Enhanced Herbicide Metabolism and Target-Site Mutations Confer Multiple Resistance to Fomesafen and Nicosulfuron in Amaranthus retroflexus L.

Simple Summary Amaranthus retroflexus L. is the most prevalent broadleaf weed in autumn crops such as soybean and corn in northeastern China. In this study, we investigated the target-site resistance mechanism of HW-01 and ST-1 populations of A. retroflexus, which are resistant to fomesafen and nicosulfuron, and the non-target-site resistance of cytochrome P450s- and GSTs-based herbicide metabolic was also confirmed in the HW-01 population. This study helps to provide scientific and theoretical guidance for the control of resistant populations of A. retroflexus. Amaranthus retroflexus L. is a highly competitive broadleaf weed of corn-soybean rotation in northeastern China. In recent years, the herbicide(s) resistance evolution has been threatening its effective management in crop fields. One resistant A. retroflexus (HW-01) population that survived the protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitor fomesafen and acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor nicosulfuron applied at their field-recommended rate was collected from a soybean field in Wudalianchi City, Heilongjiang Province. This study aimed to investigate the resistance mechanisms of fomesafen and nicosulfuron and determine the resistance profile of HW-01 to other herbicides. Whole plant dose-response bioassays revealed that HW-01 had evolved resistance to fomesafen (50.7-fold) and nicosulfuron (5.2-fold). Gene sequencing showed that the HW-01 population has a mutation in PPX2 (Arg-128-Gly) and a rare mutation in ALS (Ala-205-Val, eight/twenty mutations/total plants). In vitro enzyme activity assays showed that ALS extracted from the HW-01 plants was less sensitive to nicosulfuron (3.2-fold) than ST-1 plants. Pre-treatment with the cytochrome P450 inhibitors malathion, piperonyl butoxide (PBO), 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (amitrole), and the GSTs inhibitor 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-Cl) significantly increased fomesafen and nicosulfuron sensitivity in the HW-01 population compared with that of the sensitive (S) population ST-1. Moreover, the rapid fomesafen and nicosulfuron metabolism in the HW-01 plants was also confirmed via HPLC-MS/MS analysis. Furthermore, the HW-01 population showed multiple resistance (MR) to PPO, ALS, and PSII inhibitors, with resistance index (RI) values ranging from 3.8 to 9.6. This study confirmed MR to PPO-, ALS-, and PSII-inhibiting herbicides in the A. retroflexus population HW-01, as well as confirming that the cytochrome P450- and GST-based herbicide metabolic along with TSR mechanisms contribute to their multiple resistance to fomesafen and nicosulfuron.

Automated summary

In this study, the resistance mechanisms of HW-01 and ST-1 populations of Amaranthus retroflexus to fomesafen and nicosulfuron were investigated. The study confirmed the target-site resistance mechanism and the non-target-site resistance mechanism based on cytochrome P450s and GSTs enzymes in the HW-01 population. This research provides scientific and theoretical guidance for controlling resistant populations of A. retroflexus.