Control of Echinochloa spp. and Leptochloa fascicularis with the Novel Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor Herbicide Tetflupyrolimet in California Water-seeded Rice

The spread of herbicide-resistant weeds is considered a major problem for rice production in California and there is a need for new herbicides. Tetflupyrolimet is a new herbicide with a novel dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibiting site of action (SOA) that has strong activity on grasses. Three field studies were conducted at the California Rice Experiment Station in Biggs, CA, in 2022 and 2023 to 1) determine control of watergrass species and bearded sprangletop with tetflupyrolimet 2) characterize the effects of tetflupyrolimet combined with other herbicides on weed control and rice, and 3) determine response of rice cultivars to tetflupyrolimet. In the first study, tetflupyrolimet was applied at preemergence (PRE) or at the 1- to 2-leaf stage of rice (POST) at 0.1, 0.125, or 0.15 kg ai ha-1 followed by carfentrazone. Tetflupyrolimet provided ≥ 99% control of watergrass species and 100% bearded sprangletop control regardless of the rate or application timing, while showing no crop injury symptoms or yield reduction. In the second study, tetflupyrolimet was applied PRE or POST at 0.1 or 0.15 kg ai ha-1 followed by herbicides labeled for use in California rice production. Tetflupyrolimet provided ≥ 98% control of watergrass species, which was better than the grower standard treatment, and ≥ 97% control of bearded sprangletop. In the third study, tetflupyrolimet was applied PRE or POST at 0.125, 0.15, 0.25, or 0.3 kg ai ha-1 followed by carfentrazone. The six California rice cultivars evaluated – ‘M-105,’ ‘M-206,’ ‘M-209,’ ‘M-211,’ ‘L-208,’ and ‘CM-203’ – did not show any trend of crop injury caused by tetflupyrolimet. Overall, tetflupyrolimet provided a high level of control of watergrass species and bearded sprangletop without causing visual rice injury or yield reductions, regardless of rice cultivar, when applied alone or in combination with commonly used sedge and broadleaf herbicides in California water-seeded rice.