Control of barnyardgrass susceptible and resistant to imidazolinones at different temperature regimes before and after imazethapyr application

ABSTRACT Environmental conditions can influence herbicide metabolism and interfere with the evolution of weed resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of thermal regimes on the control of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) susceptible and resistant to herbicides of the imidazolinones chemical group. Factor A (biotypes) consisted of one biotype that is susceptible and one that is resistant to imazethapyr; factor B (dose) comprised six imazethapyr doses between 0 and 800 g ha-1 for the resistant biotype and between 0 and 100 g ha-1 for the susceptible biotype; factor C (temperature) consisted of four thermal regimes (16/16 ºC, 25/25 ºC, 16/25 ºC and 25/16 ºC) to which the plants were submitted before and after the herbicide application. Concerning the resistant biotype, the highest control levels were observed in the thermal regimes with temperature fuctuation, especially at 25/16 ºC. At the recommended imazethapyr dose (100 g ha-1), the herbicide resulted in a control level over 90 % at 25/16 ºC and less than 50 % at 16/16 ºC, in the resistant biotype. The shoot dry mass was reduced by more than 80 % at 25/16 ºC and 16/25 ºC and less than 30 % at 16/16 ºC. The temperature conditions to which the plants are subjected in the pre- and post-application period interfere with the level of imazethapyr resistance in barnyardgrass.