Australia
June 24, 2009
With 87 sites across Australia now
confirmed with glyphosate resistant ryegrass, the fight against
its spread in Western Australia is becoming an imperative.
The Grains Research and
Development Corporation (GRDC) has been a leader in the
battle against glyphosate resistance, supporting research into
practical means of defeating the problem.
Weed consultant, Andrew Storrie from Agronomo, stresses that
while WA’s dry summers work in its favour, with less glyphosate
use than in eastern Australia, the potential for increased use,
if Roundup Ready canola crops were widely grown, could pose
problems.
“However, if growers remain vigilant, do some planning and stay
on the ball, glyphosate resistance needn’t be a big issue,” Mr
Storrie said.
He stresses that growers need to pay particular attention to
firebreaks and fence lines, which can harbour glyphosate
resistant weeds.
“Resistance can appear in areas with little competition, like
fence lines and firebreaks and can be dragged into the cropped
area with harvest and seeding equipment.
“A total vegetation control approach, using herbicides with
different modes of action is effective and needn’t be expensive.
“Paraquat, diuron and simazine can control resistant and
susceptible annual ryegrass.
“A handful of resistant plants can become a problem if nothing
is done about them, so vigilance is important. Small numbers of
plants can be hand-pulled and there is no plant resistance to
this.”
Mr Storrie says there are currently 8-10 populations of
glyphosate resistant ryegrass in WA.
“It’s a problem that could increase if climate change brings
increased summer rainfall, so it’s essential that we keep
control over the problem, now,” he concluded. |
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