Control of Resistant False Cleavers (Galium spurium L.) Population to ALS-Inhibiting Herbicides and Its Impact on the Growth and Yield of Durum Wheat

Abstract

False cleavers (Galium spurium L.) is an annual broadleaf weed, commonly found in cereal crops around the world. It reduces crop yields mainly by the competition for nutrients and plant lodging, which decreases the photosynthetic rate of cultivated plants. Two field experiments were carried out in different locations to examine the efficacy of post-emergence herbicides against false cleavers in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). Herbicides that belong to sulfonylureas, triazolopyrimidines, and other groups (e.g., nitriles and synthetic auxins) were applied. The results revealed that the herbicide florasulam + aminopyralid provided low efficacy (57%) against this weed species, while the most effective herbicides were bromoxynil + 2,4-D and halauxifen-methyl + florasulam. Bromoxynil + 2,4-D efficacy against false cleavers was 73% and 97% at Domokos and Velestino, respectively, while halauxifen-methyl + florasulam efficacy ranged between 89% and 97%. Moreover, the herbicides metsulfuron-methyl + bensulfuron-methyl and pyroxsulam/florasulam + 2,4-D provided low efficacy (<11%) against false cleavers, revealing resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Regarding the impact of false cleavers and other weed species on the growth of durum wheat, the results showed that the greatest dry biomass (8508.3–8922.7 kg ha−1 and 13,041.4–13,523 kg ha−1 at Domokos and Velestino, respectively) was found in the bromoxynil + 2,4-D, halauxifen-methyl + florasulam, and weed-free treatments. Similar results were also recorded for 1000-seed weights and crop yields, while there were no statistically significant differences among the treatments for spike length. Finally, our results revealed that the herbicides bromoxynil + 2,4-D and halauxifen-methyl + florasulam effectively controlled the resistant false cleavers population. However, it is important to note that halauxifen-methyl + florasulam was recently registered in Greece and other countries and, thus, should be used sensibly by farmers in a rotation with other herbicides to prevent the development of resistant populations.