Vink, J. P., Soltani, N., Robinson, D. E., Tardif, F. J., Lawton, M. B. and Sikkema, P. H. 2012. Occurrence and distribution of glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed ( Ambrosia trifida L.) in southwestern Ontario. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 533–539. Giant ragweed is the first confirmed glyphosate-resistant (GR) weed in Canada. A survey was conducted to document the distribution of GR giant ragweed in southwestern Ontario. Giant ragweed seed was collected from 102 sites in Essex (70), Chatham-Kent (21), Lambton (10) and Waterloo counties (1) during the autumn of 2009 and 2010 prior to soybean harvest. Plants were grown in a growth room, sprayed with glyphosate at 1800 g a.e. ha−1 and classified as resistant or susceptible. GR giant ragweed has been confirmed at 47 new locations in three counties (Essex, Chatham-Kent and Lambton). The results from this survey indicate that GR giant ragweed biotypes occur across a greater area in southwestern Ontario than originally thought. This survey provides an important baseline for future surveys in the province.

Vink, J. P., Soltani, N., Robinson, D. E., Tardif, F. J., Lawton, M. B. and Sikkema, P. H. 2012. Glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed ( Ambrosia trifida L.) control with preplant herbicides in soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 913–922. Giant ragweed populations in southwestern Ontario have evolved resistance to glyphosate. Glyphosate-resistant (GR) giant ragweed interference in field crops can lead to significant yield losses. Eleven field trials [five with preplant (PP) burndown only and six with PP burndown plus residual herbicides] were conducted in 2010 and 2011 on Ontario farms with GR giant ragweed to evaluate the efficacy of various PP herbicides applied prior to soybean planting. Glyphosate applied at the recommended field dose failed to adequately control GR giant ragweed. The PP herbicides 2,4-D ester, cloransulam-methyl and saflufenacil applied alone and with glyphosate provided 97–99, 68–100 and 71–94% control, respectively and resulted in soybean yields equivalent to the weed-free check. Combinations of glyphosate plus cloransulam-methyl or linuron controlled GR giant ragweed 8 wk after application (WAA), 75–95 and 95–98%, respectively. Residual control with glyphosate plus linuron resulted in soybean yield equivalent to the weed-free check. Based on these results, GR giant ragweed can be controlled prior to soybean planting in southwestern Ontario.