Cucumber, Bur (Sicyos angulatus L.)

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Table of Contents

1. History
2. Life Cycle
3. Distinguishing Characteristics
4. Control in Corn
5. Control in Soybeans
6. Control in Winter Wheat

History

A member of the melon or gourd family. Typically this has been a weed that grows in fencelines, along creeks and in waste areas. However, more recently it has been creeping into agricultural fields, particularly where no-till production systems are in place.

Life Cycle

Annual, reproducing only by seed.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Bur cucumber has a vine habit and branched tendrils opposite each leaf. Sometimes it can be confused with wild cucumber or domestic cucumber. However the leaf shapes are quite different as wild cucumber has more deeply lobed leaves whereas bur cumber leaves range from heart shaped to that which resembles more of a pentagon type shape. Also burcumber, when fruiting will have clusters of 3 to 10 spiny fruits, whereas wild cucumber will only have 1 at each node.

Bur Cucumber Pictures
Each thumbnail image links to a larger image

Herbicide Control in Field Corn

Pre-Emergent Control in Corn

Essentially none of the pre-emergent herbicides tested provided adequate control of bur cucumber (Table 1). However a pre-emergent herbicide with some some activity on burcucumber, followed by an effective post-emergent herbicide will provide effective season-long control.

Post-Emergent Control in Corn

The only product that has consistently provided good control of burcucumber is the tank mix of Pardner or Koril + atrazine (Table 2).

Source:
Dr. Peter Sikkema, University of Guelph.

Number of Trials:

Table 1 is based on 3 field trials in Ontario.

Table 2 is based on 2 field trials in Ontario.

Herbicide Rates:
Rates used in this trial are listed in OMAF Publication 75 - Guide to Weed Control.

Weed Stage:
Bur cucumber had not emerged at the time of any pre-emergent applications and was in between the cotyledon to 4 leaf stage at the time of all post-emergent applications.

What has been your experience?
We want your feedback. Let us know what you have experienced with these or other products, as well as any other effective management strategies.

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Herbicide Control in Soybeans

Bur cucumber tends to emerge over a long period of time. Sequential herbicide applications have the most success for control in soybean as soil-applied conventional herbicides applied alone usually do not have enough residual left to stop secondary germination. Similarly, conventional post-emergent herbicides are often applied when bur cucumber is at an advanced growth stage and therefore control is poor. Field trials have shown that a pre-emergent application of SENCOR followed by a post-emergent application of PINNACLE or CLASSIC can provide good control of bur cucumber in conventional soybeans. In "roundup Ready" soybeans, glyphosate is effective on burcucumber, but because glyphosate has no residual value a "split" or sequential application is required for season-long control.

Source:
Dr. Peter Sikkema, University of Guelph.

Number of Trials:

Table 1 is based on 3 field trials in Ontario.

Herbicide Rates:
Rates used in this trial are listed in OMAF Publication 75 - Guide to Weed Control.

Weed Stage:
Bur cucumber had not emerged at the time of any pre-emergent applications and was in between the cotyledon to 4 leaf stage at the time of all post-emergent applications.

What has been your experience?
We want your feedback. Let us know what you have experienced with these or other products, as well as any other effective management strategies.

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Herbicide Control in Winter Wheat

No field trials have been conducted in Ontario. In field corn, Pardner or Koril have provided good control of bur cucumber. Both Pardner and Koril are registered for use in winter wheat and therefore would be logical starting points for herbicide control if an infestation of bur cucumber existed.

What has been your experience?
We want your feedback. Let us know what you have experienced with these or other products, as well as any other effective management strategies.