Survey of Common Waterhemp (Amaranthus rudis) Response to Protox- and ALS-Inhibiting Herbicides in Northeast Kansas1

Abstract

A population of common waterhemp in northeast Kansas was confirmed resistant to protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox)-inhibiting herbicides in 2001. In 2002, seeds were collected from 28 sites in a 16-km radius surrounding the site where resistance was confirmed to determine the extent of protox resistance in common waterhemp populations throughout the area. In addition, common waterhemp response to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides and glyphosate was determined. At least one common waterhemp plant among the 48 plants tested from each of 10 sites was acifluorfen-resistant. These sites were randomly scattered throughout the sampling area, and resistance may have resulted from seed or pollen movement or independent development. Acifluorfen-resistant common waterhemp plants were initially injured by acifluorfen, but plants began recovering from injury within 14 days after treatment (DAT). All sites contained at least two common waterhemp plants with imazethapyr resistance, whereas plants from all sites were susceptible to glyphosate. Because acifluorfen- and imazethapyr-resistant common waterhemp populations are found in northeastern Kansas, protox-inhibiting and ALS-inhibiting herbicides may not provide common waterhemp control.Nomenclature: acifluorfen-methyl; glyphosate; imazethapyr; common waterhemp, Amaranthus rudis Sauer, #3 AMATA.Additional index word: Herbicide resistance.Abbreviations: ALS, acetolactate synthase [E.C. 2.2.1.6]; DAT, days after treatment; protox, protoporphyrinogen oxidase [E.C. 1.3.3.4].