The majority of the cotton acreage in the San Joaguin Valley of California is treated with a dinitroaniline herbicide as a preplant incorporated treatment. Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) and many broadleaf weeds such as pigweed, (Amaranthus sp.) are effectively controlled, but weeds in the potato family (Solanaceae) are resistant. Nightshade, both hairy and black, (Solanum sarrachoides and Solanum nigrum) are the most prevalent species infesting thousands of acres of cotton in California. Also occurring, but to a lesser extent, are groundcherries (Physalis lanceifolia and Physalis acutiflia), tolguacha (Datura meteloides) and Chinese thornapple (Datura ferox). Two other weeds in the genus, Solanaceae, Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) a perennial, and buffalobur, (Solanum rostratum), a vicious thorny annual, have been reported occurring a California cotton fields, have been reported occurring in California cotton fields occasionally.

Several herbicides registered for use in cotton provide effective control of all species of weeds in the potato family that infest cotton. Herbicides such as prometryn (Caparol), cyanazine (Bladex), and alachlor (Lasso) are registered for preplant incorporation. Flumeturon (Cotoran), oxyfluorfen (Goal), ethalfluralin (Sonalan), cyanazine and prometryn are available for postemergence directed spray applications and the organic methylarsonates (MSMA and DSMA) are also labeled for post emergence broadcast application.