Herbicide Programs for the Control of ALS-Resistant Shattercane (Sorghum bicolor) in Corn (Zea mays)

Abstract

Growers from three counties in Virginia have recently experienced difficulty controlling shattercane in corn with acetolactate synthase (ALS)–inhibiting herbicides. Seed was collected from these locations and from a susceptible biotype and tested for resistance to imazethapyr, imazapyr, and nicosulfuron in greenhouse trials. Seedlings from these locations were also treated with glufosinate and glyphosate. Greenhouse experiments indicated that one of the four shattercane biotypes was resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Effective control of the resistant biotype was possible with glufosinate or glyphosate. Field experiments were conducted in 2003 and 2004 to determine the most effective herbicide program utilizing herbicide-tolerant/-resistant corn hybrids for the control of shattercane. Early postemergence (EP) and late postemergence (LP) applications of imazethapyr plus imazapyr or EP nicosulfuron did not control shattercane, and yield from the imidazolinone-tolerant (IT) hybrid was equivalent between these treatments and was equivalent to yield from the weedy control (WC). At 23 wk after planting (WAP), EP applications of glyphosate controlled shattercane 71 and 75% compared to only 21 and 66% with EP applications of glufosinate in 2003 and 2004, respectively. In both years, LP applications of glufosinate or glyphosate controlled shattercane better than did EP applications of glufosinate or glyphosate. Treatment timing with respect to corn yield within either the glufosinate-resistant (LL) or glyphosate-resistant (RR) corn hybrid was critical. EP treatments of glufosinate or glyphosate resulted in yields that were equivalent to yield from the weed-free control (WFC) of each hybrid. LP treatments of glufosinate or glyphosate, however, resulted in yields that were equivalent to only 90 and 91% of yield from the WFC of each hybrid, respectively.