Project Number: 6402-21000-030-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: May 17, 2005
End Date: May 16, 2010

Objective:
Investigate basic aspects of weed biology with an emphasis on the areas of herbicide-resistant weeds and weedy vines, in an effort to provide more effective control practices. Determine the way in which weedy vine species are able to vine and use supplementary structures as tendrils and holdfasts in their ability to climb on other plants and surfaces. Establish structural and biochemical differences between vines and, including touch sensitivity responses. Develop in vitro assays to determine which compounds might effectively inhibit twining responses. Discover mechanisms of herbicide resistance to existing weed biotypes, especially in terms of resistance to glyphosate, paraquat and quinclorac. Develop systems to monitor risk of herbicide development to existing weeds. Determine pathways for herbicide metabolism and herbicide mode of action relative to resistance.

Approach:
Much of the approach of this project will involve microscopic approaches such as light microscopy, fluorescence and standard microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microcopy. These will serve as first indicators as to the effects of herbicides, possible differences in herbicide-tolerant/ resistant biotypes, and changes that occur in vining weeds such as touch sensitivity and ability to climb. Basic growth analyses will determine major changes that occur in the resistant biotypes or vining weeds as a consequence of either herbicide resistance or vining. Subsequent biochemical and immunochemical techniques will identify more specifically the changes, using techniques of immunocytochemistry and proteomics. Specific probes will be developed to determine especially recalcitrant aspects of the project.