Herbicide safety relative to common targets in plants and mammals

Most modern herbicides have low mammalian toxicity. One of the reasons for this safety is that the target site for the herbicides is not often present in mammals. There are approximately 20 mechanisms of action that have been elucidated for herbicides. Of these, some do share common target sites with mammals. The mechanisms include formation of free radicals, protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PROTOX), glutamine synthetase (GS) and 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD). PROTOX, HPPD and GS inhibitors have been shown to inhibit these enzymes in both plants and mammals and there are measurable effects in mammalian systems. However, the consequences of inhibiting a common target site in plants can be quite different than in animals. What may be a lethal event in plants, eg inhibition of HPPD, can have a beneficial effect in mammals, eg treatment for tyrosinemia type I. These chemicals also have low mammalian toxicity due to rapid metabolism and/or excretion of the herbicide from mammalian systems.     

Modeling root absorption and translocation of 5-substituted analogs of the imidazolinone herbicide,imazapyr

Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) were developed between the physicochemical parameters of the 5-substituent of a series of analogs of the imidazolinone herbicide, imazapyr, and root absorption, translocation, inhibition of acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS), and herbicidal activity of the analogs. An optimum substituent lipophilicity (π = 1.85–2–3) for root absorption was identified for corn (Zea mays L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Translocation from roots to shoots was greatest for those analogs having either highly nonpolar or highly polar 5-substituents, indicating that both symplastic and apopiastic mechanisms may be functioning. In addition, translocation from roots was positively correlated with electron-withdrawing parameters of the 5-substituent, and a possible mechanism governing this relationship is discussed. Modeling in vitro AHAS inhibition was not successful, but models were developed for herbicidal activity as measured in an Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Hevnh. bioassay. The whole-plant models described an optimum substituent lipophilicity (π = 0 71) which probably reflected the influence of this parameter on the component processes of absorption and translocation. Whole-plant activity was also greater for analogs having electron-donating 5-substituents; this result suggests that electron donation may be important for metabolism, or more likely, for AHAS inhibition.     

The effect of physiological age of potato tubers on female production of potato cyst nematodes (Globodera pallida Pa 2/3)

Fourteen cultivars generally regarded as uniformly susceptible toGlobodera pallida Pa 2/3 were assessed in plastic closed containers for degree of susceptibility and also for root and sprouting characteristics. The material was assessed by scoring degree of sprouting before planting and number of cysts and root growth at the end of experiment at intervals from the time of initial dormancy break through to prolific sprouting. Using covariate analyses, it was found that the degree of root development, particularly in the earlier assessments, significantly influenced the degree of cyst development and so the perceived levels of susceptibility/resistance. Having taken account of root growth characters, significant differences between the cultivars with regard to nematode multiplication were still evident. The implications of the results are discussed in relation to potato breeding and nematological studies.     

Improved detection and identification of the sudden oak death pathogen Phytophthora ramorum and the Port Orford cedar root pathogen Phytophthora lateralis

Early detection provides the best way to prevent introduction and establishment of alien plant pathogens. Amplification of DNA by PCR has revolutionized the detection and monitoring of plant pathogens. Most of those assays rely on the amplification of a fraction of the genome of the targeted species. With the availability of whole genomes for a growing number of fungi and oomycetes it is becoming possible to compare genomes and discover regions that are unique to a target organism. This study has applied this pipeline to develop a set of hierarchical TaqMan real-time PCR detection assays targeting DNA of all four Phytophthora ramorum lineages, and a closely related species, P. lateralis. Nine assays were generated: three targeting DNA of all P. ramorum lineages, one for each lineage of P. ramorum, one for P. lateralis and one targeting DNA of P. ramorum and P. lateralis. These assays were very accurate and sensitive, ranging from 98.7% to 100% detection accuracy of 2–10 gene copies of the targeted taxa from pure cultures or inoculated tissues. This level of sensitivity is within the lowest theoretical limit of detection of DNA. It is expected that these assays will be useful because of their high level of specificity and the ease with which they can be multiplexed because of the inherent flexibility in primer and probe design afforded by their lack of conservation in non-target species.     

SAMOATM: one company's approach to herbicide-resistant weed management

SAMOA (Second Active Mode of Action) is a program that was developed by American Cyanamid as a way to prevent/delay selection of resistance to the imidazolinones and to manage resistant weed populations if they are selected. The program consisted of three major components, all of which had to be implemented for the program to be successful. These components comprised educating sales persons, distributors and farmers on resistance management, developing efficacious and cost-effective tank mixtures or sequential programs and providing incentives for using this program. ©1997 SCI     

Are herbicide‐resistant crops the answer to controlling Cuscuta?

BACKGROUND: Herbicide‐resistant crop technology could provide new management strategies for the control of parasitic plants. Three herbicide‐resistant oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) genotypes were used to examine the response of attached Cuscuta campestris Yuncker to glyphosate, imazamox and glufosinate. Cuscata campestris was allowed to establish on all oilseed rape genotypes before herbicides were applied. RESULTS: Unattached seedlings of C. campestris, C. subinclusa Durand & Hilg. and C. gronovii Willd. were resistant to imazamox and glyphosate and sensitive to glufosinate, indicating that resistance initially discovered in C. campestris is universal to all Cuscuta species. Glufosinate applied to C. campestris attached to glufosinate‐resistant oilseed rape had little impact on the parasite, while imazamox completely inhibited C. campestris growth on the imidazolinone‐resistant host. The growth of C. campestris on glyphosate‐resistant host was initially inhibited by glyphosate, but the parasite recovered and resumed growth within 3–4 weeks. CONCLUSION: The ability of C. campestris to recover was related to the quality of interaction between the host and parasite and to the resistance mechanism of the host. The parasite was less likely to recover when it had low compatibility with the host, indicating that parasite‐resistant crops coupled with herbicide resistance could be highly effective in controlling Cuscuta. Published 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil dissipation and biological activity of metolachlor and S-metolachlor in five soils

The resolved isomer of metolachlor, S-metolachlor, was registered in 1997. New formulations based primarily on the S-metolachlor isomer are more active on a gram for gram metolachlor basis than formulations based on a racemic mixture of metolachlor containing a 50:50 ratio of the R and S isomers. The labelled use rates of S-metolachlor-based products were reduced by 35% to give equivalent weed control to metolachlor. However, several companies have recently registered new metolachlor formulations with the same recommended use rates for weed control as S-metolachlor. This research was done to compare the soil behaviour and the biological activity of metolachlor and S-metolachlor in different soils under greenhouse and field conditions. Although K(d) ranged from 1.6 to 6.9 across the five soils, there were no differences in the binding of metolachlor and S-metolachlor to soil or in the rate of soil solution dissipation in a given soil. However, both greenhouse and field studies showed that S-metolachlor was 1.4-3-fold more active than metolachlor against Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. in five different soils and that S-metolachlor was more active than metolachlor in three Colorado field locations. When the rates of metolachlor and S-metolachlor were adjusted for S isomer concentrations in the formulations, there were no differences between the formulations in field, greenhouse or bioassay studies. Thus herbicidal activity is due to the S isomers, with the R isomers being largely inactive.     

Comparison of efficacy, absorption and translocation of three glyphosate formulations on velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)

Growth analysis, absorption and translocation studies were conducted to compare a 1-aminomethanamide dihydrogen tetraoxosulfate (GLY-A) formulation of glyphosate with two isopropylamine (GLY-IPA-1, GLY-IPA-2) formulations of glyphosate on velvetleaf. The two isopropylamine formulations differed by the presence of a surfactant in the formulation, GLY-IPA-1 containing surfactant whereas GLY-IPA-2 did not. Four- to six-leaf velvetleaf was treated with GLY-A and GLY-IPA-1 and GLY-IPA-2 (0, 50, 67, 89, 119, 158, 280, 420, 560 and 840 g AE ha(-1)) with and without ammonium sulfate (AMS; 20 g L(-1)). GLY-A and GLY-IPA-2 included a non-ionic surfactant (2.5 mL L(-1)) in the spray solution at all herbicide concentrations. No additional surfactant was added to GLY-IPA-1. The IC50 value for GLY-A was 88 g AE ha(-1) compared with 346 and 376 g AE ha(-1) for GLY-IPA-1 and GLY-IPA-2 respectively in the absence of AMS. When AMS (20 g L(-1)) was added to the spray solution, the estimated IC50 values were 143, 76 and 60 g AE ha(-1) for GLY-IPA-1, GLY-IPA-2 and GLY-A respectively. Absorption of 14C-glyphosate into the third leaf of five- to six-leaf velvetleaf was three- to sixfold greater 72 h after treatment (HAT) when applied as GLY-A compared with GLY-IPA-1 and GLY-IPA-2 respectively in the absence of AMS. AMS (20 g L(-1)) increased absorption of 14C-glyphosate in all glyphosate formulations two- to threefold, but differences among the formulations remained. Approximately three- and sixfold more 14C-glyphosate applied as GLY-A had translocated out of the treated leaf compared with GLY-IPA-1 and GLY-IPA-2 respectively by 72 HAT. Adding AMS (20 g L(-1)) increased translocation of 14C-glyphosate out of the treated leaf approximately 2.5-fold for all three formulations. The increased efficacy of GLY-A versus GLY-IPA-1 and GLY-IPA-2 on velvetleaf is due to the greater rate of absorption and subsequent translocation of glyphosate out of the treated leaf. AMS increased the efficacy of all three formulations by increasing absorption and translocation of glyphosate in the plant.     

Possible recombination of tomato-infecting begomoviruses in Thailand

Nucleotide sequences of the three distinct Tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus (TYLCTHV) strains (CM, NK, SK) were analyzed for recombination events. Recombination detection program analyses and a sequence alignment survey provided evidence of recombination between AC1 sequences of TYLCV, TYLCTHV-[MM], and TYLCTHV-[NK] as major parents and of ToLCLV, ToLCTWV, and TYLCTHV-[SK] as minor parents of TYLCTHV-[NK], -[SK], -[CM], respectively. The results further support the notion that interspecies recombination may play a significant role in geminivirus diversity and their emergence as important pathogens.