tubulin
A Val-202-Phe alpha-tubulin mutation and enhanced metabolism confer dinitroaniline resistance in a single Lolium rigidum population
The research by AHRI PhD student Jinyi Chen (now Dr Jinyi Chen!) documents both target site and non-target site resistance to dinitroaniline herbicides in Lolium individuals. We are long accustomed to documenting multiple mechanisms of resistance existing within Lolium individuals/populations because of the high genetic diversity and obligate cross-pollination between Lolium which enables multiple resistance mechanisms to be a frequent occurrence. In this particular Lolium population, resistance to dinitroaniline herbicides is due to a mutation in the alpha tubulin gene (Val-202-Phe) and non-target site enhanced rates of dinitroaniline herbicide trifluralin metabolism. Unequivocal evidence for the target site Val-202-Phe mutation endowing resistance was obtained by expressing in transgenic rice, where it endowed resistance.