A Glyphosate Resistance Mechanism in Conyza canadensis Involves Synchronization of EPSPS and ABC-transporter Genes

Horseweed, [Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq.], has been the most frequent weed species to develop resistance to glyphosate in various parts of the world, including Greece. In order to investigate the resistance mechanism, susceptible (S) and resistant A (R)) populations collected from regions across Greece were studied. Real-time PCR was used to determine the expression levels of the key enzyme EPSPS and the four ABC transporter genes M10, M11, M7 and P3. The expression level of those genes was studied at early (1DAT) or late (4DAT) times after glyphosate treatment, applied at normal (720 g a.i. ha(-1)) and high (5.760 g a.i. ha(-1)) glyphosate rate. The proposed resistance mechanism was found not to be due to a point mutation at codon 106 of the EPSPS gene that regulates glyphosate metabolism (target-site resistance), but rather involved synchronization of the overexpression of EPSPS and ABC-transporter genes. This synchronization mechanism was based on (1) the time of induction and duration of gene overexpression, and (2) regulation by the initial glyphosate load.