Glyphosate-Resistant Goosegrass (Eleusine indica) Confirmed in Tennessee

Goosegrass is a problematic summer annual weed in cotton, soybean, and corn production in the southern United States. Glyphosate is labeled for POST control of goosegrass in glyphosate-resistant (GR) cotton, soybean, and corn production. A population of goosegrass in west Tennessee not controlled by glyphosate was examined in greenhouse and laboratory studies. At 21 days after treatment (DAT), a glyphosate-susceptible (SS) biotype was controlled >90% with glyphosate at rates greater than 210 g ae ha(-1). Comparatively, the GR biotype was only controlled 12% at 210 g ae ha(-1). Using goosegrass control data, I-50 values for GR and SS biotypes were 868 and 117 g ae ha(-1), susceptibility, resulting in a resistance factor (RF) of 7.4. Treatment with glyphosate at 210 g ae ha(-1) reduced fresh weight biomass of the SS biotype to 5 g per pot compared to 36 g for the GR biotype. A total of 3,360 g ae ha(-1) glyphosate was required to reduce fresh weights of the GR biotype to similar to 5 g per pot. Using fresh and dry weight biomass data, I-50 values for the GR biotype were 3 to 10 times greater than the SS biotype. On each date from 1 to 6 DAT the SS biotype accumulated higher concentrations of shikimate than the GR biotype. Future research should evaluate strategies for managing GR goosegrass with alternative modes of action. To prevent the spread of resistance, additional research evaluating programs for managing glyphosate-susceptible goosegrass in GR crops is also warranted.