Clethodim resistance was identified in 12 rigid ryegrass populations from
winter cropping regions in four different states of Australia. Clethodim had
failed to provide effective control of these populations in the field and
resistance was suspected. Dose–response experiments confirmed resistance to
clethodim and butroxydim in all populations. During 2012, the
LD50 of resistant populations ranged from 10.2 to 89.3 g
ha−1, making them 3 to 34–fold more resistant to clethodim
than the susceptible population. Similarly, GR50 of resistant
population varied from 8 to 37.1 g ha−1, which is 3 to 13.9–fold
higher than the susceptible population. In 2013, clethodim-resistant
populations were 7.8 to 35.3–fold more resistant to clethodim than the
susceptible population. The higher resistance factor in 2013, especially in
moderately resistant populations, could have been associated with lower
ambient temperatures during the winter of 2013. These resistant populations
had also evolved cross-resistance to butroxydim. The resistant populations
required 1.3 to 6.6–fold higher butroxydim dose to achieve 50% mortality and
3 to 27–fold more butroxydim for 50% biomass reduction compared to the
standard susceptible population. Sequencing of the target-site ACCase gene
identified five known ACCase substitutions (isoleucine-1781-leucine,
isoleucine-2041-asparagine, aspartate-2078-glycine, and
cysteine-2088-arginine, and glycine-2096-alanine) in these populations. In
nine populations, multiple ACCase mutations were present in different
individuals. Furthermore, two alleles with different mutations were present
in a single plant of rigid ryegrass in two populations.