Goosegrass is a problematic summer annual weed in cotton, soybean, and corn
production in the southern United States. Glyphosate is labeled for POST
control of goosegrass in glyphosate-resistant (GR) cotton, soybean, and corn
production. A population of goosegrass in west Tennessee not controlled by
glyphosate was examined in greenhouse and laboratory studies. At 21 days
after treatment (DAT), a glyphosate-susceptible (SS) biotype was controlled
> 90% with glyphosate at rates greater than 210 g ae ha−1.
Comparatively, the GR biotype was only controlled 12% at 210 g ae
ha−1. Using goosegrass control data, I50 values for
GR and SS biotypes were 868 and 117 g ae ha−1, susceptibility,
resulting in a resistance factor (RF) of 7.4. Treatment with glyphosate at
210 g ae ha−1 reduced fresh weight biomass of the SS biotype to 5
g per pot compared to 36 g for the GR biotype. A total of 3,360 g ae
ha−1 glyphosate was required to reduce fresh weights of the GR
biotype to ∼5 g per pot. Using fresh and dry weight biomass data,
I50 values for the GR biotype were 3 to 10 times greater than
the SS biotype. On each date from 1 to 6 DAT the SS biotype accumulated
higher concentrations of shikimate than the GR biotype. Future research
should evaluate strategies for managing GR goosegrass with alternative modes
of action. To prevent the spread of resistance, additional research
evaluating programs for managing glyphosate-susceptible goosegrass in GR
crops is also warranted.