|
February 10, 2009
The discovery of new glyphosate
and other herbicide resistance transgenes is providing more weed
management options to growers of crops, according to a report
published in Weed Science.
Glyphosate-resistant crops are grown worldwide and have been
associated with effective weed control, increased profits, and
less need for tillage. Low prices for glyphosate have further
encouraged its use.
Soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola are some of the
glyphosate-resistant crops that have been grown commercially.
Glyphosate has a long history of helping crop growers manage
weeds. This herbicide kills weeds but not crops that are
resistant to it. Over time, however, weeds have evolved to
develop their own resistance to glyphosate. To ensure the
continued use of glyphosate and to broaden the scope of weed
management techniques, researchers are using new transgenes to
create crops that are resistant to multiple herbicides.
The author presents an extensive historical review of
glyphosate-resistant crops and explains current efforts focusing
on the development of new glyphosate transgenic traits. In
addition, the author discusses how resistance traits in other
herbicides are being combined with those of glyphosate to
provide growers with more diverse weed management systems. The
idea is to combine resistance genes of various herbicides in
molecular stacks and use them to develop more resilient crops.
Researchers are confident that the evolution of
glyphosate-resistant crop technology will meet grower demands
for more diverse weed management systems and that this
technology will lead to the commercialization of more
herbicide-resistant crops.
To read the entire study, Evolution of Glyphosate-Resistant Crop
Technology, (Vol. 57, Issue 1:108-117, 2009); visit
http://www.allenpress.com/pdf/WEES_57.1_108_117.pdf.
Weed Science is a journal of the
Weed Science Society of America,
a non-profit professional society that promotes research,
education, and extension outreach activities related to weeds;
provides science-based information to the public and policy
makers; and fosters awareness of weeds and their impacts on
managed and natural ecosystems. |
|
