Resistance to glyphosate in hairy fleabane and horseweed is a problem in
orchards and vineyards in California. Population genetic analyses suggest
that glyphosate resistance evolved multiple times in both species, but it is
unknown if resistance to other herbicides is also present. Two approaches of
research were undertaken to further evaluate herbicide resistance in
Conyza sp. in the perennial crop systems of California.
In the initial study, the distribution of Conyza sp. in the
Central Valley, using a semistructured field survey, was coupled with
evaluation of the presence and level of glyphosate resistance in plants
grown from field-collected seed. In a subsequent study, single-seed
descendants representing distinct genetic groups were self-pollinated in the
greenhouse and these accessions were evaluated for response to glyphosate
and paraquat. Conyza sp. were commonly found throughout the
Central Valley and glyphosate-resistant individuals were confirmed in all
field collections of both species. The level of glyphosate resistance among
field collections varied from 5- to 21-fold compared with 50% glyphosate
resistance (GR50) of the susceptible, with exception of one
region with a GR50 similar to the susceptible. When
self-pollinated accessions from different genetic groups were screened, the
level of glyphosate resistance, on the basis of GR50 values,
ranged from 1.7- to 42.5-fold in hairy fleabane, and 5.9- to 40.3-fold in
horseweed. Three accessions of hairy fleabane from different genetic groups
were also resistant to paraquat (40.1- to 352.5-fold). One
glyphosate-resistant horseweed accession was resistant to paraquat
(322.8-fold), which is the first confirmed case in California. All
paraquat-resistant accessions of Conyza sp. identified so
far have also been resistant to glyphosate, probably because glyphosate
resistance is already widespread in the state. Because glyphosate and
paraquat resistances are found across a wide geographical range and in
accessions from distinct genetic groups, multiple resistant
Conyza sp. likely developed independently several times
in California.