Significance and Distribution of Herbicide Resistance

Abstract

Herbicide-resistant weed species have become widespread in recent years. Fifty-five weed species, including 40 dicots and 15 grasses, are known to have biotypes resistant to the triazine herbicides. One or more resistant species have arisen in 31 states of the United States, four provinces of Canada, 18 countries in Europe, and Israel, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Resistance to other classes of herbicides is more restricted in distribution and recent in detection but is becoming more widespread. Trifluralin resistance has spread in the southeastern United States and has been detected in Canada, while 11 species with biotypes resistant to paraquat have been reported around the world. Diclofop-methyl-resistant weed species are problems in cereal production in Australia and have been found in Oregon, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Resistance to the substituted ureas also is present in the United Kingdom, West Germany, and Hungary. Within the last 2 yr, biotypes of at least four weed species resistant to the sulfonylurea herbicides have arisen following several annual applications of these herbicides in wheat. Some resistant biotypes have multiple resistance to different classes of herbicides, which greatly exacerbates the threat of resistance. Herbicide resistance has reached the level where more concerted efforts are needed in research, education, and development of effective management strategies to preserve herbicides as essential tools of agricultural technology.