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There has been a longstanding and contentious debate about the future of glyphosate use in the European Union (EU). In November 2023, the European Commission approved the renewal of the use registration for glyphosate for a further 10 years. Nevertheless, the EU Farm to Fork strategy calls for a 50% reduction in pesticide use by 2030. In November 2022, the European Weed Research Society organised a 2 day workshop to identify critical glyphosate uses in current EU cropping systems and to review the availability of glyphosate alternatives. Workshop participants identified four current, critical uses in EU cropping systems; control and management of perennial weeds, weed control in conservation agriculture, vegetation management in tree and vine crops and herbicide resistance management. There are few herbicide alternatives that provide effective, economic, broad‐spectrum control of weeds, particularly perennial weeds. Mechanical weed control, and in particular, soil cultivation is the most obvious glyphosate alternative. However, this is not possible in conservation agriculture systems and, in general, increased soil cultivation has negative impacts for soil health. Emerging technologies for precision weed control can enable more targeted use of glyphosate, greatly reducing use rates. These technologies also facilitate the use and development of alternative targeted physical weed control (e.g. tillage, lasers, electricity), reducing the energy and environmental costs of these approaches. In tree crops, the use of organic and inorganic mulches can reduce the need for glyphosate use. In general, reduced use of glyphosate will require an even greater focus on integrated weed management to reduce weed establishment in agroecosystems, increase weed management diversity and limit the use of alternative resistance‐prone herbicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of several cover crops against a serious invasive weed, Conyza albida. The particular species is characterized by a wide dispersal, an enormous seed production and a high trend for glyphosate-resistance development. In the present study, four different cover crops were tested, namely Lolium multiflorum, L. perenne, Festuca arundinacea and Trifolium repens. The experiment was performed as a randomized complete design and several measurements on soil coverage and weed growth and density were taken. Soil coverage was faster and higher for L. multiflorum, followed by F. arundinacea and T. repens. On the contrary, canopy development for the perennial L. perenne was 62-72% lower than the other cover crops. This rapid and high canopy development especially of L. multiflorum and T. repens resulted to the significant reduction of C. albida density (lower by 87 and 83%, respectively) and also to weeds' growth suppression (plant height reduction up to 50%). Consequently, the specific species could be certainly used, solely or in mixtures of cover crops for the effective management of invasive and herbicide-resistant weeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, there were studied the effects of plant residues of a widely known aromatic plant (Sideritis scardica Griseb) on weed flora and first growth of a sunflower crop. A field and a pot experiment were conducted in Agricultural University of Athens. In particular, the field experiment was conducted under organic conditions, while in the pot experiment special attention was given to the first early growth of sunflower plants under the effect of plant residues. Our results showed that there was a significant effect of plant residues on weed flora and the producted biomass, especially during the first crucial growth stages of sunflower. Particularly, the incorporation of S. scardica residues resulted to a lower number of different weed species (low richness) and an intense effect on most weed species. The pot experiment revealed that sunflower seed germination was not affected by the incorporation of S. scardica residues. Thus, the activity of Sideritis sp. residues was adequately selective (and desirable), since there was not observed any negative effect on sunflower growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2010, a survey was conducted in the wheat fields of a typical cereal-producing region of Greece to establish the frequency and distribution of herbicide-resistant littleseed canarygrass (Phalaris minor Retz.). In total, 73 canarygrass accessions were collected and screened in a field experiment with several herbicides commonly used to control this weed. Most of the weed populations were classed as resistant (or developing resistance) to the acetyl-CoA varboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicide diclofop, while resistance to clodinafop was markedly lower. The results of the pot experiments showed that some of the canary populations were found to have a very high level of diclofop resistance (resistance index up to 12.4), while cross resistance with other herbicides was also common. The levels of resistance and cross resistance patterns among populations varied along with the different amounts and times of selection pressure. Such variation indicated either more than one mechanism of resistance or different resistance mutations in these weed populations. The population which had the highest diclofop resistance level, showed resistance to all aryloxyphenoxypropinate (APP) herbicides applied and non-ACCase inhibitors. Alternative ACCase-inhibiting herbicides, such as pinoxaden remain effective on the majority of the tested canarygrass populations, while the acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron could also provide some solutions. Consequently, there is an opportunity to effectively control canarygrass by selecting from a wide range of herbicides. It is the integration of agronomic practices with herbicide application, which helps in effective management of P. minor and particularly its resistant populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In 2009, a survey was conducted of cereal fields in five prefectures of Greece to establish the frequency and distribution of herbicide-resistant sterile wild oat (Avena sterilis L.). In total, 104 sterile wild oat accessions were collected and screened in a field experiment (conducted in 2009 and repeated in 2010) with several herbicides commonly used to control this weed. Most of the sterile wild oat accessions (89%) were classed as resistant (or developing resistant) to the ACCase-inhibiting herbicide diclofop, while resistance to other ACCase-inhibiting herbicides was markedly lower. The results of the pot experiments showed that some of the sterile wild oat accessions were found to have a very high level of diclofop resistance (resistance index up to 28.6), while cross-resistance with other herbicides was common. The levels of resistance and cross-resistance patterns varied among biotypes with different amount and time of selection pressure, indicating either more than one mechanism of resistance or different resistance mutations in these sterile wild oat biotypes. LA14, which had the highest diclofop resistance level (28.6 resistance index), showed resistance to all APP herbicides applied and non-ACCase inhibitors. Alternative ACCase-inhibiting herbicides, namely tralkoxydim and pinoxaden remain effective on 86 and 92% of the tested sterile wild oat populations, respectively. For the ALS-inhibiting herbicide mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron, nearly all the sterile wild oat accessions were susceptible (97%), with only 3 of them classed as developing resistance. Therefore, there is an opportunity to effectively control sterile wild oat by selecting from a wide range of herbicides and other cultural practices. Early post-emergence herbicide application is strongly suggested, since it could decrease the number of resistant seeds in the field and slow down the dispersal of this major problem. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this work, we studied the effect of three glyphosate formulations (isopropylamine, ammonium and potassium salts) and two non-ionic adjuvants on the resistance response of two resistant (R1, R2) and one susceptible population of the highly invasive Asteraceae, Conyza sumatrensis, from Southern France vineyards. Only in R1, an amino acid substitution (Pro106Thr) was found in the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS). The two adjuvants, in a similar fashion, significantly reduced GR50 values for every population and glyphosate formulation. Without adjuvants, glyphosate as potassium salt was the only formulation able to significantly reduce the GR50 values of every population. For every population, the two adjuvants improved, indistinguishably, leaf retention of the herbicidal solution and the potassium salt formulation led to the highest retention, both with and without the adjuvant added. Uptake responses paralleled those of retention and adjuvant addition was more effective in increasing foliar uptake of the lower performing formulations (isopropylamine and ammonium salts). The allocation pattern of glyphosate among plant compartments was only dependent on population, with R2 retaining most glyphosate in the treated leaf, clearly suggesting the occurrence of a Non-Target Site Resistance (NTSR) mechanism. Results indicate that control of weed populations possessing NTSR mechanisms of resistance to glyphosate may be improved through adequate selection of formulation and adjuvant use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision support systems (DSS) have the potential to support farmers to make the right decisions in weed management. DSSs can select the appropriate herbicides for a given field and suggest the minimum dose rates for an herbicide application that can result in optimum weed control. Given that the adoption of DSSs may lead to decreased herbicide inputs in crop production, their potential for creating eco-friendly and profitable weed management strategies is obvious and desirable for the re-designing of farming systems on a more sustainable basis. Nevertheless, it is difficult to stimulate farmers to use DSSs as it has been noticed that farmers have different expectations of decision-making tools depending on their farming styles and usual practices. The function of DSSs requires accurate assessments of weeds within a field as input data; however, capturing the data can be problematic. The development of future DSSs should target to enhance weed management tactics which are less reliant on herbicides. DSSs should also provide information regarding weed seedbank dynamics in the soil in order to suggest management options not only within a single period but also in a rotational view. More aspects ought to be taken into account and further research is needed in order to optimize the practical use of DSSs for supporting farmers regarding weed management issues in various crops and under various soil and climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers is a common and noxious worldwide weed of increasing distribution in many European countries. In the present review, information on the biology, ecology, agricultural, economic and environmental impact of johnsongrass is given, and the current status of this weed in Europe is discussed. Furthermore, special attention is given to the important role of field trials using glyphosate to control weeds in arable and perennial crops in many European countries. Some of the factors which affect control efficacy and should be taken into account are also discussed. Finally, several non-chemical alternative methods (cultural, mechanical, thermal, biological, etc.) for johnsongrass management are also presented. The adoption of integrated weed management (IWM) techniques such as glyphosate use, crop rotation, and deep tillage is strongly recommended to control plant species that originate from both seed and rhizomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]