Research was initiated to determine the periodicity of emergence, seasonal plant growth and reproductive potential, and response to selected preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) herbicides for burcucumber. Under Indiana conditions, burcucumber germinated from late April to October and was stimulated by periodic rainfall. Relative growth rates of plants were greatest up to 10 wk after establishment and declined when flowering was initiated. Without competition, early spring (May)–established burcucumber plants attained a fresh weight of up to 86 kg and produced almost 80,000 seeds. With later establishment, less biomass and and a smaller number of seeds were produced. Seedlings emerging up to mid-August produced germinable seed prior to frost, thus indicating that season-long control strategies are needed to minimize reproduction. A PRE application of atrazine, metribuzin plus chlorimuron, or linuron plus chlorimuron provided greater than 90% visual control up to 8 wk after treatment (WAT). Greater than 80% visual control was obtained with POST applications of glyphosate or with combinations of glyphosate plus dicamba or glyphosate plus 2,4-D; chlorimuron, metribuzin plus chlorimuron; or paraquat. Both imazaquin and bentazon provided less than 70% control. Results indicate that burcucumber displays rapid development with periodic germination throughout the growing season and is capable of producing large amounts of plant biomass and seed.

Nomenclature: Atrazine; bentazon; carbaryl; 1-naphthyl N-methylcarbamate; chlorimuron; clomazone; dicamba; glyphosate; imazaquin; imazethapyr; linuron; metribuzin; paraquat; terbacil; 2,4-D; burcucumber; Sicyos angulatus (L.) SIYAN.