Impact of Auxin Herbicides on Palmer amaranth Groundcover

In current and next-generation weed control technologies, sequential applications of contact and systemic herbicides for POST control of troublesome weeds are needed to mitigate the evolution of herbicide resistance. A clear understanding of the impact auxin herbicide symptomology has on Palmer amaranth groundcover will aid optimization of sequential herbicide applications. Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted in Fayetteville, AR and a laboratory experiment was conducted in Lonoke, AR, in 2020 to evaluate changes in Palmer amaranth groundcover following an application of 2,4-D and dicamba with various nozzles, droplet sizes, and velocities. Field experiments utilized three nozzles: Extended Range (XR), Air Induction Extended Range (AIXR), and Turbo TeeJet Induction (TTI), to assess the effect of spray droplet size on changes in Palmer amaranth groundcover. Nozzle did not affect Palmer amaranth groundcover when dicamba was applied. However, nozzle selection did impact groundcover when 2,4-D was applied; the following nozzle order XR>AIXR>TTI reduced Palmer amaranth groundcover the greatest in both site-years of the field experiment. This result (XR>AIXR> TTI) matches percent spray coverage data for 2,4-D and is inversely related to spray droplet size data. Rapid reductions of Palmer amaranth groundcover from 100% at time zero to 39.4 to 64.1% and 60.0 to 85.8% were observed 180 minutes after application in greenhouse and field experiments, respectively, regardless of herbicide or nozzle. In one site-year of the greenhouse and field experiments, regrowth of Palmer amaranth occurred 10080 minutes (14 days) after an application of either 2,4-D or dicamba to larger than labeled weeds. In all experiments, complete reduction of live Palmer amaranth tissue was not observed 21 days after application with any herbicide or nozzle combination. Control of Palmer amaranth escapes with reduced groundcover may potentially lead to increased selection pressure on sequentially applied herbicides due to a reduction in spray solution contact with the targeted pest.

Response of Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia) and four mangrove species to imazamox and carfentrazone-ethyl herbicides

Mangroves are a critical component of many coastal ecosystems in Florida. Woody species including Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia) have invaded thousands of hectares of mangrove habitat. The difficulty associated with ground-based management of invasive plants in mangrove communities has warranted a need to identify selective herbicides that can be applied aerially. Recent work suggests that Florida mangrove species are extremely sensitive to synthetic auxin herbicides; however, other herbicides have yet to be tested for selectivity. Greenhouse studies in 2018 and 2019 evaluated broadcast foliar applications of the acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor imazamox and protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitor carfentrazone-ethyl, both as individual treatments and in combinations, for control of S. terebinthifolia and injury to four non-target mangrove species. Across all post-treatment sample dates and species tested, there were no significant interactions between imazamox applied at 0.28 or 0.56 kg ai ha−1 in combination with carfentrazone-ethyl applied at 0 or 0.1 kg ha−1. Main effects of imazamox applied at 0.56 kg ai ha−1 and carfentrazone-ethyl applied at 0.1 kg ha−1 resulted in 99 and 97% defoliation, respectively, to Schinus terebinthifolia at 180 DAT. However, S. terebinthifolia % survival was 56 and 44% for the same treatments. Both herbicides severely injured all four mangroves by 90 DAT and resulted in 58 to 100% defoliation across species. At 180 DAT, significant increases in % cambium kill were also observed for all four species. Across species, mangrove survival varied but Rhizophora mangle survival was reduced to 6% when imazamox was applied at 0.56 kg ha−1. These results indicate both imazamox and carfentrazone-ethyl exhibit activity on S. terebinthifolia, but also injure all four mangroves enough to preclude their use as selective treatments.

Antitranspirantsc Partially Mitigate Auxin Herbicide Injury on Tomato Plants

The use of dicamba and 2,4-D products on herbicide-tolerant crops has resulted in numerous cases of off-target movement and injury to sensitive plants, including tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.). Two greenhouse studies were conducted to determine whether ‘Big Beef’ (‘BB’) or ‘Florida 91’ (‘FL’) tomato plants pretreated with an antitranspirant, including Moisture-Loc (ML) at 100 mL·L−1, TransFilm (TF) at 50 g·L−1, or Wilt-Pruf (WP) at 100 mL·L−1, mitigated injury from synthetic auxin herbicides. Dicamba or 2,4-D was applied at a rate corresponding to 1/200 of the manufacturer’s labeled rate of 0.56 kg ae/ha or 1.06 kg ae/ha, respectively. At 2 weeks after treatment (WAT), plants treated with ML or WP before either herbicide exhibited injury symptoms, but they were always less severe than those treated with the herbicide alone for both cultivars. However, shoot length measurements indicated that none of the antitranspirants consistently provided protection against herbicide injury at 2 WAT. By 12 WAT, ML or WP used before either herbicide increased the number of live reproductive organs compared with dicamba or 2,4-D alone for both cultivars. Floral abortion on tomato plants was also reduced when ML or WP was applied before an herbicide treatment by 12 WAT. Although WP and ML did not provide complete protection against synthetic auxin herbicide injury, the concept of using film-forming barriers may be useful in mitigating some of the short-term effects of drift on plants.

Fluroxypyr-resistant kochia [Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott] confirmed in Alberta

Recent confirmation of dicamba-resistant kochia [<i>Bassia scoparia</i> (L.) A.J. Scott] in Alberta warrants investigation of resistance to other commonly used synthetic auxin herbicides like fluroxypyr. A randomized-stratified survey of 305 sites in Alberta was conducted in 2017 to determine the status of fluroxypyr-resistant kochia. Overall, 13% of the kochia populations were fluroxypyr-resistant. Only 4% of the populations were both fluroxypyr- and dicamba-resistant, indicating that different mechanisms may confer resistance to these herbicides. When combined with estimates of dicamba resistance, about 28% of kochia populations sampled in Alberta in 2017 were resistant to at least one synthetic auxin herbicide.

Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects of Clopyralid Herbicide on Allium Cepa Roots

Clopyralid is a one of the synthetic pyridine-carboxylate auxin herbicides and used to control perennial and annual broadleaf weeds in wheat, sugar beets and canola etc. In this study, dose dependent cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of clopyralid at different concentrations (25, 50, and 100 µg/mL) on the Allium cepa roots were evaluated at macroscopic (root growth) and microscopic levels (Mitotic index (MI), chromosome aberrations (CAs) in ana-telophase cells and DNA damage) using root growth inhibition, Allium ana-telophase and comet tests. The percentage root growth inhibition and concentration reducing root growth by 50% (EC50) of clopyralid in relation to the negative control were determined by using various concentrations of clopyralid (6.25–1000 µg/L). The 96 h EC50 of clopyralid was recorded as 50 µg/L. The gradual decrease in root growth and the MI reveals the cytotoxic effects of clopyralid. All the tested concentrations of clopyralid induced total CAs (polyploidy, stickiness, anaphase bridges, chromosome laggards, and disturbed ana-telophase) and DNA damage dose and time dependently. This study confirmed cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of clopyralid on non-target organism.

An in-frame deletion mutation in the degron tail of auxin co-receptor IAA2 confers resistance to the herbicide 2,4-D in Sisymbrium orientale

The natural auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is a key regulator of many aspects of plant growth and development. Synthetic auxin herbicides mimic the effects of IAA by inducing strong auxinic signaling responses in plants. Synthetic auxins are crucial herbicides in agriculture, made more important by the recent introduction of transgenic synthetic auxin resistant soybean and cotton. Currently, 41 weed species have evolved resistance to synthetic auxin herbicides and, in all but one case, the molecular basis of these resistance mechanisms is unknown. To determine the mechanism of 2,4-D resistance in a Sisymbrium orientale (Indian hedge mustard) weed population, we performed a transcriptome analysis of 2,4-D-resistant (R) and -susceptible (S) genotypes that revealed an in-frame 27-nucleotide deletion removing 9 amino acids in the degron tail (DT) of the auxin co-receptor Aux/IAA2 (SoIAA2). The deletion allele co-segregated with 2,4-D resistance in recombinant inbred lines. Further, this deletion was also detected in several 2,4-D resistant field populations of this species. Arabidopsis transgenic lines expressing the SoIAA2 mutant allele were resistant to 2,4-D and dicamba. The IAA2-DT deletion reduced binding to TIR1 in vitro with both natural and synthetic auxins, causing reduced association and increased dissociation rates. This novel mechanism of synthetic auxin herbicide resistance assigns a new in planta function to the DT region of this Aux/IAA co-receptor for its role in synthetic auxin binding kinetics and reveals a potential biotechnological approach to produce synthetic auxin resistant crops using gene editing.

Interaction of acetyl-CoA carboxylase enzyme inhibiting herbicides with auxin herbicides on ryegrass

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the antagonistic effect of the mixture ofacetyl coenzyme-A carboxylase (ACCase) enzyme inhibiting herbicides and auxin herbicides in Lolium multiflorum and to determine mechanisms to mitigate this possible effect. The first experiments were conducted by associating the herbicide clethodim (108 g a.i. ha−1), quizalofop-p-ethyl (54 g a.i. ha−1), and clethodim + quizalofop-p-ethyl (108+54 g a.i. ha−1) with 2,4-D (1005 g a.e. ha−1) or triclopyr (720 g a.e. ha−1), in addition to the sole application of the respective graminicides. Another experiment included clethodim (54; 81; 108; 162; 216 g a.i. ha−1), quizalofop-p-ethyl (27; 40.5; 54; 81; 108 g a.i. ha−1), and clethodim + quizalofop-p-ethyl (54+27; 81+40.5; 108+54; 162+81; 216+108 g a.i. ha−1) mixed with 2,4-D (1005 g a.e. ha−1), or triclopyr (720 g a.e. ha−1), in addition to the control treatments without herbicide application. In the second experiment, herbicides clethodim (108 g a.i. ha−1), quizalofop-p-ethyl (54 g a.i. ha−1), and clethodim + quizalofop-p-ethyl (108+54 g a.i. ha−1) in combination with the herbicides 2,4-D (1005 g a.e. ha−1) or triclopyr (720 g a.e. ha−1)had malathion (1000 g a.i. ha−1) or glyphosate (720 g a.e. ha−1) mixed, in addition to the sole applications of the graminicides. The herbicide clethodim + quizalofop-p-ethyl did not present an antagonistic interaction with the auxin herbicides, and obtained 85% weed control. To obtain control similar to the sole application of this graminicide, the dose of the herbicide clethodim needs to be increased by 20%. However, the mixture of the herbicide quizalofop-p-ethyl with 2,4-D and triclopyr affects the ryegrass control. The use of strategies that increase the absorption of ACCase herbicides or the inhibition of P450 enzymes are ways to mitigate the antagonistic effect caused by the association of the two auxin herbicides.

Adjuvant interference on spray solution properties of 2,4-D and dicamba herbicides and their efficacy for Ipomoea SPP. control

Synthetic auxin herbicides constitute major alternatives for managing tough-to-kill weeds such as Ipomoea spp. Adjuvant use is known to positively affect the biological efficacy of pesticides by modifying key spraying solution and droplet properties. Determining to what extent the use of adjuvants could change spray solution parameters and affect synthetic auxin herbicides’ efficiency for Ipomoea spp. control were the research goals. The study was conducted in two phases: laboratory and field, respectively. In the laboratory, the pH, the surface tension, and the resources of the herbicide drops were measured. In the field, weed control was evaluated. All adjuvants modified spray solution properties, lowering surface tension values. Most adjuvants decreased pH values as well as number and density of droplets due to an increase in droplet size. Regardless of adjuvant usage, Ipomoea spp. control levels rose more rapidly following 2,4-D spraying rather than dicamba, resulting in lower biomass accumulation when the former was used. Dicamba-containing treatments displayed slightly but significantly lower Ipomoea spp. control levels at the end of the evaluation period. Herbicide efficacy for Ipomoea spp. control was not improved upon the addition to the spray solution of any of the tested adjuvants. Adjuvant use altered spraying solution and droplet properties. 2,4-D spraying allowed for lower Ipomoea spp. biomass and greater control levels relative to dicamba, suggesting it might constitute a better option for Ipomoea spp. control. Even though herbicide efficacy was not improved with adjuvants, their use should still be considered given favorable spraying solution alterations, mainly with some alteration in droplet sizes despite the use of similar spray nozzles tips - maintaining weed control efficacy.

The Influence of Hard Water on 2,4-D Formulations for the Control of Dandelion

The herbicide 2,4-D is used in a variety of cropping systems, especially in grasses since it is a selective postemergence broadleaf herbicide. However, the most common formulation (2,4-D dimethylamine) is antagonized when mixed in hard water. The objective of this research was to determine which formulations of 2,4-D or premixes of various formulations of synthetic auxin herbicides are subject to hard water antagonism. Formulations surveyed for hard water antagonism in the first experiment included 2,4-D dimethylamine, 2,4-D diethanolamine, 2,4-D monomethylamine, 2,4-D isopropylamine salt, 2,4-D choline salt, 2,4-D isooctyl ester, and 2,4-D ethylhexyl ester. Synthetic auxin formulation types in the second experiment included water-soluble, emulsifiable concentrates and emulsion-in-water. All formulations were mixed with both soft and hard water (600 mg CaCO3 L-1) and applied to dandelions to determine if antagonism occurred in hard water. Water-soluble (amine and choline) 2,4-D formulations were antagonized by hard water, but water-insoluble (ester) 2,4-D formulations were not antagonized. Similar results were found by formulation type with water-soluble synthetic auxin premixes antagonized but emulsifiable concentrates not antagonized. Further, water-soluble salt formulations were not antagonized when formulated in premixes with other synthetic auxin herbicides as an emulsion-in-water. This research demonstrates that all 2,4-D water-soluble formulations and water-soluble premixes with phenoxycarboxylic acid herbicides are subject to hard water antagonism. Formulations of 2,4-D containing emulsifying agents protect against antagonism by the water-insoluble nature of ingredients in their formulation.