Molecular basis of multiple resistance to ACCase-inhibiting and ALS-inhibiting herbicides in Lolium rigidum

The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.comHerbicide resistance in Lolium rigidum is widespread across much of the agricultural land in Australia. As the incidence of herbicide resistance has increased, so has the incidence of multiple herbicide resistance. This reduces the herbicide options available for control of this weed. This study reports on the successful amplification and sequencing of the acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene of L. rigidum using primers designed from sequence information of related taxa. This enables, for the first time, the successful determination of a mutation in the ALS gene of this species that provides resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. This mutation causes amino acid substitution at Trp574 (numbering standardised to Arabidopsis thaliana) to Leu which had been reported to confer a high level of resistance against all classes of ALS inhibitor herbicides. In addition, multiple resistance to ALS-inhibiting and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase-inhibiting herbicides is acquired through the independent accumulation of mutant alleles for the target sites. This may thus explain some of the irregular, mosaic resistance patterns that occur in this predominantly outcrossing species.M-K Tan, C Preston, G-X Wan

Resistance of dicot weeds to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides in Australia

A biotype of Sonchus oleraceus L. and two bio types of Sisymbrium orientate Torn., SSO 3 and NSO 1, are the first dicot weeds in Australia to develop resistance to ALS‐inhibiting herbicides. The resistant biotypes had been exposed to va rying periods of selection with sulfonylurea her bicides. All three biotypes are resistant to a range of sulfonylurea and imidazolinone herbicides. The S. orientale biotypes are also resistant to the triazolopyrimidine herbicide, flumetsulam. LD50 ratios of resistant Sonchus oleraceus for sulfony lurea and imidazolinone herbicides are greater than 64‐fold and 4.5‐fold, respectively. GR50 ratios are greater than 9 for sulfonylureas and 7.4 for imazapyr. The LD50 ratios for both S. orien tale biotypes for chlorsulfuron, sulfometuron methyl, metsulfuron‐methyl, flumetsulam and imazethapyr are greater than 110‐, 15‐, 7‐, 24‐ and 29‐fold, respectively. All resistant biotypes are susceptible to MCPA, diuron and diflufenican, herbicides which do not inhibit ALS. Copyright © 1995, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserve