Physiological performance of glyphosate and imazamox mixtures on Amaranthus palmeri sensitive and resistant to glyphosate

Sci Rep. 2019 Dec 3;9(1):18225. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-54642-9.

Abstract

The herbicides glyphosate and imazamox inhibit the biosynthetic pathway of aromatic amino acids (AAA) and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), respectively. Both herbicides share several physiological effects in the processes triggered in plants after herbicide application that kills the plant, and mixtures of both herbicides are being used. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological effects in the mixture of glyphosate and imazamox in glyphosate-sensitive (GS) and -resistant (GR) populations of the troublesome weed Amaranthus palmeri. The changes detected in the physiological parameters after herbicide mixtures application were similar and even less to the changes detected after individual treatments. This pattern was detected in shikimate, amino acid and carbohydrate content, and it was independent of the EPSPS copy number, as it was detected in both populations. In the case of the transcriptional pattern of the AAA pathway after glyphosate, interesting and contrary interactions with imazamox treatment were detected for both populations; enhancement of the effect in the GS population and alleviation in the GR population. At the transcriptional level, no cross regulation between AAA and BCAA inhibitors was confirmed. This study suggests that mixtures are equally or less toxic than herbicides alone, and would implicate careful considerations when applying the herbicide mixtures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amaranthus / chemistry
  • Amaranthus / drug effects*
  • Amaranthus / metabolism
  • Amaranthus / physiology
  • Amino Acids, Aromatic / analysis
  • Carbohydrates / analysis
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Glycine / administration & dosage
  • Glycine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Glycine / pharmacology
  • Glyphosate
  • Herbicide Resistance*
  • Herbicides / administration & dosage
  • Herbicides / pharmacology*
  • Imidazoles / administration & dosage
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology*
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / drug effects
  • Shikimic Acid / analysis

Substances

  • Amino Acids, Aromatic
  • Carbohydrates
  • Herbicides
  • Imidazoles
  • Shikimic Acid
  • Glycine
  • imazamox