Differential nitrogen response to atrazine of susceptible and resistant populations of lamb's-quarters (Chenopodium album L.)

Populations of lamb's-quarters (Chenopodium album L.) susceptible and resistant to atrazine exhibited a differential response in regard to the concentration of individual and total amino acids (soluble and protein) in the leaf tissue following atrazine treatment of young plants. The two northern- and two southern-susceptible populations from southern Ontario showed a consistent increase in amino acid levels 1 week after treatment with atrazine at 0.5 kg/ha whereas this did not occur with the corresponding resistant populations. Leaf dry weight was decreased by atrazine in the susceptible populations only but the parallel enhancement of amino acid levels in these populations resulted in no significant decrease in the leaf amino acids per plant except for one southern population. Ammonia increased in concentration in the treated susceptible populations, but not in the resistant. Under the experimental conditions examined a degree of inhibition of photosynthesis by atrazine in lamb's-quarters appeared necessary to bring about the “nitrogen effect” resulting in increases in nitrogen compounds.     

Morphophysiological traits and atrazine sensitivity in Chenopodium album L

BACKGROUND: A Chenopodium album L. biotype surviving in atrazine-treated Serbian corn fields (VC) was compared against atrazine-susceptible (S) and atrazine-resistant (R) standards.RESULTS: Atrazine (2 kg ha(-1)) killed S and VC shoot biomass 15 days after treatment (DAT), but R was only suppressed by 42% and survived 8 kg ha(-1). Atrazine at 2 kg ha(-1) only inhibited VC height by 60% as against 100 and 0% for S and R respectively. Chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and transpiration were insensitive to atrazine in R, but were inhibited by 90 and 100% in S and by 50 and 60% in VC respectively. Decline of Fv/Fm after 2 kg ha(-1) atrazine was stabilized at 3 DAT for the VC biotype.CONCLUSION: A toxicity mitigation mechanism could have facilitated VC survival in an atrazine-treated field. Further knowledge on this mechanism is needed to establish if surviving VC plants are indicators of atrazine resistance evolution in these Serbian corn fields. Variables related to foliar function provided better detection of weed mechanisms to survive herbicide action than the usual shoot biomass measurements.     

Resistance of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) to atrazine and quinclorac

Two populations of Echinochloa crus-galli (R and I) exhibited resistance to quinclorac. Another population (X) exhibited resistance to quinclorac and atrazine. The R and I populations were collected from monocultures of rice in southern Spain. The X population was collected from maize fields subjected to the application of atrazine over several years. The susceptible (S) population of the same genus was collected from locations which had never been treated with herbicides. The quinclorac ED₅₀ value (dose causing 50% reduction in shoot fresh weight) for the R and I biotypes were 26- and 6-fold greater than for the S biotype. The X biotype was 10 times more tolerant to quinclorac than the S biotype and also showed cross-resistance to atrazine, being 82-fold more resistant to atrazine than the R, I and S biotypes. Chlorophyll fluorescence and Hill reaction analysis supported the view that the mechanism of resistance to atrazine in the X biotype was modification of the target site, the DI protein. Quinclorac at 20 mg litre^-1 did not inhibit photosynthetic electron transport in any of the test biotypes. The quinclorac I₅₀ values (herbicide dose needed for 50% Hill reaction reduction) of the S population was over 50000-fold higher than the atrazine I₅₀ value for the same S population, indicating that quinclorac is not a PS II inhibiting herbicide. Propanil at doses greater than 0·5 kg ha^-1 controlled all the biotypes. © 1997 SCI     

Residues of atrazine, simazine, linuron and diuron after repeated annual applications in a peach orchard

Annual applications of the herbicides atrazine, simazine, linuron and diuron at 45 kg/ha were made to the same plots for 9 consecutive years from 1963 to 1971 in a peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.) orchard located on sandy loam soil near Harrow, Ontario. Soil samples from these plots were collected in late October for the last 3 years (1969–1971) and trees were cut down in December, 1969. Herbicide residues were determined by bioassays based on the fresh and dry weight of oats (Avena sativa L.) and in one year results were confirmed by chemical analysis. Significant accumulation of herbicides was not observed. The maximum residue levels measured in October over the 3 years of sampling were 7′3 kg/ha for diuron, 3–8 kg/ha for linuron, 1–6 kg/ha for simazine and 04 kg/ha for atrazine in the top 15 cm of the soil profile. Simazine and atrazine showed a rapid decrease in amount after treatment but diuron and linuron were degraded more slowly. Measurable residues of all herbicides were confined to the upper 15 cm of the soil profile and the majority of herbicide remained in the 0–5-cm soil layer. Oats were planted in the orchard plots from 1972 to 1974 to follow the disappearance of the herbicides. All herbicides caused highly significant yield decreases in 1972, atrazine causing the least (38%) and diuron the greatest (86%) reductions. Diuron reduced the yield of oats in 1973 and caused a highly significant decrease in the weight of young oat plants in 1974.     

Triazine herbicide resistance in Chenopodium album L.: Occurrence and characteristics of an intermediate biotype

Intermediate (I) biotypes for triazine herbicide resistance in Chenopodium album (as defined by a peculiar fluorescence curve), had the same ID₅₀ values as resistant(R) plants for chloroplast response to atrazine, but proved to be more susceptible at lower doses. Furthermore, the lethal dose in seedling treatments was lower than that of the R plants, but six times higher than for susceptible (S) plants. These I characteristics of I biotypes were maternally inherited in crosses. I biotypes were isolated from various progenies of susceptible precursor (Sp) plants in two garden populations. This could be the first step in the occurrence of triazine herbicide resistance. However, Sp plants have not been observed in field populations. The significance of the presence of a single isozyme pattern for all Sp plants is discussed. The results suggest an evolutionary pathway from S to R plants via I biotypes.     

Resistance of Amaranthus hybridus to atrazine

Resistance of weeds to triazine herbicides has been recorded in many countries. The extent of the problem in South Africa is uncertain. In a pilot study, the atrazine resistance of Amaranthus hybridus L. (smooth pigweed) was investigated. Suspected resistant (R) and susceptible (S) biotypes were treated with commercially formulated atrazine. After post-and pre-emergence applications under tunnel conditions, it was found that the suspected R biotype plants were not affected at herbicide dosages of belween 1.25 and 25.0 kg a.i. ha^-1, i.e. up to 20 times gieater than the lowest recommended dosage. However, the S biotype plants were killed by the lowest dosage. In the fieid, mortalities in the R biolype were not observed after post-emergence applications of 1.25-10.00 kg a.i. ha^-1. In contrast, all S biotype plants were killed. In tunnel experiments, the R biotype was also found to be resistant to cyanazine and cyanazine+atrazine, while slight tolerance to linuron was observed. All these treatments resulted in 100% mortality of the S biotype. Although S biotype seeds oi A. hybridus were found to germinate slightly sooner under controlled conditions than R biotype seeds, preliminary results suggest that there are no major differences. Indications are that, although the growth of the S biotype may be greater than that of the R biotype, the competitive effect of the two biotypes on crop seedlings may well be similar.     

Negative cross-resistance to bentazone and pyridate in atrazine-resistant Amaranthus cruentus and Amaranthus hybridus biotypes

Plants of Amaranthus cruentus and Amaranthus hybridus resistant to atrazine and cyanazine were found in maize fields in north-eastern Spain. Both resistant foiotypes survived doses of 5 kg ha^?1 of atrazine and 2–4 kg ha^?1 of cyanazine but were controlled by lower doses of bentazone and pyridate than were susceptible biotypes. Such a negative cross-resistance was not found for chloroacetamides and MCPA. Chlorophyll fluorescence studies revealed that atrazine, bentazone, cyanazine and pyridate (10 mg litre^?1) caused inhibition of photosynlhetic electron transport in susceptible leaves, while in resistant plants, atrazine and cyanazine had no effect. Conversely, bentazone and pyridate inhibited photosynthesis to a greater extent in resistant than in susceptible biotypes. Isolated chloroplast membranes from resistant biotypes showed resistance factors of 366 and 501 to atrazine and 39 and 60 to cyanazine for A. hybridus and A. cruentus, respectively. Bentazone and pyridate were found to be more effective in chloropiasts of the resistant biotypes than those of the susceptible plants. It is suggested that enhanced susceptibility to bentazone and pyridate in triazine-resistant A. cruentus and A. hybridus biotypes may be associated with the alteration of the D-I polypeptide subunit of photosystem II, as found in triazine-resistant plants.     

Characteristics and control of dicamba‐resistant common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)

The expansion of atrazine‐resistant Chenopodium album (common lambsquarters) since the 1980s has forced New Zealand's maize‐growers to use an additional postemergence herbicide application. The frequent use of dicamba for this has selected for a common lambsquarters population with reduced sensitivity to dicamba. Initial greenhouse experiments with seeds that had been collected from the plants that survived field applications of dicamba showed that these plants could tolerate ≤1.2 kg ha^?1, fourfold the recommended rate. These dicamba‐resistant plants were morphologically distinct from the susceptible population. The leaves of the resistant plants were less dentate and a lighter shade of green. The resistant plants were shorter, had a lower biomass and growth rate and flowered ≤19 days earlier than the susceptible plants. When grown together in various density ratios, the average biomass of both the susceptible and the resistant plants increased as the number of susceptible plants decreased in the mixture. The field experiments demonstrated that the resistant population tolerated dicamba at ≤2.4 kg ha^?1, eightfold the recommended rate. Postemergence applications of bromoxynil, pyridate, nicosulfuron and mesotrione effectively controlled both populations. Nicosulfuron and mesotrione provided long‐term residual control, with nicosulfuron being more effective on the grass weeds. High rates of dicamba damaged the maize plants, resulting in an increased weed cover and reduced grain yield. The number of viable common lambsquarters seeds in the soil seed bank at the end of the growing season declined in the treatments in which common lambsquarters was controlled effectively.     

Abscisic acid as a protectant of Avena fatua L. against diclofop-methyl activity

The imposition of water stress before or al the time of spraying diclofop-methyl reduced efficacy against wild oat (Avena fatua L.). Similar reductions in herbicide performance were obtained by application of 20 μg of the methyl ester of abscisic acid (ABA) to plants with three to four leaves before spraying with I kg ha^?1 diclofop-methyl. Application of 40–100 μg ABA per plant effectively protected plants against damage from diclofop-methyl applied at 1 5–2 0 kg ha ^?1. The application of 20 μg ABA induced rapid stomatal closure and a reduction in leaf extension rate, which were sustained for 7–8 days after treatment. These changes were associated with an overall reduction in shoot growth. ABA-treated plants that were additionally sprayed with diclofop-methyl sustained ABA symptoms, but no additional weight loss or leaf chlorosis. The mechanism of the protective action of ABA on diclofop-methyl has not been determined.     

TOLERANCE OF CRANBERRY (VACCINIUM MACROCARPON AIT) TO SAN-9789: AN EXPERIMENTAL HERBICIDE

Summary. The experimental herbicide 4-chloro-5-(methylamino)-2-(α,α,α-trifluoro-m-tolyl)-3(2H)-pyridazmone (SAN-9789) was applied to cranberry vines ( Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. cv. Early Black) in April at rates of 0, 9, 13·5, 18, and 27 kg a.i./ha. No phytotoxicity on vine growth or appearance was detected in plots receiving 9 kg/ha but at 13·5 kg/ha a temporary chlorosis at the base of the cranberry leaf blade was observed. More extensive and permanent chlorosis was caused by the larger application rates of 18 and 27 kg/ha. No significant differences were detected between control and treated berries with respect to colour, percentage dry weight, and size. However, application rates of 27 kg/ha significantly reduced pectin content of fresh cranberries. Berries from vines treated in April with SAN-9789 did not contain detectable amounts of the herbicide at harvest time in September.
Résistance de la canneberge à gros fruits (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait) à im herbicide expéri-mental, le SAN-9789     

TRIAZINE HERBICIDES ON MAIZE AND THEIR RESIDUAL EFFECTS ON FOLLOWING CROPS*

Summary. Pre-emergence application of 2–5 kg/ha (a.i.) of atrazine or simazine was the most effective treatment for control of broad-leaved weeds in maize. Other triazines injured maize at all rates tested. Among the crops following maize treated with atrazine or simazine at 2–5 kg/ha, sugar beet was injured whereas wheat, oats, vetch, onions and soybeans were not. Post-emergence application of triazine herbicides was not effective and did not increase maize yields significantly over those of the unweeded plots. Wheat, oats, vetch and sugar beet were injured when following maize treated with post-emergence sprays; onions and soybeans showed no visible injury except from atrazine or simazine at 5 kg/ha or more, and from mixtures of atrazine+prometryne or atrazine+ametryne at 12–5 kg/ha. Les triazines herbicides sur le mais et leurs arrière-effets sur les cultures suivantes     

THE CHEMICAL CONTROL OF BARLEY GRASS IN DRYLAND LUCERNE

In a field trial, different doses of five herbicides applied in autumn and late winder were compared for the control of barley grass (Hordeum leporium Link) in dryland Lucerne. Diuron at 1·1, 2·2, and 4·5 kg/ha and atrazine at 1·1 kg/ha were more effective in increasing Lucerne production than linuron at 4·5 kg/ha and various rates of dalapon and paraquat. Autumn application generally resulted in greater Lucerne production than late winter application. Most treatments reduced the amount of barley grass in the Lucerne. Diuron and atrazine also eliminated reduced the amount of barley grass in the Lucerne. Atrazine, diuron and linuron had a strong residual effect and reduced the density of subterranean clover and barley grass in the autumn following treatment.     

Effects of herbicides or mowing on musk thistle seed production*

Mowing musk thistle (Carduus nutans L.) within 2 days of the first terminal heads in a plant population showing anthesis eliminated the production of germinable seed from all mowed stalks. Mowing later than 4 days after anthesis led to significant amounts of germinable seed being produced. Regrowth, which produced viable seed, usually occurred from plants mowed before first terminal heads began anthesis. A single mowing usually did not give satisfactory control due to wide differences in the maturity of plants in a natural population. When the terminal heads had reached late bud or more mature stages, 2,4-D ester [isoocyt] ester of (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid] at M kg/ha or 2–2 kg/ha did not provide satisfactory control. In general, the most effective herbicide treatments tested at all three stages of maturity were dicamba (3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid) at 056 kg/ha plus 2,4-D amine (dimethyl amine salt) at M kg/ha, 2,4-D ester at 4–4 kg/ha, or dicamba at 0–56 kg/ha. Inconsistent control of musk thistle results from variability within naturally occurring populations. Uneven development of stands as well as variation among plants are suggested as possible causes.     

Water utilization by S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate treated wheat

Wheat (Triticum aesticum L. var. Holley) was grown in 0.5 Hoaglands complete mineral nutrient solution containing sub-toxic concentrations of S-ethyl dipropyl-thiocarbamate (EPTC) (0, 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, or 0.5mg/1). Total fresh and dry plant weights per pot decreasedas EPTC concentration increased. Leaf fresh and dry weight per pot decreased as EPTC concentration increased. Root fresh weight per pot was not greatly influenced by EPTC and dry weight per pot was statistically significantly decreased at the 0.5 mg/l EPTC concentration. Total plant water utilization and leaf water contents (mg/g DW) decreased as EPTC concentration increased, but evapotranspiration (ml/g FW or DW) per unit leaf tissue was increased to ca 145% of the untreated wheat. This increased evapotranspiration explains an EPTC induced accumulation of 14C-atrazine in leaves beyond the detoxification level which ultimately resulted in atrazine injury in EPTC pretreated plants.     

THE USE OF A LOW DOSE OF ATRAZINE ALONE AND IN MIXTURES WITH OTHER HERBICIDES IN THE MAIZE CROP

Summary. Linuron, 2,4-D-aniine, propachlor, pyriclor and cypromid, singly and mixture with atrazine, were compared with atrazine and fluromidine alone for effectiveness of weed control in maize on Oxford clay soil. Pre-emergence applications were made under wet conditions and atrazine, even at 0·28 kg/ha a.i. gave an excellent control of three main weeds, Stellaria media, Veronica spp. and Polygonum aviculare , and at 0·56 kg/ha also killed Aethusa cynapium. Fluromidine was comparable with atrazine, but linuron,2,4-D-amine, propachlor and pyriclor were less effective. Post-emergence treatments were less satisfactory. High doses of atrazine were needed for good weed control. Acynapium was resistant to pyriclor and cypromid and P. aviculare to fluromidine. 2,4-Daminewas ineffective, but atrazine/2,4-D-amine mixtures were more effective than the individual components for the control of P. aviculare. Pyriclor, at 0·56 kg/ha pre-emergenceand cypromid at 2·24 kg/ha post-emergence directly reduced the yield of the crop.
Utilisation de I'atrazine à faible dose, seule et en mélange avec d'autres herbicides, dans les culturesde maïs     

N-Dealkylation of atrazine and simazine in Senecio vulgaris biotypes: A major degradation pathway

Separate populations of Senecio vulgaris were found that evolved partial tolerance to s-triazine herbicides and others that were totally resistant (plastid resistance). In plants from the susceptible, tolerant, and resistant populations, about one half of applied [¹⁴C]atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) was rapidly N-dealkylated to the des-ethyl and des-isopropyl products. These products were relatively inactive in inhibiting photosystem II and did not compete with atrazine. After 6 days, less than 25% of the applied [¹⁴C]atrazine was metabolized to water-soluble degradation products but they were not 2-hydroxy derivatives. Less than 2% of the applied atrazine was incorporated into methanol-insoluble residues. The results on metabolism do not explain the tolerance of Senecio to atrazine. However, our results show that N-dealkylation of the s-triazines is more active than previously reported.     

Differential atrazine interference with the Hill reaction of isolated chloroplasts from Chenopodium album L. biotypes

Atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylaminol-6-(isopropyl-amino)-s-triazine] resistant biotypes of lamb's quarters (Chenopodium athum L) were reported in the maize growing areas of Ontario, where the herbicide had been used fur a number of years. Field samples from four locations proved tolerant to higber than recommended rates of atrazine in controlled environment screening trials. A resistant biotype was not killed with up to 40 kg/ha atrazine. Diuron at 5 x10-5 M inhibited the Hill reaction with isolated chloroplasts of resisiant and susceptible biotypes of lamb's-quarters. However, with 10-4 M atrazine, the photochemical activity was inhibited in chloroplasts isolated from the susceptible biotype but not in chloroplasts from the resisiant biotype. With maize chloroplasts, inhibition with 10-4 M atrazine was the same as with the susceptible biotype of lamb's-quarters. These studies suggested that a new mechanism of intraspecific resistance in lamb's quarters to atrazine was involved, other than differences in uptake, translocation and metabolism reported with interspecific comparisons involving the s-triazines and other herbicides, It was also concluded that atrazine and diuron did not have precisely the same mechanism of action as photosynthetic inhibitors with lamb's-quarters, and that external and or internal structure or function of chloroplasts in relation to atrazine inhibition can vary significantly even in biotypes of the same species.     

Weed control in rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp)

Abstract: Field investigations were carried out during 1999 and 2000 to identify effective chemical/ cultural methods of weed control in rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp). The treatments comprised pre-emergence applications of oxyfluorfen (0.15, 0.20 and 0.25 kg AI ha(-1)) and pendimethalin (0.50, 0.75 and 1.00kg AI ha(-1)), successive hand weeding, hoeing and mulching using spent of lemon grass (at 5 tonnes ha(-1)) 45 days after planting (DAP), three hand-weedings 30, 60 and 90 DAP, weed-free (frequent manual weeding) and weedy control. Broad-leaf weeds were more predominant than grass and sedge weeds, accounting for 85.8% weed density and 93.0% weed dry weight in 1999 and 77.2% weed density and 93.9% weed dry weight in 2000. Unrestricted weed growth significantly reduced geranium oil yield, by 61.6% and 70.6% in 1999 and 2000, respectively. Pre-emergence application of pendimethalin (0.75-1.00 kgAI ha(-1)) or oxyfluorfen (0.25 kg AI ha(-1)), successive hand-weeding, hoeing and mulching and three hand-weedings were highly effective in reducing weed density and dry weight and gave oil yield comparable to the weed-free check. Application of oxyfluorfen (0.15 or 0.20 kg AI ha(-1)) and pendimethalin (0.50 kg AI ha(-1)) were less effective in controlling the weed species in geranium. None of the herbicides impaired the quality of rose-scented geranium oil measured in terms of citronellol and geraniol content.     

Direct measurement of paraquat in leaf protoplasts indicates vacuolar paraquat sequestration as a resistance mechanism in Lolium rigidum

Sequestration of paraquat away from its target site in the chloroplast has been proposed as a mechanism of paraquat resistance. However, no consensus has been reached as to where paraquat is sequestered. This study quantifies paraquat in leaf protoplasts of paraquat resistant (R) and susceptible (S) Lolium rigidum. Intact protoplasts were prepared from plants treated with commercial dose of paraquat for 2 h. Paraquat absorbed by the leaf protoplasts was determined by light absorption of reduced paraquat following concentration and purification using a cation-exchange resin. Leaf protoplasts from treated paraquat resistant plants contained 2- to 3-fold more paraquat than leaf protoplasts isolated from susceptible plants. Since paraquat is not metabolised in L. rigidum and paraquat readily enters chloroplasts of both R and S plants, this greater amount of paraquat in leaf protoplasts of R plant must be kept away from the target site (chloroplast). This result indicates that paraquat resistance in L. rigidum is associated with a cytoplasmic mechanism, most likely a greater rate of vacuolar sequestration.     

Herbicide-resistant crops: yield penalties and weed thresholds for oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

An expérimental procedure was designed to provide a simple model for types of analyses necessary to determine weed density thresholds for advantageous use of crop plants engineered for herbicide resistance. Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L., cv. Tower) biotypes resistant (RES) and susceptible (SUS) to atrazine were used as model crop plants, and wild oat (Avena fatua L.) was used as the model weed. Along a wild oat density gradient equivalent to 0–128 plants m^?2, RES plants consistently experienced biomass and yield reductions of approximately 10–20% compared to SUS plants. When atrazine was applied at 1.5 kg ha^?1 to control wild oats competing with RES plants, RES biomasses and yields were stabilized at the same level as that where 25–30 wild oats m^?2 reduce yields of SUS plants. This implies that with wild oat densities of 25–30 plants m^?2, it becomes agronomically advantageous to crop with RES plants plus atrazine rather than to crop with higher-yielding SUS plants.