Current Status of Auxin‐Mimic Herbicides

Abstract

The challenge of managing pesticide resistance in modern agriculture has become increasingly daunting. Herbicide resistance presents a complex scenario due to the continuous selection pressure from synthetic herbicides in global agricultural systems. Auxin‐mimic herbicides (AMHs) have traditionally served as a dependable tool for managing resistant weed populations in crop systems. However, overreliance on AMHs because of the lower incidence of resistance compared to other herbicide classes has intensified selection pressure on weed populations. Resistance to AMHs primarily arises from generalist mechanisms such as non-target site resistance (NTSR), involving reduced translocation, absorption, and enhanced metabolism. Nevertheless, specific mechanisms like target site resistance have also emerged in certain problematic weed species. These resistance mechanisms are complex to manage because some of them can confer resistance to single, cross, or multiple herbicide groups with diverse chemical and action mechanisms.