Which method leads to herbicide resistance development in aquatic weeds?

Asexual or vegetative reproduction can significantly contribute to herbicide resistance development in aquatic weeds because it allows plants to reproduce without sexual reproduction processes. When weeds reproduce asexually, they can quickly multiply and spread genetically identical clones that are already exposed to particular herbicides. If these plants possess or develop any level of resistance to a herbicide, the entire population can quickly become resistant.

This method of reproduction can lead to a situation where multiple generations of the same genetic makeup are subjected to the same herbicide treatment. Over time, if any individual in that population has a resistant mutation, it will survive and propagate, effectively leading to a larger proportion of the population being resistant.

In contrast, the other options involve processes such as seed production and pollination, genetic engineering, and natural selection, which play different roles in plant reproduction and adaptation. They might influence the plants’ genetic variability and adaptability to herbicides but do not directly contribute to the rapid development of resistance in the same way that asexual or vegetative reproduction does in the context of herbicide application.