Absorption and translocation of imazethapyr as a mechanism responsible for resistance of Euphorbia heterophylla L. biotypes to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors

The effect of weeds on reduction of agricultural production is estimated between 30% and 50%. Imazethapyr is a herbicide of imidazolinone group that inhibits activity of enzyme acetolactate synthase (ALS), the first common enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of valine, leucine, and isoleucine. Euphorbia heterophylla is common specie in soybean fields of Brazil. The study reports about a population of Euphorbia heterophylla resistant to imazethapyr. The objectives of the present work were to quantify the level of sensitivity to this herbicide in imazethapyr-resistant and -susceptible E.  heterophylla populations evaluate the role of differential penetration into leaves as determining plant resistance to imazethapyr, and compare the waxy cells of R and S populations. The R population had a lower penetration rate compared with that of S population during the six first hours of incubation with the herbicide. Further studies indicated that R population was not different from S population in terms of translocation, metabolism, or target site (ALS enzyme) of imazethapyr action. Analysis of the leaf cuticle surface by scanning electron microscopy revealed higher wax density in the leaf cuticles of population R than that in S population. Thus, it is suggested that R population is resistant  to imazethapyr because increased wax content of its cuticle permits less penetration of herbicide into the plant.