Putative glyphosate-resistant sourgrass was collected to determine its resistance level and to evaluate its metabolic profile after resistance. Although accumulation of shikimic acid is known to occur in glyphosate-susceptible populations, differences in the ability of resistant (R) and susceptible (S) biotypes to accumulate quinic acid, salicylic acid, and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) have been studied to a lesser extent. Our objective was to confirm glyphosate resistance in sourgrass and to understand the metabolic profile of these plants in response to the herbicide. Greenhouse experiments were carried out from January 2016 to June 2018. There were no significant differences in glyphosate translocation in the plants. No metabolism of glyphosate to AMPA was observed; therefore, metabolism of glyphosate to AMPA is not a mechanism in R biotypes. S biotypes showed higher concentrations of shikimic acid and quinic acid before glyphosate and accumulated less of both secondary acids in treated leaves 72 h after glyphosate application. Resistant biotypes showed higher concentrations of salicylic acid before glyphosate application.

Asiatic dayflower has recently become a troublesome weed in eastern Iowa. This weed demonstrates an extended emergence period and there is anecdotal evidence of glyphosate tolerance. Thus, Asiatic dayflower is difficult to manage in glyphosate-resistant (GR) corn and soybean. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of Asiatic dayflower to glyphosate applied at different rates and growth stages. Field research was conducted in 2005 and 2006 to evaluate different herbicides for Asiatic dayflower control in soybean. PRE herbicides were applied at planting and POST herbicides were applied 21 and 42 d after planting (DAP). In addition, shikimate accumulation in response to glyphosate was compared among Asiatic dayflower and GR and non-GR corn and soybean. Under greenhouse conditions, a single application of glyphosate (0.84 kg ae ha−1) did not control Asiatic dayflower. Only the highest rate evaluated, 13.44 kg ae ha−1 (16X), was lethal to Asiatic dayflower. Even when applied at an early growth stage (two leaves) and using high rates (3.36 kg ae ha−1), glyphosate controlled Asiatic dayflower just 28%. In the field, metribuzin and KIH-485 controlled Asiatic dayflower 80 and 73%, respectively. Early POST applications (21 DAP) of cloransulam or lactofen controlled Asiatic dayflower 80 and 67%, respectively. A single glyphosate application of 0.86 kg ae ha−1 controlled Asiatic dayflower approximately 50%. Glyphosate-treated Asiatic dayflower and non-GR corn and soybeans accumulated shikimate after application. GR corn and soybeans did not accumulate shikimate in response to glyphosate. Twenty-one days after treatment, all the non-GR soybean and corn plants died; however, Asiatic dayflower plants survived.

Glyphosate-resistant rigid ryegrass has been identified in California, but research has yet to elucidate the resistance mechanism. The objectives of this study were to examine the differences between sensitive and resistant rigid ryegrass in absorption and distribution of glyphosate, in vivo and in vitro absorption by chloroplasts, and shikimic acid accumulation after glyphosate treatment. Foliar absorption and distribution of 14C-glyphosate did not differ 1 to 3 d after treatment (DAT) between the susceptible (S) and resistant (R) biotypes. Absorption of 14C-glyphosate by isolated chloroplasts also did not differ between the S and R biotypes. After foliar application of 14C-glyphosate, chloroplasts were isolated from treated leaves from both biotypes. Accumulation of 14C-glyphosate in the chloroplasts did not differ between the two biotypes. Shikimic acid level increased significantly in the S biotype after treatment with glyphosate at 2.24 kg ai ha−1 to levels 10-fold greater than in the R biotype 11 DAT. Shikimic acid in the germination media at 2 to 5 mM did not affect seed germination of S and R biotypes but drastically decreased the length of coleoptiles of both at 5 DAT. Thus, biotype differences in sensitivity or metabolism of shikimic acid do not explain differences in sensitivity to glyphosate.

Field studies were conducted in 2011 at the Malheur Experiment Station, Ontario, OR and Prosser, WA to evaluate the effect of simulated glyphosate drift on direct-seeded dry bulb onion. Glyphosate was applied at 8.6, 25.8, 86, 290, 434, and 860 g ae ha−1 when onion plants were at the flag-, two-, four-, and six-leaf stages. Onion foliar injury was directly related to the glyphosate dose and varied with application timing. Foliar injury at 7 d after treatment (DAT) ranged from 0 to 12% for glyphosate ≤ 25.8 g ha−1. Foliar injury increased at 21 DAT when glyphosate was applied ≥ 25.8 g ha−1 to plants at the flag- and four-leaf stage, and ranged from 24 to 99%. The 50%-injury glyphosate dose at 21 DAT was lowest when onion was treated at the four-leaf and flag stages and was estimated to be 76.8 and 81 g ha−1, respectively. Onion injury severity increased when glyphosate was applied at ≥ 86 g ha−1 and eventually resulted in plant death at 860 g ha−1. Foliar injury was inversely correlated to U.S. no. 1 onion yield. Onions displayed sensitivity to very low glyphosate doses especially at the four-leaf stage. Shikimic acid accumulation increased with the increase in glyphosate dose and was positively correlated with foliar injury and negatively correlated with plant height and onion yield.

Selection by herbicides has resulted in widespread evolution of herbicide resistance in agricultural weeds. In California, resistance to glyphosate was first confirmed in rigid ryegrass in 1998. Objectives of this study were to determine the current distribution and level of glyphosate resistance in Italian ryegrass, and to assess whether resistance could be due to an altered target site. Seeds were sampled from 118 populations and seedlings were treated with glyphosate at 866 g ae ha−1. Percentage of survivors ranged from 5 to 95% in 54 populations. All plants from 64 populations died. One susceptible (S) population, four putatively resistant (R) populations, and one S accession from Oregon were used for pot dose–response experiments, shikimic acid analyses, and DNA sequencing. Seedlings were treated with glyphosate at eight rates, ranging from 108 to 13,856 g ae ha−1. Shoot biomass was evaluated 3 wk after treatment and fit to a log-logistic regression equation. On the basis of GR50 (herbicide rate required to reduce growth by 50%) values, seedlings from putatively R populations were roughly two to 15 times more resistant to glyphosate than S plants. Shikimic acid accumulation was similar in all plants before glyphosate treatment, but at 4 and 7 DAT, S plants from California and Oregon accumulated approximately two and three times more shikimic acid, respectively, than R plants. Sequencing of a cDNA fragment of the EPSPS coding region revealed two different codons, both of which encode proline at amino acid position 106 in S individuals. In contrast, all R plants sequenced exhibited missense mutations at site 106. Plants from one population revealed a mutation resulting in a proline to serine substitution. Plants from three R populations exhibited a mutation corresponding to replacement of proline with alanine. Our results indicate that glyphosate resistance is widespread in Italian ryegrass populations of California, and that resistance is likely due to an altered target enzyme.

Field studies were conducted in 2008 in Ontario, OR and Paterson, WA to determine the effect of simulated glyphosate drift on ‘Ranger Russet’ potato, including visual injury, shikimic acid accumulation, and tuber yield. Glyphosate was applied at 8.5, 54, 107, 215, and 423 g ae ha−1; which corresponds to 0.01, 0.064, 0.126, 0.254, and 0.5 of the lowest recommended (846 g ha−1) single application dose for glyphosate-resistant corn and sugar beet. Glyphosate was applied when potato plants were at 10-cm height, stolon hooking, tuber initiation, or bulking stage. The greatest visual foliar injury was observed when glyphosate was applied at a dose of 54 g ha−1 or greater and potato plants were at the hooking stage. The lowest foliar injury was observed when glyphosate was applied to potato plants at the bulking stage. The I50 glyphosate dose at 42 d after treatment (DAT) was estimated to be 167 g ha−1 for potatoes sprayed at the hooking stage. The corresponding glyphosate dose to result in 50% injury for potatoes sprayed at tuber initiation, 10-cm height, and bulking stages were 129%, 338%, and 438%, respectively, greater than hooking stage. The U.S. No.1 potato yield was inversely related to vine injury and shikimic acid accumulation. Shikimic acid accumulation increased when glyphosate was applied at 107 g ha−1 or greater. U.S. No.1 potato yield was reduced by 46% and 84% relative to the untreated control (55 and 76 T/ha) when glyphosate was applied at 107 g ha−1 to plants in the hooking stage at Ontario and Paterson, respectively. Tuber yields at both sites were lowest when glyphosate was applied at hooking and tuber initiation stages.

Field studies were conducted in 2001 in Lewiston, NC, and in 2002 at Clayton and Lewiston, NC, to investigate the response of nontransgenic cotton to simulated glyphosate drift in a weed-free environment. Nontransgenic cotton variety ‘Fibermax 989’ was planted in a conventional seedbed at all locations. Glyphosate treatments were applied early postemergence (EPOST) at the four-leaf growth stage of cotton at 0, 8.7, 17.5, 35, 70, 140, 280, 560, and 1,120 g ai/ha and represent 0, 0.78, 1.55, 3.13, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100% of the commercial use rate, respectively. Rates as low as 140 g/ha caused lint yield reductions depending on year and location. When averaged over all locations, lint yield reductions of 4, 49, 72, and 87% compared with nontreated cotton were observed with glyphosate rates of 140, 280, 560, and 1,120 g/ha, respectively. Visual injury and shikimic acid accumulation were evident at glyphosate rates greater or equal to 70 g/ha. Collectively, visual injury and shikimic acid accumulation at 7 d after EPOST treatment might be used as a diagnostic indicator to predict potential yield reductions from simulated glyphosate drift.

Sourgrass is a perennial weed infesting annual and perennial crops in Brazil. Three biotypes (R1, R2, and R3) of sourgrass suspected to be glyphosate-resistant (R) and another one (S) from a natural area without glyphosate application, in Brazil, were tested for resistance to glyphosate based on screening, dose-response, and shikimic acid assays. Both screening and dose-response assays confirmed glyphosate resistance in the three sourgrass biotypes. Dose-response assay indicated a resistance factor of 2.3 for biotype R1 and 3.9 for biotypes R2 and R3. The hypothesis of a glyphosate resistance was corroborated on the basis of shikimic acid accumulation, where the S biotype accumulated 3.3, 5.0, and 5.7 times more shikimic acid than biotypes R1, R2, and R3, respectively, 168 h after treatment with 157.50 g ae ha−1 of glyphosate. There were no differences in contact angle of spray droplets on leaves and spray retention, indicating that differential capture of herbicide by leaves was not responsible for resistance in these biotypes. The results confirmed resistance of sourgrass to glyphosate in Brazil.

Field, greenhouse, and laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate resistance to glyphosate in tropical sprangletop biotypes (Lv8 and Lv9) collected in Persian lime from Veracruz, Mexico. Assays to determine the dose required to reduce seedling fresh weight by 50% indicated a resistance factor (RF) of 4.9 and 3.2 for biotypes Lv8 and Lv9, respectively; whereas the LD50 showed a RF of 4.4 and 3.3 for biotypes Lv8 and Lv9, respectively. On the other hand, the RFs using whole plant dose–response assays were lower (RF of 3 for Lv8 and 2.3 for Lv9). The susceptible biotype (LvS) accumulated 5.5 and 11.8 times more shikimate than biotypes Lv8 and Lv9, respectively, at 96 h after treatment (HAT). In field experiments, alternatives to glyphosate-resistant tropical sprangletop management were identified. Indaziflam + glufosinate and paraquat + diuron provided over 80% control of in-field populations of tropical sprangletop at 60 d after treatment (DAT). These results confirmed the first reported case of glyphosate-resistant tropical sprangletop.