Cover cropping has been proposed as an important component of integrated weed management strategies due to its potential effects on multiple demographic processes, including weed seedling emergence from soil, plant survival, seed production, and seed predation. In this article, we report the results of modelling analyses that investigated how a cover crop could affect the population dynamics of Amaranthus

The adoption of dicamba-tolerant crops has reduced the challenge of controlling glyphosate-resistant Amaranthus palmeri in these crops. However, introducing herbicide programmes with new mechanisms of action and different intensities can favour major shifts in weed communities. This can affect not only the functionality of the agroecosystem, but also resource availability to the most problematic species

The immediate impact of prevailing environmental conditions on sensitivity of weeds to herbicides is well documented but little is known about the effects of parental environments on the responses of progeny to herbicides. It has been suggested that parental plants subjected to abiotic stress may result in progeny with increased tolerance to stresses. We tested this hypothesis by growing two populations

Jatropha gossypiifolia (Bellyache bush) is an evergreen, perennial, invasive woody shrub that globally threatens agricultural and native landscapes. The species is native to North and South America, but is currently found in over 52 countries; in many of these countries, it is listed as invasive, due to its aggressive and competitive growth. These behaviour traits are characterised by its quick flowering

Band steaming is a non-chemical weed control method of increasing interest for highly remunerative, low competitive crops. This study aimed to test the field application of a new prototype of band-steaming machine in three organic fields under contrasting Mediterranean environmental conditions. Trials were conducted in carrot under real-field conditions to investigate the effects of three steaming

Cereal varieties are commonly tested in the presence of weeds in organic agriculture, and a variety of test programmes with weeds are relevant in relation to fields containing herbicide-resistant weeds. However, the interpretation of results from variety trials with weeds is complex because different levels of weed pressure affect the yield differently. Crop yield is a result of the combined effect

Maize is sown in Iran from mid-April to early September. Weather, weed flora and crop growth stage all vary over this time span, which changes herbicide efficacy. To avoid any excessive or inadequate usage of herbicide, we propose an empirical model that predicts the optimum dose based on the thermal time accumulated by maize after sowing. We planted maize in May and August in 2016 and 2017, arranged

Tubers are the main means of propagation in purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.), one of the most troublesome weeds competing in crop and pasture systems throughout the world. Tuber sprouting is highly linked to temperature, the main environmental factor limiting the growth of purple nutsedge. In the present study, a new thermal time model was developed for describing the temperature-dependent tuber

Weeds can originate from adjacent habitats, dispersing naturally from non-crop habitats as well as brought in from other crop fields by machinery or as contaminants of crop seeds. This constant dispersal may homogenise populations and transmit resistance genes. In this study, we examined (a) the genetic variation in quantitative traits and (b) the level of resistance to two widely used herbicides,

Ulex europaeus (Gorse) is one of the most invasive shrubs in the world, being now found in more than 50 countries where it economically and environmentally degrades the land. This highly versatile shrub can live more than 30 years and produce over 18,000 fertile seeds annually that can remain viable for over 30 years. Ulex europaeus spread is facilitated by its ability to germinate in a wide range

Proliferation of herbicide-resistant weeds demands re-evaluation of fundamental weed control objectives. Yield loss mitigation remains a priority, but limiting weed seed return (WSR) to the soil seedbank is key to preventing herbicide-resistant annual weeds from multiplying. The critical period for weed seed control (CPWSC) is the period of the growing season during which weed control can minimise

Harvest weed seed control (HWSC) is an increasingly popular integrated weed management tactic to catch, destroy or remove weed seeds at crop harvest. However, most weed species shed some seed prior to crop harvest, and we have little data on the value of HWSC for those species with high or variable rates of seed shedding. In the current study, Bromus diandrus and Hordeum spp. were identified as problematic

Although cover crops are widely used for weed suppression in the agroecosystem, little research is available regarding the possibility that the decomposed weed solution may control weeds. In this study, we tested the allelopathic effect of decomposed weed solution on barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli). In two separate tests, we found that the solution of decomposed Myosoton aquaticum completely

Investigation of molecular mechanisms of herbicide resistance to three modes of action was carried out in a population of Apera spica-venti with resistance to herbicides inhibiting acetolactate synthase (ALS), acetyl-CoA-carboxylase (ACCase) and inhibitors of photosystem-II (PSII). Greenhouse experiments were conducted to detect and characterize resistance pattern to pyroxsulam (ALS inhibitor), pinoxaden

Cyperus esculentus is an invasive perennial sedge threatening agricultural production. In Belgium, best in-crop control options involve, amongst other methods, growing maize in monoculture which allows the sequential use of selective herbicides with activity against C. esculentus. Two pot experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of genetically different clones and chemical control strategy

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations [CO2] and climate change are impacting farming worldwide. Ecological weed management (EWM) principles, including use of diverse tactics already employed by many farmers, may assist in adapting to and mitigating climate change. We systematically reviewed the literature on EWM and climate change and here summarise practical considerations related to

Weed seeds generally have stronger ageing resistance than crops, allowing them to maintain their persistence in the field. Weedy rice (Oryza sativa), de-domesticated from cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.), has become a pernicious weed in Chinese rice fields in recent years. Whether weedy rice rapidly evolved strong resistance to seed ageing in the process of de-domestication, thereby contributing to

Dominance, evenness and diversity of weeds in the seedbank have been recommended as potential indicators for monitoring the sustainability of cropping systems. We aimed to investigate viable seed density and diversity in soil after 13 years of diversified cropping and nutrient management practices. The long-term field experiment comprised four cropping sequences: maize (Zea mays L.)–wheat (Triticum

Amaranthus palmeri populations can evolve life-history traits despite its high levels of genetic diversity and gene flow. However, it was not known whether those differences were due to selection or other evolutionary processes. We used microsatellite markers to quantify genetic differentiation among 10 Amaranthus palmeri populations and determined whether the differences in life-history traits among

Imperata cylindrica causes severe damage to the date palm and sugarcane fields of Iran. As the aggressive and invasive nature of this species is chiefly attributed to its rhizomes, a better understanding of the effect of environmental factors on rhizome sprouting and emergence can be very helpful for its management. Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of environmental

Asian spiderflower (Cleome viscosa L.) is a fast-growing herb found in humid and warm habitats of the Americas, Africa and Asia. It is one of the most important weeds of crop fields in Asia and Africa. The objective of this study was to determine the after-ripening of Asian spiderflower seeds and evaluate its germination and emergence responses to various environmental (temperature, pH, salinity and

Eragrostis curvula (African Lovegrass) is an invasive C4 perennial grass that is threatening natural ecosystems globally. Native to Africa, this species can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions, from acidic soils to areas with low rainfall and regions with frequent fires, which assists in its widespread distribution. With its large production of small seeds (0.3 to 0.7 mm) and quick seed

Nitrogen availability in Buglossoides arvensis mother plants influences seed dormancy level. Abscisic acid (ABA) levels chiefly determine primary dormancy during embryo maturation and its maintenance depends on ABA/gibberellic acid (GA) balance. We hypothesised that soil nitrogen fertilisation of B. arvensis mother plants affects seed sensitivity to hormonal germination promotors and inhibitors. The

Many herbaceous perennial plant species gain significant competitive advantages from their underground creeping storage and proliferation organs (CR), making them more likely to become successful weeds or invasive plants. To develop efficient control methods against such invasive or weedy creeping perennial plants, it is necessary to identify when the dry weight minimum of their CR (CR DWmin) occurs

Recent reports of the presence of Ambrosia trifida (AT) in areas infested by A. artemisiifolia (AA) in Serbia warn of the impending establishment of a more damaging crop weed. Here, we test the potential competitive effects of these two weed species. We conducted a field competition study in 2016 and 2017 as a replacement series experiment arranged in a split plot, with main plots (20.5 m × 2 m) at

Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) is a submerged freshwater flowering plant within the monotypic genus. Over the geological periods, fossils of this family and genus have shown distinct diversifications between warm and cool fluctuations with more adaptations occurring in warmer periods and suppressions during severely cold paleoclimate changes. Recently, H. verticillata has shown a wide range

The severity of drought is increasing owing to global climate change. Knowledge about the influence of drought on weeds and herbicide performance is necessary for optimising herbicide applications. Therefore, dose-response trials were conducted to investigate the influence of drought stress on the efficacy of four herbicides. Drought-stressed and non-stressed Hordeum spontaneum seedlings were exposed

Amplification of herbicide target genes conferring naturally evolved resistance in weed species is one of the novel and more recently known mechanisms of resistance. Numerous agriculturally important dicot and monocot weeds, including Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri), common waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), have evolved resistance to glyphosate via

Gene mutations endowing herbicide resistance may have negative pleiotropic effects on plant fitness. Quantifying these effects is critical for predicting the evolution of herbicide resistance and developing management strategies for herbicide-resistant weeds. This study reports the effects of the acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) Trp574Leu mutation throughout the life cycle of feral radish (Raphanus

Variations in morphology and salt spray tolerance were studied among 22 populations of Setaria viridis derived from the coastal and inland habitats of central Japan to elucidate the adaptation of the species to coastal habitats, which are important reservoirs that enhance the overall species diversity in agro-ecosystems. The S. viridis populations comprised three ecotypes that differed in plant form

Christmas trees are increasingly being cultivated throughout Europe. Christmas-tree plantations (CTP) are characterised by intensive vegetation management, which is essential for ensuring tree quality. Within conventional CTP, herbicides are applied extensively, whereas in organic plantations, alternative methods for vegetation management, such as grazing, are implemented. A further characteristic

The adoption of site-specific weed management (SSWM) technologies by farmers is not aligned with the scientific achievements in this field. While scientists have demonstrated significant success in real-time weed identification, phenotyping and accurate weed mapping by using various sensors and platforms, the integration by farmers of SSWM and weed phenotyping tools into weed management protocols is

Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson is a competitive weed native to North America with many herbicide-resistant biotypes that have been spreading around the world. Due to its fast growth, farmers need to optimise control timing to reduce the risk of escapes. This study tracked A. palmeri emergence and phenology using days or growing degree days (GDD, Tbase = 15°C; thermal time or hydrothermal time). While

Storkey and Neve (2018) hypothesised that weed seedbank diversity could be used as an indicator of agroecosystem sustainability, with cropping systems associated with higher weed seedbank diversity being more agronomically and environmentally sustainable than those with lower weed diversity. We evaluated their hypothesis using multiple years of empirical data collected from a long-term field experiment

Endozoochory is known as an important mechanism for the spread of weeds. We carried out experiments to assess the fate of seeds of several weed species (Convolvulus arvensis, Cuscuta campestris, Rumex crispus, Hordeum spontaneum and Sorghum halepense) after passing through the gut of sheep and goat. Eighteen animals of both sheep and goat received diet mixed with seeds of the weed species or control

Vulpia myuros is an annual grass species of Mediterranean origin, which has achieved a global distribution. It is a fast‐growing species, with high colonisation and competitive abilities. This species is considered an invasive weed in most countries where it has been introduced, with highly negative economic impact where it now dominates. It is increasingly found to be a problematic weed in winter

To investigate the effects of agronomic practices and farmer demographics on levels of weed infestation in chickpea fields, a survey was conducted during 2015 in Sanjabi district, Kermanshah, Iran. Two sets of data were collected: (a) weed sampling from the selected chickpea fields, and (b) questionnaire recording of farmer demographics and agronomic management. The farmers were asked about their residence

Galinsoga quadriradiata and Galinsoga parviflora are very troublesome weeds in many organic vegetable crops in Europe. A very straightforward method to keep Galinsoga infestations under control is by targeting the Galinsoga seedbank. To identify cropping systems able to reduce the seedbank size in vegetable‐based cropping systems, the relationships between the seedbank size of Galinsoga species and

Precision farming technologies were implemented into a commercial harrow to increase selectivity of weed harrowing in spring cereals. Digital cameras were mounted before and after the harrow measuring crop cover. Crop soil cover (CSC) was computed out of these two images. Eight field experiments were carried out in spring cereals. Mode of harrowing intensity was changed in four experiments by speed

We investigated changes in plant morphology, anatomy and physiology in a commonly occurring weed, Euphorbia helioscopia L. due to exposure to post‐emergence herbicides. Weed plants were sprayed with one of the following herbicides: pyrimidinyl sulphonylharnstoffe (PS), tribenuron‐methyl (TM), fluroxypyr‐methyl tribenuron‐methyl (FMTM) and bromoxynil (Br). The PS treatment significantly decreased plant

Broomrapes are important parasitic weeds in many vegetable crops in dry and warm regions of the world. The study of weed parasite physiology will increase knowledge of broomrape‐host interactions that may be applied to the development of improved parasitic plant control programmes. In this study, developmental patterns of activities of essential enzymes (sucrose synthase [SUS], mannose 6‐phosphate

Seeds of weed species require light to terminate dormancy and give way to germination. It is documented that sensitivity to light in Polygonum aviculare seeds increases during dormancy release. However, it is not known whether this sensitivity is lost during dormancy induction. The aim of this study was to investigate and quantify the changes in dormancy level of P. aviculare seeds during secondary

Reproductive interference occurs when closely related species interact reproductively, affecting the fitness of either or both species. Understanding the mechanisms by which reproductive interference reduces fitness can be crucial for effective management and the interpretation of the functional significance of traits. Invasive apomictic dandelions reproductively interfere with the seed production

Rainfed lowland rice fields in northern Togo are increasingly infested by the facultative hemiparasitic weed Rhamphicarpa fistulosa that is widely reported throughout sub‐Saharan Africa to be one of the most damaging weeds in rice fields. In this geographical area, some studies have shown that soil characteristics may influence the presence and/or the level of infestation of some parasitic weeds, but

Nassella trichotoma (serrated tussock) is a highly invasive perennial C3 weed from South America. It grows in most soil conditions, can resist fire and frost, and is unpalatable to grazing animals. Each plant can produce up to 140,000 seeds annually, and together, these characteristics make it a damaging landscape weed. It has diminished the agricultural carrying capacity of pastures in south‐eastern

The status (weed or beneficial shrub) of Chromolaena odorata in West Africa has been a major subject of debate since its introduction in the 1930s. Its negative impacts on agriculture and biodiversity are clear. However, indigenous people have harnessed several benefits of the plant, making management strategies less straightforward. Using indigenous voices in Ghana, the current perceptions of C. odorata

Development of integrated weed management strategies is dependent on a thorough knowledge of the demography of individual species. The current research established eight winter or summer weed species in a winter annual wheat cropping system at Wongan Hills, Western Australia, and investigated emergence of the first cohort of each species, survivorship, plant size, seed production and seed shedding

The Cittadella di Alessandria (Italy) is a military fortification that was built in the 18th century. The site has recently been abandoned and is now colonised by weeds, including the invasive Ailanthus altissima. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of different herbicides (glyphosate, a mixture of aminopyralid + fluroxypyr and triclopyr + fluroxypyr) applied to cut stumps or to the basal

Evolution of flooding tolerance in weedy rice has occurred in several rice‐growing regions, but the genes related to this process and the environmental effects are unknown. The objective of this study was to analyse the expression of genes related to flooding tolerance in response to temperature and flooding during the initial establishment of weedy rice. The experiments were carried out with rice

The potential of oilseed rape to suppress weed growth while maintaining optimal yield and quality is not well understood under field conditions in Australia. This study, conducted in Condobolin and Wagga Wagga, New South Wales (NSW), during 2015 and 2016, examined a diverse range of commercial oilseed rape cultivars for their inherent ability to suppress weeds and maintain yields when in competition

In Northern Europe, inter‐row hoeing has become a popular tactic for controlling weeds in organic cereals. Hoeing is highly effective and can be implemented from crop emergence until stem elongation to maintain a nearly weed‐free inter‐row zone. However, hoeing has a lesser effect on weeds growing in the intra‐row zone, where crop–weed proximity results in heightened competition. In the hoed cereal

The annual plant Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan balsam) is the most widespread invasive non‐native weed in the British Isles. Manual control is widely used, but is costly and laborious. Recently, biological control using the rust fungus Puccinia komarovii var. glanduliferae has been trialled. We designed an experiment to assess the impact of these control methods on invertebrate communities in relation

Crop pests (weeds, pathogens and insects) have rapidly evolved resistance in response to the intense selection imposed by pesticide use in agriculture (Hawkins et al., 2019). The evolution of resistance to herbicides in weed populations is directly linked to their recurrent exposure to herbicide selection (Neve and Powles, 2005a; Neve and Powles, 2005b). Several empirical studies investigating the

Weeds and weed control are major production costs in global agriculture, with increasing challenges associated with herbicide‐based management because of concerns with chemical residue and herbicide resistance. Non‐chemical weed management may address these challenges but requires the ability to differentiate weeds from crops. Harvest is an ideal opportunity for the differentiation of weeds that grow

An experiment to investigate why glufosinate ammonium control of Lolium spp. is more effective at cooler temperatures than warmer temperatures was conducted at Welgevallen Experimental Farm, Stellenbosch University. Wild Lolium spp. was grown at 10/15, 15/20, 20/25 and 25/30°C (night and day) temperature regimes and treated with glufosinate ammonium at 0, 300, 600, 900 and 1,200 g a.i./ha, 6 weeks

The correct application of a new herbicide depends on knowledge concerning its behaviour within the cultivation system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sorption–desorption process of aminocyclopyrachlor in soils with the addition of three aged organic materials from sugar cane and their transport via leaching. Sugar cane straw (12 t/ha), filter cake (90 t/ha) and vinasse (200 m3/ha)

Weed management using synthetic herbicides is undergoing a global decline, necessitating a re‐evaluation of existing control measures and the development of novel weed management tools. ‘Mini‐ridging’ is a non‐discriminatory, physical weeding method that functions by burying weeds in the intrarow with a laterally shifted ridge of soil. In glasshouse trials using potted plants, we found that plant recovery

Understanding drivers of weed density and diversity is essential for the development of weed management strategies. Here, we compared temporal changes in weed density and diversity under no‐till (NT) and conventional (CONV) tillage systems in cotton–maize rotations on loam, clay loam and sandy loam soils immediately after transition to NT in Kadoma, Zimbabwe. The effect of tillage system on weed density

The parasitic weed genus Striga causes huge losses to crop production in sub-Saharan Africa, estimated to be in excess of $7 billion per year. There is a paucity of reliable distribution data for Striga; however, such data are urgently needed to understand current drivers, better target control efforts, as well as to predict future risks. To address this, we developed a methodology to enable rapid