Estimating the outcrossing rate of Cyperus difformis using resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides and molecular markers

Cyperus difformis (smallflower umbrella sedge) is an economically important weed of rice in California where its control has recently been complicated by the evolution of herbicide resistance. Knowledge of the mating system of this weed is needed to elucidate the dynamics of resistance evolution and to design mitigation strategies that delay its occurrence. The aim of this study was to estimate the outcrossing rate of C. difformis using molecular and phenotypic markers. Outcrossing rates were estimated in natural field populations using sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) molecular markers and in glasshouse and field experiments using resistance to the acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicide bensulfuron-methyl as a phenotypic marker. Using SRAP markers, the multilocus (t(m)) and average single-locus (t(s)) outcrossing rates varied from 0.014 to 0.025 and from 0.008 to 0.012, respectively, among natural weed populations in rice fields. Using resistance to bensulfuron-methyl as a genetic marker, the average C. difformis outcrossing rate estimated was 0.009 in the glasshouse and 0.0084 in the field. These results indicate that C. difformis is a highly self-fertilising species. Therefore, the primary mechanism by which genes for herbicide resistance can be transferred among C. difformis populations in different rice fields is probably seed dispersal. Weed management should emphasise prevention of seed production and dispersal to preclude the further spread and evolution of resistance in C. difformis.