Alternative Solution to Control "Superweed"

Weeds that tolerate multiple herbicides including glyphosate have been found to exist across 22 states in the U.S. Getting rid of these tolerant weeds become a problem in a system that involves minimum-till farming. Researchers of Missouri University and Down AgroSciences, LLC led by Zhanyuan Zhang studied alternatives to the use of glyphosate in controlling weeds.

The results of the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences describe that two bacterial enzymes were isolated and successfully transformed into corn and soybeans. They conferred resistance to a herbicide and growth regulator 2,4-D, a common herbicide against dandelions. The researchers recommend the use of 2,4-D in conjunction with other herbicides to slow down the development of resistance of weeds against common herbicides.

"The less chemicals farmers use in the field, the less money they spend on production," said Zhang. "That leads to less cost for the consumer, as well as improved food safety and environmental safety."

See the original news at http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2011/0121-dow-agrisciences-mu-researcher-develop-a-way-to-control-%E2%80%9Csuperweed%E2%80%9D/.