Herbicide Resistance
Weeds developing resistance to both pre- and postemergence herbicides is a global problem of all most agricultural sectors, including turgrass management. The
International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds reports that there are over
252 species of weeds that have developed herbicide resistance, including several in managed turfgrass systems, particularly annual bluegrass (
Poa annua) and goosegrass (
Eleusine indica).
What is Herbicide Resistance?
Herbicide resistance occurs when a weed demonstrates the ability to survive and reproduce following exposure to a dose of herbicide that is usually lethal (Vencill et al. 2012). For example, a prodiamine-resistant annual bluegrass plant (left) can produce new, healthy root tissue following exposure to doses of prodiamine that are lethal to susceptible plants (right).
What Causes Herbicide Resistance?
Weeds developing herbicide resistance is a natural consequence of failing to implement diversified weed management practices. Natural selection will facilitate those plants best adapted to a particular process increase in a population. Most cases of herbicide resistance have evolved following use of the same herbicide for consecutive years without implementing a different weed management practice (other than herbicide) or applying a different herbicide that employs a different mechanism of action.
Why is Herbicide Resistance Important?
In agronomic cropping systems, herbicide resistant weeds can result is mass economic loss to growers (Norsworthy et al. 2012). In managed turfgrass systems such as golf courses, athletic fields, sod production outfits, and residential and commercial lawns the main implication of resistance is an increased cost to control problematic weeds. This cost can be associated with implementing non-chemical weed management techniques or rotating to more expensive herbicide options.
The greatest concern associated with herbicide resistance is the loss of effective herbicide options. Discovery of new herbicidal mechanisms of action is rare; the last new mechanism of action, inhibition of hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) was discovered in the early 1980s and commercialized for use in turfgrass with the introduction of mesotrione (Tenacity) and topramezone (Pylex). It is critical that turfgrass managers steward the technology available for weed management currently available.
Report a Potential Herbicide Resistance Case
It is critically important that individuals report any suspected cases of herbicide resistance to University of Tennessee Extension specialists focused on weed management. Reporting allows for specialists in this area to not only track spread across the state of Tennessee but also to conduct tests to diagnose resistance in weeds of interest and provide alternative recommendations for control.
Resistance Testing
The University of Tennessee Weed Diagnostics Center offers a range of options for testing weeds for resistance to herbicides.
These tests provide
valuable information regarding herbicidal efficacy at a given location and can aid in ruling out other factors associated with failed control. Moreover, results of all resistance tests will be accompanied with research-based options for managing a given weed species in the field.