Trp-574-Leu mutation and metabolic resistance by cytochrome P450 gene conferred high resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides in Descurainia sophia

Abstract

Descurainia sophia (flixweed) is a troublesome weed in winter wheat fields in North China. Resistant D. sophia populations with different acetolactate synthetase (ALS) mutations have been reported in recent years. In addition, metabolic resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides has also been identified. In this study, we collected and purified two resistant D. sophia populations (R1 and R2), which were collected from winter wheat fields where tribenuron-methyl provided no control of D. sophia at 30 g a.i. ha−1. Whole plant bioassay and ALS activity assay results showed the R1 and R2 populations had evolved high-level resistance to tribenuron-methyl and florasulam and cross-resistance to imazethapyr and pyrithiobac‑sodium. The two ALS genes were cloned from the leaves of R1 and R2 populations, ALS1 (2004 bp) and ALS2 (1998 bp). A mutation of Trp 574 to Leu in ALS1 was present in both R1 and R2. ALS1 and ALS2 were cloned from R1 and R2 populations respectively and transferred into Arabidopsis thaliana. Homozygous T3 transgenic seedlings with ALS1 of R1 or R2 were resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides and the resistant levels were the same. Transgenic seedlings with ALS2 from R1 or R2 were susceptible to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Treatment with cytochrome P450 inhibitor malathion decreased the resistant levels to tribenuron-methyl in R1 and R2. RNA-Seq was used to identify target cytochrome P450 genes possibly involved in resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. There were five up-regulated differentially expressed cytochrome P450 genes: CYP72A15, CYP83B1, CYP81D8, CYP72A13 and CYP71A12. Among of them, CYP72A15 had the highest expression level in R1 and R2 populations. The R1 and R2 populations of D. sophia have evolved resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides due to Trp 574 Leu mutation in ALS1 and possibly other mechanisms. The resistant function of CYP72A15 needs further research.