Degradation Enhancement as the Mechanism of Resistance to Imazethapyr in Barnyardgrass

Non-target site (NTS) herbicide resistance by degradation enhancement is an increasing problem in several weeds around the world. In this study, the occurrence of degradation enhancement by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (cytP450) was evaluated as the mechanism of resistance to imazethapyr in barnyardgrass. The cytP450 inhibitors malathion and piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and the inducer naphthalic anhydride (NA), applied in mixture or sequentially with imazethapyr, were evaluated on imidazolinone-susceptible and -resistant barnyardgrass byotipes. In addition, the degradation of imazethapyr was analyzed in plants treated with imazethapyr applied alone or two hours after malathion or NA. The spraying of malathion and PBO reduced the resistance factor (RF) from 15.92 to 3.44 and 4.99, respectively, in the resistant population PALMS01. Conversely, the cytP450 inducer NA increased the RF from 4.45 to 8.32. Malathion increased imazethapyr concentrations in resistant barnyardgrass in comparison with plants sprayed with the herbicide alone, indicating the inhibition of imazethapyr degradation. The simultaneous spraying of malathion and imazethapyr was less efficient than the previous application of this cytP450 inhibitor. These results indicate that degradation enhancement caused by cytP450 enzymes is involved in the resistance mechanism of barnyardgrass to imazethapyr, and appropriate measures should be taken to manage these populations. RESUMO: A resistência não relacionada ao local de ação (NRLA) pelo incremento da degradação de herbicidas é um problema crescente em várias espécies ao redor do mundo. Neste estudo foi avaliada a ocorrência de incremento da degradação por enzimas citocromo P450 monoxigenases (cytP450) como mecanismo de resistência ao imazethapyr em capim-arroz. Os inibidores de cytP450 malathion e butóxido de piperonila (PBO) e o indutor anidrido naftálico (AN), aplicados em mistura ou sequencialmente ao imazethapyr, foram avaliados sobre biótipos de capim-arroz suscetíveis e resistentes às imidazolinonasàs imidazolinonas . Além disso, a degradação de imazethapyr foi analisada em plantas tratadas com esse herbicida, aplicado isoladamente ou duas horas após malathion ou AN. A pulverização de malathion e PBO reduziu o fator de resistência (FR) de 15,92 para 3,44 e 4,99, respectivamente, na população resistente PALMS01. Inversamente, o indutor de cytP450 AN aumentou o FR de 4,45 para 8,32. A pulverização prévia de malathion aumentou a concentração de i