Enhanced herbicide metabolism induced by 2,4-D in herbicide susceptible Lolium rigidum provides protection against diclofop-methyl

Background

The auxinic herbicide 2,4-D amine is known, in vitro, as a cytochrome P450 inducer. The current study uses 2,4-D pre-treatment, at the whole plant level, to study mechanism(s) of non-target site based herbicide resistance to the ACCase-inhibiting herbicide diclofop-methyl in Lolium rigidum.

Results

The 2,4-D pre-treatment caused up to 10-fold shift in LD50 and GR50 in dose–response to subsequently applied diclofop-methyl in a herbicide susceptible L. rigidum population. Foliar uptake and translocation of 14C-diclofop-methyl did not differ in 2,4-D pre-treated versus untreated plants. HPLC analysis revealed that de-esterification of diclofop-methyl to toxic diclofop acid was similar, but further metabolism of diclofop acid to non-toxic metabolites was significantly (1.8-fold) faster in 2,4-D pre-treated than untreated plants. HPLC profile of major polar metabolites was similar when L. rigidum and diclofop-methyl tolerant wheat were compared, but wheat metabolised diclofop acid three-fold faster than L. rigidum. In addition, 2,4-D pre-treatment also induced cross-protection against the ALS-inhibiting herbicide chlorsulfuron, and the known P450 inhibitor malathion can reverse this effect.

Conclusions

Protection against diclofop-methyl provided by 2,4-D pre-treatment in susceptible L. rigidum is associated with higher rates of herbicide metabolism, mirroring that identified in field-evolved, non-target site-based diclofop-methyl resistant populations. 2,4-D may induce higher level expression of herbicide-metabolising genes hence providing protection, and therefore, this 2,4-D induction system can be used, in combination with other genomic approaches, to assist isolating cytochrome P450 and other genes that are involved in herbicide metabolism and endow herbicide resistance in L. rigidum.

Pest Management Science, online

Keywords: 2 4-D amine, antagonism, chlorsulfuron, cytochrome P450, diclofop-methyl, herbicide metabolism, Lolium rigidum, ryegrass

Publication Year: 2013

Authors: H Han, Q Yu, G Cawthray, S Powles

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