Herbicide-resistant weed management: focus on glyphosate

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Agronomy
• Weed Science

Background:

• Recurrent glyphosate use has led to widespread glyphosate resistance (GR) in weeds.
• Limited diversity in weed management practices exacerbates the evolution of GR weeds.
• Growers often continue using glyphosate due to its cost-effectiveness and broad-spectrum control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review proactive and reactive management strategies for glyphosate-resistant weeds.
• To explore the role of alternative herbicides, crop traits, and policy in GR weed management.
• To assess current grower attitudes towards GR weed management practices.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on glyphosate resistance and weed management tactics.
• Analysis of herbicide strategies including mixtures, sequences, and alternative modes of action.
• Consideration of crop cultivars with herbicide-resistance traits.
• Examination of policy and industry influences on grower adoption of management practices.
• Inclusion of recent survey data on US grower attitudes.

Main Results:

• Herbicide strategies involving alternative modes of action and soil-residual activity are key for managing GR weeds.
• Crop cultivars with stacked herbicide-resistance traits offer future management potential.
• Grower awareness of proactive management benefits and reactive management costs is increasing.

Conclusions:

• A shift towards proactive GR weed management is essential for long-term efficacy.
• Integrated strategies combining diverse herbicides, resistant crops, and supportive policies are recommended.
• Enhanced grower education and incentives can accelerate the adoption of proactive GR weed management.