Abstract Background Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson is a serious problem in soybean crops from Argentina. This weed has evolved high level of resistance to (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides mainly due to a target-site mechanism by an altered ALS enzyme. In an A. palmeri population from Totoras with cross-resistance to (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides, six allelic versions of the ALS enzyme were identified. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate plants from that resistant population carrying the ALS substitutions A122S, D376E or A205V, which had not been characterized before for this species. Methods Subpopulations with each substitution were produced by a vegetative cloning procedure or by cross-pollination and dose-response assays and herbicide single-dose tests were performed to evaluate in vivo resistance levels to (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides. Results Dose-response experiments showed that all the resistant subpopulations survived at the highest doses tested (32 X) for imidazolinones, triazolopyrimidines and sulfonylureas, while the susceptible population was completely controlled at considerably lower doses. Furthermore, an analysis of the novel A122S substitution showed that it provides cross-resistance to five classes of (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides, excluding the entire ALS herbicide group as an effective control tool in weed populations carrying this substitution. Conclusions The results indicated that D376E, A205V and A122S substitutions found for the first time in A. palmeri confer cross-resistance to the most used chemical families from herbicide group 2. Interestingly, it was confirmed that the A205V substitution conferred resistance to herbicides in the triazolopyrimidines family. Data generated should be considered in management strategies for delaying the spread of resistance.

Characterization of Amaranthus quitensis resistance to three families of herbicides: Amaranthus quitensis is an annual species from South America that reproduces by seed. In Argentina its distribution covers central and northern country and is a major weed of summer crops (soybean, corn and sunflower) Pampa area. In the central region (Province of Cordoba and Santa Fe) flaws in its control were detected, when using different herbicide families (imidazolinone, sulfonylurea and triazolopyrimidines). Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the resistance at the biochemical and molecular level of biotypes of A. quitensis from four localities along this region. Specifically we used different herbicides inhibitors Aceto-Lactate Synthase (ALS), an enzyme involved in the synthesis of a group of aminoacids, and compared them with a susceptible biotype. Specific objectives were to determine the geographical origin of the resistance to each of these three herbicides and to assess the effect of different doses on ALS activity in vitro. Results, based on the observed genetic variability and on the sequences of the als genes, indicated that the analyzed populations were originated independently and not from a common mutation event that later dispersed to the different sites. These results allowed for a deeper knowledge at the biochemical and molecular levels of the resistance mechanisms of five ecotypes of A. quitensis to different herbicides that have the ALS enzyme as a target.

Amaranthus quitensis es una especie anual de origen sudamericano que se reproduce por semillas. En Argentina su distribución abarca centro y norte del país y constituye una de las principales malezas en los cultivos de verano (soja, maíz y girasol) del área pampeana. En la región central (provincia de Córdoba y Santa Fe) se detectaron fallas en su control al emplearse distintas familias de herbicidas (imidazolinonas, sulfonilureas y triazolopirimidinas) por lo cual el objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar la resistencia a nivel bioquímico y molecular de biotipos de A. quitensis correspondientes a cuatro localidades de esta región. Específicamente utilizamos distintos herbicidas inhibidores de la Aceto-Lactato Sintasa (ALS), una enzima involucrada en la síntesis de un grupo de aminoácidos, tomando como base de comparación un biotipo susceptible. Como objetivos específicos determinamos el origen geográfico de la resistencia a cada uno de estas tres familias de herbicidas y evaluamos el efecto de diferentes dosis sobre la actividad de la ALS “in vitro”. Los resultados indican que los materiales analizados corresponden a eventos de resistencia independientes y no a un origen común por movilidad de germoplasma entre las localidades en donde se detectaron las resistencias. Los estudios de variabilidad genética de los biotipos estudiados aportan evidencias de los mecanismos de resistencia frente a diferentes herbicidas que tienen como blanco la enzima ALS.

The persistence of CryIAb protein rhizosecreted in soil is important in the assessment of its environmental risk. Here we report that CryIAb protein from transgenic maize does not accumulate at high levels in soils. Levels of CryIAb protein rhizosecreted by three maize transgenic events (BT11, MON810 and 176) were studied in hydroponic cultures and found only in the MON810 and BT11 events but not in event 176 or control plants. Under field conditions, the cryIAb gene and a basal level of CryIAb protein was detected in soils from plots cultivated with transgenic and non-transgenic maize, possibly from Bacillus thuringiensis present in the soils.