Broad resistance to ACCase inhibiting herbicides in a ryegrass population is due only to a cysteine to arginine mutation in the target enzyme

Abstract

Background: The design of sustainable weed management strategies requires a good understanding of the mechanisms by which weeds evolve resistance to herbicides. Here we have conducted a study on the mechanism of resistance to ACCase inhibiting herbicides in a Lolium multiflorum population (RG3) from the UK.

Methodology/principal findings: Analysis of plant phenotypes and genotypes showed that all the RG3 plants (72%) that contained the cysteine to arginine mutation at ACCase codon position 2088 were resistant to ACCase inhibiting herbicides. Whole plant dose response tests on predetermined wild and mutant 2088 genotypes from RG3 and a standard sensitive population indicated that the C2088R mutation is the only factor conferring resistance to all ten ACCase herbicides tested. The associated resistance indices ranged from 13 for clethodim to over 358 for diclofop-methyl. Clethodim, the most potent herbicide was significantly affected even when applied on small mutant plants at the peri-emergence and one leaf stages.

Conclusion/significance: This study establishes the clear and unambiguous importance of the C2088R target site mutation in conferring broad resistance to ten commonly used ACCase inhibiting herbicides. It also demonstrates that low levels "creeping", multigenic, non target site resistance, is not always selected before single gene target site resistance appears in grass weed populations subjected to herbicide selection pressure.

Figure 1. CAPS procedure for the detection of a thymine to cysteine change (C2088R mutation) at nucleotide position 6262 in Lolium spp.

The Hha I digested fragment (126 bp) correspond to the resistant R2088 allele and the Hha 1 undigested fragment (161 bp) correspond to the C2088 allele. Heterozygous plants display both the 126 bp and 161 resistant and sensitive alleles respectively. Lanes 1 and 10: DNA ladder, lanes 2, 3 and 4: homozygous mutant RR2088, lanes 4, 5, 6: heterozygous CR2088 plants, lanes 7, 8, 9: homozygous wild CC2088 plants.

Figure 2. Clodinafop-propargyl whole plant dose response assay on wild and mutant 2088 genotypes.

Figure 3. Cycloxydim whole plant dose response assay on wild and mutant 2088 genotypes.

Figure 4. Pinoxaden whole plant dose response assay on wild and mutant 2088 genotypes.