Galium spurium and G. aparine Resistance to ALS-Inhibiting Herbicides in Northern Greece

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Knowledge of the level of resistance of weed populations and the herbicides to which they survive is important for recommending suitable advice to farmers and allowing the selection of appropriate management strategies. Whole-plant dose response experiments were carried out to assess the resistance status of eight putative resistant Galium spurium L. populations and one G. aparine L. population, originating from northern Greece. High levels of resistance of both species to the ALS-inhibiting herbicides chlorsulfuron and tribenuron were found, while their susceptible populations were controlled. Three G. spurium (GS) populations showed additional cross-resistance to [florasulam + 2,4-D], whereas the remaining five resistant GS populations were controlled with [tribenuron + mecoprop-p], [florasulam + 2,4-D], and [florasulam + aminopyralid]. Also, [florasulam + fluroxypyr] was very effective against two resistant GS populations tested. DNA sequence alignment of the three GS populations (GS 1, GS 6, and GS 8) with cross-resistance to chlorsulfuron, tribenuron, and florasulam revealed a point mutation at Trp-574 (tryptophan-574), causing amino acid substitution by Leu (leucine). The G. aparine (GA) population showed cross-resistance to chlorsulfuron and tribenuron, but it was controlled with [tribenuron + mecoprop-p], [florasulam + aminopyralid], [florasulam + 2,4-D], and [florasulam + fluroxypyr]. The confirmed cross-resistance of both GS and GA species to chlorsulfuron and tribenuron in northern Greece is the first report of Galium spp. resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides in Europe. Finally, all populations (8 GS and 1 GA) that showed resistance to chlorsulfuron and tribenuron were controlled with the mixtures [tribenuron + mecoprop-p] and [florasulam + fluroxypyr].