Discovery of Natural Resistance to Roundup (Glyphosate) Herbicide in Soybean

Soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a globally important crop that provides a sustainable supply of plant protein and vegetable oil. Roundup herbicide with active ingredient glyphosate, as a broad-spectrum herbicide, has been extensively used to control post-emergent weeds in agricultural production, along with commercial growth of Roundup-ready (RR) crops. Widespread overuse of Roundup herbicide has led to the evolution of natural resistance in many weed species. On the other hand, the concerns about the potential health, environmental and cross-contamination effects of genetically modified organism (GMO) events have remained. Growing non-GMO resistant cultivars could eliminate the concern related to cross-contamination and help significantly reduce seed costs. However, no report has indicated that natural resistance to Roundup existed in soybean and other major crops. Here we report the very first discovery of natural Roundup resistance in conventional soybeans. The natural or non-GMO herbicide resistance discovered in conventional soybeans could be transmitted from the Roundup-survived plants to their offspring and thus could be used by selection for genetic improvement.