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Weed control failures due to herbicide resistance are an increasing and worldwide problem significantly impacting crop yields. Herbicide resistance due to increased herbicide metabolism in weeds is not well characterized at the genetic level. An RNA-Seq transcriptome analysis was used to identify genes conferring metabolism-based herbicide resistance (MBHR) in a population (R) of a major global weed (Lolium rigidum), in which resistance to the herbicide diclofop-methyl was experimentally evolved through recurrent selection from a susceptible (S) progenitor population. A reference transcriptome of 19,623 contigs was assembled using 454 sequencing technology on a cDNA library and annotated using UniProt and Pfam databases. Transcriptomic-level gene expression was measured using Illumina 100 bp reads from untreated control, mock, and diclofop-methyl treatments of R and S. Due to the established importance of cytochrome P450 (CytP450), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and glucosyltransferase (GT) genes in MBHR, 11 contigs with these annotations and higher constitutive expression in untreated R than in untreated S were selected as candidate genes for hypothesis testing, along with 17 additional differentially expressed contigs with annotations related to metabolism or signal transduction. In a forward genetics validation experiment, higher constitutive expression of nine contigs co-segregated with the resistance phenotype in an F2 population, including 3 CytP450, 3 GST, and 1 GT. At least nine genes with heritable increased constitutive expression are associated with MBHR trait. In a physiological validation experiment where 2, 4-D pre-treatment induced diclofop-methyl protection in S individuals due to increased metabolism, seven of the nine genetically-validated contigs were significantly induced. These data help explain accumulation of resistance-endowing genes and rapid evolution of MBHR, and provide the opportunity to improve diagnostics of MBHR using molecular tools such as transcriptional markers.

BACKGROUND: Brome grass (Bromus diandrus Roth) is prevalent in the southern and western cropping regions of Australia, where it causes significant economic damage. A targeted herbicide resistance survey was conducted in 2020 by collecting brome grass populations from 40 farms in Western Australia and subjecting these samples to comprehensive herbicide screening. One sample (population 172‐20), from a field that had received 12 applications of clethodim over 20 years of continuous cropping, was found to be highly resistant to the acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACCase)‐inhibiting herbicides clethodim and quizalofop, and so the molecular basis of resistance was investigated. RESULTS: All 31 individuals examined from population 172‐20 carried the same resistance‐endowing point mutation causing an aspartate‐to‐glycine substitution at position 2078 in the translated ACCase protein sequence. A wild‐type susceptible population and the resistant population had similar expression levels of plastidic ACCase genes. The level of resistance to quizalofop, either standalone or in mixture with clethodim, in population 172‐20 was lower under cooler growing conditions. CONCLUSION: Target‐site resistance to ACCase‐inhibiting herbicides, conferred by one ACCase mutation, was selected in all tested brome plants infesting a field with a history of repeated clethodim use. This mutation appears to have been fixed in the infesting population. Notably, clethodim resistance in this population was not detected by the farmer, and a high future incidence of quizalofop resistance is anticipated. Herbicide resistance testing is essential for the detection of evolving weed resistance issues and to inform effective management strategies. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cinmethylin, a pre‐emergence herbicide inhibiting fatty acid thioesterase activity, has recently been introduced to Australian cereal cropping for the control of Lolium rigidum Gaud. (annual ryegrass). To date, there have been no confirmed cases of cinmethylin resistance identified in this species, but some populations exhibit reduced sensitivity to this herbicide. To explore the mechanism which contributes to reduced sensitivity of annual ryegrass to cinmethylin, the extent and nature of cinmethylin metabolism, using carbon‐14 (14C)‐labelled herbicide, were analysed in three reduced‐sensitivity annual ryegrass populations, alongside a susceptible population and cinmethylin‐tolerant wheat as controls. Results: All samples showed the same metabolite profile, with the extent of production of a specific water‐soluble metabolite being correlated to the level of herbicide sensitivity. Application of the cytochrome P450 inhibitor phorate caused a decrease in water‐soluble metabolite production as well as seedling growth in the presence of cinmethylin, indicating that reduced cinmethylin sensitivity in annual ryegrass could be wholly or partially due to oxidative modification of cinmethylin. Conclusion: Because annual ryegrass has the potential to metabolize cinmethylin in the same way as wheat, careful stewardship is required to ensure the longevity of this herbicide. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Lolium rigidum is the weed of greatest economic impact in Australia due to its formidable capacity to evolve herbicide resistance. In this study, 579 field‐sampled L. rigidum populations were tested for resistance to 21 herbicides applied at the recommended rate. Nine herbicide treatments were binary mixtures. RESULTS: A total of 15 876 individual resistance tests were conducted by screening two million seeds at the recommended label rate. The overall frequency of resistant populations was 31%, 14%, 71%, 6% and 0% in response to the post‐emergence herbicide treatments clethodim, clethodim + butroxydim, imazamox + imazapyr, glyphosate and paraquat, respectively. The resistance frequency to stand‐alone pre‐emergence wheat‐selective herbicides ranged from 10% to 34%. Conversely, the levels of resistance to pre‐emergence mixtures or stand‐alone propyzamide were significantly lower, ranging from 6% to 0%. In winter, the responses to glyphosate, paraquat, cinmethylin, prosulfocarb, pyroxasulfone and trifluralin were reassessed, with 7%, 0%, 0%, 21%, 21% and 28% as the respective resistance frequencies. South Australia and Victoria are identified as epicenters for L. rigidum population resistance to pyroxasulfone, whereas populations in New South Wales have the greatest resistance to glyphosate and in Western Australia to clethodim. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, resistance levels to stand‐alone herbicides and binary mixtures are geographically ranked across the Australian continent by benchmark statistical analysis of resistance frequencies and distribution. The extension of these results will raise awareness of rapidly emerging patterns of herbicide resistance, encouraging the adoption of cost‐effective modes of action and integration of diverse strategies for weed resistance management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While herbicides are the most effective and widely adopted weed management approach, the evolution of multiple herbicide resistance in damaging weed species threatens the yield and profitability of many crops. Weeds accumulate multiple resistance mechanisms through sequential selection and/or gene flow, with long‐range and international transport of herbicide‐resistant weeds proving to be a serious issue. Metabolic resistance mechanisms can confer resistance across multiple sites of action and even to herbicides not yet discovered. When a new site of action herbicide is introduced to control a key driver weed, it likely will be one of very few effective available herbicide options for that weed in a specific crop due to the continuous use of herbicides over the years and the resulting accumulation of resistance mechanisms, placing it at even higher risk to be rapidly lost to resistance due to the high selection pressure it will experience. The number of available, effective herbicides for certain driver weeds is decreasing over time because the rate of resistance evolution is faster than the rate of new herbicide discovery. Effective monitoring for species movement and diagnostics for resistance should be deployed to rapidly identify emerging resistance to any new site of action. While innovation in herbicide discovery is urgently needed to combat the pressing issue of resistance in weeds, the rate of selection for herbicide resistance in weeds must be slowed through changes in the patterns of how herbicides are used. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbicides are the largest category of pesticides used in global agriculture, which is reflected in the rate of increase in the number of unique cases of herbicide‐resistant weed biotypes since the late 1950s. Recommended herbicide resistance management strategies and tactics have evolved over the past 50 years through cumulative research and experience and have been regularly reviewed. Nevertheless, new perspectives may be gained by viewing current recommended strategies through the lens of insecticide, fungicide, and antibiotic resistance management. What commonalities exist and what is the basis for disparate strategies? Although pesticide and antibiotic mixtures (or combinations) are generally more effective than rotations (or alternations) in mitigating or managing resistance, the latter strategy is often employed because of greater ease of implementation and other reasons. We conclude that there are more common than different strategies for mitigating or managing pesticide and antibiotic resistance. Overall, a reduction in selection pressure for resistance evolution through diverse multi‐tactic management programmes, and disruption or mitigation of the dispersal or transmission of problematic genotypes are needed to sustain the longevity of current and future mode‐of‐action products for crop and human health protection. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lolium rigidum Gaud., a grass weed species infesting winter field crops, has evolved resistance to the largest number of herbicide modes of action. In this study, 140 field populations of L. rigidum were screened with 14 herbicide treatments. Herbicide resistance at the recommended label dosage of pre‐emergence (PRE), post‐emergence (POST) and binary herbicide mixtures was considered present when plant survival was ≥6%. Plant survival to four acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACCase) POST herbicides averaged across all populations was approximately 15%, indicating substantial herbicide resistance. In contrast, the mean survival to the PRE treatments was only 2%, reflecting effective control of L. rigidum. Herbicide mixtures were the most effective treatments, with a significantly lower resistance frequency than stand‐alone herbicides. For example, only 12% of the tested samples were resistant to the mixture of clethodim + butroxydim in comparison with 40% and 61% to either butroxydim or clethodim, respectively. Similarly, 8% of the samples were resistant to the mixture of trifluralin + prosulfocarb versus a much greater frequency of 36% and 51% resistance to prosulfocarb and trifluralin, respectively. Surprisingly, the binary mixtures of trifluralin + triallate or pyroxasulfone + triallate are not affected by resistance (presently) due to the greater efficacy than that of either stand‐alone herbicide. Thus, herbicide mixtures can delay the onset of resistance and mitigate the existing levels of herbicide resistance and cross‐resistance in L. rigidum. Systematic screenings of a large number of field populations could identify the most (cost‐) effective herbicide mixtures and foster their informed adoption on farm to mitigate the rapid evolution of weed resistance in lieu of expert assumptions or modelling simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Resistance to the dinitroaniline herbicide trifluralin in Lolium rigidum (annual ryegrass) often is mediated by the enhanced capacity to metabolize the herbicide to less toxic polar conjugates and/or by functionally recessive target‐site mutations in α‐tubulin. RESULTS: In two L. rigidum populations possessing enhanced trifluralin metabolism, resistance was largely reversed by recurrent selection with the thiocarbamate herbicide prosulfocarb (i.e. plant survival was two‐ to >20‐fold lower). Their ability to metabolize trifluralin was significantly decreased (by ≈2.3‐fold) following recurrent prosulfocarb selection, to levels comparable to those observed in susceptible plants or when trifluralin metabolism was inhibited by treatment with the insecticide phorate. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that trait(s) enabling efficient trifluralin metabolism in L. rigidum are purged from the population under prosulfocarb recurrent selection. The level of trifluralin metabolism in vitro and its inhibition caused by phorate action on trifluralin‐metabolizing enzyme(s) is equivalent to the effect produced by prosulfocarb selection. The hypothetical link between the two phenomena is that the putative monooxygenase(s) conferring trifluralin metabolic resistance also mediate the activation of prosulfocarb to its toxic sulfoxide. Thus, we speculate that survival to prosulfocarb via a lack of metabolic herbicide activation, and survival to trifluralin conferred by enhanced herbicide metabolism, are mutually exclusive. These findings not only open up a new research direction in terms of the interaction between different herbicide resistance mechanisms in L. rigidum, but also offer strategies for immediate management of the population dynamics of metabolism‐based resistance in the field. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Multiple‐herbicide resistance in Lolium rigidum and other weed species is increasingly exerting pressure on herbicide discovery research for solutions against resistance‐prone weeds. In this study we investigate: (i) the responses of L. rigidum populations and wheat to the new herbicide cinmethylin in comparison with other pre‐emergence herbicides, (ii) the effect of seed burial depths on cinmethylin efficacy and crop selectivity, and (iii) the basis of cinmethylin selectivity in wheat. RESULTS: Cinmethylin at 400 g ha−1 controls herbicide‐susceptible and multiple‐resistant L. rigidum, with a reduction of >85% in plant emergence and 90% in aboveground biomass. Cinmethylin provides effective control of a large number of field populations of L. rigidum with evident resistance to trifluralin. When the wheat seed is buried ≥1 cm below the cinmethylin‐treated soil surface, the emergence of crop seedlings is not different from the untreated control. The organophosphate insecticide phorate synergizes cinmethylin toxicity in wheat, with an LD50 of 682 g ha−1 in the absence of phorate versus 109 g ha−1 in the presence of phorate (84% reduction). The synergistic effect of phorate with cinmethylin on herbicide‐susceptible L. rigidum appears smaller (a 44% reduction in the LD50 of cinmethylin). CONCLUSIONS: Cinmethylin is effective in controlling multiple‐resistant L. rigidum and appears safe for wheat when the seed is separated at depth from the herbicide applied to the soil surface. The basis of this metabolism‐based selectivity is likely regulated by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Weed resistance to foliar herbicides has dramatically increased worldwide in the last two decades. As a consequence, current practices of weed management have changed, with an increased adoption of soil‐applied herbicides to restore control of herbicide‐resistant weeds. We foresee metabolism‐based resistance and cross‐resistance to soil‐applied herbicides as a potential global consequence to the increased and widespread adoption of new and old soil‐applied herbicides. Thus, the aim of this study is to use computer simulation modelling to quantify and rank the risk of weeds evolving resistance to soil‐applied herbicides under different usage strategies (single herbicide use, rotations and mixtures) and population genetic hypotheses. RESULTS: Simulations indicate that without rotation it takes twice as long to select for resistance to a particular soil‐applied herbicide – trifluralin – than to any other herbicide option considered. Relative to trifluralin‐only use, simple herbicide rotation patterns have no effect in delaying resistance, whereas more complex rotation patterns can delay resistance two‐ or three‐fold. Herbicide mixtures further delay resistance up to six‐fold in comparison to single use or simple herbicide rotations. CONCLUSION: By computer modelling simulations we demonstrate that mixtures maximize herbicide effectiveness and the selection heterogeneity of soil‐applied herbicides, and delay herbicide resistance evolution in weedy plants. Our study is consistent with previous state‐of‐art scientific evidence (i.e. epidemiological and modelling studies across different systems and pests) and extension efforts (i.e. 'rotate herbicide mixtures') to provide insight to manage the selection and evolution of weed resistance. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Echinochloa colona population from Western Australia has evolved resistance to glyphosate. This current study investigates the physiological, molecular and biochemical basis of glyphosate resistance in this population. To minimise genetic differences the susceptible (S) and resistance (R) phenotypes were isolated from within this resistant population. The S phenotype was found to accumulate significantly more shikimate in the leaf tissue than the R phenotype following glyphosate treatment. Target-site EPSPS gene sequencing revealed no resistance mutations and EPSPS gene expression was similar between the S and R phenotypes. Thus, glyphosate resistance in this population is unlikely target-site based. Similarly, there were no significant differences between the S and R phenotypes in glyphosate leaf uptake and translocation at the whole plant level. It is also unlikely that the resistance is associated with glyphosate metabolism as no major glyphosate metabolites were detected in leaf tissue of the S and R phenotypes. Despite much effort the exact glyphosate resistance mechanisms in this R population remain unclear, and novel resistance mechanisms are to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There have been previous calls for, and efforts focused on, realizing the power and potential of weed genomics for better understanding of weeds. Sustained advances in genome sequencing and assembly technologies now make it possible for individual research groups to generate reference genomes for multiple weed species at reasonable costs. Here, we present the outcomes from several meetings, discussions, and workshops focused on establishing an International Weed Genomics Consortium (IWGC) for a coordinated international effort in weed genomics. We review the ‘state of the art’ in genomics and weed genomics, including technologies, applications, and on‐going weed genome projects. We also report the outcomes from a workshop and a global survey of the weed science community to identify priority species, key biological questions, and weed management applications that can be addressed through greater availability of, and access to, genomic resources. Major focus areas include the evolution of herbicide resistance and weedy traits, the development of molecular diagnostics, and the identification of novel targets and approaches for weed management. There is increasing interest in, and need for, weed genomics, and the establishment of the IWGC will provide the necessary global platform for communication and coordination of weed genomics research. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Herbicides classified as synthetic auxins have been most commonly used to control broadleaf weeds in a variety of crops and in non‐cropland areas since the first synthetic auxin herbicide (SAH), 2,4‐D, was introduced to the market in the mid‐1940s. The incidence of weed species resistant to SAHs is relatively low considering their long‐term global application with 30 broadleaf, 5 grass, and 1 grass‐like weed species confirmed resistant to date. An understanding of the context and mechanisms of SAH resistance evolution can inform management practices to sustain the longevity and utility of this important class of herbicides. A symposium was convened during the 2nd Global Herbicide Resistance Challenge (May 2017; Denver, CO, USA) to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge of SAH resistance mechanisms including case studies of weed species resistant to SAHs and perspectives on mitigating resistance development in SAH‐tolerant crops. © 2017 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of resistant weed populations in response to intensive herbicide selection pressure is a global issue. Resistance to post-emergence herbicides is widespread, whereas soil-applied pre-emergence herbicides can often remain effective. For example, in Australia pyroxasulfone is a new pre-emergence soil-applied herbicide which provides control of Lolium rigidum populations resistant to multiple post-emergence herbicide modes of action. A fundamental knowledge of the genetic basis of metabolic resistance in weeds is important for understanding plant evolution pathways under herbicide selection and sustaining long-term weed resistance management. In this study we define the mechanistic basis of resistance to pyroxasulfone in a L. rigidum population. TLC provides evidence that pyroxasulfone resistance is metabolism-based with approximately 88% of parental [ 14 C]-labelled pyroxasulfone metabolized in resistant plants 24 h after the herbicide treatment. HPLC-MS allowed identification of several metabolites of pyroxasulfone formed via a glutathione (GSH) conjugation pathway in pyroxasulfone-resistant L. rigidum plants . However, the initial pyroxasulfone-glutathione conjugate was not found likely due to its labile nature. The observed constitutive over-expression from six to nine-fold of two putative resistance-endowing GST genes was associated with the pyroxasulfone resistance phenotype. The most logical conclusion, based on the data thus far available, is that rapid detoxification of pyroxasulfone mediates pyroxasulfone resistance in L. rigidum plants. Future research is warranted to confirm the hypothesis advanced by this study of rapid pyroxasulfone metabolism due to GSH conjugation mediated by GST over-expressed in pyroxasulfone-resistant plants which similarly leads to the production of distinctive GSH-pyroxasulfone metabolites in L. rigidum and wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A relatively low number of weed species have evolved resistance to auxinic herbicides despite their use for almost 70 years. This inheritance study with two Raphanus raphanistrum populations multiple-resistant 2,4-D and the ALS-inhibiting herbicide chlorsulfuron determined the number of genes and genetic dominance of 2,4-D resistance and investigated the association between traits conferring resistance to the two herbicide modes of action. Levels of 2,4-D phenotypic resistance and resistance segregation patterns were assessed in parental populations, F 1 and F 2 families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Organophosphate insecticides can inhibit specific cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in metabolic herbicide resistance mechanisms, leading to synergistic interactions between the insecticide and the herbicide. In this study we report synergistic versus antagonistic interactions between the organophosphate insecticide phorate and five different herbicides observed in a population of multiple herbicide-resistant Lolium rigidum. RESULTS Phorate synergised with three different herbicide modes of action, enhancing the activity of the ALS inhibitor chlorsulfuron (60% LD50 reduction), the VLCFAE inhibitor pyroxasulfone (45% LD50 reduction) and the mitosis inhibitor trifluralin (70% LD50 reduction). Conversely, phorate antagonised the two thiocarbamate herbicides prosulfocarb and triallate with a 12-fold LD50 increase. CONCLUSION We report the selective reversal of P450-mediated metabolic multiple resistance to chlorsulfuron and trifluralin in the grass weed L. rigidum by synergistic interaction with the insecticide phorate, and discuss the putative mechanistic basis. This research should encourage diversity in herbicide use patterns for weed control as part of a long-term integrated management effort to reduce the risk of selection of metabolism-based multiple herbicide resistance in L. rigidum. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Rice is a major field crop of paramount importance for global food security. However, the increased adoption of more profitable and resource-efficient direct-seeded rice ( DSR) systems has contributed to greater weed infestations, including weedy rice, which has become a severe problem in several Asian regions. In this study we have developed a conceptually novel method to protect rice plants at high doses of clomazone and triallate. RESULTS The insecticide phorate applied to rice seeds provided a substantial level of protection against the herbicides clomazone or triallate. A quantity of 15 kg phorate ha−1 significantly increased the LD50 values, which were more than twofold greater than for rice plants treated only with clomazone. A quantity of 20 kg phorate ha−1 in combination with 2000 g triallate ha−1 safened rice plants (80% survival) with LD50 >3.4-fold greater than in phorate-untreated rice. Weed control efficacy was not lowered by the presence of phorate-treated rice seeds. CONCLUSION Weedy rice is one of the most damaging global weeds and a major threat to DSR systems. In this study we have developed a proof-of-concept method to allow selective weedy rice control in rice crops. We call for herbicide discovery programmes and research to identify candidate safener and herbicide combinations to achieve selective herbicide control of weedy rice and alleviate weed infestations in global rice crops. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Weeds can be a greater constraint to crop production than animal pests and pathogens. Pre-emergence herbicides are crucial in many cropping systems to control weeds that have evolved resistance to selective post-emergence herbicides. In this study we assessed the potential to evolve resistance to the pre-emergence herbicides prosulfocarb + S-metolachlor or pyroxasulfone in 50 individual field Lolium rigidum populations collected in a random survey in Western Australia prior to commercialisation of these pre-emergence herbicides. RESULTS This study shows for the first time that in randomly collected L. rigidum field populations the selection with either prosulfocarb + S-metolachlor or pyroxasulfone can result in concomitant evolution of resistance to both prosulfocarb + S-metolachlor and pyroxasulfone after three generations. CONCLUSIONS In the major weed L. rigidum, traits conferring resistance to new herbicides can be present before herbicide commercialisation. Proactive and multidisciplinary research (evolutionary ecology, modelling and molecular biology) is required to detect and analyse resistant populations before they can appear in the field. Several studies show that evolved cross-resistance in weeds is complex and often unpredictable. Thus, long-term management of cross-resistant weeds must be achieved through heterogeneity of selection by effective chemical, cultural and physical weed control strategies that can delay herbicide resistance evolution. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND When applied at the correct plant stage and dose, herbicides are highly toxic to plants. At reduced, low herbicide doses (below the recommended dose) plants can survive and display continuous and quantitative variation in dose-survival responses. Recurrent (directional) selection studies can reveal whether such a phenotypic variation in plant survival response to low herbicide dose is heritable and leads to herbicide resistance. In a common experimental garden study, we have subjected a susceptible population of self-pollinated hexaploid Avena fatua to low-dose recurrent selection with the ACCase-inhibiting herbicide diclofop-methyl for three consecutive generations. RESULTS Significant differences in response to low-dose diclofop-methyl selection were observed between the selected progenies and parent plants, with a twofold diclofop-methyl resistance and cross-resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Thus, the capacity of self-pollinated A. fatua to respond to low-dose herbicide selection is marginal, and it is much lower than in cross-pollinated L. rigidum. Lolium rigidum in the same experiment evolved 40-fold diclofop-methyl resistance by progressive enrichment of quantitative resistance-endowing traits. CONCLUSION Cross-pollination rate, genetic variation and ploidy levels are identified as possible drivers affecting the contrasting capacity of Avena versus Lolium plants to respond to herbicide selection and the subsequent likelihood of resistance evolution at low herbicide dose usage. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: A population of Echinochloa colona infesting agricultural fields in the northern region of Western Australia evolved glyphosate resistance after 10 years of glyphosate selection. This study identified two phenotypic (susceptible S versus resistant R) lines from within a segregating glyphosate-resistant population. Estimation of survival, growth and reproductive rates of the phenotypes in response to glyphosate selection helped to characterise the level of resistance, fitness and the selection intensity for glyphosate in this species. RESULTS: Estimations of LD50 (lethal dose) and GR50 (growth rate) showed an eightfold glyphosate resistance in this population. The resistant index based on the estimation of seed number (SYn50) showed a 13-fold resistance. As a result of linear combination of plant survival and fecundity rates, plant fitness values of 0.2 and 0.8 were estimated for the S and R phenotypeswhen exposed to the low dose of 270 g glyphosate ha-1. At the recommended dose of 540 g glyphosate ha-1, fitness significantly decreased (fivefold) in S plants but remained markedly similar (0.7) in plants of the R phenotype. Thus, the calculated selection intensity (SI) at 540 g glyphosate ha-1 was much greater (SI = 17) than at 270 g glyphosate ha-1 (SI = 4). CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of plant survival and fecundity in response to glyphosate selection in the S and R phenotypes allowed a greater accuracy in the estimation of population fitness of both phenotypes and thus of glyphosate selection intensity in E. colona. The estimation of seed number or mass of phenotypes under herbicide selection is a true ecological measure of resistance with implications for herbicide resistance evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbicides that act by inhibiting the biosynthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids ( VLCFAs) have been used to control grass weeds in major crops throughout the world for the past 60 years. VLCFA-inhibiting herbicides are generally highly selective in crops, induce similar symptoms in susceptible grasses and can be found within the herbicide groups classified by the HRAC as K3 and N. Even after many years of continuous use, only 12 grass weed species have evolved resistance to VLCFA-inhibiting herbicides. Here, the cases of resistance that have evolved in major grass weed species belonging to the Avena, Echinochloa and Lolium genera in three different agricultural systems are reviewed. In particular we explore the possible reasons why VLCFA herbicides have been slow to select resistant weeds, outline the herbicide mode of action and discuss the resistance mechanisms that are most likely to have been selected. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential for human-driven evolution in economically and environmentally important organisms in medicine, agriculture and conservation management is now widely recognised. The evolution of herbicide resistance in weeds is a classic example of rapid adaptation in the face of human-mediated selection. Management strategies that aim to slow or prevent the evolution of herbicide resistance must be informed by an understanding of the ecological and evolutionary factors that drive selection in weed populations. Here, we argue for a greater focus on the ultimate causes of selection for resistance in herbicide resistance studies. The emerging fields of eco-evolutionary dynamics and applied evolutionary biology offer a means to achieve this goal and to consider herbicide resistance in a broader and sometimes novel context. Four relevant research questions are presented, which examine (i) the impact of herbicide dose on selection for resistance, (ii) plant fitness in herbicide resistance studies, (iii) the efficacy of herbicide rotations and mixtures and (iv) the impacts of gene flow on resistance evolution and spread. In all cases, fundamental ecology and evolution have the potential to offer new insights into herbicide resistance evolution and management. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer simulation modelling is an essential aid in building an integrated understanding of how different factors interact to affect the evolutionary and population dynamics of herbicide resistance, and thus in helping to predict and manage how agricultural systems will be affected. In this review, we first discuss why computer simulation modelling is such an important tool and framework for dealing with herbicide resistance. We then explain what questions related to herbicide resistance have been addressed to date using simulation modelling, and discuss the modelling approaches that have been used, focusing first on the earlier, more general approaches, and then on some newer, more innovative approaches. We then consider how these approaches could be further developed in the future, by drawing on modelling techniques that are already employed in other areas, such as individual-based and spatially explicit modelling approaches, as well as the possibility of better representing genetics, competition and economics, and finally the questions and issues of importance to herbicide resistance research and management that could be addressed using these new approaches are discussed. We conclude that it is necessary to proceed with caution when increasing the complexity of models by adding new details, but, with appropriate care, more detailed models will make it possible to integrate more current knowledge in order better to understand, predict and ultimately manage the evolution of herbicide resistance. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]