Initial report of glufosinate and paraquat multiple resistance that evolved in a biotype of goosegrass (Eleusine indica) in Malaysia

Field and glasshouse studies have confirmed the presence of a glufosinate‐ and paraquat‐resistant goosegrass biotype that has infested a bitter gourd field in Air Kuning, Perak, Malaysia. Glufosinate and paraquat had been applied at least six times per year to the affected fields (originally a rubber plantation) for more than four consecutive years. Paraquat had been used since 1970 for weed control in the rubber plantation. An on‐site field trial revealed that the control of the goosegrass plants, measuring 20–35 cm in height, ranged from 20 to 35% 3 weeks after being treated with each herbicide at twice the recommended rate. Dose–response tests were conducted in the glasshouse, using seedlings at the three‐to‐four‐leaf stage that had been obtained from the plants that had received repeated exposure to these herbicides and a biotype with no history of any herbicide resistance. The comparison of the GR₅₀ (the herbicide rate that is required to reduce the shoot fresh weight by 50%) of the seedlings indicated that the resistant biotype of goosegrass is 3.4‐fold and 3.6‐fold more resistant than the susceptible biotype following treatment with glufosinate and paraquat, respectively. This study has demonstrated the world's first field‐evolved instance of multiple resistance in goosegrass to two non‐selective herbicides, glufosinate and paraquat.     

Less hazardous alternative herbicides to control weeds in immature oil palm

In 2002, the Malaysian government had banned the use of the hazardous herbicide, paraquat. Most growers perceive that paraquat is the most effective herbicide and provides the fastest mode of action to control weeds. An experiment was conducted at MAB Agriculture-Horticulture, Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia, from February 2004 to February 2005 to evaluate the efficacy and ability of the less hazardous herbicides, glufosinate ammonium and glyphosate, as an alternative to the hazardous herbicide, paraquat, in controlling weeds in immature oil palm (<3 years old). The results showed that paraquat needed high rates, 600 and 800 g ha⁻¹, to control weeds effectively. However, lower rates of glufosinate ammonium (200 g ha⁻¹) and glyphosate (400 g ha⁻¹) gave excellent weed control. The results showed that the efficacy of glufosinate ammonium and glyphosate were much better than paraquat. The results also showed that, with no direct contact with the plants, paraquat, glufosinate ammonium, and glyphosate had no adverse effect on the vegetative and generative growth of oil palm in this study. These results proved that the less hazardous herbicides, glufosinate ammonium and glyphosate, could be used as an alternative to paraquat to control weeds in immature oil palm.     

广东省稻菜轮作区中牛筋草对十种除草剂的抗性水平及靶基因序列分析

为明确广东省稻菜轮作区中牛筋草对10种常用除草剂的抗性水平及抗性分子机制,采用整株生物测定法测定广东省稻菜轮作区内8个牛筋草种群P1～P8对草甘膦、草铵膦和乙酰辅酶A羧化酶(acetyl-CoA carboxylase,ACCase)抑制剂类等10种除草剂的抗性水平,并进一步分析P1和P8种群相关靶标酶基因5-烯醇丙酮酰莽草酸-3-磷酸合酶(5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthase,EPSPS)、谷氨酰胺合成酶(glutamine synthetase,GS)和ACCase的部分功能区序列特征。结果显示,牛筋草P1～P8种群对草甘膦抗性指数为敏感种群的5.9倍～17.7倍,其中P8种群对草甘膦的抗性水平最高;8个种群对草铵膦也产生了不同程度的抗性,抗性指数为敏感种群的2.3倍～14.2倍,其中P1种群抗性最高。牛筋草P1和P8种群均对ACCase抑制剂类除草剂精喹禾灵、氰氟草酯和噁唑酰草胺产生了交互抗性;P1种群ACCase基因在第2 041位氨基酸处发生突变,该突变在牛筋草种群中首次发现;而P8种群ACCase基因则在第2 027位氨基...     

A target-site mutation is present in a glyphosate-resistant Lolium rigidum population

Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is the only weed species to have evolved resistance to the broad‐spectrum herbicide glyphosate in Australia. A population that had failed to be controlled by glyphosate was collected from a vineyard in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. Dose–response experiments on this population (SLR 77) showed that it was glyphosate resistant, with an LD₅₀ that was 1.9–3.4 times higher than that of a susceptible population (VLR 1). The movement of radiolabelled glyphosate within SLR 77 plants showed that this population did not have the differential glyphosate translocation mechanism of resistance common to several other Australian glyphosate‐resistant populations. Subsequent analysis of shikimic acid accumulation within the plant after glyphosate treatment showed that this population accumulated significantly less shikimic acid than a susceptible population, but more than a glyphosate‐resistant population with the translocation mechanism, indicating the possible involvement of another mechanism of resistance. Sequencing of a portion of the SLR 77 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase gene was carried out and a mutation causing an amino acid change at position 106 from proline to threonine was identified. This mutation is likely to be responsible for glyphosate resistance in this population, as mutations in this position have been found to be responsible for glyphosate resistance in goosegrass (Eleusine indica) from Malaysia. This paper represents the first report of target‐site glyphosate resistance in L. rigidum and provides evidence that this species has at least two mechanisms of glyphosate resistance present in Australia.     

Weed control in conventional and herbicide tolerant winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) grown in rotations with winter cereals in the UK

Two winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) cultivars, tolerant to glyphosate and glufosinate, were compared with a conventional cultivar at three sites over 4 years, in 3‐year crop rotations in the UK. The winter oilseed rape was grown in Years 1 and 4, with winter cereals, which received uniform herbicide treatments, in the intervening years. The second winter oilseed rape treatments were applied to randomised sub‐plots of the original plots. Weed densities were recorded in autumn and spring and weed biomass was measured in summer. At most sites, there was only one application of glufosinate or glyphosate, whereas two products were often used on the conventional variety. The timing of glyphosate and glufosinate application was, on average, 34 days later than that of the conventional broad‐leaved weed control treatments. Overall weed control, across all sites and years, was not statistically different between the conventional, glyphosate and glufosinate treatments. However, glyphosate achieved higher control of individual weed species more frequently than the other treatments. Glufosinate and the conventional treatments were similar in performance. The treatments in Year 1 sometimes affected weed populations in the subsequent cereal crops and, in rare instances, those in the rape in Year 4. Carry‐over effects were small after most treatments. In general, weed survival was greater in the oilseed rape crops, irrespective of the treatment, than it was in the intervening cereal crops.     

Competition of sorghum cultivars and densities with Japanese millet (Echinochloa esculenta)

Field studies were conducted at two locations in southern Queensland, Australia during the 2003–2004 and 2004–2005 growing seasons to determine the differential competitiveness of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) cultivars and crop densities against weeds and the sorghum yield loss due to weeds. Weed competition was investigated by growing sorghum in the presence or absence of a model grass weed, Japanese millet (Echinochloa esculenta). The correlation analyses showed that the early growth traits (height, shoot biomass, and daily growth rate of the shoot biomass) of sorghum adversely affected the height, biomass, and seed production of millet, as measured at maturity. “MR Goldrush” and “Bonus MR” were the most competitive cultivars, resulting in reduced weed biomass, weed density, and weed seed production. The density of sorghum also had a significant effect on the crop's ability to compete with millet. When compared to the density of 4.5 plants per m², sorghum that was planted at 7.5 plants per m² suppressed the density, biomass, and seed production of millet by 22%, 27% and 38%, respectively. Millet caused a significant yield loss in comparison with the weed‐free plots. The combined weed‐suppressive effects of the competitive cultivars, such as MR Goldrush, and high crop densities minimized the yield losses from the weeds. These results indicate that sorghum competition against grass weeds can be improved by choosing competitive cultivars and by using a high crop density of >7.5 plants per m². These non‐chemical options should be included in an integrated weed management program for better weed management, particularly where the control options are limited by the evolution of herbicide resistance.     

Target-site mutation associated with glufosinate resistance in Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum)

BACKGROUND: Studies were conducted to elucidate the mechanism of glufosinate resistance in an Italian ryegrass population. RESULTS: Glufosinate rates required to reduce growth by 50% (GR₅₀) were 0.15 and 0.18 kg AI ha^?1 for two susceptible populations C1 and C2 respectively, and 0.45 kg AI ha^?1 for the resistant population MG, resulting in a resistance index of 2.8. Ammonia accumulation after glufosinate treatment was on average 1.5 times less for the resistant population than for the susceptible populations. The glufosinate concentrations (µM ) required to reduce the glutamine synthetase (GS) enzyme activity by 50% (I₅₀) were 31 and 137 for C1 and C2 respectively, and 2432 for the resistant population MG. One amino acid substitution in the plastidic GS2 gene, aspartic acid for asparagine at position 171, was identified in the resistant population. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of glufosinate resistance in a weed species that involves an altered target site. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

The glutamate dehydrogenase gene gdhA increased the resistance of tobacco to glufosinate

The gene gdhA from Escherichia coli, that encodes a NADPH‐dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), directs a novel pathway in transgenic plants that allows an increase in ammonium assimilation. Glufosinate leads to plant death by the irreversible inhibition of glutamate synthetase (GS) leading to a disruption of subsequent GS‐related processes resulting in elevated ammonium and disruption of photorespiration. Therefore, it was speculated that the gdhA‐transformed plants may exhibit a novel mechanism of resistance to glufosinate by altered activity of the GDH‐directed pathway(s) and subsequently related processes. Studies were conducted in the greenhouse to evaluate the resistance of tobacco plants containing the gdhA gene to glufosinate. Five tobacco genotype lines were investigated including a non‐transformed control line, a positive control line and three transformed lines with levels of increasing GDH activity directed by the gdhA gene. Plants transformed with the gdhA gene expressed up to six times increased level of resistance (GR₅₀) to glufosinate compared with the non‐transformed control, which is 100 times less resistant than plants transformed with the bar gene. The GDH activity among lines was highly correlated (r² = 0.9903) with the level of herbicide resistance. Thus, the use of the E. coli gdhA gene in plant transformations can provide an additional mechanism for resistance to glufosinate.     

Glyphosate resistance in common ragweed ( A mbrosia artemisiifolia L.) from Mississippi,USA

Glyphosate is one of the most commonly used broad‐spectrum herbicides over the last 40 years. Due to the widespread adoption of glyphosate‐resistant (GR) crop technology, especially corn, cotton and soybean, several weed species have evolved resistance to this herbicide. Research was conducted to confirm and characterize the magnitude and mechanism of glyphosate resistance in two GR common ragweed ( A mbrosia artemisiifolia L.) biotypes from Mississippi, USA. A glyphosate‐susceptible (GS) biotype was included for comparison. The effective glyphosate dose to reduce the growth of the treated plants by 50% for the GR1, GR2 and GS biotypes was 0.58, 0.46 and 0.11 kg ae ha^?1, respectively, indicating that the level of resistance was five and fourfold that of the GS biotype for GR1 and GR2, respectively. Studies using ¹⁴ C‐glyphosate have not indicated any difference in its absorption between the biotypes, but the GR1 and GR2 biotypes translocated more ¹⁴ C‐glyphosate, compared to the GS biotype. This difference in translocation within resistant biotypes is unique. There was no amino acid substitution at codon 106 that was detected by the 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase gene sequence analysis of the resistant and susceptible biotypes. Therefore, the mechanism of resistance to glyphosate in common ragweed biotypes from Mississippi is not related to a target site mutation or reduced absorption and/or translocation of glyphosate.     

Littleseed canarygrass (Phalaris minor) resistance to clodinafop‐propargyl in wheat fields in north‐western India: Appraisal and management

Littleseed canarygrass (～canarygrass) evolved populations that are resistant to isoproturon during the early 1990s in north‐western India. Clodinafop‐propargyl (～clodinafop) was recommended for controlling these populations. It has been used extensively in wheat for the last several years. Recently, poor or no control of canarygrass by clodinafop has been observed in large areas, which could be related to cross‐resistance or multiple resistance. This study was designed to test whether resistance has evolved in canarygrass populations against clodinafop and to explore control of the resistant populations with sulfosulfuron and pinoxaden. Among the 311 canarygrass populations that were tested, 86, 55 and 34 showed variable phytotoxicity (0–99%) due to 0.030, 0.060 and 0.120 kg ha^?1 clodinafop, respectively. Based on the resistance index, 11 populations were “highly resistant”, 60 were “resistant” and the rest (240) were “susceptible” to clodinafop. Five and six clodinafop‐resistant populations showed slight resistance to 0.0125 kg ha^?1 sulfosulfuron and 0.025 kg ha^?1 pinoxaden, respectively. But, sulfosulfuron at 0.025 and 0.050 kg ha^?1 and pinoxaden at 0.050 and 0.100 kg ha^?1 controlled all the canarygrass populations. Clodinafop used for 4 years increased the chance of resistance evolving, whereas its rotation with sulfosulfuron reduced the chance of resistance evolving. This study showed that considerable canarygrass populations have evolved a low‐to‐high degree of resistance against clodinafop. The further use of clodinafop would lead to the spread of resistance in larger areas through the dispersal of resistant seeds. Clodinafop should be replaced with 0.025 kg ha^?1 sulfosulfuron or 0.050 kg ha^?1 pinoxaden. Besides, where canarygrass has not evolved resistance, the yearly rotation of sulfosulfuron with clodanafop or pinoxaden might delay the evolution of resistance.     

Spatial stability of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana populations under annual applications of low rates of imazamethabenz

Long‐term experiments were conducted in two winter barley fields in central Spain to determine the spatial stability of Avena sterilis ssp. ludoviciana populations under annual applications of low rates of imazamethabenz herbicide. Weed density was sampled every year (over 5 years in the first field and over 3 years in the second) on the same grid locations prior to herbicide application. Although weed patches were stable in their location, weed density decreased in most of the years. In the first field, the populations decreased exponentially over the 5‐year period. The rates of population decline were dependent on the initial density of the population, being higher for the central core of the patches and lower for the low‐density areas. Under the conditions present in this experiment, it was possible to reduce heavy weed patches (up to 1200 seedlings m^?2) down to relatively safe levels (18 seedlings m^?2) in a period of 3 years using a density‐specific control programme, applying low rates of herbicides when weed densities were below a given level (1000 seedlings m^?2). However, under adverse environmental conditions, half rates of the herbicide failed to control the weed populations adequately. The stability of the location of patches of A. sterilis ssp. ludoviciana suggest that weed seedling distributions mapped in one year are good predictors of future seedling distributions. However, the actual densities established each year will depend on the control level achieved the previous year and the climatic conditions present during the establishment period.     

A European biotype of Amaranthus retroflexus cross-resistant to ALS inhibitors and response to alternative herbicides

An acetolactate synthase (ALS)‐resistant Amaranthus retroflexus biotype was collected in a soyabean crop after repeated exposure to imazethapyr and thifensulfuron‐methyl in north‐eastern Italy. Studies were conducted to characterise the resistance status and determine alternative post‐emergence herbicides for controlling this biotype. Whole‐plant bioassay revealed that the GR₅₀ values were 1898‐ and 293‐fold higher than those observed for the biotype susceptible to imazethapyr and imazamox respectively. The biotype also displayed high cross‐resistance to sulfonylureas. Molecular analysis demonstrated that a single nucleotide substitution had occurred in domain B (TGG to TTG at position 574), conferring a change from the amino acid tryptophan to leucine in the resistant biotype. However, herbicides with other modes of action (PSII, 4‐HPPD and PPO inhibitors) provided excellent control. The GR₅₀ ratios for metribuzin, terbuthylazine and mesotrione were close to 1 and treatments with fomesafen gave 100% control of both susceptible and resistant biotypes at the recommended field dose. This study documents the first case of an imidazolinone and ALS‐resistant biotype in European crops and identifies the post‐emergence herbicide options available for managing this troublesome weed in soyabean crops. Alternative management strategies are also discussed.     

Metabolism of the herbicide glufosinate‐ammonium in plant cell cultures of transgenic (rhizomania‐resistant) and non‐transgenic sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris), carrot (Daucus carota), purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and thorn apple (Datura stramonium)

The metabolism of the herbicide glufosinate‐ammonium was investigated in heterotrophic cell suspension and callus cultures of transgenic (bar‐gene) and non‐transgenic sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris). Similar studies were performed with suspensions of carrot (Daucus carota), purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and thorn apple (Datura stramonium). ¹⁴C‐labelled chemicals were the (racemic) glufosinate, L ‐glufosinate, and D ‐glufosinate, as well as the metabolites N‐acetyl L ‐glufosinate and 3‐(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)propionic acid (MPP). Cellular absorption was generally low, but depended noticeably on plant species, substance and enantiomer. Portions of non‐extractable residues ranged from 0.1% to 1.2% of applied ¹⁴C. Amounts of soluble metabolites resulting from glufosinate or L ‐glufosinate were between 0.0% and 26.7% of absorbed ¹⁴C in non‐transgenic cultures and 28.2% and 59.9% in transgenic sugarbeet. D ‐Glufosinate, MPP and N‐acetyl L ‐glufosinate proved to be stable. The main metabolite in transgenic sugarbeet was N‐acetyl L ‐glufosinate, besides traces of MPP and 4‐(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)butanoic acid (MPB). In non‐transgenic sugarbeet, glufosinate was transformed to a limited extent to MPP and trace amounts of MPB. In carrot, D stramonium and D purpurea, MPP was also the main product; MPB was identified as a further trace metabolite in D stramonium and D purpurea. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Cytological studies of dinitroaniline-resistant Eleusine

Ultrastructural studies of primary roots (goosegrass) from dinitroaniline-resistant (R) and susceptible (S) biotypes of Eleusine indica (L). Gaertnr. establish a possible cytological basis for trifluralin resistance. Although the S biotype has a normal ultrastructure when grown in water, exposure to trifluralin solutions (between 10⁻⁸ and 10⁻⁵M) for 24 h results in a swelling of the root tip, typical of herbicides that affect microtubule production. The loss of spindle microtubules in the S biotype results in a mitosis arrested at prometaphase and the loss of cortical microtubules results in the formation of isodiametric cells in the zone of elongation. Nuclear membranes reform around the chromosomes in arrested prometaphase, producing abnormal, polymorphic nuclei. The mitotic index is increased in the S biotype after trifluralin treatment because many of the cells are arrested in prometaphase. The root tips of R biotypes are not swollen by even 10⁻⁵M trifluralin treatment. Trifluralin does not markedly affect cell division in the R biotype nor are the mitotic irregularities noted in the S biotype after treatment. However, even when the R biotype is not exposed to trifluralin, the microtubules are less abundant than in the S biotype and frequently cell walls are oriented abnormally or are incompletely formed. The level of resistance exhibited by the R biotype, the apparent difference in microtubule number and function between the two biotypes, and the lack of effect on the microtubules at high trifluralin concentrations indicate a site-of-action mutation.     

Glutamine synthetase activity and ammonium accumulation is influenced by time of glufosinate application

Time of glufosinate application impacts weed control. Although leaf angle of velvetleaf significantly contributes to the time of day (TOD) effect, it is not the sole reason for reduced efficacy. Absorption and translocation of glufosinate, glutamine synthetase (GS) activity, and ammonium accumulation were investigated as possible physiological components of the TOD effect. Absorption and translocation were not associated with a decrease in glufosinate efficacy. GS activity, ammonium accumulation, and plant biomass were influenced by the time of glufosinate application. Velvetleaf GS activity quickly diminished during the light period and remained high during the dark period following glufosinate treatment. GS activity was higher in plants treated at 10:00 pm than in those treated at 2:00 pm 12 HAT. With little GS inhibition during the dark period, ammonium accumulation occurred only during the light period. At 72 HAT, ammonium concentration was nearly 1.5-fold greater in plants treated at 2:00 pm versus those treated at 10:00 pm with 160 g/ha glufosinate. Plant biomass of plants treated with 160 g/ha glufosinate at 10:00 pm was greater than those treated at 2:00 pm at 72 HAT. Increasing the application rate from 160 to 320 g/ha removed these differences in GS activity, ammonium accumulation, and plant biomass. These results demonstrate that GS activity and ammonium accumulation are physiological processes involved in the TOD effect.     

Multiple herbicide resistance in littleseed canarygrass (Phalaris minor): A threat to wheat production in India

Littleseed canarygrass (Phalaris minor Retz.), a troublesome weed of wheat in India, has evolved multiple herbicide resistance across three modes of action: photosynthesis at the photosystem II site A, acetyl‐coA carboxylase (ACCase), and acetolactate synthase inhibition. The multiple herbicide‐resistant (MHR) populations had a low level of sulfosulfuron resistance but a high level of resistance to clodinafop and fenoxaprop (ACCase inhibitors). Some of the populations had GR₅₀ (50% growth reduction) values for clodinafop that were 11.7‐fold greater than that of the most susceptible population. The clodinafop‐resistant populations also showed a higher level of cross‐resistance to fenoxaprop (fop group) but a low level of cross‐resistance to pinoxaden (den group). Although clodinafop and pinoxaden are from two different chemical families (fop and den groups), their same site of action is responsible for cross‐resistance behavior. The populations that were resistant to four groups of herbicides (phenylureas, sulfonylurea, aryloxyphenoxypropionate, and phenylpyrazolin) were susceptible to the triazine (metribuzin and terbutryn) and dinitroaniline (pendimethalin) herbicides. The P. minor populations that were resistant to the aryloxyphenoxypropionate and phenylurea herbicides were effectively controlled by the sulfonylurea herbicide, sulfosulfuron. In the fields infested with P. minor that was resistant to clodinafop, a sulfosulfuron application (25 g ha^?1) increased the wheat yield by 99.2% over that achieved using the recommended rate of clodinafop (60 g ha^?1). However, the evolution of multiple resistance against the four groups is a threat to wheat production. To prevent the spread of MHR P. minor populations, as well as the extension of multiple resistance to new chemicals, concerted efforts in developing and implementing a sound, integrated weed management program are needed. The integrated approach, consisting of crop and herbicide rotation with cultural and mechanical weed control tactics, should be considered as a long‐term resistance management strategy that will help to sustain wheat productivity and farmers' income.     

Control by glyphosate and its alternatives of glyphosate‐susceptible and glyphosate‐resistant Echinochloa colona in the fallow phase of crop rotations in subtropical Australia

Echinochloa colona is the most common grass weed of summer fallows in the grain‐cropping systems of the subtropical region of Australia. Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide for summer grass control in fallows in this region. The world's first population of glyphosate‐resistant E. colona was confirmed in Australia in 2007 and, since then, >70 populations have been confirmed to be resistant in the subtropical region. The efficacy of alternative herbicides on glyphosate‐susceptible populations was evaluated in three field experiments and on both glyphosate‐susceptible and glyphosate‐resistant populations in two pot experiments. The treatments were knockdown and pre‐emergence herbicides that were applied as a single application (alone or in a mixture) or as part of a sequential application to weeds at different growth stages. Glyphosate at 720 g ai ha^?1 provided good control of small glyphosate‐susceptible plants (pre‐ to early tillering), but was not always effective on larger susceptible plants. Paraquat was effective and the most reliable when applied at 500 g ai ha^?1 on small plants, irrespective of the glyphosate resistance status. The sequential application of glyphosate followed by paraquat provided 96–100% control across all experiments, irrespective of the growth stage, and the addition of metolachlor and metolachlor + atrazine to glyphosate or paraquat significantly reduced subsequent emergence. Herbicide treatments have been identified that provide excellent control of small E. colona plants, irrespective of their glyphosate resistance status. These tactics of knockdown herbicides, sequential applications and pre‐emergence herbicides should be incorporated into an integrated weed management strategy in order to greatly improve E. colona control, reduce seed production by the sprayed survivors and to minimize the risk of the further development of glyphosate resistance.     

Characterisation of a triazine-resistant biotype of Bromus tectorum found in Spain

A population of Bromus tectorum infesting an olive grove at Córdoba (Spain) survived simazine use rates of 3.0 kg a.i. ha⁻¹ over two consecutive years. Non‐tillage olive monoculture and two annual simazine applications had been carried out for 10 years. The resistant biotype showed a higher ED₅₀ value (7.3 kg a.i. ha⁻¹) than that of the susceptible control (0.1 kg a.i. ha⁻¹), a 73‐fold increase in herbicide tolerance. The use of fluorescence, Hill reaction, absorption, translocation and metabolism assays showed that simazine resistance in this biotype was caused by a modification of the herbicide target site, since chloroplasts from the resistant biotype of B. tectorum were more than 300 times less sensitive to simazine than those from the susceptible biotype. In addition, non‐treated resistant plants of B. tectorum displayed a significant reduction in the Q_A to Q_B electron transfer rate when compared with the susceptible biotype, a characteristic that has been linked to several mutations in the protein D1 conferring resistance to PS II inhibiting herbicides. Resistant plants showed cross‐resistance to other groups of triazine herbicides with the hierarchy of resistance level being methoxy‐s‐triazines ≥chloro‐s‐triazines > methylthio‐s‐triazines > cis‐triazines. The results indicate a naturally occurring target‐site point mutation is responsible for conferring resistance to triazine herbicides. This represents the first documented report of target site triazine resistance in this downy brome biotype.     

Herbicidal activity on acetolactate synthase‐resistant barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus‐galli) in Arkansas,USA

The intensive use of the acetolactate synthase (ALS)‐inhibiting herbicides, imazethapyr, penoxsulam and bispyribac‐sodium, in imidazolinone‐resistant (Clearfield) rice increases the risk of the evolution of ALS‐resistant barnyardgrass. In 2009, imazethapyr failed to control barnyardgrass that was collected from a field in Arkansas, USA, following the failure of the herbicide in 2008. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to confirm and document the level of resistance of the biotype against three ALS‐inhibiting herbicides that currently are labeled in rice. The level of control of the resistant biotype at the labeled rate of bispyribac‐sodium of 35 g ai ha^?1 was 10%, penoxsulam at 22 g ai ha^?1 was 0% and imazethapyr at 70 g ai ha^?1 was 25%. The level of mortality of the susceptible biotype was 100% with all the herbicides at the labeled rate. The dose needed to kill 50% of the resistant plants was 49 g ha^?1 of bispyribac‐sodium, 254 g ha^?1 of penoxsulam and 170 g ha^?1 of imazethapyr. For the susceptible biotype, bispyribac‐sodium at 6 g ha^?1, penoxsulam at 10 g ha^?1 and imazethapyr at 12 g ha^?1 killed 50% of the treated plants. Based on these findings, it was confirmed that a barnyardgrass population has evolved cross‐resistance to three ALS‐inhibiting herbicides in rice culture in Arkansas. Furthermore, an experiment was conducted to determine if the ALS‐resistant biotype could be controlled using other mechanisms of action. The results indicated that propanil, a photosystem II inhibitor, and quinclorac, a synthetic auxin, failed to control the resistant biotype at the labeled rates, whereas all the other evaluated herbicides provided effective control of both biotypes.     

Multiple resistance across glufosinate,glyphosate, paraquat and ACCase‐inhibiting herbicides in an Eleusine indica population

An Eleusine indica population was previously reported as the first global case of field‐evolved glufosinate resistance. This study re‐examines glufosinate resistance and investigates multiple resistance to other herbicides in the population. Dose–response experiments with glufosinate showed that the resistant population is 5‐fold and 14‐fold resistant relative to the susceptible population, based on GR₅₀ and LD₅₀ R/S ratio respectively. The selected glufosinate‐resistant subpopulation also displayed a high‐level resistance to glyphosate, with the respective GR₅₀ and LD₅₀ R/S ratios being 12‐ and 144‐fold. In addition, the subpopulation also displayed a level of resistance to paraquat and ACCase‐inhibiting herbicides fluazifop‐P‐butyl, haloxyfop‐P‐methyl and butroxydim. ACCase gene sequencing revealed that the Trp‐2027‐Cys mutation is likely responsible for resistance to the ACCase inhibitors examined. Here, we confirm glufosinate resistance and importantly, we find very high‐level glyphosate resistance, as well as resistance to paraquat and ACCase‐inhibiting herbicides. This is the first confirmed report of a weed species that evolved multiple resistance across all the three non‐selective global herbicides, glufosinate, glyphosate and paraquat.