A novel mutation in SoIAA20 confers cross-resistance to 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and other auxinic herbicides in Sonchus oleraceus.

Background: 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and other auxinic herbicides are important for weed control in cropping systems globally. Weeds with resistance to 2,4-D and other auxinic herbicides have evolved, including several populations of Sonchus oleraceus from multiple sites in Australia. We report the underlying mechanism in these populations that gives rise to auxinic herbicide resistance.

Some reef-building corals only disperse metres per generation.

Understanding the dispersal potential of different species is essential for predicting recovery trajectories following local disturbances and the potential for adaptive loci to spread to populations facing extreme environmental changes. However, dispersal distances have been notoriously difficult to estimate for scleractinian corals, where sexually (as gametes or larvae) or asexually (as fragments or larvae) derived propagules disperse through vast oceans. Here, we demonstrate that generational dispersal distances for sexually produced propagules can be indirectly inferred for corals using individual-based isolation-by-distance (IbD) analyses by combining reduced-representation genomic sequencing with photogrammetric spatial mapping.

Point mutations including a novel Pro-197-Phe mutation confer cross-resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibiting herbicides in Lactuca serriola in Australia.

Background: Control of prickly lettuce has become increasingly difficult for lentil growers in southern Australia because of widespread resistance to common herbicides, a lack of alternative herbicide options and the prolific production of highly mobile seed. This study aimed to quantify acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide resistance in the Mid North (MN) and Yorke Peninsula (YP) of South Australia, characterize the resistance mutations present and investigate population structure and gene flow in this species.

Results: Resistance was identified in all populations tested, with average survival of 92% to chlorsulfuron and 95% to imazamox + imazapyr.

Taxonomic Delineation of the Old World Species Stomphastis thraustica (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) Feeding on Jatropha gossypiifolia (Euphorbiaceae) that Was Collected in the New World and Imported as a Biocontrol Agent to Australia.

We provide the identification and species delineation of this biocontrol agent as Stomphastis thraustica (Meyrick in Trans Ent Soc Lond 80(1):107-120, 1908) belonging to the family Gracillariidae. We clarify the distribution pattern of S. thraustica, its host plant preferences, and present taxonomic and molecular diagnoses based on original morphological and genetic data as well as data retrieved from historic literature and genetic databases.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) based on long-read nanopore sequencing.

Background: The coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB, ) is a severe and invasive pest of coconut and other palms throughout Asia and the Pacific. The biocontrol agent, (OrNV), has successfully suppressed populations for decades but new CRB invasions started appearing after 2007. A single-SNP variant within the mitochondrial gene is used to distinguish the recently-invading CRB-G lineage from other haplotypes, but the lack of mitogenome sequence for this species hinders further development of a molecular toolset for biosecurity and management programmes against CRB.

Migration dynamics of an important rice pest: The brown planthopper () across Asia-Insights from population genomics.

Introduction: Brown planthoppers () are the most serious insect pests of rice, one of the world's most important staple crops. They reproduce year-round in the tropical parts of their distribution, but cannot overwinter in the temperate areas where they occur, and invade seasonally from elsewhere. Decades of research have not revealed their source unambiguously.

Multiple invasions of a generalist herbivore-Secondary contact between two divergent lineages of Linnaeus in Australia.

The presence of distinct evolutionary lineages within herbivorous pest insect taxa requires close attention. Scientific understanding, biosecurity planning and practice, and pest management decision-making each suffer when such situations remain poorly understood. The pest bug Linnaeus has been recorded from numerous host plants and has two globally distributed mitochondrial (mtDNA) lineages.

The recognition concept and genetic approaches to interpreting species.

1. Introduction. 2.

Gene flow across host-associated populations of the rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Crambidae): implications for Bt resistance management in rice.

Background: The rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis, is a serious pest of rice, but also damages an aquatic vegetable, water oats (Zizania latifolia Turcz.). The time at which mating occurs is different between populations of rice stem borer associated with rice and those associated with water-oats, which suggests that undetected cryptic species may be associated with these plant hosts.

Origins, Divergence, and Contrasting Invasion History of the Sweet Potato Weevil Pests Cylas formicarius (Coleoptera: Brentidae) and Euscepes batatae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the Asia-Pacific.

Cylas formicarius F. and Euscepes batatae Waterhouse are the most damaging sweet potato insect pests globally. Both weevils are thought to have invaded the Pacific alongside the movement of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.

The complete chloroplast genome of the invasive fern (Cav.) R. Br.

The Old World climbing fern, , is a rapidly spreading environmental weed in Florida, United States. We reconstructed the complete chloroplast genome of from Illumina whole-genome shotgun sequencing, and investigate the phylogenetic placement of this species within the Leptosporangiate ferns. The chloroplast genome is 158,891 bp and contains 87 protein-coding genes, four rRNA genes, and 27 tRNA genes.

Complete chloroplast genome of glyphosate resistant L. from Australia, with notes on the small single copy (SSC) region orientation.

, common sowthistle, is an asteraceous weed in Australian agricultural systems and has recently developed resistance to glyphosate. We present the complete chloroplast sequence of reconstructed from Illumina whole genome shotgun sequencing. This is the first complete chloroplast genome available for the genus .

The complete mitochondrial genome of (Perciformes, Gobiidae).

In this study, we sequenced the full mitochondrial genome of , an abundant intertidal fish species, which may provide insights into the evolutionary genetics of chaotic genetic patchiness and range expansion in marine systems. The mitochondrial genome is 16,692 bp, and contains 13 protein-coding genes along with 22 tRNA and 2 rRNA genes and a D-loop region, arranged similarly to other Gobiidae species. A Bayesian phylogeny of Gobiidae species indicates close relationships to the genus .

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.

Complete chloroplast genome of glyphosate resistant (L.) Cronquist from Australia.

, flaxleaf fleabane, is a serious weed in Australian agricultural systems, particularly the north-east cropping system. We present the complete chloroplast sequence of reconstructed from Illumina whole genome shotgun sequencing. This is the first complete chloroplast genome available for genus .

Complete chloroplast genome sequences of six lines of (L.) link.

Barnyard grass (, (L.) Link) is the wild relative of barnyard millet ( (Roxb.) Link).

Complete chloroplast genome sequences of two species of grass, Sw. and R.Br.

(windmill grass) and (feathertop Rhodes grass) are both weedy grass species that have developed resistance to glyphosate in Australia. This paper describes the complete chloroplast genomes of these two species generated by high throughput shotgun sequencing. The chloroplast genome of is 135,584 bp and is 134,561 bp; both have a GC content of 38%.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the green mirid Stål (Hemiptera: Miridae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of the green mirid, a significant pest of cotton in Australia, comprises 15,864 bp and has a GC content of 22.3%. The layout of the 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes follows the ancestral insect arrangement, and 22 tRNA's were detected as well as the small and large rRNA's.

High Spatial Genetic Structure and Genetic Diversity in Chinese Populations of Sitobion miscanthi (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

The wheat aphid, Sitobion miscanthi Takahashi, a serious wheat pest, was previously considered to be highly migratory and anholocyclic in China. We recorded 69 alleles and 346 multilocus genotypes among 708 aphid individuals from 12 populations in China using 5 microsatellite loci. This genotypic diversity indicates that at least some holocyclic lineages exist.

Bees at war: interspecific battles and nest usurpation in stingless bees.

We provide the first evidence for interspecific warfare in bees, a spectacular natural phenomenon that involves a series of aerial battles and leads to thousands of fatalities from both attacking and defending colonies. Molecular analysis of fights at a hive of the Australian stingless bee Tetragonula carbonaria revealed that the attack was launched by a related species, Tetragonula hockingsi, which has only recently extended its habitat into southeastern Queensland. Following a succession of attacks by the same T.

Species limits, quarantine risk and the intrigue of a polyphagous invasive pest with highly restricted host relationships in its area of invasion.

Scirtothrips aurantii is a generalist horticultural pest in its native African range and recently established quite widely in Australia on the invasive succulent weed Bryophyllum delagoense. Paradoxically, this thrips is not polyphagous in its incursive range. The issue is principally one of quarantine.

Resolving multiple host use of an emergent pest of cotton with microsatellite data and chloroplast markers (Creontiades dilutus Stål; Hemiptera, Miridae).

Following the global uptake of transgenic cotton several Hemipteran pests have emerged as primary targets for pesticide control. Previous research on one such emergent pest: the green mirid, Creontiades dilutus, indicated differential use of two crop hosts, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum, Malvaceae) and lucerne (alfalfa) (Medicago sativa, Fabaceae). We tested the hypothesis that this apparent demographic independence of lucerne and cotton inhabiting mirids is the result of cryptic species being associated with these two crops.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus.

The dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus is economically important but vulnerable to overharvesting. The complete C. obscurus mitogenome was assembled from approximately 1 million whole genome shotgun sequences using a combination of reference mapping and de novo assembly (mean coverage 59x).