About

Marie Jasieniuk is a Professor Emerita in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis. Her research focuses on population genetics, molecular ecology, and the evolution of agricultural weeds and invasive plants. The overall goal of her research program is to advance understanding of the processes underlying the introduction, evolution, and spread of weeds, which can lead to improved weed management and prevention programs. Her lab integrates genetic studies—such as molecular, population, and inheritance analyses—with ecological studies, including phenotypic, spatial, and demographic investigations. Her work primarily concentrates on two weed systems: agricultural weeds evolving resistance to herbicides and invasive weeds with horticultural origins. These systems are particularly relevant to California, where her research has direct implications for managing economically and environmentally significant plant pests. She has contributed to projects examining evolutionary changes in ryegrass populations since glyphosate resistance was detected and the resistance mechanisms in Italian Ryegrass to glufosinate. Additionally, she teaches core courses in genetics, ecology, and plant biology within the graduate and undergraduate programs at UC Davis. Her external activities include serving as an associate editor for Invasive Plant Science and Management and Weed Science, and she has been recognized with awards such as the David W. Staniforth Memorial Lecture at Iowa State University in 2016.

Research topics

• Biology
• Agronomy
• Botany
• Ecology
• Genetics

Selected publications

• ESTIMATIVA DA DIVERSIDADE GENÉTICA E ANÁLISE DA ESTRUTURA DE POPULAÇÕES DE Conyza sp.

  Editora Conhecimento Livre eBooks · 2023-01-01

  book-chapterOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Transfer of resistance alleles from herbicide-resistant to susceptible grass weeds via pollen-mediated gene flow

  Weed Technology · 2021-10-04 · 20 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract The objective of this paper was to review the reproductive biology, herbicide-resistant (HR) biotypes, pollen-mediated gene flow (PMGF), and potential for transfer of alleles from HR to herbicide-susceptible grass weeds including barnyardgrass, creeping bentgrass, Italian ryegrass, johnsongrass, rigid (annual) ryegrass, and wild oats. The widespread occurrence of HR grass weeds is at least partly due to PMGF, particularly in obligate outcrossing species such as rigid ryegrass. Creeping bentgrass, a wind-pollinated turfgrass species, can efficiently disseminate herbicide resistance alleles via PMGF and movement of seeds and stolons. The genus Agrostis contains about 200 species, many of which are sexually compatible and produce naturally occurring hybrids and hybrids with species in the genus Polypogon . The self-incompatibility, extremely high outcrossing rate, and wind pollination in Italian ryegrass clearly point to PMGF as a major mechanism by which herbicide resistance alleles can spread across agricultural landscapes, resulting in abundant genetic variation within populations and low genetic differentiation among populations. Italian ryegrass can readily hybridize with perennial ryegrass and rigid ryegrass due to their similarity in chromosome numbers (2 n = 14), resulting in interspecific gene exchange. Johnsongrass, barnyardgrass, and wild oats are self-pollinated species, so the potential for PMGF is relatively low and limited to short distances; however, seeds can easily shatter upon maturity before crop harvest, leading to wider dispersal. The occurrence of PMGF in reviewed grass weed species, even at a low rate, is greater than that of spontaneous mutations conferring herbicide resistance in weeds and thus can contribute to the spread of herbicide resistance alleles. This review indicates that the transfer of herbicide resistance alleles occurs under field conditions at varying levels depending on the grass weed species.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Lolium rigidum and Lolium multiflorum

  Elsevier eBooks · 2021-01-01 · 9 citations

  book-chapterSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• List of contributors

  Elsevier eBooks · 2021-01-01

  book-chapter
  PublisherDOI

• 低率でのグルホシナートによるリカレント選択はグルホシナートに対するLolium perenne ssp.multiflorum個体群の感受性を低下させる【JST・京大機械翻訳】

  Agronomy (Web) · 2020-01-01

  articleSenior author
  Publisher

• Recurrent selection with glufosinate at low rates reduces the susceptibility of a <i>Lolium perenne</i> ssp. <i>multiflorum</i> population to glufosinate

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2020-07-06 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  ABSTRACT Repeated applications of herbicides at the labelled rates have often resulted in the selection and evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds capable of surviving the labelled and higher rates in subsequent generations. However, the evolutionary outcomes of recurrent herbicide selection at low rates are far less understood. In this study of an herbicide-susceptible population of Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum , we assessed the potential for low glufosinate rates to select for reduced susceptibility to the herbicide, and cross-resistance to herbicides with other modes of action. Reduced susceptibility to glufosinate was detected in progeny in comparison with the parental population following three rounds of selection at low glufosinate rates. Differences were mainly observed at the 0.5X, 0.75X, and 1X rates. Comparing the parental susceptible population and progeny from the second and third selection cycle, the percentage of surviving plants increased to values of LD 50 (1.31 and 1.16, respectively) and LD 90 (1.36 and 1.26, respectively). When treated with three alternative herbicides (glyphosate, paraquat, and sethoxydim), no plants of either the parental or successive progeny populations survived treatment with 0.75X or higher rates of these herbicides. The results of this study provide clear evidence that reduced susceptibility to glufosinate can evolve in weed populations following repeated applications of glufosinate at low herbicide rates. However, the magnitude of increases in resistance levels over three generations of recurrent low-rate glufosinate selection observed is relatively low compared with higher levels of resistance observed in response to low-rate selection with other herbicides (three fold and more).

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Recurrent Selection with Glufosinate at Low Rates Reduces the Susceptibility of a Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum Population to Glufosinate

  Agronomy · 2020-08-31 · 9 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Repeated applications of herbicides at the labelled rates have often resulted in the selection and evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds capable of surviving the labelled and higher rates in subsequent generations. However, the evolutionary outcomes of recurrent herbicide selection at low rates are far less understood. In this study of a herbicide-susceptible population of Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum, we assessed the potential for low glufosinate rates to select for reduced susceptibility to the herbicide, and cross-resistance to herbicides with other modes of action. Reduced susceptibility to glufosinate was detected in progeny in comparison with the parental population following three rounds of selection at low glufosinate rates. Differences were mainly observed at the 0.5X, 0.75X, and 1X rates. Comparing the parental susceptible population and progeny from the second and third selection cycle, the percentage of surviving plants increased to values of LD50 (1.31 and 1.16, respectively) and LD90 (1.36 and 1.26, respectively). When treated with three alternative herbicides (glyphosate, paraquat, and sethoxydim), no plants of either the parental or successive progeny populations survived treatment with 0.75X or higher rates of these herbicides. The results of this study provide clear evidence that reduced susceptibility to glufosinate can evolve in weed populations following repeated applications of glufosinate at low herbicide rates. However, the magnitude of increases in resistance levels over three generations of recurrent low-rate glufosinate selection observed is relatively low compared with higher levels of resistance observed in response to low-rate selection with other herbicides (three fold and more).

  PublisherDOI

• Multiple herbicide resistance in California Italian ryegrass (<i>Lolium perenne</i>ssp.<i>multiflorum</i>): characterization of ALS-inhibiting herbicide resistance

  Weed Science · 2019-03-29 · 21 citations

  articleSenior author

  Abstract Multiple resistance to glyphosate, sethoxydim, and paraquat was previously confirmed in two Italian ryegrass [ Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot] populations, MR1 and MR2 , in northern California. Preliminary greenhouse studies revealed that both populations were also resistant to imazamox and mesosulfuron, both of which are acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides. In this study, three subpopulations, MR1-A (from seed of MR1 plants that survived a 16X rate of sethoxydim), MR1-P (from seed of MR1 plants that survived a 2X rate of paraquat), and MR2 (from seed of MR2 plants that survived a 16X rate of sethoxydim), were investigated to determine the resistance level to imazamox and mesosulfuron, evaluate other herbicide options for the control of these multiple resistant L. perenne ssp. multiflorum , and characterize the underlying ALS-inhibitor resistance mechanism(s). Based on LD 50 values, the MR1-A , MR1-P , and MR2 subpopulations were 38-, 29-, 8-fold and 36-, 64-, and 3-fold less sensitive to imazamox and mesosulfuron, respectively, relative to the susceptible ( Sus ) population. Only MR1-P and MR2 plants were cross-resistant to rimsulfuron, whereas both MR1 subpopulations were cross-resistant to imazethapyr. Pinoxaden (ACCase inhibitor [phenylpyrazoline 'DEN']) only controlled MR2 and Sus plants at the labeled field rate. However, all plants were effectively controlled (&gt;99%) with the labeled field rate of glufosinate. Based on I 50 values, MR1-A , MR-P , and MR2 plants were 712-, 1,104-, and 3-fold and 10-, 18-, and 5-fold less responsive to mesosulfuron and imazamox, respectively, than the Sus plants. Sequence alignment of the ALS gene of resistant plants revealed a missense single-nucleotide polymorphism resulting in a Trp-574-Leu substitution in MR1-A and MR1-P plants, heterozygous in both, but not in the MR2 plants. An additional homozygous substitution, Asp-376-Glu, was identified in the MR1-A plants. Addition of malathion or piperonyl butoxide did not alter the efficacy of mesosulfuron on MR2 plants. In addition, the presence of 2,4-D had no effect on the response of mesosulfuron on the MR2 and Sus . These results suggest an altered target site is the mechanism of resistance to ALS inhibitors in MR1-A and MR1-P plants, whereas a non–target site based resistance apparatus is present in the MR2 plants.

  PublisherDOI

• Increased temperatures and elevated CO2 levels reduce the sensitivity of Conyza canadensis and Chenopodium album to glyphosate

  Scientific Reports · 2019-02-18 · 49 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Herbicides are the most commonly used means of controlling weeds. Recently, there has been growing concern over the potential impacts of global climate change, specifically, increasing temperatures and elevated carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentrations, on the sensitivity of weeds to herbicides. Here, glyphosate response of both Conyza canadensis and Chenopodium album was evaluated under different environmental conditions. Reduced glyphosate sensitivity was observed in both species in response to increased temperature, elevated CO 2 level, and the combination of both factors. Increased temperature had greater effect on plant survival than elevated CO 2 level. In combination, high temperature and elevated CO 2 level resulted in loss of apical dominance and rapid necrosis in glyphosate-treated plants. To investigate the mechanistic basis of reduced glyphosate sensitivity, translocation was examined using 14 C-glyphosate. In plants that were subjected to high temperatures and elevated CO 2 level, glyphosate was more rapidly translocated out of the treated leaf to shoot meristems and roots than in plants grown under control conditions. These results suggest that altered glyphosate translocation and tissue-specific sequestration may be the basis of reduced plant sensitivity. Therefore, overreliance on glyphosate for weed control under changing climatic conditions may result in more weed control failures.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Climate outweighs native vs. nonnative range‐effects for genetics and common garden performance of a cosmopolitan weed

  Ecological Monographs · 2019-06-25 · 43 citations

  article

  Abstract Comparing genetic diversity, genetic differentiation, and performance between native and nonnative populations has advanced our knowledge of contemporary evolution and its ecological consequences. However, such between‐range comparisons can be complicated by high among‐population variation within native and nonnative ranges. For example, native vs. nonnative comparisons between small and non‐representative subsets of populations for species with very large distributions have the potential to mislead because they may not sufficiently account for within‐range adaptation to climatic conditions, and demographic history that may lead to non‐adaptive evolution. We used the cosmopolitan weed Conyza canadensis to study the interplay of adaptive and demographic processes across, to our knowledge, the broadest climatic gradient yet investigated in this context. To examine the distribution of genetic diversity, we genotyped 26 native and 26 nonnative populations at 12 microsatellite loci. Furthermore, we recorded performance traits for 12 native and 13 nonnative populations in the field and in the common garden. To analyze how performance was related to range and/or climate, we fit pedigree mixed‐effects models. These models weighed the population random effect for co‐ancestry to account for the influence of demographic history on phenotypic among‐population differentiation. Genetic diversity was very low, selfing rates were very high, and both were comparable between native and nonnative ranges. Nonnative populations out‐performed native populations in the field. However, our most salient result was that both neutral genetic differentiation and common garden performance were far more correlated with the climatic conditions from which populations originated than native vs. nonnative range affiliation. Including co‐ancestry of our populations in our models greatly increased explained variance and our ability to detect significant main effects for among‐population variation in performance. High propagule pressure and high selfing rates, in concert with the ability to adapt rapidly to climatic gradients, may have facilitated the global success of this weed. Neither native nor nonnative populations were homogeneous groups but responded comparably to similar environments in each range. We suggest that studies of contemporary evolution should consider widely distributed and genotyped populations to disentangle native vs. nonnative range effects from varying adaptive processes within ranges and from potentially confounding effects of demographic history.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Anil Shrestha

  California State University, Fresno

  31 shared

• Albert J. Fischer

  University of California, Davis

  29 shared

• Ed Peachey

  Oregon State University

  25 shared

• Brad Hanson

  25 shared

• Rick A. Boydston

  25 shared

• Tim Miller

  25 shared

• Miki Okada

  University of California, Davis

  15 shared

• Bruce D. Maxwell

  11 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Biology

  McGill University

Awards & honors

• David W. Staniforth Memorial Lecture, Iowa State University,…