Comparison of Triazine-Resistant and -Susceptible Biotypes of Senecio vulgaris and Their F(1) Hybrids.

The relationship of triazine resistance to decreased plant productivity was investigated in Senecio vulgaris L. F(1) reciprocal hybrids were developed from pure-breeding susceptible (S) and resistant (R) lines. The four biotypes (S, S x R, R, R x S) were compared in terms of atrazine response, electron transport, carbon fixation, and biomass production. Atrazine response, carbon fixation rate, and PSII and whole-chain electron transport rates of hybrids were nearly identical to those of their respective maternal parents. Significant differences occurred between the two susceptible (S, S x R) and two resistant (R, R x S) biotypes in atrazine response (I(50)), carbon fixation rate, and PSII and whole-chain electron transport rates; PSI rates were identical in all four biotypes. Coupled and uncoupled, whole-chain electron transport rates of thylakoids of the two susceptible biotypes were approximately 50% greater than those of the two resistant biotypes at photon flux densities greater than 215 micromoles per square meter per second. Carbon exchange rates of the two susceptible biotypes were 23% greater than those of the two resistant biotypes. Hybrid biotypes (S x R, R x S) were not identical to their maternal parents in biomass production. The S, S x R, and R x S plants all achieved greater biomass than R plants. These results suggest that while the resistance mutation influences thylakoid performance, reduced productivity of triazine-resistant plants cannot be ascribed solely to decreases in electron transport or carbon assimilation rates brought about by the altered binding protein. Since the F(1) hybrids differed from their maternal parents only in nuclear genes, it appears that the detrimental effects of the triazine resistance mutation on plant growth may be attenuated by interactions of the plastid and nuclear genomes.