First rapid field detection test of Amaranthus palmeri, a weed highly aggressive quarantine

• Grant number: 19/27410-0
• Support type: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Duration: December 01, 2020 - August 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal researcher: Acácio Gonçalves Netto
• Grantee: Acácio Gonçalves Netto
• Company: Acacio Gonçalves Netto
• CNAE: Atividades de apoio à agricultura
• City: Santa Bárbara D'Oeste
• Assoc. researchers: Keila Maria Roncato Duarte ; Maria Imaculada Zucchi
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/15300-3 - First rapid field detection test of Amaranthus palmeri, a weed highly aggressive quarantine, BP.PIPE

Abstract

With the recent detection in Brazil of the caruru-palmer weed (Amaranthus palmeri), weed management problems can be aggravated as it has already been identified with resistance to herbicide inhibitors of EPSPs and ALS. infestation and competitiveness. Currently the main field identification method of the species is performed through morphological analysis. However, due to the great similarity with the other species of the genus Amaranthus, it is a difficult practice to perform. Identification errors can cause harm to producers due to the delay in adopting efficient control measures. As it is a quarantine plant, the storage or transit of plant material from A. palmeri, without authorization from MAPA, is prohibited, which makes the identification of the species difficult. Therefore, the use of immunoenzymatic tests as an additional tool for field species identification is a viable and accurate option to separate A. palmeri species from others, eliminating the chances of errors caused by visual identification only. Thus, the aim of this work is to elaborate the first A. palmeri rapid field detection test. For this, immunoenzymatic assays and validated by testing the sensitivity and repeatability parameters of the assay, as well as a phylogeny assay by PCR. After the conception of the field identification test it will be compared with commercial tests, and the correlations will be performed, considering precision, sensitivity and cost / benefit of each methodology. With the elaboration of this A. palmeri rapid field identification test the main client would be the Brazilian government, which is very keen to have this quarantine plant contained or eradicated. The test would bring speed to decision making regarding its management. Other potential customers would be chemical companies as they could insert the test into the weed management offered to their customers. (AU)