Resistance to Triazine Herbicides in Horseweed (Conyza canadensis)

Abstract

Insensitivity to atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine] and certain other herbicides was found in plants of horseweed (Conyza canadensis(L.) Crong. ♯4ERICA) collected from vineyards where atrazine had been applied extensively. There were no differences in the uptake, translocation, or accumulation of radiolabeled atrazine between plants of the susceptible and resistant biotypes. However, atrazine at 1 × 10-4M caused no inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport in resistant leaves. Photosynthetic characteristics of leaves of susceptible and resistant plants showed different sensitivities to atrazine, but similar sensitivities to diuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea] and ioxynil (4-hydroxy-3,5-diiodobenzonitrile). Isolated chloroplast membranes from resistant plants exhibited a resistance factor of 1000 to atrazine but only 10 to 30 to methylthio-s-triazines. DNOC (4,6-dinitro-o-cresol) was found to be more effective in susceptible chloroplasts than in resistant ones. A marked reduction in the galactolipid content, especially digalactosyl diglyceride, was found in resistant leaves. It is suggested that these alterations in lipid content and composition may contribute to atrazine resistance in horseweed.