Molecular Basis for Resistance to Fluazifop-P-Butyl in Itchgrass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis) from Costa Rica

Rottboellia cochinchinensis is an annual grass weed species known as itchgrass, or "caminadora" in America´s Spanish speaking countries, and has become a major and troublesome weed in several crops. The application of fluazifop-P-butyl at recommended rates (125 g a.i. ha-1) was observed to be failing to control itchgrass in a field in San José, Upala county, Alajuela province, Costa Rica. Plants from the putative resistant R. cochinchinensis population survived fluazifop-P-butyl when treated with 250 g a.i. ha-1 (2X label rate) at the three- to four-leaf stage under greenhouse conditions. PCR amplification and sequencing of partial carboxyl transferase domain (CT) of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) gene were used to determine the molecular mechanism of resistance. A single non-synonymous point mutation from TGG (susceptible plants) to TGC (putative resistant plants) that leads to a Trp-2027-Cys substitution was found. This Trp-2027-Cys mutation is known to confer resistance to all aryloxyphenoxyproprionate (APP) herbicides to which fluazifop-P-butyl belongs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of fluazifop-P-butyl resistance and a mutation at position 2027 for a Costa Rican R. cochinchinensis population.

Identification and characterization of different accessions of itchgrass (Rottboellia cochinchinensis)

Studies were conducted to identify and characterize different accessions of itchgrass. Seeds were collected in the counties of Aramina, Campinas, Dumont, Igarapava, Jaboticabal, and Ribeirao Preto, all in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Accessions were characterized based on dimensions of their stomata, stomatal index (SI), and length and width of their seed (caryopses and husk). Chromosome number and length also were determined, and accessions were further differentiated using molecular markers (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]). Itchgrass from Ribeirao Preto had much longer and narrower seeds than those from the other locations, and their husks were longer as well. Accessions had similar SIs, both on the abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces. Stomata from Campinas and Igarapava accessions were longer and wider, whereas those from Dumont and Ribeirao Preto were similar and smaller than all others. The accession from Ribeirao Preto is diploid (2n = 20); the rest are polyploid, with the total length of chromosomes smaller than all others. These differences were confirmed by molecular differentiation (PCR).

Aspectos germinativos de capim-camalote (Rottboellia cochinchinensis)

O capim-camalote (Rottboellia cochinchinensis), originário da Índia, é encontrado em várias regiões do mundo, sendo uma espécie temida pelos agricultores devido ao seu difícil controle e avanço crescente. Objetivou-se com este trabalho estudar os fatores que afetam a germinação das sementes dessa espécie. Foram avaliados os métodos de superação de dormência: 1 - escarificação mecânica, 2 - escarificação química, 3 - tratamento pré-semeadura, 4 - tratamento químico, 5 - tratamento hormonal e 6 - sementes não tratadas. Foram estudados os efeitos da temperatura (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 e 40 ºC), do fotoperíodo (6, 8, 10, 12, 14 e 16 horas de luz), da qualidade da luz incidente (branca, vermelha, vermelha distante, amarela, verde, azul e ausência de luz), da disponibilidade de água (0,0, -0,2, -0,3, -0,4, -0,5, -0,6, -1,2 e -2,4 MPa) e da viabilidade de suas sementes quando armazenadas sob condições de câmara fria e seca e sob condições naturais. Todos os ensaios foram conduzidos por 30 dias em câmara de germinação, com os tratamentos arranjados em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, em quatro repetições. Verificou-se que as sementes apresentaram elevado índice de germinação, praticamente não apresentaram dormência e não se mostraram fotoblásticas. A disponibilidade de água foi indispensável para a germinação, com temperatura ideal de 25 °C. As sementes recém-coletadas são inviáveis para o estudo da germinação, apresentando redução na germinação quando armazenadas sob condição de câmara fria e seca.

Emergência de Rottboellia exaltata influenciada pela profundidade de semeadura, quantidade de palha de cana sobre o solo e aplicação de herbicidas residuais

Mechanical sugarcane harvest without burning and continuous straw on the soil surface may affect the Rottboellia exaltata infestation dynamics in sugarcane fields. Three greenhouse experiments were conducted with the aim of studying the effects of sowing depth (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 cm), amount of sugarcane straw on the soil surface (0, 5, 10, and 15 ton ha-1), and residual herbicide (clomazone, flumioxazin, imazapyr, isoxaflutole, and s-metolachlor) on the emergence of Rottboellia exaltata. For each experiment, a completely randomized design with four replicates was applied. The combination of mulch on soil surface (especially with larger amounts of straw) with deeper sowing depths provides less emergence and mass accumulation of R. exaltata. In bare soil, the sowing depth did not affect the weed dynamics. Clomazone and imazapyr were effective herbicides controlling R. exaltata regardless of the amount of straw on the soil surface. Flumioxazin was also effective in controlling R. exaltata but only under bare soil conditions. Even with 60 mm of accumulated rainfall over the 4 day period after application, the amount of flumioxazin leached to the soil was not enough to ensure the same control observed when applying the herbicide on bare soil.

Caracterização molecular, citogenética e sensibilidade a herbicidas em três populações de Rottboellia cochinchinensis em cana-de-açúcar no estado de São Paulo

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Genética e Melhoramento de Plantas) - FCAV