AbstractBACKGROUNDChlorsulfuron resistance and genetic dominance was evaluated in Raphanus raphanistrum genotypes homozygous (122‐RR, 376‐RR), heterozygous (122‐RS, 376‐RS) and compound heterozygous (122‐R/376‐R) for the target‐site resistance mutations Ala‐122‐Tyr and Asp‐376‐Glu in the AHAS (acetohydroxyacid synthase) gene.RESULTSAt the AHAS level, 122‐RR and 122‐RS plants exhibited significantly higher I50 values than 376‐RR and 376‐RS plants, respectively. However, plants of the compound heterozygous genotype (122‐R/376‐R), showed no difference in AHAS activity compared to the 122‐RS genotype but lower activity than the 122‐RR genotype, and showed a nearly 400‐fold greater I50 value than both genotypes (376‐RR and 376‐RS) carrying the 376‐Glu allele. At the whole‐plant level, 100% survival was observed for 122‐RR plants at the highest chlorsulfuron dose of 640 g ha−1, yet 376‐RR plants showed no survival at 380 g ha−1. Thus, this survival difference resulted in different median lethal dose (LD50) estimates [>640 (122‐RR) versus 330 g ha−1(376‐RR)]. The effect of chlorsulfuron in reducing aboveground growth of surviving plants also was markedly lower for the homozygous 122‐RR (GR50 = 566 g ha−1) than for 376‐RR plants (GR50 = 66). Heterozygous plants carrying the 122‐Tyr allele (122‐RS) exhibited two‐ and five‐fold higher LD50 values than both homozygous and heterozygous plants carrying the 376‐Glu allele (376‐RR, 376‐RS), respectively. Along the difference in plant survival, 122‐RS plants also showed four‐fold higher GR50 than both 376‐RR and 376‐RS plants. Survival of plants with the compound heterozygous genotype (122‐R/376‐R) under increasing chlorsulfuron doses was similar to 122‐RR or 122‐RS genotypes. However, this compound heterozygous genotype showed two‐ and six‐fold higher LD50 values than 376‐RR or 376‐RS genotypes, respectively. However, both resistance 122‐Tyr and 376‐Glu alleles were dominant or nearly dominant over the wild‐type susceptible alleles (ALA‐122 and ASP‐376), and the resistance 122‐Tyr allele was dominant over the 376‐Glu allele.CONCLUSIONSThese results broaden our understanding of AHAS target‐site resistance in R. raphanistrum and strengthens the hypothesis that the AHAS 122‐Tyr allele corresponds to a stronger target‐site resistance allele than the 376‐Glu allele. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.