Rates Of Glufosinate Research Articles

Confirmation and inheritance of glufosinate resistance in an Amaranthus palmeri population from North Carolina.

A putative glufosinate-resistant Amaranthus palmeri population was reported in 2015 in Anson County, North Carolina. The results from dose-response assays conducted in the field suggested plants were surviving lethal rates of glufosinate. Dose-response assays conducted in the glasshouse determined the Anson County accession exhibited reduced susceptibility to glufosinate compared to three glufosinate-susceptible populations. The LD50 values (210-316 g ai ha-1) for the Anson County population were always higher than the LD50 values (118-158 g ai ha-1) for the tested susceptible populations from the dose-response assays. Anson County plants that survived lethal glufosinate rates were reciprocally crossed with susceptible plants to create F1 genotypes and treated with a lethal rate of glufosinate (267 g ai ha-1; ascertained from glasshouse dose-response assay) to determine the distribution of injury and survival for each cross compared to a cross of susceptible parents. The distribution of injury was non-normal for the crosses containing an Anson County plant compared to the cross with a susceptible parent. Survival was 68%-84% for crosses containing an Anson County plant, whereas the survival was significantly reduced to 35% for the susceptible plant cross. Chi-square goodness of fit tests were used to test inheritance models to describe the responses of the genotypes. The resistant × susceptible crosses were best described with a heterozygous two loci with incomplete dominance model compared to the resistant × resistant cross that was best described with a heterozygous single locus with incomplete dominance model. The Anson County population has evolved resistance to glufosinate that is heritable and likely conferred by an oligogenic mechanism with incomplete dominance.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) response to low‐rate applications of selected herbicides at vegetative and reproductive growth stages

AbstractOff‐target drift of herbicides can seriously reduce peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) growth and yield and is of great concern to growers who will need to manage sensitive crops near new herbicide‐tolerant crops. Field experiments were conducted in 2021 and 2022 with 25% labeled rates of dicamba, glufosinate, glyphosate, lactofen, and paraquat to simulate drift on peanut. The objective was to evaluate the effects of low‐rate application of the herbicides on peanut injury and yield reductions and to determine if unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery‐based normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) provides accurate estimation of peanut injury from the herbicides applied at vegetative (V3) and reproductive (R3) growth stages. Peanut suffered greater yield reduction (33%) when exposed to the herbicides at R3 than at V3 growth stage (19%) across all herbicides applied. The order of herbicides that induced yield reductions in peanut was glyphosate > glufosinate = dicamba > paraquat = lactofen. Regardless of exposure timing, NDVI values generated from UAV imagery could not differentiate paraquat or lactofen injury from the weed‐free check. However, NDVI values could differentiate between injured and weed‐free check plants up to 2 and 4 weeks after treatment (WAT) for dicamba at R3 and V3 exposure timing, respectively, up to 4 WAT for glufosinate, and 8 WAT for glyphosate. NDVI from aerial imagery may be helpful to accelerate the detection of injury in large hectarages with greater accuracy compared with visual injury rating, which can be influenced by individual estimation bias.

Multistate screening of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) and waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) sensitivity to glufosinate, dicamba and 2,4-D in the United States

AbstractHerbicide resistance in Palmer amaranth and waterhemp is on the rise and poses a great concern to growers in the United States. A multistate screening was conducted for these two weed species in the United States to assess their sensitivity to glufosinate, dicamba, and 2,4-D. The screening was designed to understand the weed sensitivity landscape and emerging trends in resistance evolution by testing each herbicide at its respective label rate and at half the label rate. A total of 303 weed seed accessions from 21 states representing 162 Palmer amaranth and 141 waterhemp seeds were collected from grower fields in 2019 and screened in greenhouse conditions. Statistical power of different sample sizes and probability of survivors in each accession were estimated for each species and herbicide treatment. Overall, the efficacy of glufosinate, dicamba, and 2,4-D against all these accessions was excellent, with greater than 90% average injury. The variability in herbicide injury, if any, was greater with half the label rate of 2,4-D in some Palmer amaranth accessions, while waterhemp accessions had exhibited variable sensitivity with half the label rate of dicamba and glufosinate. The study highlights the value of monitoring weeds for herbicide sensitivity across broader landscape and the importance of glufosinate, dicamba, and 2,4-D herbicides in managing troublesome weeds as part of a diversified weed control program integrated with other chemical, mechanical and cultural practices.

Effect of glufosinate rate and addition of ammonium sulfate on annual weed control in glyphosate/glufosinate/2,4-D–resistant soybean

AbstractThe development of glufosinate-resistant soybean cultivars has created opportunities for use of glufosinate applied postemergence for weed control. Four field experiments were conducted in 2021 and 2022 to ascertain the effect of glufosinate rate and the addition of ammonium sulfate on annual weed control in glyphosate/glufosinate/2,4-D–resistant soybean. An increased glufosinate rate of 500 from 300 g ai ha−1 improved control of common ragweed, common lambsquarters, redroot pigweed, and foxtail species and resulted in decreased density and dry biomass of common lambsquarters and foxtail species. The addition of ammonium sulfate to glufosinate increased control of common lambsquarters, 2 and 8 wk after application (WAA), and of foxtail species, 2, 4, and 8 WAA, but did not improve control of common ragweed and redroot pigweed. Increasing the dose of glufosinate from 300 to 500 g ai ha−1 improves control of common ragweed, redroot pigweed, common lambsquarters, and foxtail species; however, the benefit of the addition of ammonium sulfate to glufosinate is weed species-specific.

Influence of Glufosinate Rate, Ammonium Sulfate, and Weed Height on Annual Broadleaf Weed Control

Weed control efficacy with contact herbicides can depend on weed height at application. Four field experiments were conducted at sites with multiple weed species at different heights to determine the effect of weed height, glufosinate rate, and the addition of ammonium sulfate (AMS) on annual broadleaf weed control in soybean in southwestern Ontario, Canada, during 2021 and 2022. Glufosinate was applied at 300 or 500 g ai ha-1 without or with 6.50 L ha-1 of AMS to 5, 10, and 15 cm tall common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.), and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.). Glufosinate provided excellent common ragweed control (> 98%) at both rates, without and with AMS, and at all three heights 4 weeks application (WAA). In contrast, glufosinate efficacy declined when applied to common lambsquarters, velvetleaf, and redroot pigweed > 5 cm in height. The addition of AMS to glufosinate improved common lambsquarters control. Increasing the rate of glufosinate to 500 g ai ha-1 and the addition of AMS improved control of velvetleaf and redroot pigweed. The results of this study demonstrate that the effect of glufosinate rate, AMS addition, and weed height at application timing is weed species-specific. In general, glufosinate (300 g ai ha-1) controlled common annual broadleaf weeds if weeds were < 5 cm in height; otherwise, glufosinate needed to be applied at 500 g ai ha-1 with AMS for control of annual broadleaf weeds, especially common lambsquarters, velvetleaf and redroot pigweed. 

Differential response of winter- and summer-emerging accessions of rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin) to postemergence herbicides in Australia

AbstractRigid ryegrass is a problematic weed species in winter crops and winter fallow; however, recently, this weed species has been observed in summer crops and fallow. These observations warrant the evaluation of different postemergence herbicides for its control. Outdoor pot studies were conducted during the spring and summer of 2021 to 2022 to determine the performance of POST herbicides on two summer-emerging (S3 and S6) and two winter-emerging (W3 and W8) accessions of rigid ryegrass. Across all accessions, butroxydim, clethodim, paraquat, and paraquat + amitrole at the field rate provided complete control of rigid ryegrass. Both summer-emerging accessions were found to be resistant to the field rates of glufosinate (750 g ai ha−1), glyphosate (454 g ae ha−1), haloxyfop (52 g ai ha−1), and pinoxaden (30 g ai ha−1). The S6 accession had the highest dose required for a 50% reduction in biomass for these herbicides (glufosinate 1,120 g ai ha−1, glyphosate 1,210 g ae ha−1, haloxyfop 140 g ai ha−1, and pinoxaden 55 g ai ha−1). This summer-emerging accession (S6) was also resistant to iodosulfuron. All four accessions were found susceptible to imazamox + imazapyr (a commercial mixture) and mesosulfuron. The study provides the first evidence of poor control of summer-emerging accessions of rigid ryegrass with different herbicides. Multiple-herbicide-resistant summer-emerging rigid ryegrass accessions would be a challenge to the production of summer crops (e.g., cotton and sorghum) as well as winter crops that rely on weed-free summer fallows for soil moisture retention; therefore these accessions warrant diversified management strategies.

Confirmation of glufosinate-resistant Palmer amaranth and response to other herbicides

AbstractThe ability of weed populations to evolve resistance to herbicides affects management strategies and the profitability of crop production. The objective of this research was to screen Palmer amaranth accessions from Arkansas for glufosinate resistance. Additional efforts focused on the effectiveness of various herbicides, across multiple sites of action (SOAs), on each putative-resistant accession. The three putative accessions were selected from 60 Palmer amaranth accessions collected in 2019 and 2020 and screened with to 0.5× and 1× rates of glufosinate. A dose-response experiment was conducted for glufosinate on accessions A2019, A2020, and B2020. The effectiveness of various preemergence- and postemergence-applied herbicides were evaluated on each accession. Resistance ratios of A2019, A2020, and B2020 to glufosinate ranged from 5.1 to 27.4 when comparing LD50 values to two susceptible accessions, thus all three accessions were resistant to glufosinate. All three accessions (A2019, A2020, and B2020) were found to have a reduction equal to or greater than 20 percentage points in mortality to at least one herbicide from five different SOAs equal to or greater than five sites of action. Herbicides from nine different SOAs controlled A2019 at least 20 percentage points less than the susceptible accessions, which points to a need for additional research to characterize the response of this accession.

Strategies to improve the control of glyphosate-resistant horseweed (Erigeron canadensis) with glufosinate applied preplant to soybean

AbstractThe objectives of this study were to determine if the level and consistency of glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed control prior to soybean planting can be improved by (i) adding halauxifen-methyl, 2,4-D ester, saflufenacil, metribuzin, or dicamba to glufosinate, (ii) increasing the rate of glufosinate from 500 to 1,000 g ai ha–1, and (iii) adding 28% urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) as the carrier solution. During a 2-yr period (2020–2021), four field trials were conducted on commercial farms located in southwestern Ontario, Canada, with confirmed GR horseweed. Glufosinate controlled GR horseweed 65%, 66%, and 63% at 2, 4, and 8 wk after application (WAA), respectively, and reduced density and biomass 46% and 33% at 8 WAA, respectively. There was no improvement in GR horseweed control from the addition of halauxifen-methyl, 2,4-D ester or saflufenacil to glufosinate and no decrease in density and biomass, with the exception that the addition of saflufenacil to glufosinate reduced density 30% compared to glufosinate alone. The addition of metribuzin to glufosinate improved GR horseweed control by 22%, 22%, and 28% at 2, 4, and 8 WAA, respectively, and further reduced density and biomass 50% and 47%, respectively, at 8 WAA, respectively. The addition of dicamba to glufosinate improved GR horseweed control by 19%, 26%, and 30% at 2, 4, and 8 WAA, respectively, and further reduced density and biomass 54% and 60%, respectively, at 8 WAA. There was no improvement in GR horseweed control by increasing the rate of glufosinate from 500 to 1,000 g ai ha–1 or when using 28% UAN as the carrier solution. The addition of all herbicides to glufosinate, increasing the rate of glufosinate, or using 28% UAN as the carrier solution improved the consistency of GR horseweed control.

Response of Imidazolinone-Resistant Sunflower to Various Drift Rates of Glyphosate, Glufosinate and Indaziflam

Imidazolinone (IMI) herbicides are used in sunflower due to the need for sunflower broomrape control, and IMI - resistant sunflower has become common in Turkey. Cereal fields and orchards are often in close vicinity to sunflower fields, and herbicide drift from these areas can adversely affect sunflower. Fields experiments were conducted at Edirne and Ankara, Turkey, in 2018 and 2019 to quantify the sunflower (IMI - resistant) response to various simulated drift rates of glyphosate, glufosinate, and indaziflam. Herbicides were applied to sunflower at 12.5, 6.25, 3.125, and 1% of recommended rates. Crop injury was visually evaluated at 7, 14, and 28 d after treatment (DAT), and plant responses to herbicides were assessed at harvest. Sunflower was injured by all rates of glyphosate applied, with 15 to 100% (in Edirne) and 9 to 84% (Ankara) injury at 28 DAT. Glufosinate - related injury was 5 to 58% in Edirne and 7 to 43% in Ankara at 7 DAT, and decreased with time. In contrast, indaziflam caused no significant crop injury or yield losses. The recommended rates of 6.25% and 12.5 of glyphosate killed all sunflower plants in 2019, while in 2018 the yield loss was 100% only at recommended rate of 12.5% glyphosate. Lower rates of glyphosate reduced yield by 2 to 87% in 2018 and 18 to 62% in 2019. On the other hand, the two highest rates of glufosinate resulted in a yield reduction of 9 and 6% in 2018, respectively, but not in 2019. Injury at early stages after exposure is a good indicator of the impact of glyphosate drift on sunflower yield.

Flue‐cured tobacco response to sublethal rates of glufosinate

AbstractGlufosinate is a broad‐spectrum, contact herbicide that is currently applied to genetically engineered row crops that tolerate exposure to the compound. Flue‐cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is susceptible to glufosinate, yet it is commonly grown in close proximity to tolerant crops in North Carolina. The impact of glufosinate drift on flue‐cured tobacco is not known. Research was conducted in North Carolina to test the effects of sublethal rates of glufosinate (0.270, 0.135, 0.067, 0.034, 0.017 lb a.i. acre–1) on flue‐cured tobacco injury, yield, visual quality, financial value, and leaf chemistry. Simulated drift was imposed approximately 5 wk after transplanting. Visual injury increased with exposure rate and ranged from 15 to 83% and from 10 to 83% 1 and 2 wk after treatment, respectively. Cured leaf yield was reduced by 45% at the highest sublethal exposure rate and exhibited a linear decline of 47 lb acre–1 for every 0.01 lb glufosinate acre–1. Visual quality and per acre financial value were not affected by glufosinate, most likely due to the loss of necrotic tissue and late‐season plant growth compensation. Residues of glufosinate in green and cured leaves were likewise not detected. Producers and commercial applicators should exercise caution when applying glufosinate around flue‐cured tobacco because of the injury and yield loss that can result from physical spray drift, as well as the inability to sell tobacco that has been exposed to a pesticide that is not labeled for application.

Biological effects on Palmer amaranth surviving glufosinate

AbstractPalmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) is a difficult weed to manage due to competitive growth, fecundity, and evolved herbicide resistance. Limited information exist on the fecundity of vegetative stage Palmer amaranth surviving glufosinate applied at different timings. In addition, research has not investigated the germination or glufosinate susceptibility of the offspring from these surviving plants. Field experiments were conducted across three locations in 2019 to determine (a) the fecundity of Palmer amaranth plants surviving glufosinate applied at different vegetative growth stages, and (b) if the offspring from the surviving plants exhibited differential germination and susceptibility to glufosinate. Palmer amaranth was treated at three different vegetative sizes (5 cm, 7–10 cm, > 10 cm) and orthogonal combinations of these application timings. The application timings corresponded to early‐, mid‐ and late‐postemergence applications. Palmer amaranth plants surviving the mid‐, late‐, and the mid postemergence followed by late postemergence glufosinate application were fecund. Palmer amaranth plants surviving the mid postemergence followed by late postemergence application produced less seed than the plants surviving the mid postemergence and late postemergence application. Palmer amaranth was controlled with other glufosinate applications resulting in no seed production. Germination was affected across location and glufosinate treatments, but no clear trend/pattern was observed. The offspring from Palmer amaranth plants surviving glufosinate applications were controlled by all glufosinate rates tested. These experiments provide evidence that Palmer amaranth surviving glufosinate in the vegetative stages may remain fecund, but fecundity can vary with application timing. No measurable effect on the offspring germination or susceptibility to glufosinate was apparent.

English

The pat gene confers tolerance to glufosinate in transgenic soybean plants; however, some aspects of the selectivity of this herbicide need to be better elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the development of soybean plants with the pat gene under the application of different glufosinate rates. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse and included seven different glufosinate rates of and two soybean cultivars (LL0291 and LL0767) with the pat gene, with four replications in a completely randomized design. Glufosinate was applied at the V4 stage (4 nodes on the main stem with fully developed leaves beginning with the unifoliolate nodes) of soybean, and the variables analyzed were: soybean injury, chlorophyll index, plant height, dry and fresh matter of shoots and roots, wet nodules, dry nodules, and total number of nodules. It was found that for both cultivars, the maximum recommended glufosinate rate of 700 g of active ingredient (ai) ha-1 was safe, rates above 1,250 g ai ha-1 may interfere with development, especially biomass accumulation, and, in general, cultivar LL0291 exhibited more injuries than cultivar LL0767. The glufosinate-tolerant soybean (with pat gene) is a great option for farmers, but care should be taken with respect to rates above the maximum recommended in the package insert, so that there is no damage to soybean. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers

Effect of glyphosate and glufosinate on nutritional content and agronomic performance of maize possessing cp4epsps and pat transgenes

The aim of this study was to check the tolerance level of maize possessing the transgenes cp4epsps and pat, exposed to high rates of glyphosate or glufosinate. Field experiments were carried out in 2016/17 at the first growing season; and the other in the second growing season, in Palotina, state of Paraná (PR), Brazil. The design was completely randomized block with 4 replications, which were set up with variations of rates of herbicides: glyphosate (0; 2,160; 4,320; 6,480 and 8,640 g ae ha-1) (experiment 1) and glufosinate (0; 1,500; 3,000; 4,500 and 6,000 g ai ha-1) (experiment 2). The application was performed at the V4 stage. Plants were evaluated for injuries, final plant height, stem diameter, 100-grain mass, yield and content of P, K, S, Fe, Cu and Zn. The results show that there was no reduction in yield and 100-grain mass, as well as changes in nutrient contents, even with the use of high rates of glyphosate and glufosinate. This is explained by the rapid recovery of maize hybrids under favorable developmental conditions. Despite causing injuries and decreased height, application of glyphosate (up to 8,640 g ae ha-1) or glufosinate (up to 6,000 ai ha-1) did neither reduce yield and 100-grain mass nor the nutrient contents of grains. This shows the high selectivity of these herbicides. Nonetheless, crop injury and reduction in height were observed in maize plants for herbicide application. This indicates the risks of using herbicides above the rates recommended in the package insert, despite the absence of deleterious effects on yield

Response of grain sorghum to low rates of glufosinate and nicosulfuron

AbstractPrevious research has shown that glufosinate and nicosulfuron at low rates can cause yield loss to grain sorghum. However, research has not been conducted to pinpoint the growth stage at which these herbicides are most injurious to grain sorghum. Therefore, field tests were conducted in 2016 and 2017 to determine the most sensitive growth stage for grain sorghum exposure to both glufosinate and nicosulfuron. Field test were designed with factor A being the herbicide applied (glufosinate or nicosulfuron). Factor B consisted of timing of herbicide application including V3, V8, flagleaf, heading, and soft dough stages. Factor C was glufosinate or nicosulfuron rate where a proportional rate of 656 g ai ha−1 of glufosinate and 35 g ai ha−1 of nicosulfuron was applied at 1/10×, 1/50×, and 1/250×. Visible injury, crop canopy heights (cm), and yield were reported as a percent of the nontreated. At the V3 growth stage visible injury of 32% from the 1/10× rate of glufosinate and 51% from the 1/10× rate of nicosulfuron was observed. This injury was reduced by 4 wk after application (WAA) and no yield loss occurred. Nicosulfuron was more injurious than glufosinate at a 1/10× and 1/50× rate when applied at the V8 and flagleaf growth stages resulting in death of the shoot, reduced heading, and yield. Yield losses from the 1/10× rate of nicosulfuron were observed from V8 through early heading and ranged from 41% to 96%. Yield losses from the 1/50× rate of nicosulfuron were 14% to 16% at the flagleaf and V8 growth stages respectively. The 1/10× rate of glufosinate caused 36% visible injury 2 WAA when applied at the flagleaf stage, which resulted in a 16% yield reduction. By 4 WAA visible injury from either herbicide at less than the 1/10× rate was not greater than 4%. Results indicate that injury can occur, but yield losses are more probable from low rates of nicosulfuron at V8 and flagleaf growth stages.

Metabolic changes, agronomic performance, and quality of seeds in soybean with the pat gene after application of glufosinate

AbstractThe transgenic Liberty Link® (LL) soybean is tolerant to glufosinate, conferred by the enzyme phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT), which is encoded by the pat gene from Streptomyces viridochromogenes. Because symptoms of injury can be observed in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] plants in some situations, this study evaluated the effects of rates of glufosinate on agronomic performance; quality of LL soybean seeds; and the ammonia, glufosinate, and N-acetyl-l-glufosinate concentration (NAG) in soybeans with and without the pat gene after application of increasing glufosinate rates. Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted; the first evaluated the selectivity of glufosinate in LL soybeans, and the second evaluated the metabolic changes in soybeans with (LL) and without (RR2) the pat gene, after application of glufosinate. For fieldwork, application of glufosinate at rates up to four times the maximum recommended caused initial injury symptoms (up to 38.5%) in LL soybean plants. However, no negative effect was found on seed quality and agronomic performance of LL plants, including yield. This shows the selectivity of glufosinate promoted by pat gene insertion for application in POST (V4), in LL soybean. For the greenhouse experiment, it was concluded that the LL soybean plants presented high glufosinate metabolism, lower ammonia concentration, and no reduction in dry matter, in comparison with RR2 soybean, after application of high rates of glufosinate.

Recurrent Selection with Glufosinate at Low Rates Reduces the Susceptibility of a Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum Population to Glufosinate

Repeated applications of herbicides at the labelled rates have often resulted in the selection and evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds capable of surviving the labelled and higher rates in subsequent generations. However, the evolutionary outcomes of recurrent herbicide selection at low rates are far less understood. In this study of a herbicide-susceptible population of Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum, we assessed the potential for low glufosinate rates to select for reduced susceptibility to the herbicide, and cross-resistance to herbicides with other modes of action. Reduced susceptibility to glufosinate was detected in progeny in comparison with the parental population following three rounds of selection at low glufosinate rates. Differences were mainly observed at the 0.5X, 0.75X, and 1X rates. Comparing the parental susceptible population and progeny from the second and third selection cycle, the percentage of surviving plants increased to values of LD50 (1.31 and 1.16, respectively) and LD90 (1.36 and 1.26, respectively). When treated with three alternative herbicides (glyphosate, paraquat, and sethoxydim), no plants of either the parental or successive progeny populations survived treatment with 0.75X or higher rates of these herbicides. The results of this study provide clear evidence that reduced susceptibility to glufosinate can evolve in weed populations following repeated applications of glufosinate at low herbicide rates. However, the magnitude of increases in resistance levels over three generations of recurrent low-rate glufosinate selection observed is relatively low compared with higher levels of resistance observed in response to low-rate selection with other herbicides (three fold and more).

Post-emergence application of glufosinate on maize hybrids containing the phosphinothricin acetyltransferase gene (pat)

Several maize hybrids that present the phosphinothricin acetyltransferase gene (pat) are available in the market. However, these hybrids have different resistance levels to glufosinate herbicides. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the resistance of maize hybrids containing the pat gene (as a selection marker) to glufosinate. Field experiments were conducted in two sites in the 2016/2017 crop season, using a randomized block design with a 2×7 factorial arrangement and four replications. The treatments consisted of two glufosinate rates (0 and 500 g ha-1) and seven maize hybrids, six containing the pat gene as a selection marker (Herculex®, Agrisure-TL®, Herculex Yieldgard®, Leptra®, Viptera-3®, and Power-Core®) and one without the pat gene (VT PRO®). Two field experiments were conducted in different sites. The analyzed variables were: ammonia accumulation, electron transport rate (ETR), percentage of injuries, 100-grain weight, and grain yield. The glufosinate-susceptible maize hybrid presented higher ammonia accumulations, lower ETR, and high percentage of injuries (100%), which caused total loss of grain production. Considering the evaluated glufosinate-resistant maize hybrids, Viptera-3 and Agrisure-TL presented the highest ammonia accumulations and percentages of injuries, and lower ETR than the other hybrids. The grain yield of glufosinate-resistant maize hybrids was not reduced due to the application of the 500 g ha-1 of glufosinate. Thus, glufosinate-resistant maize hybrids containing the pat gene are resistant to the application of 500 g ha-1 of glufosinate, and this practice can be recommended for maize crops.

Timing and Application Rate for Sequential Applications of Glufosinate are Critical for Maximizing Control of Annual Weeds in LibertyLink® Soybean

Preserving the utility of glufosinate in both LibertyLink soybean and other glufosinate-resistant crops is critical for managing herbicide-resistant weeds. An experiment with a two-factor factorial arrangement was conducted at the Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Fayetteville, AR, in 2015, 2016, and 2017 to evaluate the efficacy of glufosinate in single and sequential applications at various rates on 8–32 cm tall Palmer amaranth, barnyardgrass, and broadleaf signalgrass. Herbicide treatments consisted of glufosinate applied at 454, 595, 738, and 882 g ai ha−1 (Factor 1) with either no sequential application or a sequential application occurring 7, 10, 14, or 21 days after the initial application (DAI) (Factor 2). For treatments that contained a sequential application, the same rate used in the initial application (e.g., 451 g ai ha−1) was also used in the sequential. Regardless of species and rate, sequential applications were always superior to single applications. Palmer amaranth control 3 weeks after the final treatment (WAF) was 8% greater when the sequential application occurred 10 DAI compared to 21 DAI, averaged over glufosinate rates. When at least 595 g ai ha−1 glufosinate was used in a treatment, no differences between the 7-, 10-, 14-, and 21-day sequential application intervals were observed for barnyardgrass or broadleaf signalgrass control, 3 WAF. Soybean yields were greater when the glufosinate applications occurred 7 or 10 d apart compared to 21 d, averaged over glufosinate rates. When large weeds are present in the field, these data suggest that glufosinate should be applied sequentially with a 7- to 14-day interval between applications. If sequential applications of glufosinate are used in combination with a comprehensive weed control management program, the value of the LibertyLink technology should be preserved by mitigating the risk of glufosinate resistance.

Control of waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) regrowth after failed applications of glufosinate or fomesafen

AbstractFoliar herbicide applications to waterhemp can result in inadequate control, leading to subsequent regrowth that often necessitates a second herbicide application to prevent crop interference and seed production. The most effective herbicides and application timings are unknown in situations where waterhemp has regrown from previous injury, such as failed applications of glufosinate or fomesafen. The objective of this research was to determine the optimum combination of herbicide and time from the first failed herbicide application to a sequential herbicide application for control of waterhemp regrowth. Reduced rates of either glufosinate or fomesafen were applied to 30-cm waterhemp plants to mimic failure of the initial herbicide application in separate bare-ground experiments. Respray treatments of glufosinate, fomesafen, lactofen, 2,4-D, or dicamba were applied 3, 7, or 11 d after the initial application. Glufosinate and fomesafen as respray treatments resulted in 90% to 100% control of waterhemp regardless of application timing following a failed glufosinate application. After a failed application of fomesafen, applying glufosinate or 2,4-D resulted in 87% to 99% control of waterhemp. Waterhemp control with fomesafen and lactofen was 13% to 21% greater, respectively, when those treatments followed glufosinate compared with fomesafen as the initial herbicides. On the basis of these results, glufosinate and fomesafen should be used for respray situations after inadequate control from glufosinate; and 2,4-D or glufosinate should be used for respray situations following inadequate control from fomesafen where crop tolerance and herbicide product labels allow. Although glufosinate followed by glufosinate was very effective for controlling waterhemp regrowth, caution should be exercised to avoid sequential application of herbicide with the same site of action.

Glufosinate enhances the activity of protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitors

AbstractGlufosinate inhibits glutamine synthetase (GS), a key enzyme for amino acid metabolism and photorespiration. Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitors block chlorophyll biosynthesis and cause protoporphyrin accumulation, a highly photodynamic intermediate. Both herbicides ultimately lead to plant death by a massive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through different mechanisms. We investigated a potential synergistic effect by the mixture of the two herbicide mechanisms of action (MoAs). The tank mix between a low rate of glufosinate (280 g ai ha−1) with an ultra-low dose of saflufenacil (1 g ha−1) provided enhanced herbicidal activity compared with the products applied individually on Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeriS. Watson). The synergism between the two herbicides was also confirmed by isobole analysis and field trials. The herbicide combination provided high levels of efficacy when applied at low temperature and low humidity. Mechanistically, glufosinate caused a transient accumulation of glutamate, the building block for chlorophyll biosynthesis. Consequently, inhibition of both GS and PPO resulted in greater accumulation of protoporphyrin and ROS, forming the physiological basis for the synergism between glufosinate and PPO inhibitors. While the synergy between the two herbicide MoAs provided excellent efficacy on weeds, it caused low injury to PPO-resistant waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus(Moq.) Sauer] and high injury to both glufosinate-resistant and glufosinate-susceptible soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr.]. Glufosinate enhances the activity of PPO inhibitors through glutamate and protoporphyrin accumulation, leading to increased levels of ROS and lipid peroxidation. The synergism between the two herbicide MoAs can help to overcome environmental effects limiting the efficacy of glufosinate. Future research is needed to optimize the uses for this herbicidal composition across different cropping systems.