Biology subjects

Beffa, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Beffa, R..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

CYTOCHROME P450 CYP72A219 IS INVOLVED IN EVOLUTION OF METABOLIC RESISTANCE TO TEMBOTRIONE IN Amaranthus palmeri POPULATIONS

Evolution of metabolic herbicide resistance is a major issue for weed management. Few genes and regulatory mechanisms have been identified, particularly in dicotyledonous weed species. We identified putative causal genes and regulatory mechanism for tembotrione-resistance in Amaranthus palmeri. Cytochrome P450 candidate genes were identified through RNA-seq analysis. We validated their functions using heterologous expression in S. cerevisae. Promoters of the candidate P450 genes were analyzed. We performed QTL mapping to identify genomic regions associated with resistance. CYP72A1182 deactivated tembotrione. This gene had increased expression in other A. palmeri populations resistant to multiple herbicides, including tembotrione. Resistant plants exhibited polymorphisms in the promoter of CYP72A1182. We identified QTLs linked to herbicide resistance, including one on chromosome 4 approximately 3 Mb away from CYP72A1182. CYP72A1182 is involved in tembotrione resistance in A. palmeri. Increased expression of this gene could be due to cis-regulation in the promoter, as well as trans-regulation from transcription factors. Further studies are in progress to test this hypothesis. The elucidation of regulatory genes is crucial for developing innovative weed management approaches and target-based novel molecules. HIGHLIGHTSOur study identifies that the CYP72A1182 gene has a functional role in metabolic herbicide resistance in Amaranthus palmeri and is linked to cis-regulatory polymorphisms, advancing metabolic resistance understanding in dicots.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

The International Weed Genomics Consortium: Community Resources for Weed Genomics Research

The International Weed Genomics Consortium is a collaborative group of researchers focused on developing genomic resources for the study of weedy plants. Weeds are attractive systems for basic and applied research due to their impacts on agricultural systems and capacity to swiftly adapt in response to anthropogenic selection pressures. Our goal is to use genomic information to develop sustainable and effective weed control methods and to provide insights about biotic and abiotic stress tolerance to assist crop breeding. Here, we outline resources under development by the consortium and highlight areas of research that will be impacted by these enabling resources.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2021

The blackgrass genome reveals patterns of divergent evolution of non-target site resistance to herbicides.

Globally, weedy plants result in more crop yield loss than plant pathogens and insect pests combined. Much of the success of weeds rests with their ability to rapidly adapt in the face of human-mediated environmental management and change. The evolution of resistance to herbicides is an emblematic example of this rapid adaptation. Here, we focus on Alopecurus myosuroides (blackgrass), the most impactful agricultural weed in Europe. To gain insights into the evolutionary history and genomic mechanisms underlying adaptation in blackgrass, we assembled and annotated its large, complex genome. We show that non-target site herbicide resistance is oligogenic and likely evolves from standing genetic variation. We present evidence for divergent selection of resistance at the level of the genome in wild, evolved populations, though at the transcriptional level, resistance mechanisms are underpinned by similar patterns of up-regulation of stress- and defence-responsive gene families. These gene families are expanded in the blackgrass genome, suggesting that the large, duplicated, and dynamic genome plays a role in enabling rapid adaptation in blackgrass. These observations have wide significance for understanding rapid plant adaptation in novel stressful environments.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2021

Genetic architecture underlying HPPD-inhibitor resistance in a Nebraska Amaranthus tuberculatus population

BACKGROUNDAmaranthus tuberculatus is a primary driver weed species throughout the American Midwest. Inhibitors of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) are an important chemistry for weed management in numerous cropping systems. Here, we characterize the genetic architecture underlying the HPPD-inhibitor resistance trait in an A. tuberculatus population (NEB). RESULTSDose-response studies of an F1 generation identified HPPD-inhibitor resistance as a dominant trait with a resistance/sensitive ratio of 15.0-21.1. Segregation analysis in a pseudo-F2 generation determined the trait is moderately heritable (H2 = 0.556), and complex. Bulk segregant analysis and validation with molecular markers identified two quantitative trait loci (QTL), one on each of Scaffold 4 and 12. CONCLUSIONSResistance to HPPD-inhibitors is a complex, largely dominant trait within the NEB population. Two large-effect QTL were identified controlling HPPD-inhibitor resistance in A. tuberculatus. This is the first QTL mapping study to characterize herbicide resistance in a weedy species.

plant biology↗