A Target-Site Mutation Confers Cross-Resistance to ALS-Inhibiting Herbicides in Erigeron sumatrensis from Brazil.

Cases of weed resistant to herbicides have changed the dynamics of agricultural areas in Brazil, and in recent years, Erigeron species have caused major problems to farmers in the country, mainly in relation to the ineffectiveness of herbicide treatments used. The objective of this study was to confirm the cross-resistance to ALS inhibitors in populations of Erigeron sumatrensis as well as to investigate the existence of mutations in the site of action of ALS-inhibiting herbicides. To do this, 30 populations collected in the 2016/2017 crop season were grown in a greenhouse. Dose-response (chlorimuron-ethyl and cloransulam-methyl), inhibition of cytochrome P-450 with malathion, and ALS gene sequencing experiments were carried out in the F1 generations of two fleabane populations. The results proved the cross-resistance to chlorimuron-ethyl and cloransulam-methyl herbicides applied in the post-emergence of the resistant population of E. sumatrensis. The higher activity of P450 enzymes is unlikely responsible for the resistance of the population studied. The resistance mechanism found in R was the target site mutation Pro197Ser at the ALS gene. This is the first study in Brazil to identify a target-site change as a survival mechanism in E. sumatrensis for the resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides.

Effect of different herbicides on Bidens pilosa and Euphorbia heterophylla biotypes resistant to ALS inhibitors

Select herbicides with different mechanism of action is a satisfactory option for resistant weed control. Then, the present work aimed to study the efficiency of different herbicides and their mixtures on Bidens pilosa (blackjack) and Euphorbia heterophylla (wild poinsettia) biotypes, resistant to ALS herbicides in two development stages. The trials we arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications. The treatments tested were (g a.i/a.e ha-1): imazethapyr at 70 and 140 (WG formulation) + 1.0% Assist; imazethapyr at 57.6 and 72 (SL formulation) + 1.0% Assist; imazapic + imazethapyr at 56 and 70 + 1.0% Assist; glyphosate + imazethapyr (596); saflufenacil + glyphosate at 35 + 720 + 0.5% Dash in tank mix, glyphosate at 720 and, a control without herbicide application. Control efficiency was evaluated, as well as dry matter accumulation at the end of the studies. Plants of both species were more susceptible to herbicides at the early stage of development (2 to 4 leaves). The treatments with saflufenacil + glyphosate, (imazethapyr + glyphosate) and glyphosate promoted the best controls, regardless of the species studied and the application stage. The mixture with saflufenacil provided the highest control speed, and the mixture (imazethapyr + glyphosate) was less efficient among three excellent treatments when applied to plants in the 4-6 leaf stage. The treatments (imazethapyr, in both formulations) and (imazethapyr + imazapic) were ineffective in controlling the studied biotypes, regardless of dose and developmental stage studied.

A122S, A205V, D376E, W574L and S653N substitutions in acetolactate synthase (ALS) from Amaranthus palmeri show different functional impacts on herbicide resistance.

BACKGROUND: Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson, a problematic weed infesting summer crops in Argentina, has developed multiple herbicide resistance. Resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides is particularly common, with high-level resistance mostly caused by different mutations in the ALS enzyme. Six versions of the enzyme were identified from a resistant A. palmeri population, carrying substitutions D376E, A205V, A122S, A282D, W574L and S653N. This work aims to provide a comparative analysis of these mutants and the wild-type (WT) enzyme to fully understand the herbicide resistance. Thus, all the versions of the ALS gene from A. palmeri were heterologously expressed and purified to evaluate their kinetics and inhibitory response against imazethapyr, diclosulam, chlorimuron-ethyl, flucarbazone-sodium and bispyribac-sodium. RESULTS: A decrease in catalytic efficiency was detected in the A205V, A122S-A282D, W574L and S653N ApALS enzymes, whereas only A205V and W574L substitutions also produced a decrease in the substrate affinity. In vitro ALS inhibition assays confirmed cross-resistance to almost all the herbicides tested, with the exception of A282D ApALS, which was as susceptible as WT ApALS. Moreover, the results confirmed that the novel substitution A122S provides cross-resistance to at least one herbicide within each of the five families of ALS inhibitors, and this property could be explained by a lower number of hydrophobic interactions between the herbicides and the mutant enzyme. CONCLUSION: This is the first report to compare various mutations in vitro from A. palmeri ALS. Our data contribute to understanding the impacts of herbicide resistance in this species. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of monosulfuron-ester on metabolic processes of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria Anabaena flos-aquae and Anabaena azotica

Presence of the relatively new sulfonylurea herbicide monosulfuron-ester at 0.03-300 nmol/L affected the growth of two non-target nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (Anabaena flos-aquae and Anabaena azotica) and substantially inhibited in vitro Acetolactate synthase activity, with IC50 of 3.3 and 101.3 nmol/L for A. flos-aquae and A. azotica, respectively. Presenting in 30-300 nmol/L, it inhibited protein synthesis of the cyanobacteria with less amino acids produced as its concentration increased. Our findings support the view that monosulfuron-ester toxicity in both nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria is due to its interference with protein metabolism via inhibition of branch-chain amino acid biosynthesis, and particularly Acetolactate synthase activity.(AU)

Target-site resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides in Amaranthus palmeri from Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Herbicide-resistant weeds are a serious problem worldwide. Recently, two populations of Amaranthus palmeri with suspected cross-resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides (R1 and R2) were found by farmers in two locations in Argentina (Vicuña Mackenna and Totoras, respectively). We conducted studies to confirm and elucidate the mechanism of resistance. RESULTS: We performed in vivo dose-response assays, and confirmed that both populations had strong resistance to chlorimuron-ethyl, diclosulam and imazethapyr when compared with a susceptible population (S). In vitro ALS activity inhibition tests only indicated considerable resistance to imazethapyr and chlorimuron-ethyl, indicating that other non-target mechanisms could be involved in diclosulam resistance. Subsequently, molecular analysis of als nucleotide sequences revealed three single base-pair mutations producing substitutions in amino acids previously associated with resistance to ALS inhibitors, A122, W574, and S653. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of als resistance alleles in A. palmeri in Argentina. The data support the involvement of a target-site mechanism of resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of monosulfuron-ester on metabolic processes of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria Anabaena flos-aquae and Anabaena azotica

Abstract Presence of the relatively new sulfonylurea herbicide monosulfuron-ester at 0.03-300 nmol/L affected the growth of two non-target nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (Anabaena flos-aquae and Anabaena azotica) and substantially inhibited in vitro Acetolactate synthase activity, with IC50 of 3.3 and 101.3 nmol/L for A. flos-aquae and A. azotica, respectively. Presenting in 30-300 nmol/L, it inhibited protein synthesis of the cyanobacteria with less amino acids produced as its concentration increased. Our findings support the view that monosulfuron-ester toxicity in both nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria is due to its interference with protein metabolism via inhibition of branch-chain amino acid biosynthesis, and particularly Acetolactate synthase activity.

Effects of monosulfuron-ester on metabolic processes of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria Anabaena flos-aquae and Anabaena azotica.

Presence of the relatively new sulfonylurea herbicide monosulfuron-ester at 0.03-300nmol/L affected the growth of two non-target nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (Anabaena flos-aquae and Anabaena azotica) and substantially inhibited in vitro Acetolactate synthase activity, with IC50 of 3.3 and 101.3nmol/L for A. flos-aquae and A. azotica, respectively. Presenting in 30-300nmol/L, it inhibited protein synthesis of the cyanobacteria with less amino acids produced as its concentration increased. Our findings support the view that monosulfuron-ester toxicity in both nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria is due to its interference with protein metabolism via inhibition of branch-chain amino acid biosynthesis, and particularly Acetolactate synthase activity.

Evolutionary and social consequences of introgression of nontransgenic herbicide resistance from rice to weedy rice in Brazil.

Several studies have expressed concerns about the effects of gene flow from transgenic herbicide-resistant crops to their wild relatives, but no major problems have been observed. This review describes a case study in which what has been feared in transgenics regarding gene flow has actually changed biodiversity and people's lives. Nontransgenic imidazolinone-resistant rice (IMI-rice) cultivars increased the rice grain yield by 50% in southern Brazil. This increase was beneficial for life quality of the farmers and also improved the regional economy. However, weedy rice resistant to imidazolinone herbicides started to evolve three years after the first use of IMI-rice cultivars. Population genetic studies indicate that the herbicide-resistant weedy rice was mainly originated from gene flow from resistant cultivars and distributed by seed migration. The problems related with herbicide-resistant weedy rice increased the production costs of rice that forced farmers to sell or rent their land. Gene flow from cultivated rice to weedy rice has proven to be a large agricultural, economic, and social constraint in the use of herbicide-resistant technologies in rice. This problem must be taken into account for the development of new transgenic or nontransgenic rice technologies.

Characterization of the acetohydroxyacid synthase multigene family in the tetraploide plant Chenopodium quinoa

Background Currently, the technology called Clearfield® is used in the development of crops resistant to herbicides that inhibit the enzyme acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS, EC 2.2.1.6). AHAS is the first enzyme of the biosynthetic pathway that produces the branched-chain of the essential amino acids valine, leucine, and isoleucine. Therefore, multiple copies of the AHAS gene might be of interest for breeding programs targeting herbicide resistance. In this work, the characterization of the AHAS gene was accomplished for the Chenopodium quinoa Regalona-Baer cultivar. Cloning, sequencing, and Southern blotting were conducted to determine the number of gene copies. Results The presence of multiple copies of the AHAS gene as has been shown previously in several other species is described. Six copies of the AHAS gene were confirmed with Southern blot analyses. CqHAS1 and CqAHAS2 variants showed the highest homology with AHAS mRNA sequences found in the NR Database. A third copy, CqAHAS3, shared similar fragments with both CqAHAS1 and CqAHAS2, suggesting duplication through homeologous chromosomes pairing. Conclusions The presence of multiple copies of the gene AHAS shows that gene duplication is a common feature in polyploid species during evolution. In addition, to our knowledge, this is the first report of the interaction of sub-genomes in quinoa.

Polygalacturonases from Moniliophthora perniciosa are regulated by fermentable carbon sources and possible post-translational modifications.

We report the first molecular and in silico analysis of Monilophthora perniciosa polygalacturonases (PGs). Three MpPG genes (MpPG1, MpPG2 and MpPG3) were identified and analyzed at transcriptional level, by RT-qPCR, in dikaryotic M. perniciosa mycelium grown on solid-bran based medium and on liquid medium supplemented with different fermentable and non-fermentable carbon sources. The MpPG genes presented different expression patterns suggesting different individual regulation. However, all are mainly regulated by fermentable carbon sources (galactose and mannose). The integrated analysis of PG gene expression and systems biology (using MpG1 and MpG2 orthologs in Neurospora crassa, named NCU06961 and NCU02369, respectively) allowed identifying some possible mechanism of protein regulation during the necrotrophic fungal phase. MpPG1-NCU06961 and MpPG2-NCU02369 directly or indirectly interacted with central and highly connected proteins involved in protein synthesis and protein regulation associated to post-translational modifications, in cell wall metabolism, and in cellular metabolism related to energy production. This analysis also allowed the identification of key proteins for further studies of M. perniciosa development and/or for disease management, such as MpPG2, a pectin methylesterase, an acetolactate synthase and the small ubiquitin-like modifier SMT3-like.

Propriedades enzimáticas da enzima ALS de Cyperus difformis e mecanismo de resistência da espécie ao herbicida pyrazosulfuron-ethyl / Enzymatic properties of Cyperus difformis ALS enzyme and mechanism resistance of the species to pyrazosulfuron-ethyl herbicide

Cyperus difformis L. é uma planta daninha ocorrente em lavouras de arroz irrigado, que tem apresentado dificuldade de controle devido à resistência a herbicidas inibidores da enzima ALS. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram investigar características cinéticas da enzima ALS de biótipos de C. difformis e determinar as bases bioquímicas da resistência da espécie ao herbicida pyrazosulfuron-ethyl. Para isso, foram conduzidos experimentos em laboratório do BIOAGRO/UFV. O método utilizado baseou-se na metologia utilizada por CAREY et al. (1997) e adaptada por VARGAS et al. (1999), com algumas modificações. Foram avaliadas a concentração de substrato (piruvato) que fornece velocidade inicial igual à metade da velocidade máxima de reação (K M) e velocidade máxima de reação (Vmáx), bem como a atividade da enzima ALS na presença do inibidor (pyrazosulfuron-ethyl). Diante dos resultados, pode-se observar que a resistência de C. difformis a pyrazosulfuron-ethyl é decorrente da insensibilidade da enzima ALS ao herbicida, não acarretando, porém, prejuízo aos parâmetros cinéticos K M e Vmáx da enzima ALS.

Cyperus difformis L. is a weed that occurs in flooded rice, which has presented difficulty in controlling due to the resistance to ALS inhibiting herbicides. The objectives of this research were to investigate kinetic characteristics of ALS enzyme from C. difformis biotypes and to determine the biochemical bases of resistance from the species to pyrazosulfuron-ethyl herbicide. For that, experiments were conducted at the BIOAGRO/UFV laboratory. The method used was based on the methodology used by CAREY et al. (1997) and adapted by VARGAS et al. (1999), with some modifications. It was evaluated substratum concentration (pyruvate) that provides initial velocity equal to half the speed reaction (K M) and maximum velocity of reaction (Vmáx), as well the activity of the ALS enzyme in the presence of the inhibitor (pyrazosulfuron-ethyl). According to the results, it is possible to observe that C. difformis resistance to pyrazosulfuron-ethyl is due to the insensibility of the ALS enzyme to the herbicide, however without penalty to K M and Vmáx kinetic parameters of the ALS enzyme.

Isolamento do gene ALS e investigação do mecanismo de resistência a herbicidas em Sagittaria montevidensis / Isolation of the ALS gene and investigation of the mechanism of herbicide resistance in Sagittaria montevidensis

Diversos biótipos de sagitária (Sagittaria montevidensis Cham. & Schlecht) foram constatados como resistentes a herbicidas inibidores da enzima ALS no Brasil e em outros locais do mundo. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram isolar e sequenciar o gene ALS de sagitária de forma a identificar a ocorrência de mutações relacionadas ao mecanismo de resistência de insensibilidade do local da ação de herbicidas. O material vegetal consistiu de sementes de sagitária coletadas em lavouras de arroz irrigado localizadas na região Sul do Estado de Santa Catarina. Nove pares de sequências nucleotídicas iniciadoras foram desenhadas para a amplificação dos domínios C, A e D do gene ALS. As sequências nucleotídicas dos fragmentos amplificados com quatro pares de oligonucleotídeos inciadores resultaram em amplicons com 360 a 393 nucleotídeos. Essas sequências apresentaram homologia com o gene ALS padrão de Arabdopsis thaliana e arroz, possuindo apenas três mutações de ponto. Uma dessas alterações foi a mutação Pro197Phe, que é relacionada à ocorrência de resistência à herbicida em diversas espécies vegetais. As sequências obtidas evidenciaram que o gene ALS avaliado encontrava-se em heterozigose. Esses resultados sugerem a ocorrência de insensibilidade do local de ação como mecanismo de resistência a herbicidas inibidores de ALS em sagitária. A prevenção e o controle da resistência a herbicidas inibidores da ALS em sagitária devem ser fundamentados na rotação de herbicidas com diferentes mecanismos de ação.

California arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis Cham. & Schlecht) is an aquatic weed often found in rice paddy fields. Several biotypes of California arrowhead resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides were found in Brazil and in several rice fields worldwide. The objective of this study was to sequence the ALS gene of California arrowhead and to identify the occurrence of mutations related to target site insensitivity as the mechanism of herbicide resistance. The plant material consisted of seeds collected in rice paddy fields located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Nine pairs of primers were designed for the amplification of the domains C, A and D of the ALS gene. PCR reactions with four pairs of primers resulted in amplification of fragments with size close to expected, ranging from 360 to 393 nucleotides. These sequences showed high homology to the standard ALS gene Arabdopsis thaliana and rice having only three point mutations. One of these mutations was Pro197Phe that is related with herbicide resistance in several weeds. The sequences obtained indicated that the ALS gene evaluated was heterozygous. These results suggest the occurrence of insensitivity of the site of action as the mechanism of resistance to ALS-inhibitors herbicides in California arrowhead. The prevention and control of resistance to ALS-inhibitors in California arrowhead should be based on the rotation of herbicides with different mechanisms of action.

Isolamento do gene ALS e investigação do mecanismo de resistência a herbicidas em Sagittaria montevidensis

California arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis Cham. & Schlecht) is an aquatic weed often found in rice paddy fields. Several biotypes of California arrowhead resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides were found in Brazil and in several rice fields worldwide. The objective of this study was to sequence the ALS gene of California arrowhead and to identify the occurrence of mutations related to target site insensitivity as the mechanism of herbicide resistance. The plant material consisted of seeds collected in rice paddy fields located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Nine pairs of primers were designed for the amplification of the domains C, A and D of the ALS gene. PCR reactions with four pairs of primers resulted in amplification of fragments with size close to expected, ranging from 360 to 393 nucleotides. These sequences showed high homology to the standard ALS gene Arabdopsis thaliana and rice having only three point mutations. One of these mutations was Pro197Phe that is related with herbicide resistance in several weeds. The sequences obtained indicated that the ALS gene evaluated was heterozygous. These results suggest the occurrence of insensitivity of the site of action as the mechanism of resistance to ALS-inhibitors herbicides in California arrowhead. The prevention and control of resistance to ALS-inhibitors in California arrowhead should be based on the rotation of herbicides with different mechanisms of action.

Diversos biótipos de sagitária (Sagittaria montevidensis Cham. & Schlecht) foram constatados como resistentes a herbicidas inibidores da enzima ALS no Brasil e em outros locais do mundo. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram isolar e sequenciar o gene ALS de sagitária de forma a identificar a ocorrência de mutações relacionadas ao mecanismo de resistência de insensibilidade do local da ação de herbicidas. O material vegetal consistiu de sementes de sagitária coletadas em lavouras de arroz irrigado localizadas na região Sul do Estado de Santa Catarina. Nove pares de sequências nucleotídicas iniciadoras foram desenhadas para a amplificação dos domínios C, A e D do gene ALS. As sequências nucleotídicas dos fragmentos amplificados com quatro pares de oligonucleotídeos inciadores resultaram em amplicons com 360 a 393 nucleotídeos. Essas sequências apresentaram homologia com o gene ALS padrão de Arabdopsis thaliana e arroz, possuindo apenas três mutações de ponto. Uma dessas alterações foi a mutação Pro197Phe, que é relacionada à ocorrência de resistência à herbicida em diversas espécies vegetais. As sequências obtidas evidenciaram que o gene ALS avaliado encontrava-se em heterozigose. Esses resultados sugerem a ocorrência de insensibilidade do local de ação como mecanismo de resistência a herbicidas inibidores de ALS em sagitária. A prevenção e o controle da resistência a herbicidas inibidores da ALS em sagitária devem ser fundamentados na rotação de herbicidas com diferentes mecanismos de ação.

Propriedades enzimáticas da enzima ALS de Cyperus difformis e mecanismo de resistência da espécie ao herbicida pyrazosulfuron-ethyl

Cyperus difformis L. is a weed that occurs in flooded rice, which has presented difficulty in controlling due to the resistance to ALS inhibiting herbicides. The objectives of this research were to investigate kinetic characteristics of ALS enzyme from C. difformis biotypes and to determine the biochemical bases of resistance from the species to pyrazosulfuron-ethyl herbicide. For that, experiments were conducted at the BIOAGRO/UFV laboratory. The method used was based on the methodology used by CAREY et al. (1997) and adapted by VARGAS et al. (1999), with some modifications. It was evaluated substratum concentration (pyruvate) that provides initial velocity equal to half the speed reaction (K M) and maximum velocity of reaction (Vmáx), as well the activity of the ALS enzyme in the presence of the inhibitor (pyrazosulfuron-ethyl). According to the results, it is possible to observe that C. difformis resistance to pyrazosulfuron-ethyl is due to the insensibility of the ALS enzyme to the herbicide, however without penalty to K M and Vmáx kinetic parameters of the ALS enzyme.

Cyperus difformis L. é uma planta daninha ocorrente em lavouras de arroz irrigado, que tem apresentado dificuldade de controle devido à resistência a herbicidas inibidores da enzima ALS. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram investigar características cinéticas da enzima ALS de biótipos de C. difformis e determinar as bases bioquímicas da resistência da espécie ao herbicida pyrazosulfuron-ethyl. Para isso, foram conduzidos experimentos em laboratório do BIOAGRO/UFV. O método utilizado baseou-se na metologia utilizada por CAREY et al. (1997) e adaptada por VARGAS et al. (1999), com algumas modificações. Foram avaliadas a concentração de substrato (piruvato) que fornece velocidade inicial igual à metade da velocidade máxima de reação (K M) e velocidade máxima de reação (Vmáx), bem como a atividade da enzima ALS na presença do inibidor (pyrazosulfuron-ethyl). Diante dos resultados, pode-se observar que a resistência de C. difformis a pyrazosulfuron-ethyl é decorrente da insensibilidade da enzima ALS ao herbicida, não acarretando, porém, prejuízo aos parâmetros cinéticos K M e Vmáx da enzima ALS.

Isolamento do gene ALS e investigação do mecanismo de resistência a herbicidas em Sagittaria montevidensis

California arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis Cham. & Schlecht) is an aquatic weed often found in rice paddy fields. Several biotypes of California arrowhead resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides were found in Brazil and in several rice fields worldwide. The objective of this study was to sequence the ALS gene of California arrowhead and to identify the occurrence of mutations related to target site insensitivity as the mechanism of herbicide resistance. The plant material consisted of seeds collected in rice paddy fields located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Nine pairs of primers were designed for the amplification of the domains C, A and D of the ALS gene. PCR reactions with four pairs of primers resulted in amplification of fragments with size close to expected, ranging from 360 to 393 nucleotides. These sequences showed high homology to the standard ALS gene Arabdopsis thaliana and rice having only three point mutations. One of these mutations was Pro197Phe that is related with herbicide resistance in several weeds. The sequences obtained indicated that the ALS gene evaluated was heterozygous. These results suggest the occurrence of insensitivity of the site of action as the mechanism of resistance to ALS-inhibitors herbicides in California arrowhead. The prevention and control of resistance to ALS-inhibitors in California arrowhead should be based on the rotation of herbicides with different mechanisms of action.

Diversos biótipos de sagitária (Sagittaria montevidensis Cham. & Schlecht) foram constatados como resistentes a herbicidas inibidores da enzima ALS no Brasil e em outros locais do mundo. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram isolar e sequenciar o gene ALS de sagitária de forma a identificar a ocorrência de mutações relacionadas ao mecanismo de resistência de insensibilidade do local da ação de herbicidas. O material vegetal consistiu de sementes de sagitária coletadas em lavouras de arroz irrigado localizadas na região Sul do Estado de Santa Catarina. Nove pares de sequências nucleotídicas iniciadoras foram desenhadas para a amplificação dos domínios C, A e D do gene ALS. As sequências nucleotídicas dos fragmentos amplificados com quatro pares de oligonucleotídeos inciadores resultaram em amplicons com 360 a 393 nucleotídeos. Essas sequências apresentaram homologia com o gene ALS padrão de Arabdopsis thaliana e arroz, possuindo apenas três mutações de ponto. Uma dessas alterações foi a mutação Pro197Phe, que é relacionada à ocorrência de resistência à herbicida em diversas espécies vegetais. As sequências obtidas evidenciaram que o gene ALS avaliado encontrava-se em heterozigose. Esses resultados sugerem a ocorrência de insensibilidade do local de ação como mecanismo de resistência a herbicidas inibidores de ALS em sagitária. A prevenção e o controle da resistência a herbicidas inibidores da ALS em sagitária devem ser fundamentados na rotação de herbicidas com diferentes mecanismos de ação.

Isolamento do gene ALS e investigação do mecanismo de resistência a herbicidas em Sagittaria montevidensis

California arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis Cham. & Schlecht) is an aquatic weed often found in rice paddy fields. Several biotypes of California arrowhead resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides were found in Brazil and in several rice fields worldwide. The objective of this study was to sequence the ALS gene of California arrowhead and to identify the occurrence of mutations related to target site insensitivity as the mechanism of herbicide resistance. The plant material consisted of seeds collected in rice paddy fields located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Nine pairs of primers were designed for the amplification of the domains C, A and D of the ALS gene. PCR reactions with four pairs of primers resulted in amplification of fragments with size close to expected, ranging from 360 to 393 nucleotides. These sequences showed high homology to the standard ALS gene Arabdopsis thaliana and rice having only three point mutations. One of these mutations was Pro197Phe that is related with herbicide resistance in several weeds. The sequences obtained indicated that the ALS gene evaluated was heterozygous. These results suggest the occurrence of insensitivity of the site of action as the mechanism of resistance to ALS-inhibitors herbicides in California arrowhead. The prevention and control of resistance to ALS-inhibitors in California arrowhead should be based on the rotation of herbicides with different mechanisms of action.

Diversos biótipos de sagitária (Sagittaria montevidensis Cham. & Schlecht) foram constatados como resistentes a herbicidas inibidores da enzima ALS no Brasil e em outros locais do mundo. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram isolar e sequenciar o gene ALS de sagitária de forma a identificar a ocorrência de mutações relacionadas ao mecanismo de resistência de insensibilidade do local da ação de herbicidas. O material vegetal consistiu de sementes de sagitária coletadas em lavouras de arroz irrigado localizadas na região Sul do Estado de Santa Catarina. Nove pares de sequências nucleotídicas iniciadoras foram desenhadas para a amplificação dos domínios C, A e D do gene ALS. As sequências nucleotídicas dos fragmentos amplificados com quatro pares de oligonucleotídeos inciadores resultaram em amplicons com 360 a 393 nucleotídeos. Essas sequências apresentaram homologia com o gene ALS padrão de Arabdopsis thaliana e arroz, possuindo apenas três mutações de ponto. Uma dessas alterações foi a mutação Pro197Phe, que é relacionada à ocorrência de resistência à herbicida em diversas espécies vegetais. As sequências obtidas evidenciaram que o gene ALS avaliado encontrava-se em heterozigose. Esses resultados sugerem a ocorrência de insensibilidade do local de ação como mecanismo de resistência a herbicidas inibidores de ALS em sagitária. A prevenção e o controle da resistência a herbicidas inibidores da ALS em sagitária devem ser fundamentados na rotação de herbicidas com diferentes mecanismos de ação.

Propriedades enzimáticas da enzima ALS de Cyperus difformis e mecanismo de resistência da espécie ao herbicida pyrazosulfuron-ethyl

Cyperus difformis L. is a weed that occurs in flooded rice, which has presented difficulty in controlling due to the resistance to ALS inhibiting herbicides. The objectives of this research were to investigate kinetic characteristics of ALS enzyme from C. difformis biotypes and to determine the biochemical bases of resistance from the species to pyrazosulfuron-ethyl herbicide. For that, experiments were conducted at the BIOAGRO/UFV laboratory. The method used was based on the methodology used by CAREY et al. (1997) and adapted by VARGAS et al. (1999), with some modifications. It was evaluated substratum concentration (pyruvate) that provides initial velocity equal to half the speed reaction (K M) and maximum velocity of reaction (Vmáx), as well the activity of the ALS enzyme in the presence of the inhibitor (pyrazosulfuron-ethyl). According to the results, it is possible to observe that C. difformis resistance to pyrazosulfuron-ethyl is due to the insensibility of the ALS enzyme to the herbicide, however without penalty to K M and Vmáx kinetic parameters of the ALS enzyme.

Cyperus difformis L. é uma planta daninha ocorrente em lavouras de arroz irrigado, que tem apresentado dificuldade de controle devido à resistência a herbicidas inibidores da enzima ALS. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram investigar características cinéticas da enzima ALS de biótipos de C. difformis e determinar as bases bioquímicas da resistência da espécie ao herbicida pyrazosulfuron-ethyl. Para isso, foram conduzidos experimentos em laboratório do BIOAGRO/UFV. O método utilizado baseou-se na metologia utilizada por CAREY et al. (1997) e adaptada por VARGAS et al. (1999), com algumas modificações. Foram avaliadas a concentração de substrato (piruvato) que fornece velocidade inicial igual à metade da velocidade máxima de reação (K M) e velocidade máxima de reação (Vmáx), bem como a atividade da enzima ALS na presença do inibidor (pyrazosulfuron-ethyl). Diante dos resultados, pode-se observar que a resistência de C. difformis a pyrazosulfuron-ethyl é decorrente da insensibilidade da enzima ALS ao herbicida, não acarretando, porém, prejuízo aos parâmetros cinéticos K M e Vmáx da enzima ALS.

Bioensaio rápido de determinação da sensibilidade da acetolactato sintase (ALS) a herbicidas inibidores

In order to compare the acetolactate synthase (ALS) activity of resistant and susceptible biotypes of Bidens pilosa and Amaranthus quitensis to ALS inhibitor herbicides, a method based on ciclopronocarboxilic acid (CPCA) to inhibit the enzyme ketoacidredutoisomerase (KARI) is used. This enzyme catalyzes the reaction after acetolactate in the biosynthesis reaction chain of the aminoacids valine, leucine and isoleucine. In the presence of a KARI inhibitor, carbon from pyruvate flows through the branched chain aminoacid biosynthetic pathway and accumulates in acetolactate, which in the presence of sulfuric acid can be converted to acetoin. The base to distinguish between the resistant and susceptible biotypes is the amount of acetoin formed, which will be much higher in the biotype where the ALS was not inhibited by the herbicide. If acetoin is mixed with naphtol and creatine the solution will develop a reddish color, so that it is possible to quantify indirectly the sensitivity of the ALS to the herbicide by the color of the solution formed. An experiment was carried out with suspected resistant biotypes of Bidens pilosa and Amaranthus quitensis using this method after spraying the plants at the two pair leaf stage with chlorimuron-ethyl and imazethapyr. The ALS of the resistant biotype has insensitivity to ALS inhibitor herbicides.

Foi avaliada a atividade da acetolactato sintase (ALS), em plantas resistentes e suscetíveis de B. pilosa e A. quitensis após a aplicação de herbicidas inibidores da ALS. O método baseia-se na utilização do ácido ciclopropanodicarboxílico (CPCA) para inibir a cetoácido reductoisomerase (KARI), enzima que catalisa a reação seguinte do acetolactato na cadeia de biossíntese dos aminoácidos valina, leucina e isoleucina, provocando assim, o acúmulo de acetolactato, que na presença de um ácido forte forma acetoína. A base para a distinção entre os biotipos resistentes e suscetíveis é a quantidade de acetoína formada, que será maior nos biotipos em que a enzima ALS não sofreu inibição, ou seja, nos biotipos resistentes. A quantificação da acetoína acumulada ocorreu através da formação de um complexo colorido vermelho, devido a reação entre acetoína, creatina e naftol, cuja densidade ótica a 530 nm é proporcional à concentração do acetolactato formado na reação. Sendo assim, foi desenvolvido um ensaio utilizando este método após a aplicação dos herbicidas chlorimuron-ethyl e imazethapyr nos biotipos R e S de Bidens pilosa, Amaranthus quitensis no estádio de dois pares de folhas. O bioensaio demonstrou que a enzima ALS dos biotipos resistentes é insensível aos herbicidas inibidores da ALS e que este tipo de bioensaio é uma forma rápida e eficaz de diferenciação entre biotipos resistentes e suscetíveis.

Bioensaio rápido de determinação da sensibilidade da acetolactato sintase (ALS) a herbicidas inibidores

In order to compare the acetolactate synthase (ALS) activity of resistant and susceptible biotypes of Bidens pilosa and Amaranthus quitensis to ALS inhibitor herbicides, a method based on ciclopronocarboxilic acid (CPCA) to inhibit the enzyme ketoacidredutoisomerase (KARI) is used. This enzyme catalyzes the reaction after acetolactate in the biosynthesis reaction chain of the aminoacids valine, leucine and isoleucine. In the presence of a KARI inhibitor, carbon from pyruvate flows through the branched chain aminoacid biosynthetic pathway and accumulates in acetolactate, which in the presence of sulfuric acid can be converted to acetoin. The base to distinguish between the resistant and susceptible biotypes is the amount of acetoin formed, which will be much higher in the biotype where the ALS was not inhibited by the herbicide. If acetoin is mixed with naphtol and creatine the solution will develop a reddish color, so that it is possible to quantify indirectly the sensitivity of the ALS to the herbicide by the color of the solution formed. An experiment was carried out with suspected resistant biotypes of Bidens pilosa and Amaranthus quitensis using this method after spraying the plants at the two pair leaf stage with chlorimuron-ethyl and imazethapyr. The ALS of the resistant biotype has insensitivity to ALS inhibitor herbicides.

Foi avaliada a atividade da acetolactato sintase (ALS), em plantas resistentes e suscetíveis de B. pilosa e A. quitensis após a aplicação de herbicidas inibidores da ALS. O método baseia-se na utilização do ácido ciclopropanodicarboxílico (CPCA) para inibir a cetoácido reductoisomerase (KARI), enzima que catalisa a reação seguinte do acetolactato na cadeia de biossíntese dos aminoácidos valina, leucina e isoleucina, provocando assim, o acúmulo de acetolactato, que na presença de um ácido forte forma acetoína. A base para a distinção entre os biotipos resistentes e suscetíveis é a quantidade de acetoína formada, que será maior nos biotipos em que a enzima ALS não sofreu inibição, ou seja, nos biotipos resistentes. A quantificação da acetoína acumulada ocorreu através da formação de um complexo colorido vermelho, devido a reação entre acetoína, creatina e naftol, cuja densidade ótica a 530 nm é proporcional à concentração do acetolactato formado na reação. Sendo assim, foi desenvolvido um ensaio utilizando este método após a aplicação dos herbicidas chlorimuron-ethyl e imazethapyr nos biotipos R e S de Bidens pilosa, Amaranthus quitensis no estádio de dois pares de folhas. O bioensaio demonstrou que a enzima ALS dos biotipos resistentes é insensível aos herbicidas inibidores da ALS e que este tipo de bioensaio é uma forma rápida e eficaz de diferenciação entre biotipos resistentes e suscetíveis.