First Report of Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase–Resistant Southern Crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris) in the United States

Abstract

Two populations of southern crabgrass identified in Georgia turfgrass were suspected to be resistant to sethoxydim. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the resistance levels of these biotypes to acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors and alternative herbicides for control. From dose response experiments, the sethoxydim rate required to reduce shoot biomass 50% from the nontreated measured >64-times greater for both resistant (R) biotypes compared to the susceptible (S) biotype. Both R biotypes were cross-resistant to fenoxaprop and fluazifop. Clethodim at 290 gaiha−1reduced dry shoot biomass of the R biotypes and the S biotype to 47 and 21% of the nontreated, respectively. The R biotypes were equally susceptible to MSMA at 2240 g ai ha−1, quinclorac at 840 g ai ha−1, and topramezone at 37 g ai ha−1as compared to the S biotype. Sethoxydim at 315 and 945 g ha−1provided <20% control of the southern crabgrass populations in four field experiments. However, clethodim and topramezone provided 83% and 76% control at 4 wks after treatment, respectively. These southern crabgrass biotypes are resistant to sethoxydim and aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides. Although the R biotypes were less susceptible to clethodim than the S biotype, treatments provided acceptable control in the field. This is the first report of ACCase-resistant southern crabgrass in the United States.