Herbicide resistance (HR) is a fascinating story of mutations in weeds that increase in frequency due to strong selection pressures of chemical control in agriculture. HR has evolved independently many times in multiple species, which adds complexity as well as frustration to farmers trying to eliminate weeds in their fields.
Simply put, weeds are just plants that grow in unwanted places. Weedy plants compete for resources with row crops (corn, soybean, wheat) and the resulting interference can reduce crop yields. Some weeds are more troublesome than others because they have evolved resistance to herbicides. Unfortunately the U.S. leads the world in the number of herbicide resistant weeds. [1]
NAGC’s weed projects aim to differentiate similar-looking weed species as well as detect genetic markers linked to herbicide resistance. These tests are used by seed laboratories to identify weed seeds collected during purity testing of crop seed as well as statewide surveys to locate HR weed hotspots.
Project Title – Details coming soon!
Funding Period – Details coming soon!
Summary – Details coming soon!
Outcomes – Details coming soon!
Zack Bateson, Ph.D. 