Glyphosate resistance and EPSPS gene amplification confirmed in a waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) biotype from Connecticut

Abstract Waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) is an economically important broadleaf weed that threatens corn and soybean production across the United States. A waterhemp biotype (CT_Res [resistant biotype from Connecticut]) surviving multiple glyphosate applications was identified from a corn field...

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Main Authors: Jatinder S. Aulakh, Vipan Kumar, Nathaniel Westrick, Andrew J. Price, Amit J. Jhala
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70120
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author Jatinder S. Aulakh
Vipan Kumar
Nathaniel Westrick
Andrew J. Price
Amit J. Jhala
author_facet Jatinder S. Aulakh
Vipan Kumar
Nathaniel Westrick
Andrew J. Price
Amit J. Jhala
author_sort Jatinder S. Aulakh
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) is an economically important broadleaf weed that threatens corn and soybean production across the United States. A waterhemp biotype (CT_Res [resistant biotype from Connecticut]) surviving multiple glyphosate applications was identified from a corn field in Connecticut (CT). Greenhouse and laboratory studies were conducted to (1) confirm glyphosate resistance in CT_Res waterhemp biotype and (2) investigate if the glyphosate resistance in CT_Res biotype is due to target‐site‐based mechanism. Dose‐response studies indicated that CT_Res biotype was 5.8‐fold more resistant to glyphosate compared to a known susceptible biotype (NE_Sus) from Nebraska. No point mutation was detected at Pro102 or Thr106 positions in the EPSPS gene of the CT_Res biotype. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays revealed that one of the three CT_Res waterhemp plants had 3.5‐fold higher EPSPS gene copy number (relative to the housekeeping CPS gene), whereas the other two plants did not reveal EPSPS gene amplification. Obviously, the EPSPS gene amplification partially explains glyphosate resistance in newly identified glyphosate‐resistant waterhemp biotype from CT, indicating that alternative mechanisms might exist. This research reports the first case of glyphosate resistance and EPSPS gene amplification in waterhemp from Connecticut and highlights the need for adoption of diversified weed control strategies to prevent its further spread.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2639-6696
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Wiley
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series Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment
spelling doaj-art-98020357f84d44ebbd376e4840d90e012025-08-20T03:26:30ZengWileyAgrosystems, Geosciences & Environment2639-66962025-06-0182n/an/a10.1002/agg2.70120Glyphosate resistance and EPSPS gene amplification confirmed in a waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) biotype from ConnecticutJatinder S. Aulakh0Vipan Kumar1Nathaniel Westrick2Andrew J. Price3Amit J. Jhala4Connecticut Agricultural Experiment StationWindsorConnecticutUSASoil and Crop Sciences SectionCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSAConnecticut Agricultural Experiment StationWindsorConnecticutUSAUSDA‐ARSAuburn Alabama USADepartment of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of NebraskaLincolnNebraskaUSAAbstract Waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) is an economically important broadleaf weed that threatens corn and soybean production across the United States. A waterhemp biotype (CT_Res [resistant biotype from Connecticut]) surviving multiple glyphosate applications was identified from a corn field in Connecticut (CT). Greenhouse and laboratory studies were conducted to (1) confirm glyphosate resistance in CT_Res waterhemp biotype and (2) investigate if the glyphosate resistance in CT_Res biotype is due to target‐site‐based mechanism. Dose‐response studies indicated that CT_Res biotype was 5.8‐fold more resistant to glyphosate compared to a known susceptible biotype (NE_Sus) from Nebraska. No point mutation was detected at Pro102 or Thr106 positions in the EPSPS gene of the CT_Res biotype. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays revealed that one of the three CT_Res waterhemp plants had 3.5‐fold higher EPSPS gene copy number (relative to the housekeeping CPS gene), whereas the other two plants did not reveal EPSPS gene amplification. Obviously, the EPSPS gene amplification partially explains glyphosate resistance in newly identified glyphosate‐resistant waterhemp biotype from CT, indicating that alternative mechanisms might exist. This research reports the first case of glyphosate resistance and EPSPS gene amplification in waterhemp from Connecticut and highlights the need for adoption of diversified weed control strategies to prevent its further spread.https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70120
spellingShingle Jatinder S. Aulakh
Vipan Kumar
Nathaniel Westrick
Andrew J. Price
Amit J. Jhala
Glyphosate resistance and EPSPS gene amplification confirmed in a waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) biotype from Connecticut
Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment
title Glyphosate resistance and EPSPS gene amplification confirmed in a waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) biotype from Connecticut
title_full Glyphosate resistance and EPSPS gene amplification confirmed in a waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) biotype from Connecticut
title_fullStr Glyphosate resistance and EPSPS gene amplification confirmed in a waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) biotype from Connecticut
title_full_unstemmed Glyphosate resistance and EPSPS gene amplification confirmed in a waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) biotype from Connecticut
title_short Glyphosate resistance and EPSPS gene amplification confirmed in a waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) biotype from Connecticut
title_sort glyphosate resistance and epsps gene amplification confirmed in a waterhemp amaranthus tuberculatus biotype from connecticut
url https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70120
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