Characterization of glyphosate and quizalofop-p-ethyl multiple resistance in Eleusine indica.

Glyphosate and Acetyl-coenzyme A Carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors are popular herbicides that control goosegrass. However, some populations are difficult to control due to resistance resulting from the increasing selection pressure. The objectives of this research were to detect the multiple resistance levels, resistance mechanisms, and fitness costs of two goosegrass populations collected in China. The resistance indices of two resistant populations (denominated as R1 and R2) to glyphosate were 3.8 and 2.3, respectively; and it was 18.0 and 14.2 to quizalofop-p-ethyl, respectively. Shikimate accumulation in R1 and R2 populations was only 8% of that of the susceptible population after glyphosate treatment. A Pro-106-Ala mutation in EPSPS and an Asp-2078-Gly mutation in ACCase were present in both resistant populations. Both the expression level of EPSPS and ACCase in resistant populations were similar to that of susceptible populations. The leaf area of the individuals in wild-type populations was more than three times of the leaf area in the resistant populations. Similarly, resistant plants were 45-49% shorter, had 70-76% less fresh shoot weight, and 67-69% fewer seeds than wild-type plants. Goosegrass populations have evolved multiple resistance to glyphosate and the ACCase inhibitor quizalofop-p-ethyl in China. The Pro-106-Ala mutation in the EPSPS and the Asp-2078-Gly mutation in the ACCase were responsible for this resistance. In addition, a fitness cost exists in the resistant populations, and more work should conduct to clear which mutation is responsible for the fitness penalty.