Methods of using ALS inhibitor herbicides for control of unwanted vegetation in ALS inhibitor herbicide tolerant beta vulgaris plants

1. A method for controlling unwanted vegetation in a Beta vulgaris growing area, the method comprising

(a) cultivating at least one non-transgenic Beta vulgaris plant comprising a mutation in a position corresponding to position 1705-1707 of an endogenous acetolactate-synthase (ALS) gene of SEQ ID NO:1, thereby encoding an ALS protein containing leucine at position 569 of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the mutation is the only mutation in the ALS protein that confers resistance to one or more ALS inhibitor herbicide(s) and wherein the mutation is homozygously present in the endogenous ALS gene; and

(b) applying one or more ALS inhibitor herbicide(s) to the B. vulgaris growing area, wherein the ALS inhibitor herbicide is a combination of foramsulfuron [CAS RN 173159-57-41] (=A1-13) and thiencarbazone-methyl [CAS RN 317815-83-1] (=A2-3) or wherein the ALS inhibitor herbicide is a combination of compound of formula (III) (=A1-87),

and iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium [CAS RN 144550-36-7] (=A1-16).

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the one or more ALS inhibitor herbicide(s) is applied in combination with at least one non-ALS inhibitor herbicide selected from the group consisting of:

chloridazon, clethodim, clodinafop, clodinafop-propargyl, clopyralid, cycloxydim, desmedipham, dimethenamid, dimethenamid-P, ethofumesate, fenoxaprop, fenoxaprop-P, fenoxaprop-ethyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, fluazifop, fluazifop-P, fluazifop-butyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, glufosinate, glufosinate-ammonium, glufosinate-P, glufosinate-P-ammonium, glufosinate-P-sodium, glyphosate, glyphosate-isopropylammonium, haloxyfop, haloxyfop-P, haloxyfop-ethoxyethyl, haloxyfop-P-ethoxyethyl, haloxyfop-methyl, haloxyfop-P-methyl, lenacil, metamitro, phenmedipham, phenmedipham-ethyl, propaquizafop, quinmerac, quizalofop, quizalofop-ethyl, quizalofop-P, quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl, and sethoxydim.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the non-ALS inhibitor herbicide(s) is selected from the group consisting of:

desmedipham, ethofumesate, glufosinate, glufosinate-ammonium, glufosinate-P, glufosinate-P-ammonium, glufosinate-P-sodium, glyphosate, glyphosate-isopropylammonium, lenacil, metamitron, phenmedipham, and phenmedipham-ethyl.

4. The method according to claim 1 comprising applying the one or more ALS inhibitor herbicide(s) alone or in combination with at least one non-ALS inhibitor herbicides), wherein the application of the respective herbicides

(i) takes place jointly or simultaneously, or

(ii) takes place at different times and/or in a plurality of portions (sequential application), in pre-emergence applications followed by post-emergence applications or early post-emergence applications followed by medium or late post-emergence applications.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the non-ALS inhibitor herbicide is selected from the group consisting of:

chloridazon, clethodim, clodinafop, clodinafop-propargyl, clopyralid, cycloxydim, desmedipham, dimethenamid, dimethenamid-P, ethofumesate, fenoxaprop, fenoxaprop-P, fenoxaprop-ethyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, fluazifop, fluazifop-P, fluazifop-butyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, glufosinate, glufosinate-ammonium, glufosinate-P, glufosinate-P-ammonium, glufosinate-P-sodium, glyphosate, glyphosate-isopropylammonium, haloxyfop, haloxyfop-P, haloxyfop-ethoxyethyl, haloxyfop-P-ethoxyethyl, haloxyfop-methyl, haloxyfop-P-methyl, lenacil, metamitro, phenmedipham, phenmedipham-ethyl, propaquizafop, quinmerac, quizalofop, quizalofop-ethyl, quizalofop-P, quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl, and sethoxydim.