Repeated use of sulfonylurea herbicides in continuous, no-till winter wheat selected for a herbicide resistant biotype of prickly lettuce in Idaho. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to compare the relative competitiveness and growth rate of sulfonylurea herbicide resistant (R) and susceptible (S) prickly lettuce. The S biotype of prickly lettuce produced 31% more aboveground biomass than the R biotype averaged over all densities. Both biotypes were equally competitive when analyzed for both inter- and intrabiotype competition. In relative growth rate studies, regression analysis showed that the S biotype accumulated biomass 52% faster than the R biotype. The results of this study showed that the S biotype was superior to the R biotype in biomass production and growth rate, but competitiveness appeared to be equal for both biotypes. Other fitness parameters must be measured before fitness differences between biotypes can be determined.

Sulfonylurea herbicide-resistant prickly lettuce was discovered in Idaho in 1987. The objectives of these surveys were to determine the change with time in the proportion of sulfonylurea resistant and susceptible prickly lettuce biotypes on the farm where it originally occurred, and to determine the spread of sulfonylurea resistant prickly lettuce beyond its point of origin. On average, the proportion of resistant plants had decreased from 1988 to 1990, a period when sulfonylurea herbicide use was discontinued on the farm. Resistant prickly lettuce plants were found at seven sites away from the original infested farm. Several sites were near the farm along roadsides that had been sprayed with sulfometuron. This study shows that the proportion of resistant prickly lettuce decreased where previously found, but its range increased.