Steve Walker

Simulating the evolution of glyphosate resistance in grains farming in northern Australia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The evolution of resistance to herbicides is a substantial problem in contemporary agriculture. Solutions to this problem generally consist of the use of practices to control the resistant population once it evolves, and/or to institute preventative measures before populations become resistant. Herbicide resistance evolves in populations over years or decades, so predicting the effectiveness of preventative strategies in particular relies on computational modelling approaches. While models of herbicide resistance already exist, none deals with the complex regional variability in the northern Australian sub-tropical grains farming region. For this reason, a new computer model was developed. METHODS The model consists of an age- and stage-structured population model of weeds, with an existing crop model used to simulate plant growth and competition, and extensions to the crop model added to simulate seed bank ecology and population genetics factors. Using awnless barnyard grass (Echinochloa colona) as a test case, the model was used to investigate the likely rate of evolution under conditions expected to produce high selection pressure. KEY RESULTS Simulating continuous summer fallows with glyphosate used as the only means of weed control resulted in predicted resistant weed populations after approx. 15 years. Validation of the model against the paddock history for the first real-world glyphosate-resistant awnless barnyard grass population shows that the model predicted resistance evolution to within a few years of the real situation. CONCLUSIONS This validation work shows that empirical validation of herbicide resistance models is problematic. However, the model simulates the complexities of sub-tropical grains farming in Australia well, and can be used to investigate, generate and improve glyphosate resistance prevention strategies.

Changes in weed species since the introduction of glyphosate-resistant cotton

Abstract. Weed management practices in cotton systems that were based on frequent cultivation, residual herbicides, and some post-emergent herbicides have changed. The ability to use glyphosate as a knockdown before planting, in shielded sprayers, and now over-the-top in glyphosate-tolerant cotton has seen a significant reduction in the use of residual herbicides and cultivation. Glyphosate is now the dominant herbicide in both crop and fallow. This reliance increases the risk of shifts to glyphosate-tolerant species and the evolution of glyphosate-resistant weeds. Four surveys were undertaken in the 2008–09 and 2010–11 seasons. Surveys were conducted at the start of the summer cropping season (November–December) and at the end of the same season (March–April). Fifty fields previously surveyed in irrigated and non-irrigated cotton systems were re-surveyed. A major species shift towards Conyza bonariensis was observed. There was also a minor increase in the prevalence of Sonchus oleraceus. Several species were still present at the end of the season, indicating either poor control and/or late-season germinations. These included C. bonariensis, S. oleraceus, Hibiscus verdcourtii and Hibiscus tridactylites, Echinochloa colona, Convolvulus sp., Ipomea lonchophylla, Chamaesyce drummondii, Cullen sp., Amaranthus macrocarpus, and Chloris virgata. These species, with the exception of E. colona, H. verdcourtii, and H. tridactylites, have tolerance to glyphosate and therefore are likely candidates to either remain or increase in dominance in a glyphosate-based system.

Assessing weeds at risk of evolving glyphosate resistance in Australian sub-tropical glyphosate-resistant cotton systems

Glyphosate resistance will have a major impact on current cropping practices in glyphosate-resistant cotton systems. A framework for a risk assessment for weed species and management practices used in cropping systems with glyphosate-resistant cotton will aid decision making for resistance management. We developed this framework and then assessed the biological characteristics of 65 species and management practices from 50 cotton growers. This enabled us to predict the species most likely to evolve resistance, and the situations in which resistance is most likely to occur. Species with the highest resistance risk were Brachiaria eruciformis, Conyza bonariensis, Urochloa panicoides, Chloris virgata, Sonchus oleraceus and Echinochloa colona. The summer fallow and non-irrigated glyphosate-resistant cotton were the highest risk phases in the cropping system. When weed species and management practices were combined, C. bonariensis in summer fallow and other winter crops were at very high risk. S. oleraceus had very high risk in summer and winter fallow, as did C. virgata and E. colona in summer fallow. This study enables growers to identify potential resistance risks in the species present and management practices used on their farm, which will to facilitate a more targeted weed management approach to prevent development of glyphosate resistance.

Control of Flaxleaf Fleabane (Conyza bonariensis) in Wheat and Sorghum

Abstract Flaxleaf fleabane is a difficult-to-control weed in dryland minimum tillage farming systems in the northeast grains region of Australia. Experiments were conducted between 2003 and 2005 to identify effective control strategies on flaxleaf fleabane in wheat and sorghum. A preplant application of chlorsulfuron at 15 g ai/ha in wheat controlled flaxleaf fleabane ≥ 90%. The efficacy of early postemergent applications of metsulfuron–methyl at 4.2 g ai/ha varied between years. However, the flaxleaf fleabane was controlled > 85% with metsulfuron–methyl at 4.2 g ai/ha plus MCPA at 420 g ae/ha plus picloram at 26 g ae/ha, or metsulfuron–methyl followed by late postemergent 2,4-D amine at 300 g ae/ha. In sorghum, a preplant application of glyphosate at 900 g ae/ha plus 2,4-D amine at 900 g ae/ha or dicamba at 500 g ae/ha at 1 mo before sorghum planting provided ≥ 95% control. Preplant atrazine at 2,000 g ai/ha controlled flaxleaf fleabane 83 to 100% in sorghum. At-planting atrazine at 2,000 or 1,000 g ai/ha can be applied to control new emergence of flaxleaf fleabane and grasses, depending on the weed pressure and spectrum. Flaxleaf fleabane reduced sorghum yield 65 to 98% if not controlled.