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Glyphosate-resistant weeds discovery in Australia
Sep. 5, 2014
Central Queensland farmers have a new enemy in the battle against herbicide resistant weeds - glyphosate resistant Sweet Summer Grass.
The discovery was announced last week by the Australian Glyphosate Sustainability Working Group (AGSWG), a collaborative initiative aimed at promoting the sustainable use of glyphosate in Australian agriculture that is supported by a range of industry organisations including the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
This is the first recorded case of herbicide resistance in this species globally and follows closely on the heels of another world first - the confirmation of glyphosate resistant common sowthistle near Gunnedah early in 2014.
Sweet Summer Grass is a major summer growing weed that can form dense mats in cultivation areas with remains of old plants impeding winter crop establishment. Like most problem weeds, it has prolific seed production with up to 6000 seeds per plant.
Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) staff found the population near Emerald after it survived several applications of glyphosate at label rates.
Seed of this suspect population and those of a likely susceptible patch were sent to the NSW Department of Primary industries (DPI) at Tamworth for testing in late 2013, according to NSW DPI Technical Specialist Weeds, Tony Cook.
“The difference between the two populations is massive,” Mr Cook said.
“As evidenced by the picture taken 16 days after treating with glyphosate 450 at 1.6 litres a hectare, the susceptible is fully controlled and the suspect plants are green and healthy.
“For a plant to re-shoot so rapidly within 16 days after spraying may indicate a moderate to high level of resistance.”
Central Queensland farmers are already contending with feathertop Rhodes grass patches that can easily survive 4L/ha of glyphosate and the latest finding is yet another sign that weed control in the region needs to be more flexible and less reliant on glyphosate.
Source: The Land Farmonline
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