Diverse mechanisms confer bensulfuron-methyl resistance in Schoenoplectiella juncoides (Roxb.) lye

The effectiveness of bensulfuron-methyl in controlling Schoenoplectiella juncoides (Roxb.) Lye has significantly decreased in rice fields in China. Hence, a bensulfuron-methyl-resistant S. juncoides population (W15) was collected from Dandong City, Liaoning Province, China, to investigate the underlying resistance mechanisms. Whole-plant dose-response experiments and ALS activity assay confirmed that W15 has evolved high-level resistance to bensulfuron-methyl compared with the susceptible S. juncoides population (W4). Molecular analysis revealed a Pro-197-Ser mutation in ALS1, while there was no significant difference in the relative ALS gene expression between W15 and W4. LC-MS/MS analysis showed W15 metabolized bensulfuron-methyl more rapidly than W4. Furthermore, bensulfuron-methyl resistance in W15 was significantly alleviated by malathion and 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD-Cl). Glutathione S-transferase activity was higher in W15 than in W4. Meanwhile, W15 displayed cross-resistance to halosulfuron-methyl and multi-resistance to MCPA-Na. In summary, these findings demonstrated for the first time that both target- and non-target-site resistance are relevant in the resistance of S. juncoides to bensulfuron-methyl.