title: Can herbicide safeners allow selective control of weedy rice infesting rice crops?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rice is a major field crop of paramount importance for global food security. However, the increased adoption of more profitable and resource-efficient direct-seeded rice (DSR) systems has contributed to greater weed infestations, including weedy rice, which has become a severe problem in several Asian regions. In this study we have developed a conceptually novel method to protect rice plants at high doses of clomazone and triallate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The insecticide phorate applied to rice seeds provided a substantial level of protection against the herbicides clomazone or triallate. A quantity of 15 kg phorate ha-1significantly increased the LD50values, which were more than twofold greater than for rice plants treated only with clomazone. A quantity of 20 kg phorate ha-1in combination with 2000 g triallate ha-1safened rice plants (80% survival) with LD50>3.4-fold greater than in phorate-untreated rice. Weed control efficacy was not lowered by the presence of phorate-treated rice seeds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weedy rice is one of the most damaging global weeds and a major threat to DSR systems. In this study we have developed a proof-of-concept method to allow selective weedy rice control in rice crops. We call for herbicide discovery programmes and research to identify candidate safener and herbicide combinations to achieve selective herbicide control of weedy rice and alleviate weed infestations in global rice crops. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative, School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Busi
authors.affiliation: Cantho University, Cantho City, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Nghia K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, QAAFI, Australia.
authors.forename: Bhagirath S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.affiliation: University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vidotto
authors.affiliation: Valoryza, Vercelli, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tabacchi
authors.affiliation: Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative, School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Powles
mesh_terms: D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000187:drug effects; D006540:Herbicides / Q000494:pharmacology; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000633:toxicity*; D012275:Oryza / Q000187:drug effects; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000633:toxicity*; D057685:Plant Weeds / Q000187:drug effects; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects; D014214:Triallate / Q000633:toxicity*; D058728:Weed Control / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D006540:Herbicides; D007555:Isoxazoles; D023303:Oxazolidinones; C095255:clomazone; D014214:Triallate
keywords: agricultural pesticides; pest management systems; rice; seed physiology; seed treatment; weed management