Scientia Agricola (Jan 2003)
Biology, management and biochemical/genetic characterization of weed biotypes resistant to acetolactate synthase inhibitor herbicides
Abstract
Bidens pilosa and Amaranthus quitensis are major weeds infesting soybean [Glycine max L (Merrill)] fields in Brazil and Argentina. The repetitive use of acetolactate synthase (ALS EC 4.1.3.18) inhibiting herbicides in São Gabriel do Oeste, MS, Brazil and in the provinces of Córdoba and Tucumã, Argentina, has selected for resistant (R) biotypes of these weeds. Research work was developed to study the management, growth, biochemistry, and genetics of these R weed biotypes. In a field experiment it was found that chlorimuron-ethyl and imazethapyr at recommended rates (both ALS inhibitor herbicides), did not control R B. pilosa, but the alternative lactofen, fomesafen and bentazon were effective, either sprayed alone or mixed with the ALS inhibitor herbicides. Greenhouse studies confirmed the cross-resistance of both R biotypes to the imidazolinone and sulfonylurea herbicides, and these alternative herbicides, when sprayed alone or mixed with the ALS inhibitor, efficiently controlled both R and S populations. A growth analysis of the R and S biotypes of these weeds, under non-competitive conditions, indicated that there is no adaptive cost to the R biotypes (pleiotropic effect). A quick bioassay using ALS and ketoacid reductoisomerase (KARI) inhibitors showed that the resistance of the R biotypes to herbicides is related to a lack of sensitivity of the ALS enzyme to the herbicides. On the other hand, the sequencing of the gene that codifies the ALS resistance in R A. quitensis did not present any mutation in the A Domain region, suggesting that other positions of the gene that confer insensitivity of the ALS to sulfonylurea and imidazolinone herbicides could have mutated.
