Geographic Distribution of Ryegrass Resistent to the Clethodim Herbicide in Rio Grande do Sul1

Abstract

ABSTRACT Ryegrass is a weed of annual cycle that is present in winter crops, in orchards and vineyards of the South region of Brazil. The species is normally controlled by the glyphosate herbicide, but the continuous use of this product caused the selection of resistant biotypes. The use of ACCase inhibitor herbicides is the main alternative for the control of this species, but it has not been satisfactory in some places, thus causing suspicion of resistance to this action mechanism. Thus, the objective of this paper was to evaluate the occurrence and geographic distribution of ryegrass biotypes that are resistant to the clethodim herbicide in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. For that, seeds of ryegrass plants that survived the application of clethodim were collected in crops from the north region of RS, summing up to a total of 152 samples from 72 cities. The biotypes were submitted to the application of 120 g i.a. ha-1 (maximum registered dose) and 60 g i.a. ha-1 de clethodim (half the maximum registered dose). According to the results, among the samples of ryegrass seeds collected, there were no biotypes resistant to the clethodim herbicide when the maximum registered dose was applied and in the stage of three to four leaves. However, there were biotypes with lower susceptibility that survived half the maximum registered dose.