Researchers have identified a new rice gene that confers resistance to several widely used beta-triketone herbicides including benzobicyclon. The gene of interest, HIS1 (HPPD Inhinitor Sensitive 1), was identified through map-based cloning of benzobicyclon resistant and sensitive rice varieties, and encodes an oxidase that catalyzes and detoxifies benzobicyclon. Benzobicyclon is toxic to several high-yield rice varieties, and the researchers (lead researcher based at the Japanese National Agriculture and Food Research Organization's Institute of Crop Science) note that the newly identified gene could potentially be used for breeding new herbicide resistant varieties.