The role of fungal endophyte infection in the evolution of Lolium multiflorum resistance to diclofop-methyl

Diclofop-methyl resistance was evaluated in populations of Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum Lam.) infected and uninfected with fungal endophyte ( Neotyphodium ). Survival was tested in susceptible populations using herbicide screening. The results served as inputs to a model for investigating the role of endophyte infection in the evolution of L. multiflorum resistance to herbicide. The tolerance of infected plants varied depending on the origin of the population and the herbicide dose. Only in some populations and at some diclofop-methyl doses did plants infected with these endophytes have higher survivorship than endophyte-free plants. The model demonstrated that endophytes might indeed play an important role in the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds, delaying the appearance of herbicide resistance.