Herbicide sensitivity of Echinochloa accessions in Italian rice fields

Echinochloa species are listed among the major weeds in rice worldwide. A greenhouse study was carried out on 80 accessions of Echinochloa collected in Italian rice fields to assess difference in response to azimsulfuron, bensulfuron-methyl, cyhalofop-butyl, molinate, propanil and quinclorac. Discriminant analysis pointed out that differences in herbicide sensitivity among accessions were of limited usefulness for accession classification. The results of this study suggest that the structure of Echinochloa populations in Italian rice fields, and the connected relationships with the effects of the use of herbicides are much more complex than previously thought.