A target-site mutation is present in a glyphosate-resistant Lolium rigidum population

Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is the only weed species to have evolved resistance to the broad‐spectrum herbicide glyphosate in Australia. A population that had failed to be controlled by glyphosate was collected from a vineyard in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. Dose–response experiments on this population (SLR 77) showed that it was glyphosate resistant, with an LD₅₀ that was 1.9–3.4 times higher than that of a susceptible population (VLR 1). The movement of radiolabelled glyphosate within SLR 77 plants showed that this population did not have the differential glyphosate translocation mechanism of resistance common to several other Australian glyphosate‐resistant populations. Subsequent analysis of shikimic acid accumulation within the plant after glyphosate treatment showed that this population accumulated significantly less shikimic acid than a susceptible population, but more than a glyphosate‐resistant population with the translocation mechanism, indicating the possible involvement of another mechanism of resistance. Sequencing of a portion of the SLR 77 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase gene was carried out and a mutation causing an amino acid change at position 106 from proline to threonine was identified. This mutation is likely to be responsible for glyphosate resistance in this population, as mutations in this position have been found to be responsible for glyphosate resistance in goosegrass (Eleusine indica) from Malaysia. This paper represents the first report of target‐site glyphosate resistance in L. rigidum and provides evidence that this species has at least two mechanisms of glyphosate resistance present in Australia.     

EPSPS gene amplification in glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum) from Arkansas

BACKGROUND: Resistance to glyphosate in weed species is a major challenge for the sustainability of glyphosate use in crop and non‐crop systems. A glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass population has been identified in Arkansas. This research was conducted to elucidate its resistance mechanism. RESULTS: The investigation was conducted on resistant and susceptible plants from a population in Desha County, Arkansas (Des03). The amounts of glyphosate that caused 50% overall visual injury were 7 to 13 times greater than those for susceptible plants from the same population. The EPSPS gene did not contain any point mutation that has previously been associated with resistance to glyphosate, nor were there any other mutations on the EPSPS gene unique to the Des03 resistant plants. The resistant plants had 6‐fold higher basal EPSPS enzyme activities than the susceptible plants, but their I₅₀ values in response to glyphosate were similar. The resistant plants contained up to 25 more copies of EPSPS gene than the susceptible plants. The level of resistance to glyphosate correlated with increases in EPSPS enzyme activity and EPSPS copy number. CONCLUSION: Increased EPSPS gene amplification and EPSPS enzyme activity confer resistance to glyphosate in the Des03 population. This is the first report of EPSPS gene amplification in glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass. Other resistance mechanism(s) may also be involved. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

广东省稻菜轮作区中牛筋草对十种除草剂的抗性水平及靶基因序列分析

为明确广东省稻菜轮作区中牛筋草对10种常用除草剂的抗性水平及抗性分子机制,采用整株生物测定法测定广东省稻菜轮作区内8个牛筋草种群P1～P8对草甘膦、草铵膦和乙酰辅酶A羧化酶(acetyl-CoA carboxylase,ACCase)抑制剂类等10种除草剂的抗性水平,并进一步分析P1和P8种群相关靶标酶基因5-烯醇丙酮酰莽草酸-3-磷酸合酶(5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthase,EPSPS)、谷氨酰胺合成酶(glutamine synthetase,GS)和ACCase的部分功能区序列特征。结果显示,牛筋草P1～P8种群对草甘膦抗性指数为敏感种群的5.9倍～17.7倍,其中P8种群对草甘膦的抗性水平最高;8个种群对草铵膦也产生了不同程度的抗性,抗性指数为敏感种群的2.3倍～14.2倍,其中P1种群抗性最高。牛筋草P1和P8种群均对ACCase抑制剂类除草剂精喹禾灵、氰氟草酯和噁唑酰草胺产生了交互抗性;P1种群ACCase基因在第2 041位氨基酸处发生突变,该突变在牛筋草种群中首次发现;而P8种群ACCase基因则在第2 027位氨基...     

Glyphosate resistance in common ragweed ( A mbrosia artemisiifolia L.) from Mississippi,USA

Glyphosate is one of the most commonly used broad‐spectrum herbicides over the last 40 years. Due to the widespread adoption of glyphosate‐resistant (GR) crop technology, especially corn, cotton and soybean, several weed species have evolved resistance to this herbicide. Research was conducted to confirm and characterize the magnitude and mechanism of glyphosate resistance in two GR common ragweed ( A mbrosia artemisiifolia L.) biotypes from Mississippi, USA. A glyphosate‐susceptible (GS) biotype was included for comparison. The effective glyphosate dose to reduce the growth of the treated plants by 50% for the GR1, GR2 and GS biotypes was 0.58, 0.46 and 0.11 kg ae ha^?1, respectively, indicating that the level of resistance was five and fourfold that of the GS biotype for GR1 and GR2, respectively. Studies using ¹⁴ C‐glyphosate have not indicated any difference in its absorption between the biotypes, but the GR1 and GR2 biotypes translocated more ¹⁴ C‐glyphosate, compared to the GS biotype. This difference in translocation within resistant biotypes is unique. There was no amino acid substitution at codon 106 that was detected by the 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase gene sequence analysis of the resistant and susceptible biotypes. Therefore, the mechanism of resistance to glyphosate in common ragweed biotypes from Mississippi is not related to a target site mutation or reduced absorption and/or translocation of glyphosate.     

Non‐target‐site mechanism of glyphosate resistance in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)

In Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, glyphosate‐resistant Lolium multiflorum is a serious problem on the levees of rice paddies and in wheat fields. The mechanism of resistance of this biotype was analyzed. Based on LD₅₀, the resistant population was 2.8–5.0 times more resistant to glyphosate than the susceptible population. The 5‐enolpyruvyl‐shikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene sequence of the resistant biotype did not show a non‐synonymous substitution at Pro106, and amplification of the gene was not observed in the resistant biotype. The metabolism and translocation of glyphosate were examined 4 days after application through the direct detection of glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) using liquid chromatograph‐tandem mass spectrometer (LC‐MS/MS). AMPA was not detected in either biotype in glyphosate‐treated leaves or the other plant parts. The respective absorption rates of the susceptible and resistant biotypes were 37.90 ± 3.63% and 41.09 ± 3.36%, respectively, which were not significantly different. The resistant biotype retained more glyphosate in a glyphosate‐treated leaf (91.36 ± 1.56% of absorbed glyphosate) and less in the untreated parts of shoots (5.90 ± 1.17%) and roots (2.76 ± 0.44%) compared with the susceptible biotype, 79.58 ± 3.73%, 15.77 ± 3.06% and 4.65 ± 0.89%, respectively. The results indicate that the resistance mechanism is neither the acquisition of a metabolic system nor limiting the absorption of glyphosate but limited translocation of the herbicide in the resistant biotype of L. multiflorum in Shizuoka Prefecture.     

Characterisation and molecular basis of ALS inhibitor resistance in the grass weed Alopecurus myosuroides

Several UK populations of the grass weed Alopecurus myosuroides were identified where high proportions of individuals showed resistance to the acetolactate synthase (ALS)‐inhibiting herbicides, mesosulfuron‐methyl + iodosulfuron‐methyl sodium mixture and sulfometuron‐methyl. Screening with sulfometuron, followed by DNA sequencing of the ALS gene from resistant and susceptible individuals, led to the identification of eight populations where a single point mutation segregated with resistance to sulfometuron. All highly resistant individuals from seven of eight populations showed a single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the first position of the Pro197 codon of an A. myosuroides ALS gene, conferring a predicted proline to threonine target‐site change. One population showed resistant individuals with single‐nucleotide polymorphism in the second position of the Trp574 codon, conferring a predicted tryptophan to leucine substitution. No other mutations segregating with resistance were found. Enzyme assays confirmed that resistance was due to an altered form of ALS enzyme, which was less susceptible to inhibition by sulfonylureas, making this one of the first fully characterised cases of ALS target‐site resistance in a European grass weed. Increased information regarding the nature and distribution of ALS target‐site mutation may help support sustainable management strategies, allowing continued use of mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron against this weed in the UK.     

Glyphosate-induced metabolic changes in susceptible and glyphosate-resistant soybean (Glycine max L.) roots

Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) blocks the shikimate pathway, reducing the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids, followed by the arrest interruption of protein production and a general metabolic disruption of the phenylpropanoid pathway. Glyphosate-resistance is conferred to soybean by incorporating a gene encoding a glyphosate-insensitive enzyme (CP4-EPSP synthase) that acts in the shikimate pathway. This paper evaluates the metabolic effects caused by this herbicide on the shikimate (shikimate dehydrogenase activity and shikimate content) and phenylpropanoid (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, phenolic and lignin contents) pathways in BRS-133 (susceptible) and BRS-245RR (resistant) soybean (Glycine max L.) roots. In general, the results showed that in susceptible roots (1) glyphosate affects the shikimate pathway (massive shikimate accumulation and enhanced shikimate dehydrogenase activity) and the phenylpropanoid pathway (increase in PAL activity, production of benzoate derivatives and decrease of lignin) and (2) the metabolic disruption contributes to the production of p-hydroxybenzoate and vanillate, which likely originate from shikimate and/or cinnamate and their derivatives. No such changes were observed in the genetically modified soybean consistent with its resistance to glyphosate.     

Control by glyphosate and its alternatives of glyphosate‐susceptible and glyphosate‐resistant Echinochloa colona in the fallow phase of crop rotations in subtropical Australia

Echinochloa colona is the most common grass weed of summer fallows in the grain‐cropping systems of the subtropical region of Australia. Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide for summer grass control in fallows in this region. The world's first population of glyphosate‐resistant E. colona was confirmed in Australia in 2007 and, since then, >70 populations have been confirmed to be resistant in the subtropical region. The efficacy of alternative herbicides on glyphosate‐susceptible populations was evaluated in three field experiments and on both glyphosate‐susceptible and glyphosate‐resistant populations in two pot experiments. The treatments were knockdown and pre‐emergence herbicides that were applied as a single application (alone or in a mixture) or as part of a sequential application to weeds at different growth stages. Glyphosate at 720 g ai ha^?1 provided good control of small glyphosate‐susceptible plants (pre‐ to early tillering), but was not always effective on larger susceptible plants. Paraquat was effective and the most reliable when applied at 500 g ai ha^?1 on small plants, irrespective of the glyphosate resistance status. The sequential application of glyphosate followed by paraquat provided 96–100% control across all experiments, irrespective of the growth stage, and the addition of metolachlor and metolachlor + atrazine to glyphosate or paraquat significantly reduced subsequent emergence. Herbicide treatments have been identified that provide excellent control of small E. colona plants, irrespective of their glyphosate resistance status. These tactics of knockdown herbicides, sequential applications and pre‐emergence herbicides should be incorporated into an integrated weed management strategy in order to greatly improve E. colona control, reduce seed production by the sprayed survivors and to minimize the risk of the further development of glyphosate resistance.     

Response of wild Brassica juncea populations to glyphosate

BACKGROUND: Wild Brassica juncea (L.) is a troublesome arable land weed and ruderal. It is critical to understand the responses of this weed to herbicides, because the assessment of its susceptibility profile has important ecological and evolutionary consequences for future cultivation of herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape. The response of 31 wild populations from different geographic origins in China to glyphosate was evaluated with two bioassay methods, and variable responses were found in initial studies. Dose-response assays were conducted to characterize the extreme populations further, and shikimate accumulation in vivo was determined using a spectrophotometric method. RESULTS: On the basis of ID(50) values, the resistance ratios (R/S) were 5.85 and 4.19 for two glyphosate-resistant B. juncea populations in germination tests, whereas they were 4 times more resistant to glyphosate in spray tests. There were differences in shikimate accumulation patterns between the two biotypes. Shikimate concentrations in resistant populations began to decline from 6 days after treatment (DAT), while they increased continually in susceptible populations. CONCLUSION: The results obtained suggest that the populations responded differentially to glyphosate, and this variability may provide the genetic basis for evolution of individuals with increased resistance to glyphosate, with important implications for herbicide resistance management, especially in the context of risk assessment of glyphosate-tolerant crops.     

Non-target-site-based resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides in six Bromus rigidus populations from Western Australian cropping fields

BACKGROUND: Bromus rigidus is a common weed species that has increased in cropping fields owing to limited control options. During a random field survey in Western Australia, six B. rigidus populations that had survived in‐crop weed control programmes were collected. The study aimed to determine the resistance profile of these six populations. RESULTS: Based on dose–response studies, all six B. rigidus populations had a low‐level resistance to sulfosulfuron and sulfometuron (both sulfonylurea herbicides) while remaining susceptible to herbicides with other modes of action. ALS in vitro activity assays revealed no differences in enzyme sensitivity between susceptible and resistant populations, while the use of malathion (a cytochrome P450 inhibitor) in combination with sulfosulfuron caused the resistant populations to behave like the susceptible population. CONCLUSION: This study established that these six B. rigidus populations have a low‐level resistance to the ALS‐inhibiting sulfonylurea herbicides, but are able to be controlled by other herbicide modes of action. The low‐level, malathion‐reversible resistance, together with a sensitive ALS, strongly suggest that a non‐target‐site enhanced metabolism is the mechanism of resistance. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Natural tolerance of Cuscuta campestris to herbicides inhibiting amino acid biosynthesis

The response of Cuscuta campestris Yuncker, a non‐specific above‐ground holoparasite, to amino acid biosynthesis inhibitor (AABI) herbicides, was compared with other resistant and sensitive plants in dose–response assays carried out in Petri dishes. Cuscuta campestris was found to be much more resistant to all AABI herbicides tested. The I₅₀ value of C. campestris growth inhibition by glyphosate was eightfold higher than that of transgenic, glyphosate‐resistant cotton (RR‐cotton). The I₅₀ value for C. campestris shoot growth inhibition by sulfometuron was above 500 μM, whereas that of sorghum roots was only 0.004 μM. Cuscuta campestris exposed to glyphosate gradually accumulated shikimate, confirming herbicide penetration into the parasite and interaction with an active form of the target enzyme of the herbicide, 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase. More than half of the C. campestris plants associated with transgenic, glyphosate‐resistant sugarbeet (RR‐sugarbeet) treated with glyphosate or with transgenic, sulfometuron‐resistant tomato (SuR‐tomato) treated with sulfometuron recovered and resumed regular growth 20–30 days after treatment. New healthy stems developed, followed by normal flowering and seed setting. The results of the current study demonstrate the unique capacity of C. campestris to tolerate high rates of AABI. The mechanism of this phenomenon is yet to be elucidated.     

Characterization of glyphosate resistance in cloned Amaranthus palmeri plants

Glyphosate‐resistant Palmer amaranth from Georgia (GA), USA, possesses multiple copies of the gene that encodes 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase (EPSPS), the enzyme target site of this herbicide. The cloned plants of glyphosate‐resistant and glyphosate‐susceptible Palmer amaranth biotypes from Mississippi (MS), USA, and GA were evaluated for glyphosate injury (digital imaging) in leaf disc bioassays. Four groups (three resistant groups: two from MS [G and R] and one from GA [C7]; one susceptible group from GA [C3]) were chosen for cloning to facilitate long‐term studies. After exposure to glyphosate (1.0 mmol L^–1, 144 h), the level of injury (mean value) was low in the resistant groups, while a higher level of injury was found in the susceptible group. However, the individual injury values within all groups varied widely. The mean EPSPS gene copy number of these groups was G ≥ R > C7 >>> C3. However, a higher copy number did not always convey increased resistance in these bioassays. When the copy number was high (>20), 81.5% of the bioassayed plants exhibited little or no injury and only ～20% were significantly injured, while 50% of the plants with a low copy number (<20) remained healthy. Overall, no strong statistical correlation of the copy number versus injury occurred in these cloned plants and no statistical relationship of resistance and copy number with the sex of the MS plants was observed. The results suggest that although an elevated copy number of the EPSPS gene can instill resistance, other mechanisms might contribute to the overall glyphosate resistance of Palmer amaranth in these plants.     

Glyphosate resistance in four different populations of Lolium rigidum is associated with reduced translocation of glyphosate to meristematic zones

Weed populations with resistance to glyphosate have evolved over the last 7 years, since the discovery of the first glyphosate‐resistant populations of Lolium rigidum in Australia. Four populations of L. rigidum from cropping, horticultural and viticultural areas in New South Wales and South Australia were tested for resistance to glyphosate by dose–response experiments. All populations required considerably more glyphosate to achieve 50% control compared with a known susceptible population, indicating they were resistant to glyphosate. Translocation of glyphosate within these resistant populations was examined by following the movement of radiolabelled glyphosate applied to a mature leaf. All resistant plants translocated significantly more herbicide to the tip of the treated leaf than did susceptible plants. Susceptible plants translocated twice as much herbicide to the stem meristematic portion of the plant compared with resistant plants. These different translocation patterns suggest an association between glyphosate resistance in L. rigidum and the ability of glyphosate to accumulate in the shoot meristem.     

Cross-resistance profile of mesosulfuron-methyl-resistant Italian ryegrass in the southern United States

Diclofop-resistant Lolium species (ryegrass) is a major weed problem in wheat production worldwide. This study was conducted to determine the resistance pattern of diclofop-resistant ryegrass accessions from the southern United States to mesosulfuron-methyl, a recently commercialized herbicide for ryegrass control in wheat; to determine the cross-resistance pattern of a Lolium multiflorum Lam. (Italian ryegrass) accession, 03-1, to acetolactate synthase (ALS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors; and to determine the resistance mechanism of Italian ryegrass to mesosulfuron-methyl. Seventeen ryegrass accessions from Arkansas and Louisiana, including standard resistant and susceptible accessions, were used in this experiment. Fourteen of the 17 accessions were more resistant (four- to > 308-fold) to diclofop than the standard susceptible biotype. One accession, 03-1, was resistant to mesosulfuron-methyl as well as to other ALS inhibitor herbicides such as chlorsulfuron, imazamox and sulfometuron. Accession 03-1, however, did not show multiple resistance to the ACCase inhibitor herbicides diclofop, fluazifop, clethodim, sethoxydim and pinoxaden, nor to glyphosate. The in vivo ALS activity of the 03-1 biotype was less affected by mesosulfuron-methyl than the susceptible biotype. This indicates that the resistance mechanism of Italian ryegrass to mesosulfuron-methyl is partly due to an alteration in the target enzyme, ALS. It is concluded that diclofop-resistant ryegrass in the southern United States can be generally controlled by mesosulfuron-methyl. However, mesosulfuron-methyl must be used with caution because not all ryegrass populations are susceptible to it. There is a need for more thorough profiling of ryegrass resistance to herbicides.     

Multiple resistance across glufosinate,glyphosate, paraquat and ACCase‐inhibiting herbicides in an Eleusine indica population

An Eleusine indica population was previously reported as the first global case of field‐evolved glufosinate resistance. This study re‐examines glufosinate resistance and investigates multiple resistance to other herbicides in the population. Dose–response experiments with glufosinate showed that the resistant population is 5‐fold and 14‐fold resistant relative to the susceptible population, based on GR₅₀ and LD₅₀ R/S ratio respectively. The selected glufosinate‐resistant subpopulation also displayed a high‐level resistance to glyphosate, with the respective GR₅₀ and LD₅₀ R/S ratios being 12‐ and 144‐fold. In addition, the subpopulation also displayed a level of resistance to paraquat and ACCase‐inhibiting herbicides fluazifop‐P‐butyl, haloxyfop‐P‐methyl and butroxydim. ACCase gene sequencing revealed that the Trp‐2027‐Cys mutation is likely responsible for resistance to the ACCase inhibitors examined. Here, we confirm glufosinate resistance and importantly, we find very high‐level glyphosate resistance, as well as resistance to paraquat and ACCase‐inhibiting herbicides. This is the first confirmed report of a weed species that evolved multiple resistance across all the three non‐selective global herbicides, glufosinate, glyphosate and paraquat.     

Rapid vacuolar sequestration: the horseweed glyphosate resistance mechanism

BACKGROUND: Glyphosate‐resistant (GR) weed species are now found with increasing frequency and threaten the critically important GR weed management system. RESULTS: The reported ³¹P NMR experiments on glyphosate‐sensitive (S) and glyphosate‐resistant (R) horseweed, Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq., show significantly more accumulation of glyphosate within the R biotype vacuole. CONCLUSIONS: Selective sequestration of glyphosate into the vacuole confers the observed horseweed resistance to glyphosate. This observation represents the first clear evidence for the glyphosate resistance mechanism in C. canadensis. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Differential response of Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq ex DC) JD Sauer to glyphosate

Midwest USA farmers have reported inconsistent control of Amaranthus tuberculatus (= rudis) (Moq ex DC) JD Sauer by glyphosate in glyphosate-resistant crops. The potential of selection for decreased A tuberculatus sensitivity to glyphosate was therefore investigated in a reportedly resistant Everly, IA population (P0-EV). Evaluation of six A tuberculatus populations from the Midwest USA estimated a seedling baseline sensitivity of 2.15 mM glyphosate. Based on these results, three generations of divergent recurrent selection were implemented on P0-EV to isolate resistant and susceptible populations. A seedling assay was developed to screen large amounts of seeds and thus expedite the selection process. Whole-plant and seedling rate responses of P0-EV and a known pristine A tuberculatus population from Paint Creek, OH (P0-WT) identified no significant difference in response to glyphosate; however, greater phenotypic variance was ostensibly evident in P0-EV. The first recurrent generation selected for resistance at 3.2 mM glyphosate (RS1-R) had a 5.9- and 1.7-fold resistance increase at the seedling and whole-plant levels, respectively, compared with the susceptible generation selected at 32 microM glyphosate. After three cycles of recurrent selection, 14.6-fold difference in resistance at the seedling level and 3.1-fold difference at the whole-plant level were observed when comparing the populations selected for resistance (RS3-R) and susceptibility (RS3-S). Overall, recurrent selection increased the frequency of resistant individuals and decreased the variability to glyphosate at the population level. Nevertheless, variability for glyphosate resistance was still evident in RS3-R. Results herein suggested that A tuberculatus is inherently variable to glyphosate and that selection decreased the sensitivity to glyphosate. We purport that evolved glyphosate resistance in A tuberculatus may require multiple cycles of selection under field conditions. Historic estimated use of glyphosate alludes to the evolution of tolerant weed populations.     

抗草甘膦杂草及其抗性机制研究进展

介绍了迄今为止全球发现的13种抗草甘膦杂草的发生、发展,并从草甘膦的吸收、输导和分布,5-烯醇丙酮莽草酸-3-磷酸合成酶(EPSPS)的活性以及抗药性遗传等方面对其抗性机制进行了讨论,指出了中国在未来出现抗草甘膦杂草的潜在风险性,并提出了延缓杂草对草甘膦抗性发生的策略。     

Perspectives on transgenic,herbicide‐resistant crops in the United States almost 20 years after introduction

Herbicide‐resistant crops have had a profound impact on weed management. Most of the impact has been by glyphosate‐resistant maize, cotton, soybean and canola. Significant economic savings, yield increases and more efficacious and simplified weed management have resulted in widespread adoption of the technology. Initially, glyphosate‐resistant crops enabled significantly reduced tillage and reduced the environmental impact of weed management. Continuous use of glyphosate with glyphosate‐resistant crops over broad areas facilitated the evolution of glyphosate‐resistant weeds, which have resulted in increases in the use of tillage and other herbicides with glyphosate, reducing some of the initial environmental benefits of glyphosate‐resistant crops. Transgenic crops with resistance to auxinic herbicides, as well as to herbicides that inhibit acetolactate synthase, acetyl‐CoA carboxylase and hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase, stacked with glyphosate and/or glufosinate resistance, will become available in the next few years. These technologies will provide additional weed management options for farmers, but will not have all of the positive effects (reduced cost, simplified weed management, lowered environmental impact and reduced tillage) that glyphosate‐resistant crops had initially. In the more distant future, other herbicide‐resistant crops (including non‐transgenic ones), herbicides with new modes of action and technologies that are currently in their infancy (e.g. bioherbicides, sprayable herbicidal RNAi and/or robotic weeding) may affect the role of transgenic, herbicide‐resistant crops in weed management. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.