Glyphosate-Resistant Giant Ragweed (<i>Ambrosia trifida</i> L.) in Ontario: Dose Response and Control with Postemergence Herbicides

Abstract

Giant ragweed ( Ambrosia trifida L.) is competitive with agronomic crops and can cause significant yield losses. Rapid adoption of glyphosate-resistant (GR) crops and a concomitant increase in the reliance on glyphosate for weed management has led to the evolution of GR giant ragweed in Ontario, Canada. Field studies were conducted to evaluate the level of resistance in giant ragweed biotypes from Ontario, and to evaluate the effectiveness of various postemer-gence (POST) herbicides in soybean ( Glycine max L.). The effective dose (ED) to provide 50%, 80% and 95% giant ragweed control was up to 1658, 9991 and >43200 g?a.e.?ha –1 4 weeks after application (WAA), respectively. For effective control, growers would need to apply glyphosate 18 times greater than the recommended field application dose. Glyphosate applied at the recommended field dose of 900 g?a.e.?ha –1 provided up to 57% control and resulted in soybean yield equivalent to the weedy check. Cloransulam-methyl applied POST provided up to 99% control, reduced giant ragweed density 98%, reduced giant ragweed shoot dry weight 99% and resulted in soybean yield equivalent to the weedfree check. Chlorimuron-ethyl, fomesafen, imazethapyr and imazethapyr plus bentazon applied alone or with glyphosate did not provide adequate control of GR giant ragweed. Based on these results, some GR giant ragweed biotypes from Ontario have evolved a high level of resistance to glyphosate. Cloransulam-methyl applied POST was the only herbicide that provided adequate control and suggests that additional weed management tactics will need to be implemented in order to effectively manage GR giant ragweed.