Acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors are widely used for POST control of
sedges in turfgrass. A suspected resistant (R) biotype of annual sedge was
collected from a bermudagrass turf in Georgia with a history of exclusive
use of halosulfuron. Research was conducted to evaluate the resistance level
of this biotype to halosulfuron, efficacy of ALS-inhibiting herbicides and
other mechanisms of action for control, and the molecular and physiological
basis for resistance. In greenhouse experiments, the halosulfuron rate
required to reduce shoot biomass 50% in comparison with the nontreated at 8
wk after treatment (WAT) were 8 and > 1,120 g ai ha−1 for the
S (susceptible) and R biotypes, respectively. Imazapic, sulfosulfuron, and
trifloxysulfuron reduced biomass of the S biotype greater than 60% at 8 WAT,
but biomass was reduced less than 20% for the R biotype. Glufosinate,
glyphosate, MSMA, and sulfentrazone reduced shoot biomass of the R biotype
by 93, 86, 97, and 45%, respectively. In laboratory experiments, the
halosulfuron concentration required to inhibit ALS activity by 50% in
excised leaf tissues was 5.8 and > 1,000 μM for the S and R biotypes,
respectively. Gene sequencing of the R biotype revealed a Pro-197-Ser
substitution that confers resistance to ALS inhibitors. This is the first
report of ALS-inhibitor resistance in annual sedge and herbicide resistance
in a sedge species from a turfgrass system.