Biologically-Effective-Dose of Tolpyralate and Tolpyralate plus Atrazine for Control of Multiple-Herbicide-Resistant Waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J. D. Sauer] in Corn

The biologically-effective-dose of tolpyralate, a new 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibitor, applied alone or tank-mixed with atrazine, for the control of multiple-herbicide-resistant (MHR) waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J. D. Sauer] has not been studied in corn. Seven field experiments were conducted during a three-year period (2018, 2019, 2020) in Ontario, Canada with MHR waterhemp to determine: 1) the dose-response of MHR waterhemp to tolpyralate and tolpyralate plus atrazine, and 2) the relative efficacy of tolpyralate and tolpyralate plus atrazine to post-emergence corn herbicides, dicamba/atrazine (500/1000 g·ha−1) and mesotrione + atrazine (100 + 280 g·ha−1). Tolpyralate + atrazine (120 + 4000 g·ha−1) caused 13% corn injury at one site two weeks after application (WAA), which was observed as transient foliar chlorosis and bleaching of new leaves. At 12 WAA, the predicted dose of tolpyralate for 50% control of MHR waterhemp at Cottam and on Walpole Island was 8 and 2 g·ha−1, respectively; the predicted dose of tolpyralate + atrazine for 50% control of MHR waterhemp at Cottam and on Walpole Island was 5 + 160 and 1 + 21 g·ha−1, respectively. The difference in predicted dose at the two sites is likely due to differences in MHR density and resistance profile. Applied at the registered rate, tolpyralate (30 g·ha−1) and tolpyralate + atrazine (30 + 1000 g·ha−1) controlled MHR waterhemp similar to dicamba/atrazine and mesotrione + atrazine across sites. This study demonstrates that tolpyralate + atrazine, applied POST, provides season-long control of MHR waterhemp in corn.