The rapid evolution and spread of glyphosate-resistant (GR) kochia in the
Northern Great Plains is an increasing threat to GR cropping systems and
conservation tillage practices common in this region. GR kochia accessions
with 4.6- to 11-fold levels of resistance to glyphosate have recently been
reported in Montana. Those GR kochia accessions were also suspected to be
resistant to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors, i.e., multiple
herbicide-resistant (MHR) kochia. In this research, the level of resistance
to the ALS-inhibitor herbicides (sulfonylureas) and the molecular mechanisms
conferring resistance to glyphosate and ALS-inhibitor herbicides in MHR
kochia was investigated. On the basis of whole-plant dose–response assays,
MHR kochia accessions (GIL01, JOP01, and CHES01) were 9.3- to 30-fold more
resistant to premixed thifensulfuron methyl + tribenuron methyl +
metsulfuron methyl than the susceptible (SUS) accession. In an in vivo
leaf-disk shikimate assay, MHR plants accumulated less shikimate than the
SUS plants at a discriminate dose of 100 μM glyphosate. Sequencing of the
conserved region of EPSPS revealed no target-site mutation
at Thr102 or Pro106 residue. MHR kochia accessions had
increased relative EPSPS gene copies (~ 4 to 10) compared
with the SUS accession (single copy). Furthermore, MHR kochia accumulated
higher EPSPS protein compared with the SUS plants. Resistance to the
ALS-inhibitor herbicides was conferred by Pro197 amino acid
substitution (proline to glutamine). EPSPS gene
amplification and a single target-site mutation at Pro197 in
ALS gene confer resistance to glyphosate and
ALS-inhibitor herbicides, respectively, in MHR kochia accessions from
Montana. This is the first confirmation of occurrence of MHR kochia in
Montana.