of weeds targeted for control by the present invention, Arg128Met and Arg128Gly are known in Amaranthus retroflexus (Pest Management Science 73, 1559-1563), Arg128Gly is known in the PPO2 of waterhemp (Pest Management Science, 2019; 75: 3235-3244), Arg128Ile and Arg128Lys are known in the PPO2 of waterhemp (Pest Management Science, 2019; 75: 3235-3244), Arg128His is known as Arg132His in the PPO2 of Bouquet (WSSA annual meeting, 2018), and Gly114Glu, Ser149Ile, and Gly399Ala are known in the PPO2 of Amaranthus retroflexus (Frontiers in Plant Science 10, Article 568), and Ala210Thr is known as Ala212Thr in PPO1 of goosegrass (Pest Management Science, doi: 10.1002 / ps.5703). According to the present invention, PPO inhibitor-resistant weeds having these site-of-action mutations can be effectively controlled, but the PPO inhibitor-resistant weeds that can be controlled are not limited to these.That is, not only amaryllis plants having the Arg128Leu, Arg128Met, Arg128Gly, Arg128His, Arg128Ala, Arg128Cys, Arg128Glu, Arg128Ile, Arg128Lys, Arg128Asn, Arg128Gln, Arg128Ser, Arg128Thr, Arg128Val, Arg128Tyr, Gly210 deficiency, Ala210 deficiency, Gly210Thr, Ala210Thr, Gly211 deficiency, Gly114Glu, Ser149Ile, or Gly399Ala mutation in PPO1 or PPO2, but also, for example, waterhemp, ragweed, and dayflower having the same mutations can be effectively controlled. Examples of reduced susceptibility of weeds due to non-acting point mutations include waterhemp and amaryllis retroflexus, which have become resistant to PPO inhibitors due to CYP or GST, and waterhemp that has become resistant to carfentrazone ethyl (PLOS ONE, doi: 10.1371 / journal.pone.0215431). These can be effectively controlled by the present invention. Resistance to auxin-based herbicides: An example of a non-acting point mutation is a mutation that causes Gly-Asn in the degron region of the AUX / IAA gene. This invention effectively controls Kochia japonica, amaryllis retroflexus, and waterhemp that possess this mutation. Examples of non-acting point mutations include dicamba-resistant amaryllis retroflexus and 2,4-D-resistant waterhemp, which suggest the involvement of CYP. These can be effectively controlled by the present invention. The same applies to non-acting point mutations involving GST. HPPD inhibitor resistance: Examples of weeds with reduced susceptibility due to non-active site mutations include waterhemp and amaryllis, which have become resistant to HPPD inhibitors due to the involvement of CYP or GST, and these can be effectively controlled by the present invention. Known examples include amaryllis, which overexpresses CYP72A219, CYP81B, or CYP81E8. Photosystem II inhibitor resistance: Examples of weeds with reduced susceptibility due to active site mutations include weeds with mutations in the psbA gene that result in one or more of the following amino acid substitutions:Val219Ile, Ser264Gly, Ser264Ala, Phe274Val. The present invention effectively controls Amaranthus retroflexus and waterhemp that have these site-of-action mutations and are resistant to photosystem II inhibitors. Examples of weeds with reduced susceptibility due to non-site-of-action mutations include Amaranthus retroflexus and waterhemp, which are resistant to photosystem II inhibitors due to the involvement of CYP, GST, or AAA. These weeds can be effectively controlled by the present invention. One example is Bomugi (Japanese laurel tree), which overexpresses CYP71R4. Glutamate synthase inhibitor resistance: An example of weeds with reduced susceptibility due to site-of-action mutations is a weed with a mutation that causes an amino acid substitution of Asp171Asn in the glutamine synthetase gene. The present invention effectively controls Amaranthus retroflexus and waterhemp that have this mutation and are resistant to glutamine synthetase inhibitors. Examples of weeds with reduced susceptibility due to non-acting point mutations include Amaranthus retroflexus and waterhemp, which have become resistant to glufosinate due to the involvement of CYP or GST. These weeds can be effectively controlled by the present invention. An example of such a weed is Amaranthus retroflexus, which overexpresses CYP72A219, CYP81B, or CYP81E8. Resistant weeds that are "stacked" (combined) with resistance to two or more of the above groups (randomly selected group 2, randomly selected group 3, randomly selected group 4, randomly selected group 5, randomly selected group 6, randomly selected group 7, or group 8) can also be effectively controlled. An example of a stacked resistant weed is waterhemp, which is resistant to photosystem II inhibitors, HPPD inhibitors, 2,4-D, PPO inhibitors, ALS inhibitors, and glyphosate, and this weed can also be effectively controlled. The stack may be a combination of acting point mutations, a combination of non-acting point mutations, or a combination of acting and non-acting point mutations.

[0074] The composition of the present invention may contain another herbicide in addition to epirifenacil and metoproxybicyclon. Furthermore, in the method of the present invention, another herbicide may be used in combination with epirifenacil and metoproxybicyclon. Examples of herbicides that may be included in the composition of the present invention in addition to epirifenacil and metoproxybicyclon, or that may be used in combination with epirifenacil and metoproxybicyclon in the method of the present invention, include the following herbicides. These herbicides may also be mixed (tank-mixed) with the composition of the present invention containing only epirifenacil and metoproxybicyclon as active ingredients. Glyphosate and its salts (isopropylammonium salt, ammonium salt, potassium salt, guanidine salt, dimethylamine salt, monoethanolamine salt, choline salt, BAPMA (N,N-bis-(aminopropyl)methylamine) salt), 2,4-D and its salts or esters (ammonium salt, butotyl ester, 2-butoxypropyl ester, butyl ester, diethylammonium salt, dimethylammonium salt, diolamine salt, dodecylammonium salt, ethyl ester, 2-ethylhexyl ester, heptylammonium salt, isobutyl ester, isoctyl ester, isopropyl ester, isopropylammonium salt, lithium salt, meptyl ester, methyl ester, octyl ester, pentyl ester, propyl ester, sodium salt, tetrahydrofuran ... furyl ester, tetradecylammonium salt, triethylammonium salt, tris(2-hydroxypropyl)ammonium salt, trolamine salt, choline salt), 2,4-DB and its salts or esters (dimethylammonium salt, isoctyl ester, choline salt), pyroxasulfone, dicamba and its salts or esters (diglycolamine salt, dimethylammonium salt, diolamine salt, isopropylammonium salt, methyl ester, olamine salt, potassium salt, sodium salt, trolamine salt, BAPMA (N,N-bis-(aminopropyl)methylamine) salt, choline salt, TBA (tetrabutylammonium) salt, TBP (tetrabutylphosphonium) salt), MCPA and its salts or esters (dimethylammonium salt, 2-ethylhexyl ester, isoctyl ester,sodium salt, choline salt), MCPB, mecoprop and its salts or esters (dimethylammonium salt, diolamine salt, ethadiyl ester, 2-ethylhexyl ester, isoctyl ester, methyl ester, potassium salt, sodium salt, diolamine salt, choline salt), mecoprop-P and its salts or esters (dimethylammonium salt, 2-ethylhexyl ester, isobutyl salt, potassium salt, choline salt), dichlorprop and its salts or esters (butyl ester), totyl ester, dimethylammonium salt, 2-ethylhexyl ester, isoctyl ester, methyl ester, potassium salt, sodium salt, choline salt), dichlorprop-P, dichlorprop-P dimethylammonium salt, quinclorac, quinmerac, bromoxynil, bromoxynil-octanoate, dichlobenil (dichlorbenil), methiozolin (methiozolin), ioxynil (ioxynil), ioxynil octanoate (ioxynil-octanoate), di-allate (di-allate), butyrate (butylate), triallate (tri-allate), phenmedipham (phenmedipham), chlorpropham (chlorpropham), desmedipham (desmedipham), asulam (asulam), fenisofam (phenisopham), benthiocarb ( benthiocarb), molinate, esprocarb, pyributicarb, prosulfocarb, orbencarb, EPTC, dimepiperate, swep, propachlor, metazachlor, alachlor, acetochlor, metolachlor,S-metolachlor, butachlor, pretilachlor, thenylchlor, aminocyclopyrachlor, aminocyclopyrachlor-methyl, aminocyclopyrachlor potassium, Trifluralin, pendimethalin, ethafluralin, benfluralin, prodiamine, simazine, atrazine, propazine, cyanazine, ametryn, simetryn metryn), dimethametryn (dimethametryn), prometryn (prometryn), indaziflam (indaziflam), icafolin-methyl (icafolin-methyl), triaziflam (triaziflam), metribuzin (metribuzin), hexazinone (hexazinone), terbumeton (terbumeton), terbuthylazine (terbuthylazine), Terbutryn, trietazine, isoxaben, diuron, linuron, metobromuron, metoxuron, monolinuron, siduron, fluometuron, difenoxuron ron), methyldaimuron (methyl-daimuron), isoproturon (isoproturon), isouron (isouron), tebuthiuron (tebuthiuron), benzthiazuron (benzthiazuron), methabenzthiazuron (methabenzthiazuron), propanil (propanil), mefenacet (mefenacet), clomeprop (clomeprop),naproanilide, bromobutide, daimuron, cumyluron, diflufenzopyr, etobenzanide, bentazon, tridiphane, indanofan, amitrole, fenchlorazole, clomazone, maleic hydrazide hydrazide), pyridate, chloridazon, norflurazon, bromacil, terbacil, lenacil, oxaziclomefone, cinmethylin, benfuresate, caffeine cafenstrole, flufenacet, pyrithiobac, pyrithiobac-sodium, pyriminobac, pyriminobac-methyl, bispyribac, bispyribac-sodium Spyribac-sodium, pyribenzoxim, pyrimisulfan, pyriftalid, triafamone, fentrazamide, dimethenamid, dimethenamid P, ACN, dithiopyr iopyr), triclopyr and its salts or esters (butotyl ester, triethylammonium salt), fluroxypyr, fluroxypyr-meptyl, thiazopyr, aminopyralid and its salts (potassium salt, triisopropanolammonium salt, choline salt),Clopyralid and its salts (auramine salt, potassium salt, triethylammonium salt, choline salt), picloram and its salts (potassium salt, triisopropanolammonium salt, choline salt), dalapon, chlorthiamid, amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron, bensulfuron, bensulfuron-methyl, chlorimuron, chlorimuron-ethyl, cyclosulfamuron, ethoxysulfuron, furaza Sulfuron, flucetosulfuron, flupyrsulfuron, flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium, foramsulfuron, halosulfuron, halosulfuron-methyl, imazosulf ron (imazosulfuron), mesosulfuron, mesosulfuron-methyl, metazosulfuron, nicosulfuron, orthosulfamuron, oxasulfuron, primisulfuron, primisulfuron-methyl rimisulfuron-methyl), propyrisulfuron, pyrazosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron, sulfometuron-methyl, sulfosulfuron,Trifloxysulfuron sodium salt (trifloxysulfuron-sodium), trifloxysulfuron, chlorsulfuron, cinosulfuron, ethametsulfuron, ethametsulfuron-methyl, iodosulfuron, iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium, iofensulfuron, iofensulfuron sodium on-sodium), metsulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, prosulfuron, thifensulfuron, thifensulfuron-methyl, triasulfuron, tribenuron, tribenuron-methyl, triflusulfuron, triflusulfuron-methyl, tritosulfuron, Diflufenican, picolinafen, beflubutamid, norflurazon, fluridone, flurochloridone, flurtamone, rimisoxafen, benzobicyclon cyclolon), bicyclopyrone, mesotrione, sulcotrione, tefuryltrione, tembotrione, isoxachlortole, isoxaflutole, benzofenap,Pyrasulfotole, pyrazolinate, pyrazoxyfen, topramezone, tolpyralate, lancotrione-sodium, flupoxam, amicarbazone, bencarbazone, flucarbazone, flucarbazone sodium salt arbazone-sodium, ipfencarbazone, propoxycarbazone, propoxycarbazone sodium salt, thiencarbazone, thiencarbazone-methyl, cloransulam, cloransulam-methyl, diclosulam ), florasulam, flumetsulam, metosulam, penoxsulam, pyroxsulam, imazamethabenz, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazamox, imazamox-ammonium salt, imazapic, imazapic ammonium salt azapic-ammonium), imazapyr, imazapyr ammonium salt, imazaquin, imazaquin ammonium salt, imazethapyr, imazethapyr ammonium salt, clodinafop, clodinafop-propargyl, cyhalofop,Cyhalofop-butyl, diclofop, diclofop-methyl, fenoxaprop, fenoxaprop-ethyl, fenoxaprop P, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, fluazifop, fluazifop-butyl, fluazifop- P), fluazifop-P-butyl, haloxyfop, haloxyfop-methyl, haloxyfop-P, haloxyfop-P-methyl, metamifop, propaquizafop, quizalofop, quizalofop-ethyl, quizalofop-P, quizalofop-P-methyl, metamifop, propaquizafop, quizalofop-ethyl, quizalofop-P, quizalofop-P, Quizalofop-P-ethyl, alloxydim, clethodim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, tralkoxydim, pinoxaden, fenoxasulfone, glufosinate, glufosinate ammonium salt, glufosinate P -P), glufosinate P sodium salt (glufosinate-P-sodium), bialafos (bialfos), anilofos (anilofos), bensulide (bensulide), butamifos (butamifos), paraquat (paraquat), paraquat dichloride (paraquat-dichloride), diquat (diquat), diquat dibromide (diquat-dibromide), haloxifene (halauxifen), haloxifen methyl (halauxifen-methyl),Florpyroxifene, florpyroxifene benzyl, flumiclorac pentyl, fomesafen sodium salt, lactofen, acifluorfen sodium salt, aclonifen, bifenox, chlormethoxyfen oxyfen), chlornitrofen, ethoxyfen-ethyl, fluorodifen, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, fluoronitrofen, halosafen, nitrofen, nitrofluorfen, oxyfluorfen, cinidon-ethyl (cinidon-ethyl), profluazol, pyraclonil, oxadiargyl, oxadiazone, pentoxazone, fluazolate, pyraflufen-ethyl, benzfendizone, butafenacil, fluthiacet-methyl yl), thidiazimin, azafenidin, carfentrazone-ethyl, sulfentrazone, flufenpyr-ethyl, flumioxazin, saflufenacil, thiafenacil, trifludimoxazin, (3S,4S)-N-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-methyl-2-oxo-4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-3-pyrrolidinecarboxamide,4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl)-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid and its salts, bixlozone, cyclopyranil, fenquinotrione, cyclopyrimorate, and tetflupyrolimet.

[0075] In addition to epirifenacil and methoproxybicyclon, herbicides that may be included in the compositions of the present invention, or that may be used in combination with epirifenacil and methoproxybicyclon in the methods of the present invention, include, inter alia, glyphosate potassium salt, glyphosate guanidine salt, glyphosate dimethylamine salt, glyphosate monoethanolamine salt, glufosinate ammonium salt, glyphosate isopropylammonium salt, diflufenican, rimisoxafen, icaforin-methyl, pyroxasulfone, dicamba diglycolamine salt, dicamba BAPMA salt, dicamba TBA salt, dicamba TBP salt, flumiclorac pentyl, clethodim, lactofen, S-metolachlor, metribuzin, flufenacet, nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, acetochlor, mesotrione, isoxaflutole, chlorimuron-ethyl, thifensulfuron-methyl, cloransulam-methyl, and imazethapyr ammonium salt.

[0076] When the composition of the present invention contains another herbicide in addition to epirifenacil and metoproxybicyclon, or when another herbicide is used in combination with epirifenacil and metoproxybicyclon in the method of the present invention, the weight ratio of epirifenacil to the other herbicide is usually in the range of 1:0.01 to 1:1000, preferably 1:0.1 to 1:300. Specific examples of ratios of epirifenacil to the other herbicide include 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, 1:7, 1:8, 1:9, 1:10, 1:15, 1:20, 1:25, 1:30, 1:40, 1:50, 1:60, 1:70, 1:80, 1:90, 1:100, 1:150, 1:200, and 1:250. In this specification, when the active ingredient of the herbicide is a salt or ester (for example, glyphosate potassium salt, glyphosate monoethanolamine salt), the weight refers to the acid equivalent weight unless otherwise specified.

[0077] More preferred specific combinations of epirifenacil, methoproxybicyclon and one or more other herbicides are listed below: In this paragraph, the numbers in parentheses represent the preferred application rates (g / ha). Epirifenacil (20) + Metoproxybicyclon (60, 100) Epirifenacil (20) + Metoproxybicyclon (60, 100) + Glyphosate potassium salt (1080) Epirifenacil (20) + Metoproxybicyclon (60, 100) + Flumioxazin (75) Epirifenacil (20) + Metoproxybicyclon (60, 100) + Imazethapyr (105) Epirifenacil (20) + Metoproxybicyclon (60, 100) + Fluroxypyr meptyl (400) Epirifenacil (20) + Metoproxybicyclon (60, 100) + Clethodim (100) Epirifenacil (20) + Metoproxybicyclon (60, 100) + S-Metolachlor (864) Epirifenacil (20) + Metoproxybicyclon (60, 100) + Flumioxazin (75) + Glyphosate potassium salt (1080) Epirifenacil (20) + Metoproxybicyclon (60, 100) + Imazethapyr (105) + Glyphosate potassium salt (1080) Epirifenacil (20) + Metoproxybicyclon (60, 100) + Fluroxypyr meptyl (400) + Glyphosate potassium salt (1080) Epirifenacil (20) + Metoproxybicyclon (30, 50) + Clethodim (100) + Glyphosate potassium salt (1080) Epirifenacil (20) + Metoproxybicyclon (60, 100) + S-Metolachlor (864) + Glyphosate potassium salt (1080)

[0078] In the cultivation of crops in the present invention, plant nutritional management as in conventional crop cultivation can be carried out. Fertilization systems can be based on precision agriculture or conventional uniform systems. Furthermore, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi can be inoculated in combination with seed treatment.

[0079] The present invention will be explained below with reference to formulation examples and examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0080] Formulation Examples are shown below. Formulation Example 1: 5 grams of epirifenacil, 25 grams of metroproxibicyclon, 5.55 grams of Phenylsulfonat CAL (a mixture of 70% calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and 30% isobutanol, manufactured by Clariant), 5.55 grams of Emulsogen TS290 (polyoxyethylene tristyrylphenyl ether, manufactured by Clariant), and 58.9 grams of Aromatic 200ND Fluid (mainly C10-C13 alkylnaphthalene as aromatic hydrocarbon, manufactured by Exxon Mobile Chemical) are thoroughly mixed to obtain approximately 100 ml of a liquid formulation. Formulation Example 2: 2 grams of epirifenacil, 6 grams of methoproxibicyclon, 7.65 grams of Phenylsulfonat CAL (a mixture of 70% calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and 30% isobutanol, manufactured by Clariant), 7.65 grams of Emulsogen TS290 (polyoxyethylene tristyrylphenyl ether, manufactured by Clariant), and 76.7 grams of Aromatic 200ND Fluid (aromatic hydrocarbons containing primarily C10-C13 alkylnaphthalenes, manufactured by Exxon Mobile Chemical Co.) are thoroughly mixed to obtain approximately 100 ml of a liquid formulation. Formulation Example 3: 4 grams of epirifenacil, 20 grams of methoproxibicyclon, 5 grams of Sorpol 2680X (a product prepared by diluting Sorpol 2680 (a mixture of nonionic and anionic surfactants) with xylene to 80% by weight, manufactured by Toho Chemical Co.), and 71 grams of cyclohexanone are thoroughly mixed to obtain approximately 100 ml of a liquid formulation. Formulation Example 4: 1 gram of epirifenacil, 4 grams of methoproxibicyclon, 5 grams of Sorpol 2680X (a product prepared by diluting Sorpol 2680 (a mixture of a nonionic surfactant and an anionic surfactant) with xylene to 80% by weight, manufactured by Toho Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), and 90 grams of cyclohexanone are thoroughly mixed to obtain approximately 100 ml of a liquid formulation.

[0081] Next, the evaluation criteria for herbicidal effect and phytotoxicity to crops shown in the following examples are shown. [Herbicidal effect and phytotoxicity to crops] Herbicidal effect is rated on a scale of 0 to 100, with "0" representing no or almost no difference in the state of emergence or growth of the test weeds at the time of investigation compared to untreated plants, and "100" representing complete death of the test weeds or complete inhibition of emergence or growth of the test weeds. Phytotoxicity to crops is rated as "harmless" when almost no phytotoxicity is observed, "small" when slight phytotoxicity is observed, "medium" when moderate phytotoxicity is observed, and "large" when severe phytotoxicity is observed.

[0082] Example 1: In a field that had not been tilled since the previous harvest (where glyphosate-resistant large crabgrass and broadleaf sedge were present or occurring), the composition of the present invention in Formulation Example 1 was diluted with water containing 0.5% (v / v) of a wetting agent (Iharol Gold) to prepare a spray solution, and the field was sprayed at a rate of 190 L / ha using a boom sprayer. The composition of the present invention was applied to the foliage of growing weeds and to the soil of unemerged weeds. Five days after the treatment, soybean seeds were sown in the field. 25 days after treatment (20 days after sowing), excellent herbicidal effects were confirmed. Meanwhile, no harm was confirmed to the soybeans. Example 2: Soil was filled into plastic pots, and seeds of Loose Barnyardgrass, Barnyardgrass, and PPO inhibitor-resistant waterhemp were sown. The weeds were grown in a greenhouse. When the heights of the weeds reached 20 cm, 30 cm, and 15 cm, respectively, a predetermined amount of either epirifenacil EC (obtained by thoroughly mixing 5 g of epirifenacil, 7 g of Phenylsulfonate CAL, 7 g of Emulsogen TS290, and 81 g of Aromatic 200ND Fluid) or metroxibicyclon EC (obtained by thoroughly mixing 5 g of metroxibicyclon, 7 g of Phenylsulfonate CAL, 7 g of Emulsogen TS290, and 81 g of Aromatic 200ND Fluid) was diluted with water containing 1% (v / v) Agri-Dex and sprayed uniformly from above with a sprayer at a rate of 200 L / ha. The overall herbicidal efficacy was evaluated three weeks after treatment. The results are shown in Table 1. The expected herbicidal effect when epirifenacil and methoproxybicyclon are used together was calculated from the herbicidal effect (A or B value) of each compound used alone using Colby's formula (expected value = 100-(100-A) x (100-B) / 100).

[0083] The present invention makes it possible to control weeds with high effectiveness.

Claims

1. A herbicide composition comprising epirifenacil and methoproxibicyclon, wherein the weight ratio of epirifenacil to methoproxibicyclon is in the range of 1:1 to 1:

10.

2. The herbicidal composition according to claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of epirifenacil to metroproxibicyclon is approximately 1:

5.

3. The herbicidal composition of claim 1 which comprises at least one organic solvent.

4. A method for controlling weeds comprising the step of applying epirifenacil and methoproxibicyclon together or separately in any order, wherein the application rate of epirifenacil is in the range of 15 to 40 g / ha and the application rate of methoproxibicyclon is in the range of 40 to 150 g / ha.

5. The method for controlling weeds according to claim 4, which comprises applying epirifenacil and methoproxibicyclon to a crop field.

6. The method for controlling weeds according to claim 5, wherein the crop field is a soybean field.

Images