An exploration of the evolutionary dynamics of non-target site herbicide resistance in Alopecurus myosuroides.

Black-grass is the major weed threat in arable rotations in the UK with herbicides applied to an estimated 1 million hectares per annum for black-grass control. Resistance to one or more herbicides is estimated to occur on 80% of farms and up to 20% of wheat production in the UK is under threat due to inability to control black-grass. Non-target site resistance (NTSR) is the major, yet least understood mechanism of herbicide resistance. Neve and Edwards are co-I and PI, respectively on a BBSRC-funded LoLa project (2014-2018) that explores evolution and management of NTSR from 'gene to field'. The student's research will be closely integrated with this project.

The project will explore the evolutionary dynamics, quantitative genetics and genotype-phenotype map underlying non-target site herbicide resistance (NTSR) in Alopecurus myosuroides. The project will utilise seed populations previously generated by the PN lab. This material includes black-grass selection lines with known provenance and selection histories, a large set of pedigreed full-sib and half-sib seed families and an extensive collection of characterised, field-collected populations.