Biochemical and molecular basis of resistance to ACCase-inhibiting herbicides in Iranian Phalaris minor populations

Gherekhloo J, Osuna MD & De Prado R (2012). Biochemical and molecular basis of resistance to ACCase-inhibiting herbicides in Iranian Phalaris minor populations. Weed Research52, 367372. Summary Phalaris minor is a common weed in wheat and barley fields of Iran. Repeated use of ACCase inhibiting herbicides during the last two decades to control this weed has resulted in the appearance of populations of P. minor that are resistant to the aryloxyphenoxy propionates (APP) in some wheat fields of the country. Doseresponse assays were conducted to investigate the level of resistance in two P. minor populations (AR and MR4) which have developed resistance to three APP herbicides, including diclofop-methyl, fenoxaprop-P ethyl and clodinafop propargyl. A high level of resistance in these populations may be due to the presence of an altered ACCase enzyme in these plants, and we hypothesised that one or more mutations in the gene encoding ACCase enzyme are responsible for insensitivity of the enzyme. Results confirmed that resistance in both populations was target site-based, and molecular studies revealed that substitutions of Trp-2027-Cys and Asp-2078-Gly, respectively in AR and MR4, are responsible for insensitivity of the enzyme in these populations. This is the first report to show that these substitutions endow resistance to APP herbicides in P. minor, though other resistant biotypes are reported from elsewhere. These mutations may result in resistance of P. minor to some DIM and DEN herbicides. It seems that lack of adequate herbicide and crop rotation has selected plants with different target site mutations, which cause differential responses of the ACCase enzyme to ACCase inhibitors. Additional resistance management practices may be necessary to prevent ACCase-inhibiting herbicides from becoming ineffective over wide areas.