Weed resistance to herbicides occurs when herbicides are overused and can be mitigated by reducing their use. Consensus on herbicide resistance management strategies is problematic given strong industrial profit motive links in the weed science discipline.

The management of glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth has been a challenge in southern United States cropping systems. Registration of dicamba-resistant crops will provide an alternative management option to control herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth populations, particularly those having resistance to herbicide Groups 2, 3, 5, 9, 14, and 27. However, repeated use of sublethal doses of dicamba may lead to rapid evolution of herbicide resistance, especially in Palmer amaranth—a species with a strong tendency to evolve resistance. Therefore, selection experiments with dicamba were conducted on Palmer amaranth using sublethal doses. In the greenhouse, a known susceptible Palmer amaranth population was subjected to sublethal dicamba doses for three generations (P1–P3). Susceptibility of the individuals to dicamba was evaluated, and its susceptibility to 2,4-D was characterized. Based on the greenhouse study, following three generations of dicamba selection, the dose required to cause 50% mortality increased from 111 g ae ha−1 for parental individuals (P0) to 309 g ae ha−1 for the P3. Furthermore, reduced susceptibility of the P3 to 2,4-D was also evident. This research presents the first evidence that recurrent use of sublethal dicamba doses can lead to reduced susceptibility of Palmer amaranth to dicamba as well as 2,4-D. Here, we show that selection from sublethal dicamba doses has an important role in rapid evolution of Palmer amaranth with reduced susceptibility to auxin-type herbicides.

Knowledge of Palmer amaranth biology and physiology is essential for the development of effective weed management systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of Palmer amaranth gender to nutrient deficiency and light stress. Differential gender responses were observed for all the growth, phenology, and photochemistry parameters measured. Female plants, for example, invested more in height, stem, and total dry weight, whereas male plants invested more in leaf area and leaf dry weight. The growth rate of females was higher than that of male Palmer amaranth plants, although both followed similar declining trends as the experimental period progressed. Initiation of flowering of female plants occurred 6 to 8 d earlier compared with male plants. Nitrogen and to a certain extent phosphorous were the most influential nutrients that affected measured parameters in both Palmer amaranth genders, particularly under high light intensity. Electron transport rate and chlorophyll content of female Palmer amaranth plants compared with male plants was lower at high light intensity in combination with nitrogen and phosphorous deficiencies. There is a potential to manipulate Palmer amaranth population structure by altering microenvironments at the field level.

Fluazifop-P-butyl, a selective graminicide, has been widely used to control annual grass weeds for more than three decades in Taiwan, and a resistant (R) biotype of goosegrass has consequently appeared. In this study, liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) was applied to analyze metabolites of fluazifop-P-butyl in a R biotype of goosegrass. Six signals, including mass-to-charge ratios (m/z) 512, 432, 423, 415, 314, and 160, in positive scanning mode, and four signals, including m/z 788, 623, 593, and 162, in negative scanning mode, were found in the metabolites of the R and S biotypes, respectively. All of the signals of these metabolites in the R biotype showed higher intensity than those of the S biotype, except for m/z 162. Based on the molecular weights of the fragments (MS2 signal) from the molecules (MS1 signal) and comparison with the Metabolite Link Metabolomics database, MassBank database, and related references, one reduced form of fluazifop acid, i.e., 2-[4-(5- trifluoromethyl-2-pyridyloxy) phenoxy] propanol (MW 313); two types of intermediates of MW 163, i.e., 5-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridone and 5-trifluoromethyl-2-hydroxypyridine (or 2-hydroxy-5-trifluoromethyl pyridine); and five possible conjugated compounds containing a common core fragment (MW 255) from fluazifop acid were identified. In addition, another compound, likely degraded from one of the five conjugated compounds, was also detected. Accordingly, the metabolic pathway of fluazifop-P-butyl in goosegrass is described in this study. An enzyme kinetic study on glutathione S-transferase showed that the R biotype has higher affinities to the substrates reduced glutathione (GSH) and 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene, with S/R Km ratios of 3.0 and 2.4, respectively. No difference in Vmax was found, revealing that the S biotype has a strong ability to bind GSH and herbicide or target molecules and showed susceptibility to fluazifop.

Understanding the mechanism of herbicide resistance is fundamental for designing sustainable weed control strategies and exploiting herbicides rationally. Shortawn foxtail is a problem grass weed infesting several important crops in China. The repeated use of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicides has resulted in herbicide resistance in this weed. The ACCase gene of resistant individuals of a shortawn foxtail population (JSLS-1) has an Ile-2041-Thr mutation. F2 generation seeds, originated from the same heterozygous plant, were harvested, and two homozygous mutant (JSLS-1RR) and wild (JSLS-1SS) populations for the Ile-2041-Thr mutation were obtained. In whole plants, the JSLS-1RR population conferred high resistance to fenoxaprop and clodinafop, moderate resistance to haloxyfop, low resistance to pinoxaden, and no obvious resistance to clethodim and sethoxydim, compared with JSLS-1SS and a proven susceptible population (HNXY-1). A derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (dCAPS) marker was developed to rapidly detect the rare Ile-2041-Thr mutation in the shortawn foxtail population. This is the first report of the cross-resistance pattern of Ile-2041-Thr mutation, and the robust dCAPS marker could quickly detect this mutation in shortawn foxtail.

Waterhemp is a weed indigenous to the midwestern United States and is problematic in agronomic crop production. This weed is well suited to inhabit minimally tilled environments and is increasing in prevalence across many agricultural production areas and systems. A common garden experiment was established in Indiana in 2014 and 2015 with waterhemp populations from Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska to compare the growth and development of waterhemp from these regions. Three establishment dates (May, June, and July) were used each year to simulate discontinuous germination. Mean biomass accumulations from the May (1,120 g plant−1) and June (1,069 g plant−1) establishment dates were higher than from the July (266 g plant−1) establishment date. There were no differences in biomass accumulations between the five populations in the May and June establishments, but biomass accumulations ranged from 195 to 338 g plant−1 in the July establishment. Mean seed yields were higher from the May (926,629 seeds plant−1) and June (828,905 seeds plant−1) establishment dates compared with the July (276,258 seeds plant−1) establishment. In the May and June establishments, seed yields ranged from 469,939 seeds plant−1 to 1,285,556 seeds plant−1. The Illinois population flowered the latest of all the populations yet also grew the tallest. The July establishment flowered the most rapidly after establishment, accumulated less biomass, and also had the largest seeds. This study demonstrated differences among waterhemp populations when grown in a common environment and the effect of establishment timing on waterhemp growth and development.

American burnweed is an increasingly common annual weed in wild blueberry fields in Atlantic Canada and Maine. Knowledge of seed dormancy characteristics and potential for this species to form persistent seedbanks in wild blueberry soils, however, is lacking. A series of experiments were therefore conducted to investigate potential mechanisms regulating American burnweed seed dormancy in wild blueberry fields. Seeds were dormant at maturity and did not germinate in dark or light under warm conditions. Cold moist stratification (CMS) at 4 C for 90 d followed by exposure to warm conditions (22/15 C day/night) and light caused >90% germination, and germination was generally maximized following 80 d CMS. Exogenous potassium nitrate applied as a 5% solution did not stimulate germination, but nearly all seeds (>95%) germinated following treatment with 200, 400, 600, or 800 ppm (w/v) gibberellic acid (GA3) solution. Physical removal of the seed coat or seed exposure to short durations of dry heat did not increase germination. Seed exposure to 1 s of direct flame increased germination, but germination was low relative to germination following CMS and treatment with GA3. Based on these results, we conclude that American burnweed seeds in wild blueberry fields exhibit non–deep physiological dormancy that is most readily broken by CMS and light or seed treatment with GA3. Seeds will likely be exposed to favorable conditions for breaking dormancy (cold temperatures and light) in wild blueberry fields due to lack of tillage and seed burial, indicating high potential for this weed species to proliferate in wild blueberry fields if not properly managed.

Wild oat control options are limited in western Canada due to resistance to most common herbicides. Control of wild oat with pyroxasulfone, a soil-applied, very-long-chain fatty-acid inhibitor, was investigated. A series of greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to isolate the effects of vertical seed position, site of herbicide interception, and tillage on wild oat control with pyroxasulfone in comparison with triallate. In greenhouse experiments, wild oat shoot length (soil surface to leaf tip) was reduced (P<0.05) in shallow-seeded wild oat compared with deep-seeded wild oat with pyroxasulfone (6.2 and 9.8 cm, respectively) and triallate (3.7 and 13.2 cm, respectively). Soil-applied pyroxasulfone remained in the top 2.5 cm of the soil with or without a simulated rainfall event. Pyroxasulfone was most effective if either the seed or the shoot 1 cm above the seed intercepted the herbicide layer. If a wild oat emerges from deeper in the soil profile, the sensitive part of the seedling may not intercept an effective rate of pyroxasulfone in the soil. In field experiments comparing deep- and shallow-seeded wild oat treated with pyroxasulfone and triallate in fields with and without tillage, there were no significant effects of tillage alone on wild oat shoot length. Deep-seeded wild oat emerged early, and while herbicides reduced shoot growth, shoots were >10 cm. Shallow-seeded wild oat had delayed emergence, possibly due to reduced soil moisture, and herbicides reduced shoot growth to <10cm. Pyroxasulfone is likely to be more effective in no-till fields where wild oat seeds are not located deep in the soil.

Control of glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed in soybean with glyphosate (900 g ai ha−1) plus saflufenacil (25 gaiha−1) has been variable. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of GR horseweed height, density, and time of day (TOD) at application on saflufenacil plus glyphosate efficacy in soybean. All experiments were completed six times during a 2 yr period (2014, 2015) in fields previously confirmed with GR horseweed. Applications from 0900 to 2100 hours provided optimal control of GR horseweed 8 WAA. Soybean yield paralleled GR horseweed control with the highest yield of 3000kgha−1 at 1500 hours, and the lowest yield of 2400kgha−1 at 0600 hours. The height and density of GR horseweed at application had minimal effect on saflufenacil efficacy. Saflufenacil provided>99% control of GR horseweed when applied to small plants and low densities; however, control decreased to 95% when>25 cm tall, and to 96% in densities>800 plants m−2 at 6 WAA due to some plant regrowth. TOD of application had a greater influence on GR horseweed control with saflufenacil than height or density. To optimize control of GR horseweed, saflufenacil should be applied during daytime hours to small plants at low densities. Optimizing GR horseweed control minimizes weed seed return and weed interference.

The rapid spread of glyphosate-resistant sourgrass populations generates concern in the agricultural production sector in Brazil. Nonetheless, there is not much information related to the frequency and dispersion of sourgrass throughout recent years. We investigated the frequency and dispersion of glyphosate-resistant sourgrass populations in Brazilian agricultural regions as part of a larger-scale weed resistance monitoring study. A discriminatory rate of 960 g ae ha−1 of glyphosate was used on plants at the 2- to 3-tiller stage, originating from 2,593 populations of sourgrass sampled in 329 counties in 14 Brazilian states between 2012 and 2015. The dispersion of sourgrass populations originated in western Paraná State, next to the Paraguay border, where the first resistance case was reported. Its dispersion to the central region of Brazil, mainly in soybean-producing areas, is most likely a consequence of agricultural equipment movement and wind-mediated dispersal. Glyphosate-resistant sourgrass populations were found in every geographical region across all Brazilian states tested. These data highlight the importance of an appropriate weed resistance monitoring program to track the evolution and dispersion of resistance to mitigate these issues by focusing efforts regionally and raising awareness among stakeholders in each region.

Corn poppy is the most widespread broadleaf weed infesting winter cereals in Europe. Biotypes that are resistant (R) to both 2,4-D and tribenuron-methyl have evolved in recent decades, thus complicating their chemical control. In this study, field experiments at two locations over three seasons were conducted to evaluate the effects of different weed management strategies on corn poppy resistant to 2,4-D and tribenuron-methyl, including crop rotations, delayed sowing and different herbicide programs. After 3 yr, all integrated weed management (IWM) strategies reduced the initial density of corn poppy, although the most successful strategies were those which either included a suitable crop rotation (sunflower or field peas), or had a variation in the herbicide application timing (early POST or combining PRE or early POST and POST). The efficacy of IWM strategies differed between both locations, possibly due to different population dynamics and the genetic basis of herbicide resistance. Integrated management of multiple herbicide–resistant corn poppy is necessary in order to reduce selection pressure by herbicides, mitigate the evolution of new R biotypes, and reduce the weed density in highly infested fields.

Synthetic rubbers, synthetic plastic polymers (polyvinyl chlorides [PVC]), polyurethane blends, and polyethylene blends make up modern-day agricultural spray hoses. The objective of this study was to determine whether agricultural hose types would differ with respect to 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid (dicamba) sequestration. Field and greenhouse studies were conducted to evaluate the sequestration potential of dicamba within five agricultural hose types when cleaned with different cleanout procedures. Rinsate solutions were applied to soybean, which was used as a bio-indicator to test for cleanout efficiency. Differences among hose types and cleanout procedures exist with observations including soybean injury, height reduction, dry matter, yield, and part per million by volume (ppmv) analyte retained. The makeup of PVC polyurethane-blend and synthetic rubber–blend hoses increased retention of dicamba analyte when compared with the polyethylene blend hose. No differences were observed after the addition of ammonia to the cleanout solution when compared with water alone. Differences in a hose type’s ability to sequester the dicamba analyte may have more to do with the hose’s internal chemical composition, manufacturing process, and composition breakdown. Scanning electron microscopy revealed imperfections in new PVC polyurethane and synthetic rubber hoses that eventually lead to inner wall depletion of these hose types. This is in contrast to what was found in the polyethylene-blend hose type, in which the inner wall is smooth and free of imperfections.