Optimum™ GAT™ Trait: New Glyphosate and ALS-Tolerance Technology

From Pioneer Hi-Bred and DuPont Crop Protection

Optimum™ GAT™ is a new herbicide resistance technology that allows more flexible use of glyphosate and selected ALS herbicides without risk of crop injury. Work is underway to develop this technology in corn, soybeans and other crops and to obtain necessary approvals from government regulatory agencies. First sales are anticipated within the next three to five years.

This technology combines a new glyphosate metabolic inactivation mechanism with an ALS enzyme that is insensitive to all five classes of ALS herbicides, including sulfonylurea and imidazolinone herbicides. The mechanism is based on an enzyme that transforms glyphosate into a harmless metabolite. The trait for this enzyme does not occur in plants and was derived from a naturally occurring soil bacterium and optimized by a proprietary technology called gene shuffling. The second component (ALS enzyme) is a highly resistant ALS trait discovered at DuPont.

Crops with the Optimum GAT trait maintain their natural resistance mechanisms so herbicide mixtures with other modes-of-action are also possible. The trait will enable growers to use new herbicide technologies to control their most difficult weed problems.

These new herbicide offerings will include proprietary technology that allows convenient formulations of optimized mixtures of highly effective herbicides for specific customer needs.

DuPont Crop Protection and Pioneer Hi-Bred International support the use of the Optimum™ GAT™ trait as part of sustainable weed control solutions based on integrated practices. These practices include using the most appropriate herbicides with complementary modes-of-action for weed resistance management and effective weed control.