Is There a Benefit of Adding Atrazine to HPPD-Inhibiting Herbicides for Control of Multiple-Herbicide-Resistant, Including Group 5-Resistant, Waterhemp in Corn?

The evolution of multiple-herbicide-resistant (MHR) waterhemp (resistant to Groups 2, 5, 9, and 14) in Ontario, Canada is challenging for growers. The complementary activity of the co-application of hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting herbicides with atrazine has been well documented. The objective of this research was to determine if the addition of atrazine to 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting herbicides applied postemergence improves their consistency of MHR waterhemp (including Group 5 resistance) in corn. Five field trials were conducted over a two-year period (2018, 2019) in Ontario, Canada. Five HPPD-inhibiting herbicides [isoxaflutole (105 g ha-1), mesotrione (100 g ha-1), topramezone (12.5 g ha-1), tembotrione (90 g ha-1), and tolpyralate (30 g ha-1)] were applied postemergence with and without atrazine to 10-cm-tall waterhemp. Corn injury (≤ 10%) was observed at specific sites where the application of tembotrione, isoxaflutole and isoxaflutole + atrazine resulted in characteristic white bleaching of corn foliage; however, yield was not affected. Averaged across field sites, the addition of atrazine to isoxaflutole, mesotrione, topramezone, or tembotrione improved MHR waterhemp control 15%, 11%, 7%, and 7%, respectively at 4 weeks after application (WAA). Averaged across herbicide treatments and sites, the addition of atrazine reduced the standard error of MHR waterhemp control by 13% to 100%. This study concludes that the co-application of atrazine with HPPD-inhibitors applied postemergence reduced the risk of herbicide failure and resulted in greater and more consistent control of MHR waterhemp.