Glyphosate-Imazamox Binary Herbicide for Resistant Digitaria insularis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digitaria insularis plants are difficult to control due to their rapid growth, tufted formation, rhizome structures, and high seed production, leading to competition with crop plants and reduced yields. Existing herbicides, such as glyphosate, often require high application rates and can lead to herbicide resistance.
Innovation Solution
A binary herbicide combination of glyphosate and imazamox, applied in specific weight ratios (1:2 to 120:1), provides synergistic control of Digitaria insularis plants. This combination allows for lower application rates and effective management of glyphosate-resistant populations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glyphosate is applied alone to control Digitaria insularis, then weed control is achieved, but high application rates are required leading to increased herbicide resistance and undesirable selection pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines glyphosate with imazamox (an ALS inhibitor) to create a binary herbicide mixture. This combination allows achieving effective weed control at lower individual application rates compared to glyphosate alone, as the two herbicides work synergistically to target multiple pathways in the weed plant, thereby reducing the quantity of each herbicide needed while maintaining control effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite herbicide formulation comprising glyphosate and imazamox in specific ratios. This composite approach provides enhanced herbicidal action through multiple mechanisms of action, improving control reliability while allowing reduced application rates that help manage herbicide resistance and selection pressure.
2Reliability
If glyphosate is applied at high rates to control Digitaria insularis, then weed control is achieved, but herbicide resistance and selection pressure increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging glyphosate with imazamox, the patent targets multiple physiological pathways in Digitaria insularis: glyphosate inhibits EPSP synthase while imazamox inhibits ALS (acetolactate synthase). This multi-target approach increases control reliability and reduces the selective pressure for resistance, as weeds would need to develop resistance to both herbicide modes of action simultaneously, which is less likely than resistance to a single herbicide.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of herbicide mode of action by introducing a second active ingredient with a different mechanism of action. This parameter change creates a more robust control system that is less susceptible to resistance development, as the combined effect requires different biochemical pathways to be blocked for resistance to emerge.
3Reliability
If glyphosate is applied to control Digitaria insularis, then some weed control is achieved, but effectiveness is poor against resistant populations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges glyphosate with imazamox to create a combination that remains effective against glyphosate-resistant Digitaria insularis populations. Since imazamox acts through a different mechanism (ALS inhibition rather than EPSP synthase inhibition), it provides alternative control capability against glyphosate-resistant weeds, maintaining reliability without requiring excessive rates of either herbicide.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The binary herbicide combination achieves enhanced herbicidal action, persistent activity, and low toxicity to mammals and crop species, effectively controlling Digitaria insularis plants across various growth stages, including those resistant to glyphosate.
Implementation Method 1
The binary herbicide combination of glyphosate and imazamox provides synergistic control of Digitaria insularis plants
Implementation Method 2
The binary herbicide combination achieves enhanced herbicidal action
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for controlling Digitaria insularis plants, which comprises applying a binary herbicide combination of i. a herbicide A selected from glyphosate and salts of glyphosate, and ii. a herbicide B selected from imazamox and salts of imazamox, to an area, where Digitaria insularis plants grow or may grow, wherein the weight ratio of the herbicide A to the herbicide B in the combination is in the range of 1:2 to 120:1. The present invention also relates to use of said binary herbicide combination of a herbicide A and a herbicide B for controlling Digitaria insularis plants, wherein the weight ratio of the herbicide A to the herbicide B in the combination is in the range of 1:2 to 120:1.