Absorption, Translocation, and Metabolism of Glyphosate and Imazethapyr in Smooth Pigweed with Multiple Resistance

The evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds is the major challenge for chemical management worldwide, increasing production costs, and reducing yield. This work aimed to evaluate the putative resistance of the Amaranthus hybridus population from Candido Mota (CMT) to glyphosate and imazethapyr and to investigate the non-target site mechanisms involved. Dose–response studies were conducted under greenhouse conditions and the control and biomass reduction were evaluated 28 days after application (DAA). Absorption, translocation, and metabolization studies were evaluated at 72 h after treatment (HAT) using radiometric techniques. The dose–response results show different responses among populations to glyphosate and imazethapyr. The CMT population was not controlled with labeled herbicide doses. Based on biomass reduction, the resistance factor was 16.4 and 9.4 to glyphosate and imazethapyr, respectively. The CMT absorbed 66% of 14C-glyphosate and 23% of 14C-imazethapyr at 72 HAT. Although the CMT population absorbed more glyphosate than the susceptible population (12.6%), translocation was impaired for both herbicides in the CMT when compared to the SUS population. There was no evidence that herbicide metabolization was involved in CMT resistance to the herbicides studied. Understanding the mechanisms endowing resistance allows better decision-making. This is the first study that describes non-target-site resistance mechanisms in an Amaranthus hybridus population from Brazil.