The Evidence for Reduced Glyphosate Efficacy on Acetolactate Synthase–Inhibiting Herbicide-Resistant Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)

A yellow nutsedge biotype (Res) from an Arkansas rice field has evolved resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides. TheResbiotype previously exhibited cross-resistance to ALS inhibitors from four chemical families (imidazolinone, pyrimidinyl benzoate, sulfonylurea, and triazolopyrimidine). Experiments were conducted to evaluate alternative herbicides (i.e., glyphosate, bentazon, propanil, quinclorac, and 2,4-D) currently labeled in Arkansas rice–soybean production systems. Based on the percentage of aboveground dry weight reduction, control of the yellow nutsedge biotypes with the labeled rate of bentazon, propanil, quinclorac, and 2,4-D was < 44%. Glyphosate (867 g ae ha−1) resulted in 68 and > 94% control of theResand susceptible yellow nutsedge biotypes, respectively, at 28 d after treatment. Dose-response studies were conducted to estimate the efficacy of glyphosate on theResbiotype, three susceptible yellow nutsedge biotypes, and purple nutsedge. Based on the dry weights, theResbiotype was ≥ 5- and ≥ 1.3-fold less responsive to glyphosate compared to the susceptible biotypes and purple nutsedge, respectively. Differences in absorption and translocation of radiolabeled glyphosate were observed among the yellow nutsedge biotypes and purple nutsedge. The susceptible biotype had less14C-glyphosate radioactivity in the tissues above the treated leaf and greater radioactivity in tissues below the treated leaf compared to theResbiotype and purple nutsedge. Reduced translocation of glyphosate in tissues below the treated leaf of theResbiotype could be a reason for the lower glyphosate efficacy in theResbiotype. No amino acid substitution that would correspond to glyphosate resistance was found in the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene of theResbiotype. However, an amino acid (serine) addition was detected in the EPSPS gene of theResbiotype; albeit, it is not believed that this addition contributes to lower efficacy of glyphosate in this biotype.