EPSPS duplication and mutation involved in glyphosate resistance in the allotetraploid weed species Poa annua L.

Poa annua is a widespread winter annual weed species in California. Recently, poor control of this species with glyphosate was reported by growers in an almond orchard in California with a history of repetitive glyphosate use. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the level of glyphosate resistance in a developed S₄ P. annua line (R) and identify the mechanisms of resistance involved.

Whole-plant dose-response experiments confirmed glyphosate resistance in R, which required 18-fold more glyphosate to achieve a 50% growth reduction compared with a susceptible line (S), results that were supported by the lower shikimate accumulation observed in R compared with S. No differences in glyphosate absorption, translocation, or metabolism were observed, suggesting that non-target-site mechanisms of resistance are not involved in the resistance phenotype. A missense single nucleotide polymorphism was observed in EPSPS coding position 106 in R, resulting in a leucine to proline substitution. This polymorphism was observed exclusively in P. supina EPSPS homeologs. A seven-fold increase in the number of copies of EPSPS alleles was observed in R compared with S.We report the first case of glyphosate resistance associated with both EPSPS duplication and target-site mutation at position 106, leading to high levels of glyphosate resistance in the allotetraploid weed species Poa annua L. Data obtained in this research will be useful for the development of diagnostic tools for rapid glyphosate resistance identification, monitoring and containment. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.