John C. Caseley

Herbicide safeners: a review

Herbicide safeners selectively protect crop plants from herbicide damage without reducing activity in target weed species. This paper provides an outline of the discovery and uses of these compounds, before reviewing literature devoted to defining the biochemical and physiological mechanisms involved in safener activity. Emphasis is placed on the effects of safeners on herbicide metabolism and their interactions with enzyme systems, such as cytochrome P450 mono-oxygenases and glutathione-S-transferases. Attention is drawn to the potential wide-ranging applications of safeners and, in particular, their use as powerful research tools with which to identify and manipulate those mechanisms which contribute to herbicide selectivity and resistance. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry

Rapid detection of propanil and fenoxaprop resistance in Echinochloa colona

Abstract Rapid detection methods were developed for discriminating between resistant (R) and susceptible (S) biotypes of Echinochloa colona to either propanil or fenoxaprop-P at all growth stages. In the pregerminated seed assay for fenoxaprop-P, seeds were placed on 1.0% agar containing a range of concentrations of herbicides and kept under humid conditions. For propanil, pregerminated seeds were placed on moist filter paper in the lid of a petri dish and, when one leaf had developed, the lid was inverted for 1 min into propanil solutions at a range of concentrations. For the fenoxaprop-P and propanil test, seedling length and fresh weight were measured after 1 wk. For juvenile plants with four-leaf to one-tiller, shoots and roots were trimmed and placed in 20-ml glass tubes containing 0.2% (wt/v) agar and a range of concentrations of herbicides. Shoot extension and weight were recorded after 7 d. Larger plants with several small tillers were also assayed by this method. Tillers were removed from larger plants and were evaluated as described for juvenile plants. At later growth stages from ear emergence to flowering, excised stem node segments (8 cm) were soaked in water to stimulate rooting. Rooted nodes were placed in 30-ml glass bottles containing 0.2% agar with a range of concentrations of herbicides, and the test was conducted as described for juvenile plants but with the final assessment of new shoot extension and weight being recorded after 10 d. Discrimination between R and S biotypes was possible on the basis of GR50 values for shoot length and fresh weight in all testing methods. With few exceptions, GR50 values for the length of new shoot were very similar to those for the new shoot fresh weight. We concluded that all testing methods in our study provided reliable and quick discrimination between biotypes for both propanil and fenoxaprop-P susceptibility, covering various growth stages from seed to flowering stage. Trimming plants before herbicide treatment gives a rapid method of discrimination by measuring not only newly grown shoot fresh weight but also shoot length. Nomenclature: Propanil, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl; Echinochloa colona (L.) Link ECHCO, junglerice.

Modified herbicide regimes for propanil-resistant junglerice control in rain-fed rice

Abstract Field experiments were conducted at four locations in the Central Pacific region of Costa Rica between 1994 and 1996 to determine suitable tactics for integrated control of propanil-resistant junglerice in rain-fed rice. Stubble incorporation within 3 mo after rice harvest did not affect the density of junglerice that emerged with the crop at the beginning of the rainy season at any location. However, the elimination with glyphosate of the first junglerice seedling population emerging before rice planting consistently reduced the in-crop infestation of junglerice and resulted in increased grain yields. The positive effect of eliminating the first junglerice flush remained even after the in-crop treatments were applied and lasted after rice harvest. Substitution of the two customary applications of propanil (3.8 kg ha−1 each) with a single application of pendimethalin (0.75 to 1.5 kg ha−1), preemergence or early postemergence, also reduced junglerice infestation and improved grain yield. Both propanil, in mixture with the synergist piperophos, and quinclorac controlled propanil-resistant junglerice and increased grain yields. Control of the initial junglerice population and improved in-crop weed management can serve as the basis for integrated management of herbicide-resistant junglerice in rain-fed rice. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; pendimethalin; piperophos; propanil; quinclorac; junglerice, Echinochloa colona (L.) Link. ECHCO; rice, Oryza sativa L. ORYSA.

The role of pendimethalin in the integrated management of propanil-resistant Echinochloa colona in Central America

Pre-emergence activity of pendimethalin on propanil-resistant jungle rice (Echinochloa colona) was demonstrated in glasshouse trials. Both susceptible and resistant populations, collected from Costa Rica, were controlled by 1.25 kg ha -1 , the usual application rate used in the field where Rottboellia cochinchinensis is also a problem. When applied post-emergence, propanil performance was improved by the addition of low doses of pendimethalin to the herbicide mixture. A propanil-resistant selection was controlled by 0.23 kg ha -1 pendimethalin + 0.54 kg ha -1 propanil at the one-to-two leaf stage, and 0.23 kg ha -1 pendimethalin + 1.08 kg propanil at the three-to-four leaf stage compared to 1.08 kg and 2.16 kg ha -1 respectively when propanil was applied alone. This suggests that pendimethalin improves post-emergence control in the field compared to the standard propanil treatment and can provide residual pre-emergence control of late-germinating individuals, so reducing the propanil selection pressure. For effective jungle rice control, growers apply propanil (3.84 kg ha -1 ) at 10 and 20 days after planting (DAP) followed by one application of fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (0.045 kg ha -1 ) at 35 DAP. Field experiments, conducted in dry-seeded upland rice in southern Costa Rica, demonstrated that under high jungle-rice population pressure, one application of pendimethalin at 1.5 kg ha -1 provided an effective replacement for propanil, resulting in reduced weed-control costs.

Mode of action of naphthalic anhydride as a safener for the herbicide AC 263222 in maize

In hydroponic experiments, seed-dressing with the herbicide safener 1,8-naphthalic anhydride (NA), significantly enhanced the tolerance of maize, (Zea mays L., cv. Monarque) to the imidazolinone herbicide, AC 263222, (2-[4-isopropyl-4-methyl-5-oxo-2-imidazolin-2-yl]-5-methylnicotinic acid). Uptake, distribution and metabolism studies where [ 14 C]AC 263222 was applied through the roots of hydroponically grown maize plants showed that NA treatment reduced the translocation of radiolabel from root to shoot tissue and accelerated the degradation of this herbicide to a hydroxylated metabolite. Reductions in the lipophilicity and, therefore, mobility of this compound following hydroxylation may account for NA-induced retention of radiolabel in the root system. Hydroxylation of AC 263222 suggested that NA may stimulate the activity of enzymes involved in oxidative herbicide metabolism, such as the cytochrome P 450 mono-oxygenases. In agreement with this theory, the cytochrome P 450 inhibitor, 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT), synergized AC 263222 activity and inhibited its hydroxylation in vivo. NA seed-dressing enhanced the total cytochrome P 450 and b 5 content of microsomes prepared from etiolated maize shoots. Isolated microsomes catalyzed AC 263222 hydroxylation in vitro. This activity possessed the characteristics of a cytochrome P 450 mono-oxygenase, being NADPH-dependent and susceptible to inhibition by ABT. Activity was stimulated four-fold following NA seed treatment. Differential NA enhancement of AC 263222 hydroxylase and the cytochrome P 450 -dependent cinnamic acid-4-hydroxylase (CA4H) activity, suggested that separate P 450 isozymes were responsible for each activity. These results indicate that the protective effects of NA result from enhancement of AC 263222 hydroxylation and concomitant reduction in herbicide translocation. This may be attributed to the stimulation of a microsomal cytochrome P 450 system.

Effect of Mono-oxygenase Inhibitors on Uptake, Metabolism and Phytotoxicity of Propanil in Resistant Biotypes of Jungle-Rice, Echinochloa Colona

The effect of the mono-oxygenase inhibitors tridiphane, piperonyl butoxide and prochloraz on propanil uptake, metabolism and phytotoxicity was measured in a resistant (R) biotype of Echinochloa colona. The uptake of propanil was not significantly affected by any of the three mono-oxygenase inhibitors. The first metabolite of propanil metabolism, 3,4-dichloroaniline, was found to accumulate to higher levels in E. colona treated with each of the mono-oxygenase inhibitors mixed with formulated propanil, compared to propanil applied alone. Accumulation of further metabolites of propanil (glucosyl-3,4-dichloroaniline and bound products) was reduced in the presence of mono-oxygenase inhibitors, compared with propanil application alone. Leaf damage caused by a single drop of propanil compared to propanil + mono-oxygenase inhibitor was used to assess the degree of propanil tolerance in E. colona biotypes. Leaf damage was significantly greater in propanil + mono-oxygenase inhibitor treatments. No leaf damage was observed in mono-oxygenase inhibitor treatments alone at the concentrations used. Peroxidase activity was measured in crude extracts of the R-biotype of E. colona using 3,4-dichloroaniline as substrate, in the presence and absence of mono-oxygenase inhibitors and the specific peroxidase inhibitor salicylhydroxamic acid. Peroxidase activity was inhibited by all three mono-oxygenase inhibitors at 10 μM and by salicylhydroxamic acid at 1 μm. Glucosyl-3,4-dichloroaniline was found not to be a substrate for peroxidase activity. These results suggest that the incorporation of 3,4-dichloroaniline into bound residues involves peroxidase activity which can be inhibited by mono-oxygenase inhibitors. When peroxidase activity is inhibited, the precursor metabolite 3,4-dichloroaniline accumulates, and propanil resistance in E. colona is reduced, possibly as a consequence of phytotoxicity of this metabolite and/or product inhibition of the first step in propanil metabolism, responsible for the formation of 3,4-dichloroaniline. Glasshouse trials have demonstrated that the application of mono-oxygenase inhibitors, (particularly tridiphane which is also known to inhibit glutathione transferase activity) with propanil offers a promising approach to the control of propanil resistant biotypes of Jungle-Rice.