Bibliography : leaves 159-184. This study found at least three mechanisms of resistance to the acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicides. A modified target -site was responsible for moderate and high resistance to herbicides at the whole plant level. Enhanced herbicide metabolism and reduced translocation of herbicide to the target site was observed in one resistant biotype each.

Bibliography: leaves 128-146. Study was undertaken to determine the occurence and species incidence of wild oats in a major cropping region of southern Australia. Population dynamic studies were undertaken at two sites to define the seed bank decline and emergence pattern of several wild oat populations over a three year period. Management studies were conducted to determine appropriate strategies for the control of wild oats in southern Australian farming systems.

Graduation date: 1995

The weed red rice is a major problem in rice producing areas world wide. All of the red rice in commercial rice fields in the United States has traditionally been considered to be the same species as commercial rice, Oryza sativa. However, using DNA markers it was found that most of the red rice with black hulls was sufficiently divergent to be considered a separate species. This includes TX4, a red rice ecotype that has been reported to have considerable natural tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate. TX4 is closely related to samples that have been classified as Oryza rufipogon. However, it was shown that both the TX4-like red rice from commercial fields and most of the Oryza rufipogon accessions in the US National Small Grains Collection are more accurately classified as Oryza nivara. This is significant since Oryza rufipogon is regulated under the Federal Noxious Weed Act, while Oryza nivara is not. Oryza nivara closely related to TX4 was found to be widely distributed across the rice production areas of Texas and was also found in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Of 240 samples from across Texas, 23 samples from six different counties were identical with TX4 with all 18 DNA markers tested. The reported glufosinate tolerance of TX4 is a potential problem since this same herbicide would be used in conjunction with genetically modified (GM) that is being developed as a method of red rice control. Thus, field, greenhouse and tissue culture studies were conducted to evaluate the degree of glufosinate tolerance in TX4. TX4 typically was severely damaged by glufosinate, but not efficiently controlled. Even with the maximum number of herbicide applications at the proposed maximum label rate, TX4 often re-sprouted and produced viable seed. Herbicide tolerance was found to be variable, but appears to be sufficient to present a problem with the use of the GM glufosinate resistant varieties currently under development, particularly when combined with variation in the response of ??sensitive?? varieties.

Auxinic herbicide-resistant (i.e., resistant to 2,4-D and MCPA) wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum L.) was discovered in the Western Australian wheatbelt, providing an opportunity to integrate auxinic herbicide resistance into cultivated radish (R. sativus L.) using conventional breeding methods. It was hypothesized that the inheritance of auxinic herbicide resistance in wild radish is conferred by a single, dominant nuclear gene and, therefore, will be relatively easy to introgress from wild radish to cultivated radish; and the mechanism of auxinic herbicide resistance in wild radish is through an altered target-site. Visual injury data of the F2 progeny suggested that resistance was conferred by a quantitative trait with the susceptible allele(s) exhibiting dominance with minor cytoplasmically inherited genes masking the susceptible trait. In conclusion, the resistance allele(s) were quantitative and, thus, make selection for resistance difficult. Therefore, the introgression of the resistance allele(s) was not successfully completed. To determine the mechanism of resistance, the wild radish plants resistant WARR6-26 (R) and susceptible WARR7-5 (S) were treated with radiolabeled MCPA. There was no difference in metabolism of [14C]MCPA between R and S plants. Based upon the decline in the total 14C recovered over 72 h in R and S it was clear that both were “losing” [14C]MCPA; however, R plants were losing MCPA more rapidly. It was hypothesized that because R plants exude 14C more rapidly from their roots than S plants, this accounted for the resistance of R plants.

Weed control in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is challenging because of poor crop competition ability and limited herbicide options. Development of chickpea varieties with resistance to different herbicide modes of action would be desirable. Resistance to imidazolinone (IMI) herbicides in chickpea has been previously identified, but the genetic inheritance and the mechanism were unknown. In many plant species, IMI resistance is caused by point mutation(s) in the acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) gene resulting in an amino acid substitution. This changes the enzyme configuration at the herbicide binding site, preventing the herbicide attachment to the molecule. The main research objective was to genetically characterize chickpea resistance to imidazolinone herbicides. Two homologous AHAS genes, namely AHAS1 and AHAS2 sharing 80% similarity were identified in the chickpea genome. A point mutation in AHAS1 at cytosine 675 thymine 675 resulting in an amino acid substitution from alanine 205 to valine 205 confers the resistance to imidazolinone in chickpea. A KASP marker targeting the point mutation was developed and effectively predicted the herbicide response in the RIL population. This same population was used in molecular mapping where the major locus for herbicide resistance was mapped to chromosome 5. Segregation analysis demonstrated that the resistance is inherited as a single gene in a semi-dominant fashion. To study the synteny of AHAS across plant species, lentil (Lens culinaris) AHAS1 was sequenced. The same mutation that confers the resistance to imidazolinone in chickpea was also found in lentil. Phylogenetic analysis indicated independent clustering of AHAS1 and AHAS2 across pulse species. In vivo and in vitro AHAS enzyme activity analysis showed inhibition of AHAS activity in the susceptible genotype CDC Frontier over time and with the increasing imidazolinone concentrations. In contrast, the resistant genotype CDC Cory did not show AHAS inhibition under the same treatments. In summary, the simple genetic inheritance and the availability of KASP marker could aid in the development of chickpea varieties with resistance to imidazolinone herbicide.

A Pseudomonas strain, AI08, which was capable of detoxifying the herbicide acetochlor (2- chloro-N-ethoxymethyl-6'-ethylacet-o-toluide) was isolated from soils. The microbe was isolated using a combination of batch culture enrichment techniques, phenotypic agar plate based assays and a qualitative bioassay for detecting acetochlor detoxification. With the aid of a bioassay developed specifically for the quantification of acetochlor concentrations, it was determined that over a 21 day period Al 08 was capable of detoxifying 20 % of the acetochlor present in a medium containing no other organic carbon and 53 % of the herbicide in a medium containing glucose and yeast extract at concentrations of 0.02 g.l-l and 0.005 g.l-l respectively. A fragment of A108 DNA was cloned in Escherichia coli which produced recombinant cells with both elevated acetochlor resistance and the ability to detoxify 15 % of the acetochlor present in a minimal nutrient medium (containing 0.02 g.l-l glucose and 0.005 g.l-l yeast extract) over a 21 day period. Partial sequencing of the cloned A108 DNA revealed that it encoded an amino acid sequence with significant homology with the dihydrolipoyltransacetylase component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes of Azotobacter vinlandii, E. coli and Alcaligenes eutrophus. Theories are proposed as to the possible biochemical mechanisms whereby expression of the dihydrolipoyltransacetylase gene of Al 08 in recombinant E. coli cells may function in the detoxification of acetochlor. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1995.

Waterhemp was a sporadic weed in Kentucky soybean production since the 1970’s. Waterhemp’s presence was not significant until the 1990’s after a widespread adoption of imazaquin and imazethapyr herbicides in the late 1980’s by Kentucky farmers which resulted in ALS-resistant waterhemp in some Kentucky areas. The introduction of glyphosate resistant soybeans in 1996 resulted in glyphosate-containing products being widely used by Kentucky farmers. Waterhemp populations resistant to glyphosate have occurred in Kentucky in the past few years. The majority of Kentucky soybeans are produced in some type of conservation tillage system, primarily to conserve soil and water, which is advantageous on Kentucky’s rolling topography. Glyphosate controls a wide range of weeds and popular with farmers because of this characteristic. However, waterhemp resistant to glyphosate developed in some fields with the continuous glyphosate usage. Waterhemp control research trials were conducted in Union and Hancock Counties in Western Kentucky in an attempt to find herbicide combinations to provide season-long control. Waterhemp populations in these studies were resistant and susceptible to glyphosate but the resistant populations were great enough to cause soybean yield loss if not controlled. KEYWORDS: Amaranthus tuberculatus, Herbicide Resistance, EPSPS, PPO, ALS

Bibliography : leaves 159-184. / xv, 191 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / This study found at least three mechanisms of resistance to the acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicides. A modified target -site was responsible for moderate and high resistance to herbicides at the whole plant level. Enhanced herbicide metabolism and reduced translocation of herbicide to the target site was observed in one resistant biotype each. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Crop Protection, 1996

Bibliography: leaves 147-163. / ix, 164 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / The aim of this thesis is to confirm the resistance status of three purported resistant weed species by herbicide screening of outdoor pot grown plants. Field experiments are set up to investigate changes in dormancy and seedbank life of the resistant populations over a three year period. After determining the herbicide resistance spectrum of the resistant biotypes, genetic crosses between resistant and susceptible plants are performed to follow the mode of inheritance of acetolactate synthase (ALS) resistance. "In vitro" ALS enzyme assays in the presence of various herbicides are carried out to reveal a modified ALS enzyme as the main mechanism of resistance in all cases. A molecular investigation of the ALS gene is performed to identify mutations responsible for endowing a resistant enzyme. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Crop Protection, 1996