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Abstract Herbicide-resistant Conyza spp. are a threat to many crops. These widespread weeds are closely related species and often cooccur. To characterize the origins of their resistance and the mechanisms underlying their spread, we assessed the genomic variation in glyphosate-resistant Conyza spp. in Brazil. Twenty populations were sampled from soybean fields across four macroregions (MRSs). A genotyping-by-sequencing study resulted in 2,998 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained for C. bonariensis (L.) and the closely related C. sumatrensis (Retz) E. Walker. Higher genomic diversity (π) and heterozygosity (H O /H E ) and lower inbreeding coefficient (F IS ) values were detected in populations of Conyza spp. from MRS 1 (southern) than in those from other MRSs. Strong genomic structure clustered individuals into three groups (F ST = 0.22; p value = 0.000) associated with the MRSs. Thus, resistance to glyphosate originated from independent selection in different MRSs across Brazil. Our dataset supports the occurrence of intraspecific gene flow in Brazil and identified individuals of C. bonariensis that did not group within species. These findings suggest that allelic introgressions within and among species have impacted the evolution and spread of resistance to glyphosate in Conyza spp. We discuss how to mitigate new resistance cases, particularly for the released stacked traits herbicide tolerance in soybeans.

Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) is one of the most troublesome weeds in irrigated rice cultivation and has increasingly impacted rainfed crops due to the emergence of herbicide-resistant populations. Understanding its germination dynamics is crucial for developing and implementing effective management strategies. Additionally, since barnyardgrass research relies on growing plants from seeds, its dormancy characteristics are of particular interest. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of postharvest age on barnyardgrass seed germination and the effectiveness of different dormancy-breaking methods in susceptible and herbicide-resistant populations. Germination rate (G), germination speed index (GSI), and seed viability, assessed using the topographic tetrazolium test, were measured in seed lots with four different postharvest ages: two years, one year, two months, and one day postharvest. The seeds were subjected to 15 dormancy-breaking methods, including temperature variation and the use of solutions containing H2SO4, KNO3, and GA3. Seeds that were one or two years old showed germination rates exceeding 90%, regardless of the method used. In contrast, seeds aged two months or one day postharvest only germinated when exposed to 40°C for seven days, with G values of 25.2% and 5.9%, respectively. Both herbicide-susceptible and resistant barnyardgrass populations exhibited similar dormancy levels and responses to dormancy-breaking methods. The results indicate that newly harvested seeds have high dormancy levels, and specific methods are only partially effective in overcoming barnyardgrass seed dormancy.

Abstract Weeds are attractive models for basic and applied research due to their impacts on agricultural systems and capacity to swiftly adapt in response to anthropogenic selection pressures. Currently, a lack of genomic information precludes research to elucidate the genetic basis of rapid adaptation for important traits like herbicide resistance and stress tolerance and the effect of evolutionary mechanisms on wild populations. The International Weed Genomics Consortium is a collaborative group of scientists focused on developing genomic resources to impact research into sustainable, effective weed control methods and to provide insights about stress tolerance and adaptation to assist crop breeding.

Echinochloa is an important genus in the grass family as many of them are either problematic weeds or domesticated millets. Here, the authors assemble three polyploidy genomes in this genus using the diploid-assisted scaffolding method DipHic and provide genomic insights into the dual roles of some species as weeds and orphan crops.

Environmental conditions can influence herbicide metabolism and interfere with the evolution of weed resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of thermal regimes on the control of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) susceptible and resistant to herbicides of the imidazolinones chemical group. Factor A (biotypes) consisted of one biotype that is susceptible and one that is resistant to imazethapyr; factor B (dose) comprised six imazethapyr doses between 0 and 800 g ha-1 for the resistant biotype and between 0 and 100 g ha-1 for the susceptible biotype; factor C (temperature) consisted of four thermal regimes (16/16 ºC, 25/25 ºC, 16/25 ºC and 25/16 ºC) to which the plants were submitted before and after the herbicide application. Concerning the resistant biotype, the highest control levels were observed in the thermal regimes with temperature fluctuation, especially at 25/16 ºC. At the recommended imazethapyr dose (100 g ha-1), the herbicide resulted in a control level over 90 % at 25/16 ºC and less than 50 % at 16/16 ºC, in the resistant biotype. The shoot dry mass was reduced by more than 80 % at 25/16 ºC and 16/25 ºC and less than 30 % at 16/16 ºC. The temperature conditions to which the plants are subjected in the pre- and post-application period interfere with the level of imazethapyr resistance in barnyardgrass.

Abstract Background Worldwide feralization of crop species into agricultural weeds threatens global food security. Weedy rice is a feral form of rice that infests paddies worldwide and aggressively outcompetes cultivated varieties. Despite increasing attention in recent years, a comprehensive understanding of the origins of weedy crop relatives and how a universal feralization process acts at the genomic and molecular level to allow the rapid adaptation to weediness are still yet to be explored. Results We use whole-genome sequencing to examine the origin and adaptation of 524 global weedy rice samples representing all major regions of rice cultivation. Weed populations have evolved multiple times from cultivated rice, and a strikingly high proportion of contemporary Asian weed strains can be traced to a few Green Revolution cultivars that were widely grown in the late twentieth century. Latin American weedy rice stands out in having originated through extensive hybridization. Selection scans indicate that most genomic regions underlying weedy adaptations do not overlap with domestication targets of selection, suggesting that feralization occurs largely through changes at loci unrelated to domestication. Conclusions This is the first investigation to provide detailed genomic characterizations of weedy rice on a global scale, and the results reveal diverse genetic mechanisms underlying worldwide convergent rice feralization.

Environmental factors and the addition of adjuvants to the spray tank mix may interfere with glyphosate efficiency in hairy fleabane control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of air temperature and the addition of ammonium sulfate (NH4)2SO4 to glyphosate in the control of glyphosate-resistant (GR) and -susceptible (GS) hairy fleabane. Treatments consisted of air temperatures of 12°C and 25°C, six doses of glyphosate from zero to 2,880 g · ha−1, the presence or absence of (NH4)2SO4 in the spray solution, and one GS and another GR biotype. At the lowest tested dose (180 g · ha−1), control of the GR biotype was 91% and 20% when the plants were kept at 12°C and 25°C, respectively, reducing the resistance factor (RF) by 9.30 times and was associated to the reduction of temperature. The addition of (NH4)2SO4 increased the control by 10−20% at high glyphosate doses and at 25°C. The resistance of hairy fleabane to glyphosate was completely reversed when the plants were maintained at 12°C. At this temperature, resistant plants were controlled even at doses well below that recommended for the control of this species. At 25°C, a dose four times higher than that recommended was required for satisfactory control. At the field level, under situations of low temperatures, it was possible to improve the efficacy of glyphosate applications in hairy fleabane control, if there were no other mechanisms of resistance involved.

Sugarcane is the source of 80% of the sugar and 26% of the bioethanol produced globally. However, its complex, highly polyploid genome (2n = 100 – 120) impedes crop improvement. Here, we report efficient and reproducible gene targeting (GT) in sugarcane, enabling precise co-editing of multiple alleles via template-mediated and homology-directed repair (HDR) of DNA double strand breaks induced by the programmable nuclease CRISPR/Cas9. The evaluation of 146 independently transformed plants from five independent experiments revealed a targeted nucleotide replacement that resulted in both targeted amino acid substitutions W574L and S653I in the acetolactate synthase (ALS) in 11 lines in addition to single, targeted amino acid substitutions W574L or S653I in 25 or 18 lines, respectively. Co-editing of up to three ALS copies/alleles that confer herbicide tolerance was confirmed by Sanger sequencing of cloned long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons. This work will enable crop improvement by conversion of inferior alleles to superior alleles through targeted nucleotide substitutions.

RESUMO: Popularmente conhecida como pata de elefante ou sussuaiá, Elephantopus mollis, é uma espécie que recentemente surgiu como uma planta daninha em lavouras de cultivos de grãos. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar a sensibilidade diferencial de biótipos de E. mollis oriundos de áreas agrícolas e não agrícolas e determinar as melhores combinações de herbicidas aplicados em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento para o controle desta espécie. Foram realizados três experimentos. No experimento de sensibilidade diferencial foram utilizados dez herbicidas em dois biótipos em duas fases de desenvolvimento. O experimento de dose resposta foi conduzido com oito doses de sete herbicidas. O experimento a campo foi realizado em uma área que apresenta problemas com a planta daninha para validar os resultados dos experimentos anteriores. O biótipo oriundo de área agrícola apresentou menor sensibilidade aos herbicidas quando comparado ao biótipo oriundo de área não agrícola. Os herbicidas de contato inicialmente apresentam controle superior, mas logo a planta apresenta rebrote em função de gemas presentes no colo da planta. A aplicação isolada de 2,4-D com doses entre 1005 e 1675 g e.a ha-1 possui controle de 25%. Quando o 2,4-D é seguido da aplicação de paraquat (400 g i.a ha-1) o controle passa a ser entre 51 e 68%. O melhor tratamento para o controle de plantas desenvolvidas é a mistura de 2,4-D + glyphosate (1340 + 1080 g e.a ha-1) com aplicação sequencial de paraquat.

Abstract Background: The use of pre-emergent herbicides is an important tool to control weeds, however the tolerance of soybean to these herbicides can vary according to the type of soil. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate sulfentrazone and diclosulam soybean selectivity in a sandy soil, in order to establish these herbicides as supporting tools in weed control. Methods: The treatments consisted of six doses of sulfentrazone (150 to 400 g ha-1) and diclosulam (25.2 to 75.6 g ha-1), and an untreated control. A field study was repeated in two growing seasons (2013/14 and 2014/15) in a sandy soil. Results: The occurrence of injury depended on the growing season. The first season presented lower rainfall rates during the crop cycle. The recommended dose of sulfentrazone (200 g ha-1) caused 26% and 10% of plant injury at 15 days after the treatment for the first and second season, respectively. For diclosulam, the recommended dose of 35.3 g ha-1 caused 20% and 8% of plant injury, respectively, for the first and second season. However, at the recommended doses, only for diclosulam and in the rainy season there was a reduction in soybean productivity. Conclusions: The herbicide sulfentrazone, although causing visual soybean plant injury, present satisfactory selectivity at recommended doses and can be used as an important tool on weed control on sandy soils. Similar response was observed for diclosulam in 2013/14. However, in a rainfall season diclosulam impacted on soybean yield at the recommended dose for sandy soils, with selectivity depending of the growth season.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the distribution of imidazolinone-resistant (IMI-R) red rice (Oryza sativa) populations, the frequency of alleles conferring resistance to IMI, and the adoption of agronomic practices applied to red rice control, across growing seasons and production regions of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. In the experiment, 1,008 red rice populations were screened for resistance to IMI, 760 IMI-R red rice plants were genotyped for the acetolactate synthase (ALS) alleles conferring resistance to IMI, and 40 'Clearfield' rice growers were surveyed. IMI-R red rice populations were widespread throughout RS since the 2006/2007 growing season, with a higher initial frequency in the Depressão Central and Fronteira Sul production regions. The occurrence of IMI-R red rice ranged from 1.6 to 3.5 years after 'Clearfield' rice release. Gly654Glu was the most frequent ALS mutation in IMI-R red rice populations, which shows a gene flow from the most used 'Clearfield' rice cultivars to the red rice plants. Crop rotation systems and certified seed were used by only 30% of the surveyed growers of 'Clearfield' rice, with lower percentages in the production regions where IMI-R red rice appeared faster.

Herbicide resistance is broadly recognized as the adaptive evolution of weed populations to the intense selection pressure imposed by the herbicide applications. Here, we tested whether transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) and RNA-directed DNA Methylation (RdDM) pathways modulate resistance to commonly applied herbicides. Using Arabidopsis thaliana wild-type plants exposed to sublethal doses of glyphosate, imazethapyr, and 2,4-D, we found a partial loss of TGS and increased susceptibility to herbicides in six out of 11 tested TGS/RdDM mutants. Mutation in REPRESSOR OF SILENCING 1 (ROS1), that plays an important role in DNA demethylation, leading to strongly increased susceptibility to all applied herbicides, and imazethapyr in particular. Transcriptomic analysis of the imazethapyr-treated wild type and ros1 plants revealed a relation of the herbicide upregulated genes to chemical stimulus, secondary metabolism, stress condition, flavonoid biosynthesis, and epigenetic processes. Hypersensitivity to imazethapyr of the flavonoid biosynthesis component TRANSPARENT TESTA 4 (TT4) mutant plants strongly suggests that ROS1-dependent accumulation of flavonoids is an important mechanism for herbicide stress response in A. thaliana. In summary, our study shows that herbicide treatment affects transcriptional gene silencing pathways and that misregulation of these pathways makes Arabidopsis plants more sensitive to herbicide treatment.

Global climate change, specifically rising temperature, can alter the molecular physiology of weedy plants. These changes affect herbicide efficacy and weed management. This research aimed to investigate the combined effect of heat stress (HS) and sublethal doses of herbicides (four active ingredients) on adaptive gene expression and efficacy of herbicide on Echinochloa colona (L.) Link (junglerice). Three factors were evaluated; factor A was E. colona generation (G0-original population from susceptible standard; G1 and G2 were progenies of recurrent selection), factor B was herbicide treatment (florpyrauxifen-benzyl, glufosinate-ammonium, imazethapyr, quinclorac and nontreated check) and factor C was HS (30 and 45 °C). The herbicides were applied at 0.125× the recommended dose. Recurrent exposure to HS, combined with sublethal doses of herbicides, favors the selection of plants less susceptible to the herbicide. Upregulation of defense (antioxidant) genes (APX: Ascorbate peroxidase), herbicide detoxification genes (CYP450 family: Cytochrome P450), stress acclimation genes (HSP: Heat shock protein, TPP: Trehalose phosphate phosphatase and TPS: Trehalose phosphate synthase) and genes related to herbicide conjugation (UGT: UDP Glucosyltransferase) was significant. The positive regulation of these genes may promote increased tolerance of E. colona to these herbicides.

Dose-response experiments were carried out to evaluate the sensitivity of imidazolinone-resistant red rice to nonselective herbicides currently used in rice-soybean rotation in Rio Grande do Sul. Two red rice biotypes previously identified as resistant and susceptible to the imidazolinone herbicides were treated with imazapic plus imazapic, glyphosate and glufosinate under nine herbicide rates. A non-linear log-logistic analysis was used to estimate the herbicide rate that provided 50% red rice control and dry weight reduction (GR50). Imidazolinone-resistant red rice exhibited greater GR50 values than imidazolinone-susceptible biotype for imazapyr plus imazapic. In contrast, both imidazolinone-resistant and susceptible red rice showed similar GR50values for glyphosate and glufosinate. These results indicate that glyphosate and glufosinate effectively control imidazolinone-resistant red rice at similar herbicide rates used to control imidazolinone-susceptible; however, integrated weed management practices must be adopted in rice-soybean rotation to delay resistance evolution of red rice populations to glyphosate and glufosinate

Cultivares de soja resistentes ao herbicida glifosato podem apresentar variação de adaptação em função dos efeitos do processo de transformação e da consequência do herbicida glifosato sobre a disponibilidade de micronutrientes. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a variação de adaptação em cultivares de soja resistentes a glifosato, em comparação com cultivares isogênicas próximas sobre parâmetros fisiológicos, nutricionais, de crescimento e no rendimento de grãos da cultura. Foi realizado experimento em campo, utilizando sete cultivares resistentes ao herbicida glifosato e seis cultivares convencionais, correspondentes a isolíneas próximas das cultivares transgênicas. O tratamento herbicida constou da ausência ou presença da aplicação do herbicida glifosato nas cultivares transgênicas, na dose de 900g ha-1 e. a. Os parâmetros de teores e fluorescência da clorofila não apresentaram relação com os tratamentos efetuados entre as cultivares avaliadas. A cultivar 'BRS Taura RR' apresentou menor acúmulo de Fe foliar, em comparação com a sua linha isogênica BRS 154, devido à aplicação do herbicida glifosato. A aplicação do herbicida glifosato reduziu o rendimento de grãos de três cultivares resistentes. Os resultados encontrados indicam a existência de variação entre cultivares de soja resistentes a glifosato em relação ao efeito deste herbicida sobre parâmetros nutricionais, de fluorescência da clorofila e rendimento de grãos.

A similaridade botânica do capim-annoni com as espécies forrageiras nativas ou cultivadas dificultam o seu controle em pastagens naturais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de associações entre herbicidas e protetores sobre o controle de capim-annoni e a seletividade em pastagem natural. Foram realizados dois experimentos a campo em área de pastagem natural típica do Bioma Pampa avaliando-se herbicidas aplicados em pré e pós-emergência. Outro experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação com as espécies capim-annoni e grama forquilha onde foram avaliados os herbicidas glufosinate-ammonium e imazethapyr. Em ambos os experimentos os herbicidas foram avaliados isolados ou em associação com os protetores anidrido naftálico, dietholate e fluxofenim. Os experimentos a campo demonstraram que os herbicidas aplicados em pré ou pós-emergência em interação com os protetores não proporcionaram controle satisfatório do capim-annoni e nem aumento da seletividade à pastagem natural. Por outro lado, o experimento em condições controladas indicou a ocorrência de sinergismo do herbicida glufosinate-ammonium em interação com os protetores anidrido naftálico, dietholate e fluxofenim sobre o capim-annoni. As diferenças relacionadas a estádio de desenvolvimento e densidade de infestação estão relacionadas as variações das respostas nos estudos a campo e em condições controladas. A utilização de herbicidas em associações com protetores apresenta potencialidade de controle seletivo de capim-annoni quando aplicado em plantas em estádios iniciais de desenvolvimento.The botanical similarity of the invasive weed Eragrostis plana Nees (South African lovegrass) difficult its selective control in natural pastures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the association between herbicides and safeners on the control of E. plana and on the selectivity to the natural pastures. Two experiments were conducted at field conditions in area of natural grassland of the Biome Pampa where several herbicides were evaluated in pre and post-emergence. A third experiment was carried out in greenhouse evaluating the herbicides glufosinate-ammonium and imazethapyr and the species E. plana and Paspalum notatum. In both experiments, the herbicides were evaluated isolated and in association with the safeners anhydride naphtalic, dietholate and fluxofenim. The field experiments indicated that the evaluated safeners did not increase E. plana control and native grassland selectively. The greenhouse experiment indicated the occurrence of synergism on E. plana for the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium in mixture with the safeners anhydride naphtalic, dietholate and fluxofenim. The different results in the field and greenhouse experiments are related to the plant stage and density. The use of herbicides in association with safeners indicated a potentiality for selective control of E. plana when applied to plants in the early stages of development.

Diversos biótipos de sagitária (Sagittaria montevidensis Cham. & Schlecht) foram constatados como resistentes a herbicidas inibidores da enzima ALS no Brasil e em outros locais do mundo. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram isolar e sequenciar o gene ALS de sagitária de forma a identificar a ocorrência de mutações relacionadas ao mecanismo de resistência de insensibilidade do local da ação de herbicidas. O material vegetal consistiu de sementes de sagitária coletadas em lavouras de arroz irrigado localizadas na região Sul do Estado de Santa Catarina. Nove pares de sequências nucleotídicas iniciadoras foram desenhadas para a amplificação dos domínios C, A e D do gene ALS. As sequências nucleotídicas dos fragmentos amplificados com quatro pares de oligonucleotídeos inciadores resultaram em amplicons com 360 a 393 nucleotídeos. Essas sequências apresentaram homologia com o gene ALS padrão de Arabdopsis thaliana e arroz, possuindo apenas três mutações de ponto. Uma dessas alterações foi a mutação Pro197Phe, que é relacionada à ocorrência de resistência à herbicida em diversas espécies vegetais. As sequências obtidas evidenciaram que o gene ALS avaliado encontrava-se em heterozigose. Esses resultados sugerem a ocorrência de insensibilidade do local de ação como mecanismo de resistência a herbicidas inibidores de ALS em sagitária. A prevenção e o controle da resistência a herbicidas inibidores da ALS em sagitária devem ser fundamentados na rotação de herbicidas com diferentes mecanismos de ação.California arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis Cham. & Schlecht) is an aquatic weed often found in rice paddy fields. Several biotypes of California arrowhead resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides were found in Brazil and in several rice fields worldwide. The objective of this study was to sequence the ALS gene of California arrowhead and to identify the occurrence of mutations related to target site insensitivity as the mechanism of herbicide resistance. The plant material consisted of seeds collected in rice paddy fields located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Nine pairs of primers were designed for the amplification of the domains C, A and D of the ALS gene. PCR reactions with four pairs of primers resulted in amplification of fragments with size close to expected, ranging from 360 to 393 nucleotides. These sequences showed high homology to the standard ALS gene Arabdopsis thaliana and rice having only three point mutations. One of these mutations was Pro197Phe that is related with herbicide resistance in several weeds. The sequences obtained indicated that the ALS gene evaluated was heterozygous. These results suggest the occurrence of insensitivity of the site of action as the mechanism of resistance to ALS-inhibitors herbicides in California arrowhead. The prevention and control of resistance to ALS-inhibitors in California arrowhead should be based on the rotation of herbicides with different mechanisms of action.

A característica quelante do glifosato pode ocasionar a imobilização de nutrientes como Fe e Mn em soja transgênica resistente a este herbicida. No entanto, a intensidade deste efeito e o resultado de formas de mitigação deste processo são pouco conhecidos. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar os efeitos do herbicida glifosato em interação com a fertilização foliar em cultivares de soja transgênica que apresentam a ocorrência de sintomatologia de amarelecimento relacionada à fitointoxicação deste herbicida. O primeiro experimento foi utilizado para a identificação de cultivares que mais apresentavam o sintoma de amarelecimento como consequência da aplicação do herbicida glifosato. O segundo experimento foi realizado a campo, onde os tratamentos constaram das cultivares CD 206RR e Fundacep 59RR, do herbicida glifosato aplicado nas doses de 0, 900 e 1440 g ha-1 e. a., e da presença ou ausência de adubação foliar na dose de 1,5 L ha-1. O efeito do herbicida glifosato e da utilização de adubo foliar não alterou o teor dos micronutrientes Fe e Mn e os parâmetros de fluorescência da clorofila nas cultivares de soja CD 206RR e Fundacep 59RR. O herbicida ghifosate diminui o rendimento de grãos da cultivar Fundacep 59 RR. A fertilização foliar não foi eficiente como forma de aumentar o rendimento de grãos de soja.Â

O caráter rendimento de grãos é uma variável de associação complexa, de importância econômica. Foi conduzido um ensaio no município de Lages-SC, no ano agrícola de 1996 no qual se utilizaram 12 genótipos de canola. O objetivo foi determinar a associação e os efeitos diretos e indiretos de alguns caracteres sobre a produção de grãos, através do estudo das correlações fenotípicas e pela análise de trilha. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, pode ser concluído que não há associação entre os caracteres estatura de planta com os caracteres massa de mil grãos e rendimento de grãos. A análise de trilha revelou que os componentes primários população de plantas por unidade de área e número de grãos por planta tem o maior efeito direto sobre a variável rendimento de grãos. Por outro lado, o caráter número de grãos por planta é o maior responsável pelo aumento massa de mil grãos. O coeficiente de trilha evidenciou que o componente secundário número de grãos por síliqua tem o maior efeito direto sobre o rendimento de grãos.

Tillers are important structures for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) because they contribute to increase the number of spikes per area, enhancing grain yield. Stresses during plants early growth have a sizable effect on tiller production. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of stresses induced by unevenness in sowing depth, defoliation and differences in soil pH on tiller emission and dry mass accumulation of wheat cultivars. The experiments were carried out in Lages, Southern Brazil, during the winter growing seasons of 2000 and 2001. They were performed in square boxes, under natural conditions of radiation and irrigation. In the first experiment, five types of sowing depths were tested to simulate different systems of unevenness in plant emergence of cultivar Embrapa 16. In the second experiment, two wheat cultivars (BRS 177 and BRS 179) were submitted to four types of main stem defoliation. The third experiment assessed the effects of three levels of soil acidity correction on the tillering pattern of Fundacep 29. Unevenness in sowing depth, alternating pairs of seeds at 3 cm and 5 cm deep, reduced tiller emission and dry mass accumulation. The removal of the first and second main stem leaves reduced significantly BRS 179 tiller dry mass and number and did not affect the tillering pattern of BRS 177. The lack of liming restricted tiller emission and reduced plant dry mass accumulation.

A competição entre plantas é um processo importante tanto em comunidades naturais quanto em ambientes agrícolas. O impacto vegetativo das ervas daninhas em agroecossistemas é considerado competição se houver redução no montante de recursos disponíveis para a cultura e, neste contexto, o desenvolvimento das raízes influencia na competitividade e na sobrevivência das plantas. Uma planta que apresenta sistema radical bem desenvolvido em extensão e em comprimento tem sido associada com aumento na habilidade competitiva devido ao maior potencial de absorção de água e nutrientes. A competição entre os sistemas radicais das ervas daninhas e das culturas interfere tanto na disponibilidade de água e nutrientes quanto nas interações por luz, na parte aérea. Entretanto, somente ocorrerá competição quando a zona de depleção das raízes da cultura e das ervas daninhas se sobreporem. A intensidade de competição entre raízes das ervas e da cultura pelos recursos abaixo da superfície do solo dependerá do tipo e da disponibilidade dos recursos e da espécie vegetal e de sua capacidade em desenvolver sistema radical extenso, com diâmetro reduzido e com ampla área superficial.

A interferência exercida pelo arroz vermelho (Oryza sativa L.) sobre o arroz cultivado (O. sativa L.) é o principal fator que limita o aumento do potencial de rendimento do cereal no Rio Grande do Sul. Este trabalho de revisão tem por objetivo descrever as características ecofisiológicas do arroz vermelho, bem como discutir estratégias que favoreçam o arroz cultivado na competição pelos recursos do meio ou que limitem seu estabelecimento. Devido às semelhanças morfofisiológicas entre ambos, o controle do arroz vermelho não pode ser realizado através do uso isolado de herbicidas seletivos, requerendo a combinação de diversas ações integradas, as quais envolvem métodos preventivos, culturais, físicos e químicos. A presença de elevada infestação de arroz vermelho torna inviável o cultivo de arroz, especialmente quando a dimensão da lavoura impossibilita o controle manual. Nessa situação, os métodos de controle mais eficazes são: uso de sementes pré-germinadas, preparo antecipado do solo com semeadura direta e emprego da rotação de culturas.Interference caused by red rice (Oryza sativa L.) on cultivated rice (O. sativa L.) is the main factor that limits increasing grain yield potential of the cereal in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This literature review has the objective of describing ecophysiological characteristics of red rice, as well as to discuss strategies that favour cultivated rice in the competition process for environmental resources or that limit its establishment. Due to morphophysiological similarities between both, red rice control cannot be accomplished through the use of selective herbicides alone, requiring the combination of several integrated actions, involving preventive, cultural, physical and chemical methods. The presence of a high red rice population makes rice production impracticable, especially when the field extension turns hand weeding impossible. In such a condition, the most effective methods of control have been: the usage of pre-germinated seeds, early soil preparation combined with no-till seeding, and adaptation of crop rotation.

O surgimento de novos cultivares de milho, de ciclo mais curto, estatura reduzida, menor número de folhas e folhas mais eretas aumentou o potencial de resposta da cultura à densidade de plantas. Essa tendência pode ser acentuada nos planaltos do Sul do Brasil, que apresentam temperatura média nos meses mais quentes inferiores a 22°C, o que resulta em menor estação estival de crescimento. Quatro experimentos foram conduzidos objetivando avaliar a viabilidade de se trabalhar com densidade de plantas maiores do que as atualmente recomendadas para esta região, como uma forma de aumentar o rendimento de grãos. Nestes experimentos, submeteram-se os híbridos Cargill 901 e XL 370 a uma população que variou de 37.000 a 100.000pl ha-1, sob diferentes situações de manejo. Em três dos quatro experimentos realizados, o uso de densidade de plantas superior a 60.000plha-1 maximizou o rendimento de grãos. A maior competição intraespecífica verificada nas densidades mais elevadas não reduziu drasticamente o número de espigas por planta, o que contribuiu para a melhor adaptação da cultura a densidades elevadas. Dessa forma, para locais com estação estival de crescimento mais curta, o uso de cultivares precoces, de menor porte, pode ser acompanhado pelo incremento na densidade para valores compreendidos entre 65.000 e 80.000pl ha-1. Isso é possível desde que se tenha bom nível de fertilidade no solo, boa disponibilidade hídrica e cultivares resistentes ao acamamento.The development of earlier hybrids, with shorter plant height, lower leaf number and upright leaves has increased maize potential adaptability to withstand high plant densities. This trend may be emphasized on the high lands of Southern Brazil due to their mild Spring and Summer temperatures and shorter maize growing season. Four trials were carried out, aiming to investigate the viability of using higher than recommended plant populations, as an alternative to improve grain yield. The maize hybrids Cargill 901 and XL 370 were evaluated at several plant populations, ranging from 37000 to 100000pl ha-1, under different management situations. In three out of four experiments, plant populations above 60000pl ha-1 maximized grain yield. The greater competition among individuals verified at high plant populations did not decrease substantially the number of ears per plant, which contributed to improve maize adaptation to high plant densities. Therefore, for regions with a short growing season, the use of early small stature maize hybrids may be accompanied by an increment in plant population up to a value varying between 65000 and 80000pl ha-1. This is conceivable as long as there is adequate soil fertility, water availability and stem lodging resistant genotypes.

Conduziu-se um experimento em casa-de-vegetação na Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, com objetivo de verificar a atividade dos herbicidas flumetsulam e trifluralin aspergidos em solo com diferentes valores de pH (5,1 e 6,4) e densidade do solo (1,3 e 1,6g cm-3). A atividade desses herbicidas foi avaliada utilizando-se aveia como planta indicadora. Flumetsulam e trifluralin foram aspergidos a 24g ha-1 e 180g ha-1, respectivamente. Nas doses utilizadas, flumetsulam foi mais ativo do que trifluralin. Não ocorreu interação entre herbicida, pH e densidade, indicando que a atividade desses produtos não foi influenciada pela interação entre pH e densidade do solo. A atividade do flumetsulam não variou com as diferentes densidades do solo utilizada; no entanto, a elevação do pH do solo de 5,1 para 6,4 aumentou a atividade desse herbicida. A atividade de trifluralin não foi influenciada pelas variações nos valores de pH e densidade do solo.A greenhouse experiment was carried out at Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in order to verify the activity of flumetsulam and trifluralin herbicides on soils with different values of pH (5.1 and 6.4) and density (1.3 e 1.6g cm-3). The herbicide activity was avaluated using Avena sativa L. as indicator plant. Flumetsulam and trifluralin were sprayed at rates of 24g ha-1 and 180g ha-1, respectively. Flumetsulam was more active than trifluralin. There was not interaction among herbicide, pH, and soil density indicating that the herbicide activity is not influenced by pH or soil density. Flumetsulam activity was not affected by soil density, but the elevation of soil pH from 5.1 to 6.4 increased activity of this herbicide. Trifluralin activity was not affected by either soil density or soil pH.

A obtenção de cultivares resistentes aos herbicidas possibilita o aumento da diversidade dos herbicidas utilizados seletivamente para o controle de plantas daninhas em uma determinada cultura. O aumento da disponibilidade destes herbicidas na cultura da soja pode proporcionar maior facilidade no controle de plantas daninhas de difícil eliminação, de espécies com características biológicas semelhantes à cultura e de plantas daninhas resistentes aos herbicidas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a resistência cruzada da cultivar COODETEC 201 a três herbicidas inibidores da ALS, não seletivos para a cultura da soja. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação através da semeadura em vasos, o qual foi disposto em delineamento completamente casualizado em arranjo fatorial. Os tratamentos constaram das cultivares de soja COODETEC 201 e OCEPAR 14 e dos herbicidas imazapyr, metsulfuron e nicosulfuron, aplicados em cinco doses. A aplicação destes produtos foi realizada 30 dias após a emergência, quando as plantas de soja estavam no estádio V4. A área foliar e a fitoxicidade aos 14 e 35 dias após a aplicação do herbicida metsulfuron foram menos afetadas na cultivar COODETEC 201 do que na OCEPAR 14. A determinação da restrição do crescimento das plantas em função da matéria seca das plantas demonstrou que as duas cultivares são igualmente sensíveis ao herbicida imazapyr. A cultivar COODETEC 201 apresentou maior tolerância aos herbicidas metsulfuron e nicosulfuron, sendo 10,25 e 3,25 vezes, respectivamente, mais resistente do que a cultivar OCEPAR 14.Herbicide resistant crops can increase the availability of herbicides for selective use in soybean, can provide weed control of tolerant weed species, weed with identical biological characteristics to the crop, and resitant weeds to herbicides. The objective of this research was to evaluate the cross resitance in the soybean cultivar Coodetec 201 to three ALS inhibitor herbicides not selective to this crop. The trial was conducted in greenhouse, in a completely randomized design in factorial arrangemant. The treatments consisted of soybean cultivars Coodetec 201 and Ocepar 14, and the herbicides imazapyr, metsulfuron and nicosulfuron at five rates each. The herbicides were sprayed 30 days after soybean emergence, in the fenological stage V4. The leaf area and injury 14 and 35 days after treatments with metsulfuron were smaller in Coodetec 201 than in Ocepar 14. Both cultivars were suscetibible to imazapyr. The cultivar Coodetec 201 was 10,25 and 3,25 times more tolerant to metsulfuron and nicosulfuron, respectivety, than Ocepar 14.

Altos rendimentos de milho estão relacionados à emergência rápida, completa e regular das plantas. Este trabalho foi conduzido em Lages (SC), com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da desuniformidade de emergência e da população de plantas sobre o rendimento de grãos de milho. Os tratamentos foram dispostos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em parcelas sub-divididas, alocando-se nas parcelas principais quatro populações de plantas (40.000, 60.000, 80.000 e 100.000 plantas.ha-1) e nas subparcelas os tratamentos de desuniformidade de emergência realizados através da variação da data de semeadura em covas adjacentes na linha de plantio, resultando nas seguintes situações de emergência entre plantas vizinhas: 1 - uniforme (0-0-0-0-0); 2 - desuniformidade de 12 dias (0-12-0-12-0); 3 - 19 dias (0-19-0-19-0); e, 4 - 12 e 19 dias (0-12-19-0-12-19). Na situação de emergência uniforme, o aumento da população de plantas até 76.500 plantas.ha-1 incrementou o rendimento de grãos para 12.900kg.ha-1. Nesta população de plantas, a diferença do rendimento de grãos entre as plantas de emergência uniforme e aquelas em desuniformidade foi aproximadamente 2.900kg.ha-1, indicando que sob níveis de rendimento semelhantes, a realização da ressemeadura pode ser uma prática economicamente vantajosa. A desuniformidade de emergência diminuiu o rendimento de grãos de milho e limitou a resposta ao incremento da população de plantas.High maize grain yields are related to a fast, complete and regular plant emergence. This experiment was carried out in Lages, SC, Brazil, with the objective of evaluating the effects of an uneven plant emergence on maize grain yield at different plant populations. A split plot design was used, with the main plots disposed in randomized complete blocks. Four plant populations, equivalent to 40,000, 60,000, 80,000 and 100,000 pl.ha-1 were tested in the main plots. Different levels of unevenness in plant emergence were analyzed in the split plots by varying the sowing dates of adjacent hills inside each as it follows: 1 - even emergence (0-0-0-0); 2 - unevenness of 12 days (0-12-0-12); 3 - unevenness of 19 days (0-19-0-19); 4 - unevenness of 12 and 19 days (0-12-19-0-12-19). The increase in plant population up to 76,500 pl.ha-1 enhanced grain yield to 12,900kg.ha-1. At this plant population, the difference in yield grain per hectare among treatments with even and uneven emergence was nearly 2,900kg. This indicates that under similar productivity levels replanting maize may be on economically viable option. Besides reducing grain yield, uneven emergence also limited maize response to the increment in plant population.

O controle contínuo de plantas daninhas através da aplicação de herbicidas que apresentam atividade em um único local de ação nas plantas favorece a seleção de biótipos resistentes a estes herbicidas, em certas espécies vegetais. Quatro experimentos foram conduzidos em condições casa-de-vegetação, na Faculdade de Agronomia da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, com os objetivos de avaliar a ocorrência de resistência aos herbicidas inibidores da enzima acetolactato sintase (ALS) em vários biótipos de leiteiro ou amendoim-bravo (Euphorbia heterophylla EPHHL) e avaliar a ocorrência de resistência múltipla a herbicidas com atividade em outros locais de ação. Biótipo oriundo de Passo Fundo foi resistente ao imazethapyr, enquanto biótipo oriundo de Porto Alegre foi suscetível. O biótipo de Passo Fundo apresentou resistência cruzada aos herbicidas imidazolinonas: imazapyr, imazaquin e imazethapyr; sulfoniluréias: chlorimuron, nicosulfuron e metsulfuron; e sulfonanilida: flumetsulan. Este biótipo não foi resistente aos herbicidas com os seguintes mecanismos de ação: inibidores de EPSPs, mimetizadores de auxina, inibidores dos fotossistemas I e II e inibidores de PROTOX. A confirmação de resistência aos inibidores de ALS em biótipos oriundos de Nãome-Toque, Passo Fundo e Rio Pardo sugere ampla dispersão no Rio Grande do Sul de resistência de E. heterophylla aos herbicidas deste mecanismo de ação.The continuous weed control with herbicides of only one site of action selects biotypes resistant to these herbicides. Four experiments were conducted in greenhouse of UFRGS, Brazil, to confirm the occurence of wild poinsettia (Euphorbia heterophylla) biotypes resistance to herbicides inhibitors of acetholactate synthase (ALS), and to determine whether there was cross resistance to herbicides with other site of action. A biotype from Passo Fundo -RS was resistant to imazethapyr, whereas a biotype from Porto Alegre -RS was susceptible to this compound. The biotype from Passo Fundo was resistant to the following ALS-inhibitors: imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr, chlorimuron, nicosulfuron, metsulfuron e flumetsulan. This biotype was not resistant to herbicides from the following modes of action: EPSPs inhibitors, auxin agonists, fotossystems I and II inhibitors, and PROTOX inhibitors. The confirmation of resistance to ALS inhibitors in biotypes from Não-me-Toque, Passo Fundo and Rio Pardo suggests a wide spread of wild poinsettia resistance to compounds of this mode of action in the Rio Grande do Sul state.

Frequentemente o plantio do feijão é realizado após a época preferencial, tendo como consequência a redução no rendimento de grãos. Este experimento foi conduzido em Lages, SC, com o objetivo de buscar alternativas quanto ao arranjo e à população de plantas, como forma de compensar o menor rendimento de grãos na semeadura tardia. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, em parcelas subsubdivididas. Utilizou-se as cultivares Barriga Verde, hábito indeterminado arbustivo do tipo II e Carioca 80 SH, hábito indeterminado prostrado do tipo III, na parcela principal, os espaçamentos entre linhas de 0,25m e 0,50m na subparcela e as populações de 200, 300 e 400 mil pl ha-1 na subsubparcela. O aumento da população propiciou incrementos no número de grãos por área, especialmente para a cultivar de hábito de crescimento indeterminado arbustivo, no menor espaçamento entre linhas, havendo uma concomitante diminuição no peso da semente. O aumento na população de plantas de 200 para 400 mil plantas por hectare, no espaçamento entre linhas de 0,25m aumentou o rendimento de grãos da cultivar Barriga Verde e reduziu o rendimento de grãos da cultivar Carioca 80 SH.The bean crop is often sown after the ideal time in southem Brazil which brings along a decrease in grain yield. This experiment was carriça out in Lages, SC, with the purpose of looking for alternativos in the arrangement and population of plants as a way of compensating the small production of grains in late sowings. A split-split piot design with the main piots arranged in randomized complete blocks was used. Two cultivars, Barriga Verde (indeterminate erect, type II growing habit) and Carioca 80 SH (indeterminate prostate, type III growing habit) were tested in the main piot. Row spacings o f 0.2 5m and 0.50m were used in the split piot and plant populations o f 200, 300 and 400 thousand pl ha-1were observed in the split split piot. The increase in plant population promoted a greater number o f grains per área, specially for the indeterminate erect cultivar at the narrower row spacing, having a concomitant decrease in seed weight. The use of0.2 5m row spacing enhanced Barriga Verde's grain yield and decreased Carioca's grain productivity at high plant populations.

O aumento da população de plantas pode proporcionar uma melhor exploração do ambiente e do genótipo e se refletir em incremento no rendimento de grãos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a resposta do aumento da população de plantas e diminuição do espaçamento entre linhas no rendimento de grãos de milho. O ensaio foi conduzido em Lages, Santa Catarina, num Cambissolo húmico álico. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso, em parcelas subdivididas, alocando-se os espaçamentos entre linhas (0,75 e 1,0m) na parcela principal e as populações (37000, 54000, 64000 e 81000 plantas.ha-1) nas subparcelas. O solo foi preparado pelo método convencional e a semeadura foi realizada com o híbrido simples Cargill 901. O espaçarnento entre linhas não afetou o rendimento de grãos e os componentes do rendimento. A variação da população de plantas de 37000 para 81000 plantas.ha-1 aumentou linearmente o rendimento de grãos de 7500 para 10200 kg/ha-1. Este aumento aconteceu em resposta ao maior número de espigas por área, que recompensou a redução do peso do grão e do número de espigas por planta. A altura das plantas aumentou devido ao aurnento da população de plantas, mas não provocou acamamento. O uso de altas populações de plantas demonstrou-se viável para aumentar o rendimento de grãos de milho.Increasing plant population cun be used to better explore the enviroment and genotype potencral and increase corn yield. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of increasing plant population and decreasing row width on corn yield. A split plot desing with the main plots arregend rn a randornized complete blocks waus used. Two row widths (0,75 and 1,0m) and four plant population (37,000, 54,000, 64,000 and 81 000 plants.ha-1) were placed in the main plot and split plot, respectrvely. The single hibrid Cargrll 901 was sown in November 14, 1994. Row width did not affect the yreld and yield components. Increasing plant population increased grain yield from 7 500 to 10.200kg.ha-1. This ocurred due to the increase in the number of ears per area, which over came the reduction in grain weight and number of ears per plant. Plant height was superior in the higher densitres but did not caused plant lodging. The use of high plant populations can be a viable alternative to increase corn yield.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a capacidade de controle de plantas daninhas efetuada pelo aumento da população de plantas de milho em associação com diferentes métodos de controle de plantas daninhas. O experimento foi conduzido em Lages (SC) sob o delineamento de blocos ao acaso em parcelas subdivididas. Nas parcelas principais foram alocados os métodos de controle de plantas daninhas: 1) sem controle; 2) atrazine + metolachlor (1,4 + 2,1 kg/h a) em pré emergência; 3) nicosulfuron (60 g/ ha) em pós - emergência; 4) atrazine + metolachlor em pré emergência e nicosulfuron em pós-emergência; e 5) capina até o florescimento. Nas sub parcelas foram alocadas as populações de plantas: 35.000, 50.000, 68.000 e 80.000 plantas ha-1. O aumento da população de plantas foi mais efetivo na diminuição da matéria seca de plantas daninhas nos tratamentos sem controle e com herbicida em pré emergência. As plantas daninhas promoveram maiores decréscimos no rendimento de grão s de milho na população de 80000 plantas ha-1, onde a competição com plantas daninhas somou-se à competição intraespecífica que também é maior do que nas menores populações . O uso de altas populações de plantas diminui a competição com plantas daninhas , mas deve ser complementado com outros métodos de controle no início do desenvolvimento da cultura.The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effectiveness of increasing corn plant population in association with differe nt methods to control weeds. The trial was conduted in Lages, SC, using a randomized complete block desing in a split plot arragement. Fiv e methods of weed control were located at the main plots: 1) check without control, 2) atrazine + metolachlor (1,4 + 2,1 kg/ha) in pre-emergency, 3) nicosulfuron (60 g/ha) in post emergency, 4) atrazine + metolachlor in pre-emergency and nicosulfuron in post emergency, and 5) hoeing up to flowerin g. Four plant population were tested at split plots: 35000, 50000, 68000 and 80000 plants ha-1. Incre asing plant population was more effective to decrease weed dry matter when no additional control was performed or herbicide was used in pre emergent. Weed influence on corn grain yield was greater at 80000 plantas ha-1 due to both weed and intraespecific competition. The use of high plant population can mitigate weed competition. However, it should be complemented with other methods of control during the early stages of corn development to achive high grain yields.

ABSTRACT: Genetic use restriction technologies (GURTs) were developed to preserve the intellectual property of genetically modified crops (GM) and ensure the return of investments made by industry to obtain technology delivered through seeds. The aims of this review are to discuss the GURTs and analyze their possible applications in integrated management of agricultural pests. There are two classes of GURTs: T-GURTs (trait-based GURTs), wherein the generated seed are viable, but the next generation does not express the trait of agronomic interest, and V-GURT (variety-based GURTs), in which plants produce non viable seeds. However, beyond the seed protection purpose, the GURTs could have also other application to solve agronomic problems. One of the most important is the use of GURTs as a tool to restrict gene flow of GM traits to relative weeds. In addition, it is proposed the use of this technology in integrated weed management by preventing the GMs seed germination, which produces volunteer plants that compete with the crop of interest. Also, these volunteer plants may serve as alternative hosts for insects and pathogens in between crop seasons. The GURTs could contribute to the control of undesirable agents in agricultural systems, reducing the use of pesticides and increasing crop yields.