Transgenerational memory of drought stress and low rates of glyphosate reduce the sensitivity of Eragrostis plana to the herbicide

Abstract

: Background: Eragrostis plana is the main invasive plant in the Pampa Biome of southern Brazil. This plant is highly competitive, tolerant to abiotic stresses, and very difficult to manage. Plants exposed to abiotic stresses and herbicides develop mechanisms that help alleviate or reduce damage caused by stressors and transmit this ability to the progenies. Objective : The study’s objectives were to ascertain whether acclimatization to stress due to drought and sub-lethal doses of glyphosate may decrease plant sensitivity to glyphosate and investigate the possible memory mechanisms involved in this process. Methods : A population of E. plana was submitted to drought, glyphosate, or a combination of drought plus glyphosate for two generations. The progenies were analyzed for sensitivity to the herbicide glyphosate and for biochemical, metabolites, and molecular responses. Results : When testing sensitivity to glyphosate in the G 2 generations, the DRYxGLY (plants stressed with drought plus glyphosate) was the least sensitive (ED 50 443.0 g a.e. ha -1 ), while CHK (without stresses) was the most sensitive (ED 50 278.0 g a.e. ha -1 ). Evaluating the effects of glyphosate, the CHK population showed a greater accumulation of oxidative damage and shikimic acid. While DRYxGLY had greater antioxidant activity and higher expressions of the EPSPS and ABC-carrier MRP10 genes. Conclusions : Recurrent selection with drought stress and sub-lethal rate of glyphosate (DRYxGLY) showed reduced sensitivity to glyphosate in the second generation ( G 2 ). The conjunction of factors, including the upregulation of EPSPS and the ABC MRP10 transporter, antioxidant enzymes seem to decrease the sensitivity of the DRYxGLY population to glyphosate.