Omics Potential in Herbicide-Resistant Weed Management

Abstract

The rapid development of omics technologies has drastically altered the way biologists conduct research. Basic plant biology and genomics have incorporated these technologies, while some challenges remain for use in applied biology. Weed science, on the whole, is still learning how to integrate omics technologies into the discipline; however, omics techniques are more frequently being implemented in new and creative ways to address basic questions in weed biology as well as the more practical questions of improving weed management. This has been especially true in the subdiscipline of herbicide resistance where important questions are the evolution and genetic basis of herbicide resistance. This review examines the advantages, challenges, potential solutions, and outlook for omics technologies in the discipline of weed science, with examples of how omics technologies will impact herbicide resistance studies and ultimately improve management of herbicide-resistant populations.

Keywords: functional genomics; herbicide resistance database; herbicide resistance diagnostics; integrated pest management; precision herbicide resistance management; weed biology; weed evolution; weed genomics.

Figure 1

Timeline of weed genome assembly in comparison to the model plants Arabidopsis thaliana and rice. The first weed genome assembled to chromosome-level scaffolds is Amaranthus tuberculatus [7], for which scaffolding was completed by aligning with a related crop genome, Amaranthus hypochondriacus [8]. Other weeds with assembled genomes in various stages of completeness include Erigeron canadensis [9], Thlaspi arvense [10], Echinochloa crus-galli [11], Bassia scoparia [12], and Eleusine indica [13]. Assemblies for Amaranthus palmeri and Alopecurus myosuroides are in progress. Image sources: Arabidopsis, https://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/pub/159783.php; field pennycress, https://www.agweb.com/article/pennycress-gets-in-the-middle-chris-bennett; horseweed, https://oregonstate.edu/dept/nursery-weeds/weedspeciespage/horseweed/horseweed_habit.html; wild radish, http://science.halleyhosting.com/nature/plants/4petal/must/raphanus/raphanistrum.html; barnyardgrass, http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=2915&taxauthid=1; kochia, photo courtesy of Phil Westra, CSU; goosegrass, https://www.invasive.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5387295; Palmer amaranth, https://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/weedcontrol/noxiouslist/palmeramaranth; waterhemp, https://agfaxweedsolutions.com/2019/02/11/waterhemp-scores-again-new-resistance-found/; blackgrass, https://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/crop-management/weed-management/blackgrass/how-to-use-integrated-methods-to-control-blackgrass; rice, http://aaasjournal.org/rice-fields-chemical-physical-properties-implications-breeding-strategies/rice-plant/.