Non‐target site resistance to flucarbazone, imazamethabenz and pinoxaden is controlled by three linked genes in Avena fatua

SummaryExtensive herbicide usage has led to the evolution of resistant weed populations that cause substantial crop yield losses and increase production costs. The multiple herbicide‐resistant (MHR) Avena fatua populations utilised in this study are resistant to members of all selective herbicide families, across five modes of action, available for A. fatua control in US small grain production, and thus pose significant agronomic and economic threats. Resistance to acetolactate synthase and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase inhibitors is not conferred by known target site mutations, indicating that non‐target site resistance (NTSR) mechanisms are involved. Understanding the inheritance of NTS MHR is of upmost importance for continued agricultural productivity in the face of the rapid increase in resistant weed populations worldwide. As few studies have examined the inheritance of NTSR in autogamous weeds, we investigated the inheritance and genetic control of NTSR in the highly autogamous, allohexaploid species A. fatua. We found that NTSR in MHRA. fatua is controlled by three separate, closely‐linked nuclear genes for flucarbazone‐sodium, imazamethabenz‐methyl and pinoxaden. The single‐gene NTSR inheritance patterns reported here contrast with other examples in allogamous species and illustrate the diversity of evolutionary responses to strong selection.