Differential sensitivity of locally naturalized Panicum species to 4-hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase and acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides

Abstract

One of the possible reasons for the expansion of the alien panicoid grasses Panicum schinzii (Transvaal millet), Panicum dichotomiflorum (Fall panicum) and Panicum capillare (Witchgrass) in maize fields in Belgium might be a lower sensitivity to post-emergence herbicides acting against panicoid grasses, in particular those inhibiting 4-hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) and acetolactate synthase (ALS). Dose-response pot experiments were conducted in the greenhouse to evaluate the effectiveness of five HPPD-inhibiting herbicides (sulcotrione, mesotrione, isoxaflutole, topramezone, tembotrione) and two ALS-inhibiting herbicides (nicosulfuron, foramsulfuron) for controlling naturalized Belgian populations of P. schinzii, P. dichotomiflorum and P. capillare. In another dose-response pot experiment, sensitivity of five local P. dichotomiflorum populations to HPPD-inhibitors and nicosulfuron was investigated. Finally, the influence of growth stage at time of herbicide application on efficacy of topramezone and nicosulfuron for Panicum control was evaluated. Large interspecific differences in sensitivity to HPPD-inhibiting herbicides were observed. Panicum schinzii was sensitive (i.e., required a three-fold lower dose than maximum authorized field dose to achieve 90% reduction in biomass) to tembotrione but moderately sensitive (i.e. required maximum field dose) to topramezone and poorly sensitive (i.e. required three-fold higher dose than maximum field dose) to mesotrione and sulcotrione. However, P. dichotomiflorum, a species that morphologically closely resembles P. schinzii, was sensitive to mesotrione and topramezone but moderately sensitive to tembotrione. Panicum capillare was sensitive to sulcotrione and topramezone, moderately sensitive to tembotrione and poorly sensitive to mesotrione. All Panicum species were sensitive to low doses of nicosulfuron and foramsulfuron. Naturalized Panicum dichotomiflorum populations exhibited differential herbicide sensitivity profiles. All species tested showed a progressive decrease in sensitivity to topramezone and nicosulfuron with seedling age. A satisfactory post-emergence control of Panicum species in the field will require appropriate choice of herbicide and dose, as well as a more timely application (i.e. before weeds reach the four leaves stage).

Keywords

• bioassay
• herbicide sensitivity
• leaf stage
• nicosulforon
• panicoid grasses
• triketone