Staying ahead of weed evolution in changing cotton systems

The overall aim of this project is to minimise the adverse impacts of glyphosate-resistant weeds or potential impacts of multiple-resistant weeds on the cotton industry. This will be achieved by firstly increasing our knowledge of glyphosate-resistant and multiple-resistant weeds through an understanding of the drivers for resistance in current and future cotton farming systems. Following this, new tactics for weed control in future herbicide-tolerant cotton crops will be evaluated.

Finally, new management strategies for glyphosate-resistant weeds and to avoid multiple herbicide resistance will be developed. The research will integrate studies on weed ecology, glyphosate-resistance mechanisms, and both chemical and non-chemical control tactics, using molecular tools and gene expression, spatial modelling, risk assessments, and in-depth pot and field experiments on key weeds. In addition to development of improved management strategies, a decision support tool with the ability to evaluate weed control economics and a weed identification app will lead to improved practices for managing herbicide resistant weeds.