Herbicide resistance in Lolium multiflorum Lam. (Italian rye-grass): involvement of glutathione S-transferases

摘要

Italian rye-grass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is a major weed of arable crops in the UK. The extent of herbicide resistance in this species is now second only to that of black-grass and hinders the effective control of this grass weed. Elucidation of the mechanisms underpinning this resistance is vital in the battle to control rye-grass. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) have been implicated in herbicide resistance in many species, enabling resistant individuals to detoxify herbicides at an enhanced rate. Data is presented from glasshouse trials on a number of rye-grass biotypes that have previously been shown to be poorly controlled by herbicides in the field. GST activity and abundance data is presented for these biotypes, demonstrating that this important enzyme family may be implicated in herbicide resistance in the biotypes studied. These findings will be discussed in relation to both herbicide resistance and GST activity in other UK grasses.