Discovery of single-nucleotide mutations in acetolactate synthase genes by Ecotilling

TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes) is a powerful reverse genetic technique that employs a mismatch-specific endonuclease to discover induced point mutations in genes of interest. The use of the TILLING technique to survey natural variation in genes is called Ecotilling. We report an adaptation of Ecotilling for rapid detection of single-nucleotide mutations in the acetolactate synthase (ALS) genes of sulfonylurea (SU)-resistant (R) Monochoria vaginalis (Pontederiaceae), a paddy weed, in Japan. Genomic DNA of a SU-R plant (target DNA) was mixed with the DNA of a SU-susceptible (S) plant (reference DNA). Ecotilling detected two nucleotide mutations in the ALS gene of SU-R M. vaginalis. These 2 mutations were confirmed by DNA sequencing. A single nucleotide mutation (C to A), in the codon CCT to CAT and another mutation (C to T), in the codon CCT to TCT were identified by sequencing. Both mutations result in the disruption of a Pro codon in the conserved Domain A region with the consequent substitution of a His residue in the first mutation and a Ser residue in the second. Substitution of the Pro residue in Domain A of the ALS gene has been reported to result in insensitivity to SUs in many weed biotypes. This study demonstrates that Ecotilling is a fast, reliable, economical method for detecting single-nucleotide mutations in genes arising from herbicide selection.     

Transformation a mutant Monochoria vaginalis acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene renders Arabidopsis thaliana resistant to ALS inhibitors

Acetolactate synthase (ALS) genes from Monochoria vaginalis resistant (R) and susceptible (S) biotypes against ALS inhibitors found in Korea revealed a single amino acid substitution of Proline (CCT), at 169th position based on the M. vaginalis ALS sequence numbering, to serine (TCT) in conserved domain A of the gene (equal to the proline 197 in Arabidopsis thaliana ALS gene sequence). A. thaliana plants transformed with the single mutated (Pro₁₆₉ to Ser) M. vaginalis ALS gene (including transit signal peptide) showed cross-resistance patterns to ALS-inhibiting herbicides, like as sulfonylurea-herbicide bensulfuron methyl (R/S factor of 9.5), imidazolinone-herbicide imazapyr (R/S factor of 5.1), and triazolopyrimidine-herbicide flumetsulam (R/S factor of 17.6) when measuring hypocotyls’ length of A. thaliana. The ALS activity from the transgenic A. thaliana plants confirmed the cross-resistance pattern to these herbicides like as R/S factor of 8.3 to bensulfuron methyl, 2.3 to imazapyr, and 13.2 to flumetsulam.     

Genetic diversity of sulfonylurea-resistant and -susceptible Monochoria vaginalis populations in Japan

Monochoria vaginalis is one of the most serious weeds of rice fields in Asia. The species is predominantly selfing. To reveal the potential for multiple mutational events, outcrossing and gene flow in the sulfonylurea‐resistant (SU‐R) M. vaginalis populations, we investigated (i) if each SU‐R population was a single SU‐R biotype or a mixture of several SU‐R biotypes using restriction analysis or direct sequencing of acetolacatate synthase (ALS) genes and (ii) genetic diversity of SU‐R and ‐susceptible (S) populations using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. Nineteen or 20 individuals were sampled from four SU‐R and five SU‐S populations respectively. Amino acid substitutions conferring resistance in the SU‐R populations were Pro₁₉₇Ser in the ALS1 or ALS3, or Asp₃₇₆Glu in the ALS1 and each SU‐R population was composed of a single SU‐R biotype. In cluster analysis each SU‐R individual formed a cluster, whereas the individuals from a SU‐S population belonged to different clusters. Some SU‐R populations showed polymorphic AFLP loci. The results indicated that these SU‐R biotypes emerged from a single mutational event and any gene flow of SU‐R genes from adjacent populations did not occur. A low level of outcrossing and recombinations of SU‐R genes occurred within some SU‐R populations of M. vaginalis.     

Molecular basis of resistance to acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides in Sisymbrium orientale and Brassica tournefortii

Three Australian Sisymbrium orientale and one Brassica tournefortii biotypes are resistant to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides due to their possession of an ALS enzyme with decreased sensitivity to these herbicides. Enzyme kinetic studies revealed no interbiotypic differences within species in K_m (pyruvate) (the substrate concentration at which the reaction rate is half maximal) but a greater V_max (the rate when the enzyme is fully saturated with substrate) for two of the resistant S orientale biotypes over susceptible levels. F₁ hybrids from reciprocal crosses between resistant and susceptible biotypes of S orientale showed an intermediate response to chlorsulfuron compared to the parental plants. ALS herbicide resistance in S orientale segregated in a 3:1 (resistant:susceptible) ratio in F₂ plants with a single rate of chlorsulfuron, indicating that resistance is inherited as a single, incompletely dominant nuclear gene. Two regions of the ALS structural gene known to vary in ALS-resistant biotypes were amplified and sequenced. Resistant S orientale biotypes NS01 and SS03 contained a single nucleotide substitution in Domain B, predicting a Trp (in susceptible) to Leu (in resistant) amino acid change. Two adjacent nucleotide substitutions (CC T to AT T) predicting a Pro (in susceptible) to Ile (in resistant) change in the primary amino acid sequence were identified in Domain A of resistant S orientale biotype SS01. Likewise, a single nucleotide substitution at the same site in the resistant B tournefortii biotype predicts a Pro (in susceptible) to Ala (in resistant) substitution. No other interbiotypic nucleotide differences predicted amino acid changes in the sequenced regions, suggesting that the amino acid substitutions reported above are responsible for resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides in the respective biotypes. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Molecular basis for resistance to tribenuron in shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik.)

Capsella bursa-pastoris, a winter annual weed in the mustard family, can not be controlled by tribenuron after the herbicide has been continuously used for several years. The resistant biotype Lz-R was the generation of a population collected from Liangzhu, a place where tribenuron had been used for more than 15 consecutive years. To confirm and characterize the resistance of C. bursa-pastoris to tribenuron, whole-plant bioassays were conducted in the greenhouse. The results of whole-plant bioassays revealed that Lz-R was highly resistant to tribenuron with the resistance index (GR₅₀ Lz-R)/(GR₅₀ Lz-S) up to 236.6. To investigate the molecular basis of resistance in C. bursa-pastoris, the acetolactate synthase (ALS) genes were sequenced and compared between susceptible and resistant biotypes. Analysis of the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences between the biotypes indicated that one substitution had occurred in Domain A, cytosine by thymine (CCT to TCT) at position 197, that led to a change of the amino acid proline in the susceptible to serine in the Lz-R.     

反枝苋对咪唑乙烟酸抗性水平及分子机制

为初步明确大豆田反枝苋对咪唑乙烟酸的抗药性水平,并从分子角度对抗药性机制进行解释,以我国四川成都和黑龙江嫩江采集的反枝苋种子为材料,通过琼脂法检测了反枝苋对咪唑乙烟酸的抗药性水平,并分别对R(嫩江抗性种群)和S(成都敏感种群)的乙酰乳酸合成酶(ALS)部分序列进行扩增和测序。皿内生测结果表明,成都种群的GI50为11.20,嫩江种群的GI50为52.26,其抗药性指数RI为4.67。分子检测结果表明,与S种群相比,R种群反枝苋ALS位于高度保守区Domain B编码574位氨基酸的基因发生突变,TGG突变为TTG,导致色氨酸被亮氨酸取代。ALS保守区域氨基酸的替换可能是嫩江反枝苋种群对咪唑乙烟酸产生抗性的重要原因之一。     

Resistance of Camelina microcarpa to acetolactate synthase inhibiting herbicides

An accession of Camelina microcarpa suspected to be resistant to sulfonylurea herbicides was identified in Oregon in 1998 field experiments. Greenhouse research confirmed that the putative resistant biotype was resistant to chlorsulfuron and metsulfuron on a whole plant level. Compared with the resistant (R) biotype, the susceptible (S) biotype was 1000 and 10 000‐fold more sensitive to metsulfuron and chlorsulfuron respectively. The R biotype was also resistant to other sulfonylurea, sulfonylaminocarbonyl‐triazolinone, imidazolinone and triazolopyrimidine herbicides. An in vivo enzyme assay indicated that acetolactate synthase (ALS) from the R plants required 111 times more chlorsulfuron to inhibit activity by 50% compared with the amount required to have a similar effect on ALS from S plants. Analysis of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences demonstrated that a single‐point mutation from G to T in the als1 gene conferred the change from the amino acid tryptophan to leucine at position 572 in the resistant biotype. This research confirmed that ALS inhibitor resistance in an Oregon accession of C. microcarpa is based on an altered target site conferred by a single‐point mutation.     

麦田抗性生物型猪殃殃对苯磺隆的抗性机制

为探讨猪殃殃Galium aparine抗药性生物型(R)对苯磺隆的抗性机制,测定了苯磺隆对猪殃殃抗性、敏感(S)生物型体内靶标酶 、代谢酶 及抗氧化酶 影响的差异。离体试验结果表明,苯磺隆对R、S生物型猪殃殃ALS的抑制中量(IC50)分别为0.682、0.718 μg/L(有效剂量),R、S生物型猪殃殃ALS对苯磺隆的敏感性不存在差异。活体试验结果表明,苯磺隆茎叶喷雾处理后,R、S生物型ALS活力均表现为先上升,但S生物型上升幅度小,且随后快速下降,第3 d即回落至对照之下,并维持在低于对照的水平,而R生物型ALS活力在第2 d可达对照的4.10倍,第5 d 基本回落至对照水平,之后基本维持在对照水平;R生物型GSTs活力在第1 d即开始上升,最高可达对照的 2.40 倍,而S生物型则表现为先下降,然后小幅回升,最高为对照的1.61倍,两者在10 d左右均回落至对照水平;R生物型SOD活力与对照基本相同,而S生物型虽略有下降,但R、S间不存在显著差异;两者POD活力虽均有大幅提高,但亦不存在显著差异。结果表明,低水平抗药性生物型猪殃殃对苯磺隆产生抗性的原因可能是ALS过量表达及GSTs对苯磺隆的代谢作用加强,而不是由于ALS的敏感性下降,同时POD、SOD在减轻药害中也具有一定作用。     

Assessment of two biotypes of Solanum ptycanthum that differ in resistance levels to imazamox

Glasshouse and laboratory experiments were conducted on acetolactate synthase (ALS) homozygous resistant Solanum ptycanthum biotypes from Illinois (IL‐R) and Indiana (IN‐R), and homozygous susceptible biotypes from Illinois (IL‐S) and Indiana (IN‐S). Genetic similarity of biotypes was assessed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, which determined that the Illinois biotypes are more similar to each other than to the IN‐R biotype. ALS enzyme activity from the IL‐R and IN‐R biotypes had I₅₀ values of 362 and 352 μM imazamox respectively. Dose–response experiments using three‐ to four‐leaf‐stage plants of the IL‐R and IN‐R biotypes had GR₅₀ values of 242 and 69 g ae ha⁻¹ imazamox respectively. Whole‐plant and ALS enzyme results are different than previously reported values in the literature, which was attributed in the current study to the original IN‐R population having individuals that were segregating for ALS resistance. Metabolism studies showed no difference in percentage [¹⁴C]imazamox remaining between the IL‐R and IN‐R biotypes up to 72 h after treatment. The IL‐S biotype metabolised [¹⁴C]imazamox approximately two times faster than the IL‐R and IN‐R biotypes and this trait was heritable. Response of F₃ plants containing homozygous ALS‐resistant alleles from the IL‐R biotype in a genetic background of 50% Illinois and 50% Indiana biotypes suggests that genetic factors other than an altered target site or metabolism may also contribute to the magnitude of resistance at the whole‐plant level in resistant biotypes.     

Molecular bases for resistance to acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase inhibitor in Japanese foxtail (Alopecurus japonicus)

BACKGROUND: Haloxyfop‐R‐methyl is a widely used herbicide to control Poaceae weeds. Alopecurus japonicus, a widespread annual grass, can no longer be controlled by haloxyfop‐R‐methyl after continuous use of this herbicide for several years. RESULTS: Dose‐response experiments have established that the Js‐R biotype of A. japonicas has evolved resistance to aryloxyphenoxypropionates (APPs). Target‐site enzyme sensitivity experiments have established that the haloxyfop (free acid) rate causing 50% inhibition of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACCase) activity (I₅₀) for the resistant (Js‐R) biotype is 11 times higher than that for the susceptible (Js‐S) biotype. In many cases, resistance to ACCase‐inhibiting herbicides is due to a resistant ACCase enzyme. Full‐length DNA and mRNA sequences of the plastidic ACCase gene were amplified. Eight single‐nucleotide differences were detected in this region. Four of the nucleotide changes were silent mutations. However, the other four nucleotide mutations caused four amino acid substitutions, replacing Arg‐1734 with Gly, Met‐1738 with Leu, Thr‐1739 with Ser and Ile‐2041 with Asn in the R biotype respectively; the substitution at position 2041 had been reported, while the other three had not. CONCLUSION: The ACCase in the Js‐R biotype was less susceptible to haloxyfop‐R‐methyl than that in the Js‐S biotype. Moreover, the amino acid substitution of Ile‐2041 with Asn might confer resistance to haloxyfop‐R‐methyl in A. japonicas. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

山东省部分市县麦田杂草麦家公Lithospermum arvense对苯磺隆的抗药性

采用温室盆栽法和培养皿法测定了山东省部分市县冬小麦田杂草麦家公Lithospermum arvense L.对苯磺隆的抗药性水平,以及其抗药性生物型乙酰乳酸合成酶(ALS)对苯磺隆的敏感性。温室盆栽结果显示,供试杂草对苯磺隆产生了不同程度的抗药性,其中胶州麦家公生物型抗性水平最高,抗性倍数为12.8倍;培养皿法测定结果也显示胶州麦家公生物型抗性水平最高,但抗性倍数为3.89倍。交互抗性测定结果表明,胶州抗性麦家公生物型对其他ALS抑制剂噻吩磺隆和苄嘧磺隆已产生不同程度的交互抗性,其中对噻吩磺隆的抗性倍数达到3.11倍。离体条件下,与敏感生物型ALS活力的抑制中浓度(IC50)相比较,胶州抗性麦家公生物型的IC50值是敏感麦家公的 2.65倍。表明ALS敏感性降低可能是山东部分市县麦家公对苯磺隆产生抗药性的重要原因之一。     

Molecular basis of resistance to sulfonylureas in Papaver rhoeas

A Papaver rhoeas population resistant to several acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibiting herbicides, called 25/98, was found in Catalonia (Northeastern of Spain). This population has an altered form of the enzyme that showed cross-resistance to several herbicides of this group. The highest resistance was found with tribenuron-methyl and sulfometuron-methyl. Studies were conducted to define the molecular basis of this resistance. Two regions of the ALS gene were amplified using degenerated universal primers and sequenced. Population 25/98 contained a single nucleotide substitution in domain A changing Pro₁₉₇ by Ser (using the nomenclature of Arabidopsis thaliana) that confers sulfonylurea resistance. Another change was detected in a region located outside of any conserved domains described to date, but its implication in the resistance remains unclear. We analyze the putative role of the found mutations in relation to the observed resistance using a putative three-dimensional model of the Papaver ALS enzyme.     

抗苄嘧磺隆雨久花乙酰乳酸合成酶突变的研究

本研究采用cDNA末端快速扩增技术(RACE)结合RT-PCR方法克隆抗苄嘧磺隆雨久花生物型和敏感性雨久花生物型乙酰乳酸合成酶(ALS)基因cDNA序列,并对测序结果进行比对分析。结果表明:与敏感性的雨久花ALS相比,公主岭(GZL)抗性生物型中第197位脯氨酸突变为组氨酸,第556位亮氨酸突变为苯丙氨酸;柳河(LH)抗性生物型中第358位天冬酰胺突变为天冬氨酸;磐石市(PS)抗性生物型中第525位缬氨酸突变为异亮氨酸。分析表明,高度保守区Domain A的第197位氨基酸残基的突变可能是导致公主岭稻区雨久花产生抗药性的主要原因之一,而其他抗性生物型抗性产生的原因有待进一步研究。     

Molecular basis of diverse responses to acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides in sulfonylurea-resistant biotypes of Schoenoplectus juncoides

Sulfonylurea-resistant biotypes of Schoenoplectus juncoides were collected from Nakafurano, Shiwa, Matsuyama, and Yurihonjyo in Japan. All of the four biotypes showed resistance to bensulfuron-methyl and thifensulfuron-methyl in whole-plant experiments. The growth of the Nakafurano, Shiwa, and Matsuyama biotypes was inhibited by imazaquin-ammonium and bispyribac-sodium, whereas the Yurihonjyo biotype grew normally after treatment with these herbicides. The herbicide concentration required to inhibit the acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme by 50% (I₅₀), obtained using in vivo ALS assays, indicated that the four biotypes were > 10-fold more resistant to thifensulfuron-methyl than a susceptible biotype. The Nakafurano, Shiwa, and Matsuyama biotypes exhibited no or little resistance to imazaquin-ammonium, whereas the Yurihonjyo biotype exhibited 6700-fold resistance to the herbicide. The Nakafurano and Shiwa biotypes exhibited no resistance to bispyribac-sodium, but the Matsuyama biotype exhibited 21-fold resistance and the Yurihonjyo biotype exhibited 260-fold resistance to the herbicide. Two S. juncoides ALS genes (ALS1 and ALS2) were isolated and each was found to contain one intron and to encode an ALS protein of 645 amino acids. Sequencing of the ALS genes revealed an amino acid substitution at Pro₁₉₇ in either encoded protein (ALS1 or ALS2) in the biotypes from Nakafurano (Pro₁₉₇ → Ser₁₉₇), Shiwa (Pro₁₉₇ → His₁₉₇), and Matsuyama (Pro₁₉₇ → Leu₁₉₇). The ALS2 of the biotype from Yurihonjyo was found to contain a Trp₅₇₄ → Leu₅₇₄ substitution. The relationships between the responses to ALS-inhibiting herbicides and the amino acid substitutions, which are consistent with previous reports in other plants, indicate that the substitutions at Pro₁₉₇ and Trp₅₇₄ are the basis of the resistance to sulfonylureas in these S. juncoides biotypes.     

麦田抗性生物型荠菜对苯磺隆的抗性机制研究

为明确抗性生物型荠菜对苯磺隆的抗性机制,分别测定了苯磺隆对抗性和敏感生物型荠菜体内乙酰乳酸合成酶(ALS)、谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GSTs)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)的影响。结果表明:离体条件下,抗性生物型荠菜体内ALS对苯磺隆的敏感性明显降低,苯磺隆对荠菜抗性和敏感生物型ALS的抑制中浓度(I50)分别为0.722 8和0.052 1 μmol/L,抗性与敏感生物型I50的比值为13.87;活体条件下,施用苯磺隆后,抗性和敏感生物型荠菜ALS活性均受到一定程度的抑制,但抗性生物型ALS活性受到抑制后能逐渐恢复,而敏感生物型则不能恢复;经苯磺隆处理后,抗性生物型GSTs相对活力明显高于敏感生物型,而抗性和敏感生物型体内POD、SOD和CAT相对活力无明显差异。研究表明,抗性生物型荠菜体内ALS对苯磺隆敏感性降低是其抗药性产生的原因之一,而GSTs对苯磺隆代谢能力的差异也可能与荠菜对苯磺隆的抗性有关。     

Mechanism of resistance to quinclorac in smooth crabgrass (Digitaria ischaemum)

The mechanism of resistance to quinclorac was investigated in a smooth crabgrass biotype [Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb. ex Schweig) Schreb. ex Muhl] from Tulare County, California. Quinclorac (8.96 kg a.i. ha⁻¹) had no effect (P = 0.18) on the resistant (R) biotype, but reduced fresh weight of a susceptible (S) biotype by 93%. After treatment with 4.48 kg a.i. quinclorac ha⁻¹, the S biotype produced about three times more ethylene than the R biotype and accumulated cyanide in tissues. Similar amounts of endogenous cyanide resulting from treatment with KCN reproduced quinclorac phytotoxicity. Pre-treatment with the ACC synthase inhibitor AVG reduced quinclorac phytotoxicity by 37% and ethylene production by 89%. These data suggest a target site-based mechanism of resistance involving stimulation of ACC synthesis and accumulation of cyanide. Also, the R biotype had four times more β-cyanoalanine synthase activity than the S biotype, suggesting a higher ability to detoxify cyanide.     

Mechanism of resistance to bensulfuron-methyl in Alisma plantago-aquatica biotypes from Portuguese rice paddy fields

Two Alisma plantago‐aquatica biotypes resistant to bensulfuron‐methyl were detected in rice paddy fields in Portugal’s Mondego (biotype T) and Tagus and Sorraia (biotype Q) River valleys. The fields had been treated with bensulfuron‐methyl‐based herbicide mixtures for 4–6 years. In order to characterize the resistant (R) biotypes, dose–response experiments, absorption and translocation assays, metabolism studies and acetolactate synthase (ALS) activity assays were performed. There were marked differences between R and susceptible (S) biotypes, with a resistance index (ED₅₀R/S) of 500 and 6.25 for biotypes Q and T respectively. Cross‐resistance to azimsulfuron, cinosulfuron and ethoxysulfuron, but not to metsulfuron‐methyl, imazethapyr, bentazone, propanil and MCPA was demonstrated. No differences in the absorption and translocation of ¹⁴C‐bensulfuron‐methyl were found between the biotypes studied. Maximum absorption attained 1.12, 2.02 and 2.56 nmol g⁻¹ dry weight after 96 h incubation with herbicide, for S, Q and T biotypes respectively. Most of the radioactivity taken up by the roots was translocated to shoots. Bensulfuron‐methyl metabolism in shoots was similar in all biotypes. The R biotypes displayed a higher level of ALS activity than the S biotype, both in the presence and absence of herbicide and the resistance indices (IC₅₀R/S) were 20 197 and 10 for biotypes Q and T respectively. These data confirm for the first time that resistance to bensulfuron‐methyl in A. plantago‐aquatica is target‐site‐based. In practice, to control target site R biotypes, it would be preferable to use mixtures of ALS inhibitors with herbicides with other modes of action.     

Sulfonylurea herbicide-resistant Monochoria vaginalis in Korean rice culture

Nine Monochoria vaginalis Pres1 accessions from Chonnam province, Korea were tested for resistance to the sulfonylurea herbicide, imazosulfuron, in whole-plant response bioassay. All accessions were confirmed resistant (R) to imazosulfuron. The GR50 (imazosulfuron concentration that reduced shoot dry weight by 50%) values of R accessions were 1112-3172 (accession #9) times higher than that of the standard susceptible (S) accession. Accession #9 exhibited cross-resistance to other sulfonylurea herbicides, bensulfuron-methyl, cyclosulfamuron and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, but not to the imidazolinone herbicides, imazapyr and imazaquin. The R biotype could be controlled by other herbicides with different modes of action, such as mefenacet and pyrazolate, applied to soil at recommended rates. Foliar-applied herbicides, 2,4-D and bentazone, also controlled both the R and S biotypes. Sulfonylurea-based mixtures, except ethoxysulfuron plus fentrazamide, did not control resistant M. vaginalis. Rice yield was reduced 70% by resistant M. vaginalis that escaped pyrazosulfuron-ethyl plus molinate, compared with hand weeding in direct-seeded rice culture. In contrast, rice yield was reduced 44% by resistant M. vaginalis that survived the pyrazosulfuron-ethyl plus molinate treatment, compared with pyrazolate plus butachlor in transplanted rice culture. In vitro acetolactate synthase (ALS) activity of the R biotype was 183, 35, 130 and 31 times more resistant to imazosulfuron, bensulfuron-methyl, cyclosulfamuron and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, respectively, than the S biotype. Imidazolinone herbicides, imazapyr and imazaquin had similar effect on in vitro ALS activity of the R and S biotypes. The in vivo ALS activity of the R biotype was also less affected than the S biotype by the sulfonylurea herbicides imazosulfuron and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl. Results of in vitro and in vivo ALS assays indicate that the resistance mechanism of M. vaginalis to sulfonylurea herbicides may be due, in part, to an alteration in the target enzyme, ALS. Since the level of resistance in the enzyme assay was much lower than that in the whole-plant assay, other mechanisms of resistance, such as herbicide metabolism, may be involved.     

Conyza albida: a new biotype with ALS inhibitor resistance

Summary A biotype of Conyza albida resistant to imazapyr was discovered on a farm in the province of Seville, Spain, on land that had been continuously treated with this herbicide. This is the first reported occurrence of target site resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides in C. albida . In order to characterize this resistant biotype, dose–response experiments, absorption and translocation assays, metabolism studies, ALS activity assays and control with alternative herbicides were performed. Dose–response experiments revealed a marked difference between resistant (R) and susceptible (S) biotypes with a resistance factor [ED₅₀(R)/ED₅₀(S)] of 300. Cross-resistance existed with amidosulfuron, imazethapyr and nicosulfuron. Control of both biotypes using alternative herbicides was good using chlorsulfuron, triasulfuron, diuron, simazine, glyphosate and glufosinate. The rest of the herbicides tested did not provide good control for either biotype. There were no differences in absorption and translocation between the two biotypes, the maximum absorption reached about 15%, and most of the radioactivity taken up remained in the treated leaf. The metabolism pattern was similar and revealed that both biotypes may form polar metabolites with similar retention time (R_f). The effect of several ALS inhibitors on ALS (target site) activity measured in leaf extracts from both biotypes was investigated. Only with imazapyr and imazethapyr did the R biotype show a higher level of resistance than the S biotype [I₅₀ (R)/I₅₀(S) value of 4.0 and 3.7 respectively]. These data suggest that the resistance to imazapyr found in the R biotype of C. albida results primarily from an altered target site.     

Target-site basis for resistance to acetolactate synthase inhibitor in Water chickweed (Myosoton aquaticum L.)

Water chickweed is a widespread and competitive winter annual or biennial weed of wheat in China. One Water chickweed population (HN02) resistant to several acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors was found in Henan province of China. Whole-plant bioassays showed that HN02 was high resistance to tribenuron (292.05-flod). In vitro ALS assays revealed that resistance was due to reduced sensitivity of the ALS enzyme to tribenuron. The I₅₀ value for HN02 was 85.53 times greater respectively than that of susceptible population (SD05). This altered ALS sensitivity in the resistant population was due to a mutation in the ALS gene resulting in a Pro197 to Ser substitution. Cross-resistance experiments indicated that HN02 exhibited various resistance patterns to pyrithiobac-sodium, florasulam and pyroxsulam, without resistance to imazethapyr. This is the first report of tribenuron-resistant Water chickweed in Henan province of China, target-site based resistance was established as being due to an insensitive form of ALS, resulting from a Pro to Ser substitution at amino acid position 197 in the ALS gene.