Abstract

Penoxsulam is an important herbicide for the control of Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. Two resistant populations 17GA (R1) and 16NXB (R2) showed 17- and 3-fold resistance to penoxsulam, respectively. A known resistance mutation of Trp-574-Leu in ALS gene and enhanced rates of penoxsulam metabolism likely involving GST contribute to penoxsulam resistance in R1 population. This population had resistance to the ALS-inhibitors pyribenzoxim and bispyribac‑sodium and the auxin herbicide quinclorac, but was susceptible to ACCase-inhibitors quizalofop-p-ethyl and cyhalofop-butyl. No known mutations in the ALS gene conferring target site resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides were presented in R2 population. However, penoxsulam metabolism in R2 plants was about 4-fold greater than in susceptible population 14YC (S0) plants. The enzyme inhibitors piperonyl butoxide , malathion and 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzoxadiazole reversed penoxsulam resistance in this population. GST and P450 enzyme activities and the genes of GST1–1 , GST1–2 , GST1–3 , CYP81A18 , CYP81A12 , CYP81A21 were increased significantly in R2 population. These results indicate that multiple resistance mechanisms had occurred in E. crus-galli populations in central China and resistance needs to be managed effectively by diverse chemical and non-chemical methods.