Characterization of acetolactate synthase gene (ALS) in Echinochloa colona (L.) Link., a hexaploid weed species

Abstract

Junglerice (Echinochloa colona) is one of the most problematic weed species in rice fields in Colombia. Herbicides inhibitors of the enzyme acetolactate synthase (ALS) have been widely used to control junglerice and other grass species. ALS inhibitors have the highest reports of resistance worldwide, and Colombia has recent reports of ALS resistance in E. colona. The timely and accurate detection of resistance sources is imperative for mitigating and managing herbicide resistance. However, for E. colona there are no published sequences of the ALS gene. In this research, primer design, RNA extraction, cloning, miniprep, and PCR were used to obtain the first partial sequence of the ALS gene on susceptible and resistant accessions of E. colona. The sequences did not present nucleotide differences that could be associated with target-site resistance to ALS inhibitors.

Herbicide resistance; Metabolic resistance; Mode of action; Sequencing; Target-site resistance; Weed management