Molecular analysis of metabolic resistance in blackgrass

Abstract

A transcriptomics approach was chosen in order to determine candidate genes for metabolic herbicide resistance in a quantitative comparison of expressed genes in sensitive wild type and resistant blackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides = ALOMY) plants. Firstly a reference transcriptome for blackgrass was established by means of a paired-end RNA-Seq protocol prepared from control and herbicide treated plants from a metabolic resistant biotype. Secondly gene expression was measured in different metabolic resistant ALOMY biotypes and a representative selection of sensitive wild type plants using a 3´-specific RNA sequencing strategy and related to the reference transcriptome. By comparing expression levels for individual genes in wild type and resistant blackgrass biotypes candidate genes from the group of glutathione transferases were identified. Further analyses will be necessary in order to verify a close correlation with the metabolic resistance.

Keywords

• ALOMY
• blackgrass
• MACE
• non-target site resistance
• reference transcriptome
• RNA-Seq