Greenhouse experiments were conducted to quantify resistance levels to the 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting herbicides mesotrione (MES) and isoxaflutole (IFT) in NEB (Nebraska HPPD- and atrazine-resistant) and SIR (Stanford, IL, HPPD- and atrazine-resistant) waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J. D. Sauer] populations. These populations differ in their field-use histories and resistance levels to MES. Foliar growth responses were compared with ACR (HPPD sensitive; metabolic atrazine-resistant) and SEN (sensitive to HPPD and photosystem II [PSII] inhibitors). A greenhouse dose–response study was conducted with each herbicide at two POST timings: early (EPOST) (5 cm; 4 to 5 true leaves) and POST (10 cm; 8 to 9 true leaves). At the EPOST timing, SIR was 10-fold resistant to IFT and 32-fold resistant to MES, while NEB was 4-fold resistant to IFT and 7-fold resistant to MES when compared with ACR. At the POST timing, SIR was 17-fold resistant to IFT and 21-fold resistant to MES, while NEB was 3-fold resistant to IFT and 7-fold resistant to MES when compared with ACR. Results overall indicated greater fold-resistance levels to MES relative to IFT at each timing. However, POST treatments to SIR showed contrasting effects on resistance levels relative to EPOST. To investigate potential management strategies for resistant A. tuberculatus populations, a POST interaction study was conducted using combinations of metribuzin and either IFT or MES. A metribuzin rate (191 g ai ha−1) causing an approximately 20% biomass reduction was chosen for interaction studies and combined with varying rates of either IFT or MES. Results indicated 52.5 g ai ha−1 of MES combined with metribuzin displayed a synergistic effect on biomass reduction in SIR. However, other combinations of either MES or IFT and metribuzin resulted in additive effects on biomass reduction in both HPPD-resistant populations. These results provide insights into the joint activity between HPPD and PSII inhibitors for controlling metabolism-based, multiple herbicide–resistant A. tuberculatus.

The effects of atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine], cyanazine {2-[[4-chloro-6-(ethylamino)-s-triazin-2-yl] amino]-2-methylpropionitrile}, and procyazine {2-[[4-chloro-6-(cyclopropylamino)-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl] amino]-2-methylpropanenitrile} on the photochemical reactions of isolated pea (Pisum sativum L. ‘Progress #9 Dwarf’) chloroplasts were studied. Atrazine, cyanazine, and procyazine inhibited electron transport but did not uncouple photophosphorylation. The primary site of inhibition for all three herbicides was on the reducing side of photosystem II; the electron transfer step between the primary electron acceptor (Q) and the plastoquinone pool of the electron transport chain is suggested as the site of action of all three herbicides. The amount of inhibition of electron transport observed after addition of herbicide to isolated chloroplasts was time-dependent for cyanazine and procyazine but not for atrazine. This was apparently due to a slower partitioning of cyanazine and procyazine from the aqueous phase of the reaction solution into the highly hydrophobic environment within the chloroplast membrane. Treatment of the thylakoid membranes with detergent reduced the time-dependent inhibitory nature of cyanazine and procyazine, and the ability of atrazine to block electron transport. A photosystem II-dependent electron transport assay and a chlorophyll fluorescence induction assay were used to determine the inhibitory potentials of atrazine, cyanazine, and procyazine. After allowing for differences in the rate of membrane penetration, I50 values of approximately 2 × 10−7 M were determined for each of the three herbicides.

Field and greenhouse research was conducted to quantify the level of resistance to atrazine in Wisconsin (WRB1) and Maryland (MRB) velvetleaf biotypes and to determine cross-resistance of the WRB1 and MRB biotypes to other selected herbicides as compared to a Wisconsin atrazine-susceptible velvetleaf accession (WSA1). In field studies, the WRB1 and MRB biotypes survived atrazine applied POST at dosages as high as 4.5 kg ha−1. In contrast, the WSA1 accession had 50% survival following a 1.1 kg ha−1 POST atrazine application. The WRB1 biotype demonstrated neither cross-resistance nor negative cross-resistance to alachlor, bentazon, bromoxynil, cyanazine, dicamba, linuron, metribuzin, or thifensulfuron. The MRB biotype demonstrated neither cross-resistance nor negative cross-resistance to alachlor, bentazon, dicamba, metribuzin, or thifensulfuron; slight negative cross-resistance was demonstrated to bromoxynil, cyanazine, and linuron. In greenhouse studies, the WRB1 and MRB biotypes were approximately 100-fold more resistant to atrazine than the WSA1 accession; the WRB1 and MRB biotypes demonstrated neither cross-resistance nor negative cross-resistance to alachlor, ametryn, bentazon, bromoxynil, cyanazine, dicamba, linuron, metribuzin, pendimethalin, terbacil, or thifensulfuron. Absence of cross-resistance to cyanazine, ametryn, metribuzin, and terbacil in the WRB1 and MRB biotypes of velvetleaf is in contrast to most other atrazine-resistant weed biotypes.

The control of three summer annual grass weeds with herbicides during establishment of forage grasses was studied near Concord and Mead, NE, in 1984, 1985, and 1986. Three cool-season forage grasses, intermediate wheatgrass, tall fescue, and smooth bromegrass, and two warm-season grasses, big bluestem and switchgrass, were included. The control of three major summer annual grasses, green foxtail, barnyardgrass, and large crabgrass, was excellent with fenoxaprop at 0.22 kg ai/ha. Slight to moderate injury to cool-season forage grasses and severe injury to warm-season grasses were evident. Sethoxydim at 0.22 kg ai/ha and haloxyfop at 0.11 kg ai/ha controlled green foxtail and large crabgrass, but not barnyardgrass. Sulfometuron-treated big bluestem and switchgrass plots had the best forage stand frequencies and yields and, at the rate used, sulfometuron satisfactorily controlled green foxtail but only marginally controlled barnyardgrass and large crabgrass.

Triazine-resistant giant foxtail was identified in 1984 near Delta, PA. In field studies conducted from 1985 to 1987, preemergence applications of atrazine with cyanazine or simazine provided poor (≤60%) season-long control of this annual grass in no-tillage corn. Best season-long preemergence control was obtained with metolachlor or microencapsulated formulations of alachlor or EPTC. Postemergence applications of cyanazine or tridiphane + atrazine + crop oil provided poor giant foxtail control. Postdirected applications of paraquat resulted in fair (≥70%) control of giant foxtail through midseason. In greenhouse studies, triazineresistant (R) giant foxtail tolerated preemergence applications of atrazine or simazine at dosages to 9.0 kg ai/ha. Triazine-sensitive (S) giant foxtail was injured by 2.2 kg/ha and higher rates of atrazine and simazine. In laboratory studies, the I50 for inhibition by atrazine of photoinduced electron transport in thylakoids isolated from S and R biotypes was determined to be 0.24 and 205 μM, respectively. The differential sensitivity was paralleled by simazine. However, the limited solubility of simazine prevented determination of an I50 value with thylakoids from the R biotype.

In field studies, a preemergence application of metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] followed by an early postemergence application of dicamba (3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid) gave good season-long control of smooth pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus L. ♯ AMACH) in conventional and no-till corn (Zea mays L. ‘Pioneer 3184’ and ‘Pioneer 3382’). In soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Williams' and ‘Essex’], best control of smooth pigweed was achieved with an early postemergence application of sethoxydim {2-[1-(ethyoxy-imino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio) propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one} plus acifluorfen {5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoic acid}. Tillage played a role in the degree of smooth pigweed control. Best control of smooth pigweed in corn was obtained when the ground was moldboard plowed and disced, and least control was obtained when corn was no-till planted in the previous year's corn stalks or in a rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop.

Herbicide-resistant weeds have impacted crop production throughout the United States, but the effect they have on extension programming has not been evaluated. In June 2007, 38 extension weed specialists throughout the United States, responded to a survey on herbicide-resistant (HR) weeds and the impact they are having on extension education programming. Survey results revealed that HR weeds have had a significant impact on extension programming particularly for agronomic crops. In the last 10 yr, agronomic weed specialists' extension programming was almost twice as likely to be impacted by the presence of HR weeds as compared to horticultural programming. In the next 5 yr, agronomic extension programming is twice as likely to be altered. Of 37 weed species reported, seven genera or species of weeds represented 80% of the major HR biotypes reported. These include Amaranthus species, horseweed, Setaria species, common lambsquarters, kochia, giant ragweed, and Lolium species. Five weed species (common ragweed, common lambsquarters, horseweed, kochia, and three foxtail species) exhibited weed by mode of action (MOA) interactions when evaluated as major or minor problems. Herbicide resistance problem severity differed for weed species, herbicide MOA, and crops. The results of this survey of university extension personnel confirm that HR weeds have impacted extension programming and will continue to impact programming in the future.

Multiple-herbicide resistance represents an added weed management challenge to growers as it can considerably reduce their options for weed control. The widespread nature of triazine resistance in Ontario coupled with the more recent appearance of resistance to ALS inhibitors in Amaranthus species warranted documenting biotypes with multiple resistance. A collection of Powell amaranth and redroot pigweed biotypes that had previously been characterized for resistance to ALS inhibitors was therefore screened with atrazine. Dose–response analysis with atrazine and imazethapyr was also conducted. High-level resistance to imazethapyr and atrazine was determined in a Powell amaranth biotype from Perth County, Ontario. This biotype had a > 1,860-fold and 109-fold resistance to atrazine and imazethapyr, respectively. Sequence analysis was conducted for the psbA and ALS genes that code for the target sites of the triazines and imidazolinones, respectively. A mutation in the psbA gene was identified that coded for an amino acid substitution of glycine for serine at residue 264 of the D1 protein. This mutation is the most likely cause for triazine resistance in this biotype. Similarly, a nucleotide substitution was identified that codes for threonine in place of serine at position 652 of the ALS protein. This mutation in the ALS gene has only been observed previously in laboratory-selected mutants of arabidopsis and tobacco and is known to endow resistance to imidazolinones in plants. It is concluded that multiple resistance in this Powell amaranth biotype is due to the presence of altered target sites for triazine and imidazolinone herbicides.