Browsing by Subject "Black-grass"

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Distribution, detection and genetic background of herbicide-resistant Alopecurus myosuroides (Huds.) in Germany
(2015) Rosenhauer, Maria; Gerhards, Roland
Weed control is an important part in agricultural practice. Since selective herbicides were introduced, the labour-intensive mechanical weed control was replaced by chemicals. The use of chemicals for weed control has become increasingly problematic due to the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds. In Germany, Alopecurus myosuroides (Huds.) is one of the most problematic weeds concerning herbicide resistance. The first resistant black-grass biotype in Germany was found in 1982. More than 30 years after the first resistant black-grass was found in Germany (1982), there are still numerous unsolved questions and challenges concerning the problem of herbicide resistance. Further knowledge about the distribution, the detection, and the genetic background of different resistance mechanisms is needed to find comprehensive solutions for the future. Knowledge about the occurrence and distribution of herbicide-resistant black-grass in Germany, and the herbicides primarily affected may provide more detailed information for farmers to quickly react on upcoming resistances. Moreover, if the genetic background of resistance is better understood, practical conclusions regarding the choice of herbicides and management tools can be drawn. Furthermore, a reliable and easy-to-handle test system for the detection of resistances would enable farmers to react faster and in a more targeted manner. The aim of the present study was to investigate these aspects addressing herbicide-resistant black-grass in Germany. How widespread is TSR in Germany? Did the amount of TSR change over the years? Are there “TSR-hot spots” in Germany? The first paper addressed ACCase and ALS-resistant black-grass samples in Germany. It dealt with the distribution and development of TSR in Germany over a period of nine years. It could be demonstrated that TSR was more widespread than expected. The frequency of ACCase-TSR increased from 4.0% in 2004 to 38.5% in 2012. ALS-TSR rose from 0.8% in 2007 to 13.9% in 2012. Both TSRs significantly increased over time within a standing number of seed samples over the years. How many genes are involved in NTSR? Are there differences between the plants and can we detect cross-resistances? The second paper dealt with the inheritance of NTSR conferring resistance to chlorotoluron, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, pinoxaden, mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron, and flufenacet in six different black-grass plants. Segregation analyses of the quantitative trait showed a minimum of five loci conferring specific resistances. The resistances against chlorotoluron and fenoxaprop-P-ethyl were mostly conferred by one locus, whereas resistances against pinoxaden and mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron were mostly conferred by a minimum of two loci. A minimum of one to three loci explained resistance to flufenacet. The accumulation of resistance loci in individual plants could be achieved by the study. Furthermore, the number of loci was shown to be herbicide- and plant-specific which further confirms the complexity of NTSR. How is it possible to test pre-emergence herbicides in black-grass? Which test system is the most reliable? The aim of the third paper was to find a reliable test system to monitor pre-emergence herbicide resistance in black-grass. It is widely known that diverse sites of action can be affected by NTSR. Moreover, resistance against pre-emergence herbicides belonging to the HRAC groups N, K3, and C2 occur. The outcomes of the study indicate that a soil-based greenhouse test with pre-germinated seeds is most suitable for resistance detection. Discriminating herbicide rates which were able to distinguish between the resistant and susceptible black-grass biotypes were found for all of the herbicides tested. This enables a reliable, quick, and easy way to identify pre-emergence resistance. In conclusion, herbicide-resistant black-grass has become an increasing problem in Germany. The high frequency of nearly 40% ACCase TSR on resistance suspected sites highlights the importance of changes in agricultural practices. The aim should be to avoid the repeated use of single site of action herbicides in short term crop-rotations with large quantities of winter cereals. The accumulation of NTSR loci in single plants increases the risk of biotypes with broad resistances against many different modes of action. Resistance linkages were found to be plant-specific which may result in unpredictable resistance situations in the field. Even pre-emergence herbicides can be affected by NTSR. An option to detect these resistances is provided by a soil-based greenhouse bioassay with pre-germinated seeds.
Integrated management, analysis of mechanisms and early detection of resistant populations of Alopecurus myosuroides HUDS. and Apera spica-venti L. Beauv.
(2015) Kaiser, Yasmin; Gerhards, Roland
The control of pests is one of the major challenges in agricultural production worldwide. Especially weeds cause severe yield losses by competing with crops for light, space, water and nutrients. Due to the relatively low costs for acquisition and application of herbicides and a high control efficacy, chemical measures are predominantly applied to control weeds. In Europe, Alopecurus myosuroides HUDS. (blackgrass) and Apera spica-venti L. Beauv. (silky windgrass) are major weeds especially in winter wheat. The occurrence at high population densities in combination with a consequent use of herbicides with the same modes of action has resulted in the selection of resistant populations. Populations with target-site resistance (TSR) as well as non-target-site resistance (NTSR) could be confirmed for A. myosuroides and A. spica-venti. In contrast to the mechanisms of TSR, NTSR mechanisms are less investigated. Due to the steadily increasing number of putative herbicide resistant weed populations, the demand for rapid resistance tests is rising. The papers of the dissertation focus on the integrated management, the investigation of resistance mechanisms and the detection of herbicide resistant weed populations. The following research objectives have been examined within the four work packages (papers): – To develop a new methodology for a rapid detection of herbicide resistance and to confirm that results are comparable with classical greenhouse approaches – To investigate metabolism of herbicides in sensitive and resistant populations of A. myosuroides to gain comprehensive knowledge on resistance mechanisms – To evaluate the influence of agronomic factors on the probability of resistance occurrence and to develop a geo-referenced database for mapping the spread of herbicide-resistant A. spica-venti populations across Europe – To assess the influence of crop rotation and herbicide strategies on population development and herbicide resistance of A. myosuroides and crop yield The four papers come to the following results regarding the main research objectives: 1st paper: A laboratory test was developed to accelerate the detection of herbicide resistance. Therefore, A. myosuroides was cultivated in wellplates containing nutrient agar and herbicides. The evaluation of herbicide resistance was conducted by a sensor, measuring chlorophyll fluorescence. The results of the developed test corresponded well to the standard whole-plant pot tests in the greenhouse. In both tests sensitive and resistant populations were identified, however results of the Chlorophyll Fluorescence Imaging were available earlier. 2nd paper: Metabolism of herbicides was investigated in populations of A. myosuroides by using liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to gain comprehensive knowledge on mechanisms of herbicide resistance. NTSR populations differed from sensitive and TSR A. myosuroides in form of an enhanced degradation of the active ingredient or metabolite, depending on the investigated herbicide. For the investigated herbicides (inhibition of ACCase and ALS) it was shown that herbicide metabolism plays an important role regarding herbicide resistance in A. myosuroides. 3rd paper: To evaluate the influence of agronomic factors on the probability of resistance occurrence in A. spica-venti, numerous populations were screened in the greenhouse. The corresponding field history obtained from questionnaires and the results of greenhouse assays were used to develop a GIS-database in which herbicide-resistant A. spica-venti populations were mapped. The statistical analysis revealed that a high percentage of winter crops in the crop rotation, together with conservation tillage, early sowing dates and high population density increased the occurrence of herbicide resistance in A. spica-venti. 4th paper: To assess the impact of crop rotation and herbicide strategies on A. myosuroides, field studies at two locations in Southern Germany have been carried out. Results show that densities of A. myosuroides increased in continuous winter wheat. The introduction of spring crops significantly reduced densities, even without using herbicides. Furthermore it has been shown that the risk of herbicide resistance was reduced when performing a consequent change of herbicide mode of action. The use of herbicides with only one mode of action increased the number of herbicide resistant plants. Crop yield was notably influenced by A. myosuroides in winter wheat. The overall results of this dissertation showed the great impact of agricultural measures on herbicide resistance in A. myosuroides and A. spica-venti and demonstrated opportunities for prevention and management. The developed resistance quick test provides an accelerated detection of herbicide resistance and therefore the chance to initiate resistance management strategies much earlier.