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. The Res biotype 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 the Res and susceptible yellow nutsedge biotypes, respectively, at 28 d after treatment. Dose-response studies were conducted to estimate the efficacy of glyphosate on the Res biotype, three susceptible yellow nutsedge biotypes, and purple nutsedge. Based on the dry weights, the Res biotype 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 less ¹⁴C-glyphosate radioactivity in the tissues above the treated leaf and greater radioactivity in tissues below the treated leaf compared to the Res biotype and purple nutsedge. Reduced translocation of glyphosate in tissues below the treated leaf of the Res biotype could be a reason for the lower glyphosate efficacy in the Res biotype. No amino acid substitution that would correspond to glyphosate resistance was found in the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene of the Res biotype. However, an amino acid (serine) addition was detected in the EPSPS gene of the Res biotype; albeit, it is not believed that this addition contributes to lower efficacy of glyphosate in this biotype.Nomenclature: 2,4-D; bentazon; glyphosate; propanil; quinclorac; purple nutsedge, Cyperus rotundus L.; yellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus L.; rice, Oryza sativa L.; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr.