## 1 Introduction
The involvement of GST enzymes in the detoxification of ACCase inhibitor herbicides was recently reported in Chinese _Echinochla glabrescens_ Munro [PERSON] (_Echinochla crus-galli_ ([PERSON]) P. [PERSON] var. _formosensis_) [20] and in Chinese _E. phyllopogon_ against metamifop (chemical group: aryloxyphenoxypropionate) [21]. The _elF4B_ gene encodes for an RNA-binding protein involved in the regulation of the initiation stage of protein synthesis [22]. Its overexpression is related to the occurrence of stresses in plants and culminates in a higher content of detoxifying enzymes, such as CYP450 and GST, leading to herbicide detoxification [23]. Thus, the expression of the enzymes involved in herbicide metabolic degradation is triggered by the application of chemical control, which stimulates an adaptive response in the plant. Although herbicide detoxification by CYP450 and GST has been assessed in _Echinochla_[14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21], only recently has the scientific community started to consider the role of epigenetics in the occurrence of herbicide resistance [24]. Small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs), as epigenetic modulators [25; 26], act at the post-transcriptional level by pairing with messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts, inhibiting or down-regulating gene expression depending on the perfect or near-perfect complementarity [27; 28; 29]. It is well known that microRNAs (miRNAs) are conserved across species and kingdoms [30]. For example, plants and animals share miRNAs of the miR854 family [31]. The transcription of miRNAs is triggered by a variety of environmental signals, including ecological stressors, like heat [32], cold [33], drought [34], and salinity [35], producing a stress response that allows the organism to tolerate adverse conditions. Recently, the transcription of some miRNAs enabled the down-regulation of the expression of CYP450 and GST genes after the application of bispyribac-Na was observed in Italian-resistant biotypes of _E. crus-galli_[36]. The species of the genus _Echinochla_ (L.) [PERSON] are widely distributed in Italian paddy fields, causing serious infestation problems [4]. These weeds are particularly noxious due to their evolution of resistance against the most commonly used herbicides [3]. _Echinochla oryzicola_ (Vasinger) Vasinger (late-watergrass) is one of the most problematic. It is an annual allo-tetraploid weed (2n = 4X = 36) native to Asia that has now spread all over the world, from tropical to temperate regions [37]. While adapting to a wide range of natural environments, _E. oryzicola_ prefers flooded rice fields. Cases of cross-resistance have been reported for _E. oryzicola_[38]. One of the herbicides mainly used to control _Echinochla_ species is AURA(r) (profoxydim--chemical group: cyclohexanedione--HRAC group 1), an inhibitor of the production of the ACCase enzyme. Due to its harmful effects on aquatic organisms and its persistence in the environment, it was banned in the EU in November 2021, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 of the European Commission [6]. However, due to the phytosanitary emergency regarding the need to control _E. crus-galli_, _Echinochla oryzoides_ [PERSON][PERSON], _Echinochla colona_ ([PERSON], and _Panicum dichotomiforum_ Michx., the use of AURA(r) (profoxydim) in Italy was allowed up until 2024, pursuant to art. 53 of Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 [6; 39; 40; 41]. In our research, we wanted to assess the role of miRNAs in the regulation of the expression of genes involved in profoxydim resistance in _E. oryzicola_. The expression of genes encoding for cytochromes P450 monooxygenase and glutathione S-transferase and the transcription of miRNAs targeting their messenger RNAs was analyzed in Italian _E. oryzicola_ biotypes resistant to profoxydim. We recorded the expression of nine CYP450 (CYP81A12, CYP81A21, CYP81A22, CYP81A24, CYP81A63, CYP81A6, CYP71 AK2, CYP72A122, and CYP72A254), two GST (_EcGST_ and _GSTF1_), and the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4B (_elF4B_) in _E.