Environmental Conditions Influence Induction of Key ABC-Transporter Genes Affecting Glyphosate Resistance Mechanism in Conyza canadensis

Glyphosate: Impact on the microbiota-gut-brain axis and the immune-nervous system, and clinical cases of multiorgan toxicity

Glyphosate (GLP) and GLP-based herbicides (GBHs), such as polyethoxylated tallow amine-based GLP surfactants (GLP-SH), developed in the late 70', have become the most popular and controversial agrochemicals ever produced. Nowadays, GBHs have reached 350 million hectares of crops in over 140 countries, with an annual turnover of 5 billion and 11 billion USD in the U.S.A. and worldwide, respectively. Because of the highly efficient inhibitory activity of GLP targeted to the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase pathway, present in plants and several bacterial strains, the GLP-resistant crop-based genetic agricultural revolution has decreased famine and improved the costs and quality of living in developing countries. However, this progress has come at the cost of the 50-year GBH overuse, leading to environmental pollution, animal intoxication, bacterial resistance, and sustained occupational exposure of the herbicide farm and companies' workers. According to preclinical and clinical studies covered in the present review, poisoning with GLP, GLP-SH, and GBHs devastatingly affects gut microbiota and the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis, leading to dysbiosis and gastrointestinal (GI) ailments, as well as immunosuppression and inappropriate immunostimulation, cholinergic neurotransmission dysregulation, neuroendocrinal system disarray, and neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral alterations. Herein, we mainly focus on the contribution of gut microbiota (GM) to neurological impairments, e.g., stroke and neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. The current review provides a comprehensive introduction to GLP's microbiological and neurochemical activities, including deviation of the intestinal Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, excitotoxicity, and mind-altering processes. Besides, it summarizes and critically discusses recent preclinical studies and clinical case reports concerning the harmful impacts of GBHs on the GI tract, MGB axis, and nervous system. Finally, an insightful comparison of toxic effects caused by GLP, GBH-SH, and GBHs is presented. To this end, we propose a first-to-date survey of clinical case reports on intoxications with these herbicides.

The Molecular, Morphological and Genetic Characterization of Glyphosate Resistance in Conyza bonariensis from South Africa

Six Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist populations were screened in a pot experiment at the University of Pretoria's Hatfield experimental farm to evaluate and confirm the degree of glyphosate response. Resistance factors ranged from 2.7- to 24.8-fold compared to the most susceptible biotype. Partial sequencing of the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene found no mutation at the Thr102, Ala103 or Pro106 positions. EPSPS mRNA expression levels in glyphosate-resistant biotypes (Swellendam and Piketberg seed sampling sites) were comparable or lower than those in susceptible biotypes (George and Fauresmith sites). Additionally, the highest expression level was reported in the susceptible Fauresmith biotype. These results indicate that glyphosate resistance in the tested resistant biotypes is not caused by target-site mutations and EPSPS gene amplification. Leaf surface characteristics can influence the spread and subsequent absorption of glyphosate. The study established non-significant results in the amount of leaf wax and insufficient mean separations in cuticle thickness and trichome density data. Therefore, the observed differences in response of biotypes to glyphosate treatment could not be attributed conclusively to differences in the leaf morphological characteristics investigated. Results from the inheritance study were consistent with glyphosate resistance being inherited in an incompletely dominant manner when plants were treated with glyphosate herbicide at 900 g ae ha^-1.

Inheritance and mechanism of glyphosate resistance in annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.)

BACKGROUND

In initial screening, glyphosate was ineffective in controlling five Poa annua populations. These populations were tested for resistance, and studies undertaken to determine resistance mechanisms and inheritance pattern.

RESULTS

Dose-response studies conducted at 16/12°C and 27/20°C on the five putative resistant populations showed low-level resistance (1.4- to 2.5-fold) to glyphosate. Shikimic acid accumulation in response to glyphosate confirmed differences among the populations, with greater shikimic acid accumulation in the susceptible population. The EPSPS gene copy number was 0.5- to 5.2-fold greater in one resistant population (HT) than in the susceptible (S) population, but not in the others. EPSPS gene expression was five- to tenfold higher in HT compared with the susceptible population. Target site mutations, differences in glyphosate absorption or translocation or altered expression of aldo-keto reductase (AKR) were not identified in any of the resistant populations. Crosses were successful between one resistant population and the susceptible population (P262-16♂ ✕ S♀) and inheritance of glyphosate resistance appears to be controlled by a single, nuclear dominant gene in this population.

CONCLUSION

Our study identified EPSPS gene amplification in a South Australian glyphosate-resistant P. annua population (HT). This mechanism of resistance was not identified in the other four glyphosate-resistant populations, and other common mechanisms were excluded. Although the resistance mechanism in some P. annua populations remains unknown, inheritance studies with one population suggest the involvement of a single dominant gene. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

DNA Methylation of ABC Transporters Differs in Native and Non-native Populations of Conyza canadensis L

While differences in the methylation patterns of ABC transporters under different environmental conditions and their role in plant growth, development, and response to biotic and abiotic stresses are well documented, less is known about the variation in the methylation patterns of ABC transporters in plant species in the native and non-native ranges. In this study, we present the results of differences in methylation of ABC transporters of Conyza canadensis L. in its native (North America) and non-native (Kashmir Himalaya) ranges. Our data show that ABC transporter genes have reduced DNA methylation in Kashmir Himalaya than in North America. Furthermore, in the non-native range of Kashmir Himalaya, we found that ABC transporter genes have enriched RNA Pol-II binding and reduced nucleosome occupancy, both hallmarks of transcriptional activity. Taken together, our study showed differential DNA methylation in the ABC transporter genes in the native range of North America and non-native range of Kashmir Himalaya in Conyza canadensis and that the reduced DNA methylation and increased RNA Pol-II binding is one of the possible mechanisms through which this species in the non-native range of Kashmir Himalaya may show greater gene expression of ABC transporter genes. This increased ABC transporter gene expression may help the plant to grow in different environmental conditions in the non-native range. Furthermore, this study could pave way for more studies to better explain the enigmatic plant invasions of C. canadensis in the non-native range of Kashmir Himalaya.

Novel Candidate Genes Differentially Expressed in Glyphosate-Treated Horseweed (Conyza canadensis)

The evolution of herbicide-resistant weed species is a serious threat for weed control. Therefore, we need an improved understanding of how gene regulation confers herbicide resistance in order to slow the evolution of resistance. The present study analyzed differentially expressed genes after glyphosate treatment on a glyphosate-resistant Tennessee ecotype (TNR) of horseweed (Conyza canadensis), compared to a susceptible biotype (TNS). A read size of 100.2 M was sequenced on the Illumina platform and subjected to de novo assembly, resulting in 77,072 gene-level contigs, of which 32,493 were uniquely annotated by a BlastX alignment of protein sequence similarity. The most differentially expressed genes were enriched in the gene ontology (GO) term of the transmembrane transport protein. In addition, fifteen upregulated genes were identified in TNR after glyphosate treatment but were not detected in TNS. Ten of these upregulated genes were transmembrane transporter or kinase receptor proteins. Therefore, a combination of changes in gene expression among transmembrane receptor and kinase receptor proteins may be important for endowing non-target-site glyphosate-resistant C. canadensis.

Herbicide stress-induced DNA methylation changes in two Zea mays inbred lines differing in Roundup® resistance

DNA methylation plays a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression, activity of transposable elements, defense against foreign DNA, and inheritance of specific gene expression patterns. The link between stress exposure and sequence-specific changes in DNA methylation was hypothetical until it was shown that stresses can induce changes in the gene expression through hypomethylation or hypermethylation of DNA. To detect changes in DNA methylation under herbicide stress in two local Zea mays inbred lines exhibiting differential susceptibility to Roundup®, the methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) technique was used. The overall DNA methylation levels were determined at approximately 60% for both tested lines. The most significant changes were observed for the more sensitive Z. mays line, where 6 h after the herbicide application, a large increase in the level of DNA methylation (attributed to the increase in fully methylated bands (18.65%)) was noted. DNA sequencing revealed that changes in DNA methylation profiles occurred in genes encoding heat shock proteins, membrane proteins, transporters, kinases, lipases, methyltransferases, zinc-finger proteins, cytochromes, and transposons. Herbicide stress-induced changes depended on the Z. mays variety, and the large increase in DNA methylation level in the sensitive line resulted in a lower ability to cope with stress conditions.

Influence of temperature on the retention, absorption and translocation of fomesafen and imazamox in Euphorbia heterophylla

Climate change will be an additional issue to the challenge to manage herbicide resistant weeds. This work investigated the impact of three temperature regimes (10/5, 20/15 and 30/25 °C) on the efficacy, foliar retention, absorption and translocation of fomesafen, protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitor, and imazamox, acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor, between two Euphorbia heterophylla populations, one susceptible (S) and one multiple PPO and ALS resistant (R). The R population went from 5 (fomesafen) and 12 (imazamox) times more resistant than the S population at 10/5 °C to more than 100 times to both herbicides at 20/15 and 30/25 °C. Leaf retention of fomesafen was not affected by temperature; however, imazamox retention was less at 10/5 and 20/15 °C than at 30/25 °C, and the R population always retained less imazamox than the S population. ¹⁴C-fomesafen absorption was similar between populations, but lower amounts were absorbed at 10/5 °C regardless of the evaluation time. Recovered ¹⁴C-imazamox rates decreased in both populations as the evaluation time increased, ranging from 82 to 92% at 6 h after treatment (HAT), and from 47 to 76% at 48 HAT, depending on the temperature regime. The ¹⁴C-imazamox losses were greater from 24 HAT in R plants grown at 30/25 °C and in all temperature regimes at 48 HAT. Although both populations translocated large amounts of imazamox, the S population distributed it in the rest of the plant (33%) and roots (15%), while the R population kept it mainly on the treated leaf (24%) or lost ~20% more herbicide than S population at 48 HAT, indicating the need for further studies on root exudation between these populations. Low temperatures reduced resistance levels to fomesafen and imazamox in E. heterophylla, suggesting that temperature influences the expression of the mechanisms that govern this multiple resistance.

Identification and expression of main genes involved in non-target site resistance mechanisms to fenoxaprop-p-ethyl in Beckmannia syzigachne

BACKGROUND

Non-target-site resistance (NTSR) to herbicides is a serious threat to global agriculture. Although metabolic resistance is the dominant mechanism of NTSR, the molecular mechanisms are not yet well-characterized. This study aimed to uncover the likely metabolism-related genes in Beckmannia syzigachne (American sloughgrass) resistant to fenoxaprop-p-ethyl.

RESULTS

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry experiments showed that the resistant American sloughgrass biotype (R, SD-04-SS) showed enhanced degradation of this herbicide compared to the susceptible biotype (S, SD-12). R and S biotype were harvested at 24 h after fenoxaprop-p-ethyl treatment to conduct RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis to investigate the likely fenoxaprop-p-ethyl metabolic genes. The RNA-Seq libraries yield 417 969 980 clean reads. The de novo assembly generated 115 112 unigenes, of which 57 906 unigenes were annotated. Finally, we identified 273 cytochrome P450s, 178 oxidases, 47 glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), 166 glucosyltransferases (GTs) and 180 ABC transporter genes to determine the likely fenoxaprop-p-ethyl metabolism-related genes in R biotype. Twelve overlapping up-regulated genes in the R biotype (fenoxaprop-p-ethyl-treated R/non-treated R, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl-treated R/fenoxaprop-p-ethyl-treated S) were identified by RNA-Seq and the results were validated using qRT-PCR. Ten were identified as fenoxaprop-p-ethyl metabolism-related genes, including three P450s (homologous to CYP71D7, CYP99A2 and CYP71D10), one GST (homologous to GSTF1), two GTs (homologous to UGT90A1 and UGT83A1) and four oxidase genes.

CONCLUSION

This work demonstrates that the NTSR mechanism by means of enhanced detoxification of fenoxaprop-p-ethyl in American sloughgrass is very likely driven by herbicide metabolism related genes. The RNA-Seq data presented here provide a valuable resource for understanding the molecular mechanism of NTSR in American sloughgrass. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Low temperatures enhance the absorption and translocation of 14C-glyphosate in glyphosate-resistant Conyza sumatrensis

Influence of low temperatures on the glyphosate efficacy was studied in glyphosate-resistant (R) and -susceptible (S) Conyza sumatrensis biotypes. For this purpose, the physiological and enzymatic aspects involved were characterized under two growing temperature regimes [high (30/20 °C) and low 15/5 °C temperatures day/night]. The R biotype was 5.5 times more resistant than the S biotype at high temperatures; however, this R-to-S ratio decreased to 1.6 at low temperatures. At 96 h after treatment (HAT), the shikimic acid accumulation was higher in the S biotype in both temperature regimes (4.6 and 1.9 more shikimic acid at high and low temperatures, respectively), but the accumulation of the R biotype increased 2.6 times at low temperatures compared to high ones. From 24 to 96 HAT, the 14C-glyphosate absorption ranged from 28 to 65% (percentage reached from 48 HAT) at low temperatures, and from 20 to 50% at high temperatures (gradual increase), but there were no differences between C. sumatrensis biotypes within each temperature regime. At high temperatures, the 14C-glyphosate translocation was different between biotypes, where the R one retained at least 10% more herbicide in the treated leaves than the S biotype at 96 HAT. So, the S biotype translocated 40% of 14C-glyphosate absorbed to roots, and the R biotype translocated only 28% of herbicide at the same period. At low temperatures, there were no differences between biotypes, and at 96 HAT, the 14C-glyphosate found in treated leaves was ˜47% and up to ˜42% reached the roots, i.e., the resistance mechanism was suppressed. The basal and enzymatic activities of the 5-enolpyruvyishikimate 3-phosphate synthase were different between temperature regimes, but there was no differences between biotypes within each temperature regime, showing that target-site resistance mechanisms did not contribute in the glyphosate resistance of the R biotype. Low temperatures enhanced the absorption and translocation of glyphosate by suppressing the resistance mechanisms improving its efficacy on resistant plants. This is the first characterization about the role of temperatures in the glyphosate efficacy on C. sumatrensis.

Transcriptomic Analysis Identifies New Non-Target Site Glyphosate-Resistance Genes in Conyza bonariensis

Conyza bonariensis (hairy fleabane) is one of the most problematic and widespread glyphosate-resistant weeds in the world. This highly competitive weed species significantly interferes with crop growth and substantially decreases crop yield. Despite its agricultural importance, the molecular mechanisms of glyphosate resistance are still unknown. The present RNA-Seq study was performed with the goal of identifying differentially expressed candidate transcripts (genes) related to metabolism-based non-target site glyphosate resistance in C. bonariensis. The whole-transcriptome was de novo assembled from glyphosate-resistant and -sensitive biotypes of C. bonariensis from Southern Brazil. The RNA was extracted from untreated and glyphosate-treated plants at several timepoints up to 288 h after treatment in both biotypes. The transcriptome assembly produced 90,124 contigs with an average length of 777 bp and N50 of 1118 bp. In response to glyphosate treatment, differential gene expression analysis was performed on glyphosate-resistant and -sensitive biotypes. A total of 9622 genes were differentially expressed as a response to glyphosate treatment in both biotypes, 4297 (44.6%) being up- and 5325 (55.4%) down-regulated. The resistant biotype presented 1770 up- and 2333 down-regulated genes while the sensitive biotype had 2335 and 2800 up- and down-regulated genes, respectively. Among them, 974 up- and 1290 down-regulated genes were co-expressed in both biotypes. In the present work, we identified 41 new candidate target genes from five families related to herbicide transport and metabolism: 19 ABC transporters, 10 CYP450s, one glutathione S-transferase (GST), five glycosyltransferases (GT), and six genes related to antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The candidate genes may participate in metabolic-based glyphosate resistance via oxidation, conjugation, transport, and degradation, plus antioxidation. One or more of these genes might 'rescue' resistant plants from irreversible damage after glyphosate treatment. The 41 target genes we report in the present study may inform further functional genomics studies, including gene editing approaches to elucidate glyphosate-resistance mechanisms in C. bonariensis.

Gene expression in response to glyphosate treatment in fleabane (Conyza bonariensis) - glyphosate death response and candidate resistance genes

BACKGROUND

This study takes a whole-transcriptome approach to assess gene expression changes in response to glyphosate treatment in glyphosate-resistant fleabane. We assessed gene expression changes in both susceptible and resistant lines so that the glyphosate death response could be quantified, and constitutively expressed candidate resistance genes identified. There are three copies of the glyphosate target site (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate; EPSPS) gene in Conyza and because Conyza bonariensis is allohexaploid, there is a baseline nine copies of the gene in any individual.

RESULTS

Many genes were differentially expressed in response to glyphosate treatment. Known resistance mutations are present in EPSPS2 but they are present in a glyphosate-susceptible line as well as resistant lines and therefore not sufficient to confer resistance. EPSPS1 is expressed four times more than EPSPS2, further reducing the overall contribution of these mutations.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrate that glyphosate resistance in C. bonariensis is not the result of EPSPS mutations or overexpression, but due to a non-target-site mechanism. A large number of genes are affected by glyphosate treatment. We present a list of candidate non-target-site-resistance (NTSR) genes in fleabane for future studies into these mechanisms. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Overview of glyphosate-resistant weeds worldwide

Glyphosate is the most widely used and successful herbicide discovered to date, but its utility is now threatened by the occurrence of several glyphosate-resistant weed species. Glyphosate resistance first appeared in Lolium rigidum in an apple orchard in Australia in 1996, ironically the year that the first glyphosate-resistant crop (soybean) was introduced in the USA. Thirty-eight weed species have now evolved resistance to glyphosate, distributed across 37 countries and in 34 different crops and six non-crop situations. Although glyphosate-resistant weeds have been identified in orchards, vineyards, plantations, cereals, fallow and non-crop situations, it is the glyphosate-resistant weeds in glyphosate-resistant crop systems that dominate the area infested and growing economic impact. Glyphosate-resistant weeds present the greatest threat to sustained weed control in major agronomic crops because this herbicide is used to control weeds with resistance to herbicides with other sites of action, and no new herbicide sites of action have been introduced for over 30 years. Industry has responded by developing herbicide resistance traits in major crops that allow existing herbicides to be used in a new way. However, over reliance on these traits will result in multiple-resistance in weeds. Weed control in major crops is at a precarious point, where we must maintain the utility of the herbicides we have until we can transition to new weed management technologies. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

From tolerance to resistance: mechanisms governing the differential response to glyphosate in Chloris barbata

BACKGROUND

Susceptibility and the mechanism (s) governing tolerance/resistance to glyphosate were characterized in two putative-glyphosate-resistant Chloris barbata populations (R1 and R2), collected in Persian lime orchards from Colima State, Mexico, comparing them with one non-treated population (referred to as S).

RESULTS

Glyphosate doses required to reduce fresh weight or cause mortality by 50% were 4.2-6.4 times higher in resistant populations than in the S population. The S population accumulated 4.3 and 5.2 times more shikimate than the R2 and R1 populations, respectively. There were no differences in 14 C-glyphosate uptake between R and S populations, but the R plants translocated at least 12% less herbicide to the rest of plant and roots 96 h after treatment. Insignificant amounts of glyphosate were metabolized to aminomethyl phosphonate and glyoxylate in both R and S plants. The 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase gene of the R populations contained the Pro106-Ser mutation, giving them a resistance 12 (R2) and 14.7 (R1) times greater at target-site level compared with the S population.

CONCLUSION

The Pro106-Ser mutation governs the resistance to glyphosate of the R1 and R2 C barbata populations, but the impaired translocation could contribute to the resistance. These results confirm the first case of glyphosate resistance evolved in this species. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Environmental and health effects of the herbicide glyphosate

The herbicide glyphosate, N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine, has been used extensively in the past 40years, under the assumption that side effects were minimal. However, in recent years, concerns have increased worldwide about the potential wide ranging direct and indirect health effects of the large scale use of glyphosate. In 2015, the World Health Organization reclassified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans. A detailed overview is given of the scientific literature on the movement and residues of glyphosate and its breakdown product aminomethyl phosphonic acid (AMPA) in soil and water, their toxicity to macro- and microorganisms, their effects on microbial compositions and potential indirect effects on plant, animal and human health. Although the acute toxic effects of glyphosate and AMPA on mammals are low, there are animal data raising the possibility of health effects associated with chronic, ultra-low doses related to accumulation of these compounds in the environment. Intensive glyphosate use has led to the selection of glyphosate-resistant weeds and microorganisms. Shifts in microbial compositions due to selective pressure by glyphosate may have contributed to the proliferation of plant and animal pathogens. Research on a link between glyphosate and antibiotic resistance is still scarce but we hypothesize that the selection pressure for glyphosate-resistance in bacteria could lead to shifts in microbiome composition and increases in antibiotic resistance to clinically important antimicrobial agents. We recommend interdisciplinary research on the associations between low level chronic glyphosate exposure, distortions in microbial communities, expansion of antibiotic resistance and the emergence of animal, human and plant diseases. Independent research is needed to revisit the tolerance thresholds for glyphosate residues in water, food and animal feed taking all possible health risks into account.

Transcription of putative tonoplast transporters in response to glyphosate and paraquat stress in Conyza bonariensis and Conyza canadensis and selection of reference genes for qRT-PCR

Herbicide resistance is a challenge for modern agriculture further complicated by cases of resistance to multiple herbicides. Conyza bonariensis and Conyza canadensis are invasive weeds of field crops, orchards, and non-cropped areas in many parts of the world. In California, USA, Conyza populations resistant to the herbicides glyphosate and paraquat have recently been described. Although the mechanism conferring resistance to glyphosate and paraquat in these species was not elucidated, reduced translocation of these herbicides was observed under experimental conditions in both species. Glyphosate and paraquat resistance associated with reduced translocation are hypothesized to be a result of sequestration of herbicides into the vacuole, with the possible involvement of over-expression of genes encoding tonoplast transporters of ABC-transporter families in cases of glyphosate resistance or cationic amino acid transporters (CAT) in cases of paraquat resistance. However, gene expression in response to herbicide treatment has not been studied in glyphosate and paraquat resistant populations. In the current study, we evaluated the transcript levels of genes possibly involved in resistance using real-time PCR. First, we evaluated eight candidate reference genes following herbicide treatment and selected three genes that exhibited stable expression profiles; ACTIN, HEAT-SHOCK-PROTEIN-70, and CYCLOPHILIN. The reference genes identified here can be used for further studies related to plant-herbicide interactions. We used these reference genes to assay the transcript levels of EPSPS, ABC transporters, and CAT in response to herbicide treatment in susceptible and resistant Conyza spp. lines. No transcription changes were observed in EPSPS or CAT genes after glyphosate or paraquat treatment, suggesting that these genes are not involved in the resistance mechanism. Transcription of the two ABC transporter genes increased following glyphosate treatment in all Conyza spp. lines. Transcription of ABC transporters also increased after paraquat treatment in all three lines of C. bonariensis. However, in C. canadensis, paraquat treatment increased transcription of only one ABC transporter gene in the susceptible line. The increase in transcription of ABC transporters after herbicide treatment is likely a stress response based on similar response observed across all Conyza lines regardless of resistance or sensitivity to glyphosate or paraquat, thus these genes do not appear to be directly involved in the mechanism of resistance in Conyza spp.

Comparative proteomic analysis of horseweed (Conyza canadensis) biotypes identifies candidate proteins for glyphosate resistance

Emergence of glyphosate-resistant horseweed (Conyza canadensis) biotypes is an example of how unrelenting use of a single mode of action herbicide in agricultural weed control drives genetic adaptation in targeted species. While in other weeds glyphosate resistance arose from target site mutation or target gene amplification, the resistance mechanism in horseweed uses neither of these, being instead linked to reduced herbicide uptake and/or translocation. The molecular components underpinning horseweed glyphosate-resistance remain unknown. Here, we used an in vitro leaf disc system for comparative analysis of proteins extracted from control and glyphosate-treated tissues of glyphosate-resistant and glyphosate-susceptible biotypes. Analysis of shikimic acid accumulation, ABC-transporter gene expression, and cell death were used to select a suitable glyphosate concentration and sampling time for enriching proteins pivotal to glyphosate resistance. Protein gel analysis and mass spectrometry identified mainly chloroplast proteins differentially expressed between the biotypes before and after glyphosate treatment. Chloroplasts are the organelles in which the shikimate pathway, which is targeted by glyphosate, is located. Calvin cycle enzymes and proteins of unknown function were among the proteins identified. Our study provides candidate proteins that could be pivotal in engendering resistance and implicates chloroplasts as the primary sites driving glyphosate-resistance in horseweed.