Weed flora shifts and specialisation in winter oilseed rape in France

Temporally repeated data sets can provide useful information about the management practices governing changes in the arable weed flora. This study aimed (i) to investigate changes in the most common weed species in winter oilseed rape crops in France between the 1970s and the 2000s and (ii) to pinpoint the main plant biological traits and associated management practices underlying the development of a specific weed flora in this crop. We compared two large‐scale surveys covering France in the 1970s and the 2000s, the later survey including several floristic samplings, on two dates, and both herbicide‐free control and treated plots. This last survey aimed to identify the species best able to maintain high densities over a growing season of oilseed rape. Since the 1970s, the frequency of two‐thirds (69%) of the 26 most common species has changed, spectacularly in some cases, with several species once considered rare becoming very common (e.g. Geranium dissectum) and, conversely, some formerly common species becoming rarer (e.g. Stellaria media). Our results indicated a general strong increase in specialist weeds of oilseed rape. Weed species success was favoured by tolerance to oilseed rape herbicides and germination synchronous with the crop. The proportion of specialist oilseed rape weed species tended to increase with herbicide treatment intensity and to decrease with increases in the proportion of spring‐sown crops in the rotation. Changes to the rotation may therefore constitute an additional or alternative means of controlling some weeds well adapted to oilseed rape crops.     

Herbicide‐resistant genetically‐modified crop: its risks with an emphasis on gene flow

Herbicide‐resistant genetically‐modified (GM) crops are the most widely cultivated worldwide, representing 78% of GM crops in 1999, followed by insect‐resistant GM crops with Bt gene. Gene flow is the most touching risk arising from GM crops, and is categorized as three types: within species, between species and between GM crop and other organisms. This review shows that gene flow is a reality in the plant kingdom with evolutionary change. Herbicide resistance evolves naturally and spreads dynamically in weeds. One of the most concerning crop in relation to gene flow is Brassica napus, which has a high outcrossing rate and many relative species. In contrast, frequency of gene flow via outcrossing is relatively low in inbreeding cereal crops such as rice, wheat and barley, but published reports have shown that substantial gene flow is possible. Another possible and immediate risk is herbicide‐resistant GM crops becoming volunteer weeds. Dry direct‐seeded rice is one of the most likely crops in this respect. Stacking different resistance genes in a crop would accelerate multiple resistance evolution in weeds. Multiple resistance to three major herbicides has already been observed in oilseed rape cultivation. More efforts must be made for long‐term risk assessment on GM crops in the natural ecosystem. More studies on weed biology and ecology, particularly reproductive processes in weeds, are essential for better understanding of gene flow and systematic management strategy. We hope that this review motivates researchers to analyze data available now, to collect fundamental information on crops and weeds in agro‐ecosystem, and to lead to better risk assessment and management.     

Simulation of herbicide use in a crop rotation with transgenic herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape

The potential impact of herbicide-tolerant winter oilseed rape ( Brassica napus L.) on future herbicide use was investigated with a simulation model. The model uses a sigmoid function to simulate the growth of crops and weeds that compete for a maximum yield potential. Thresholds for weed control are based upon critical levels of weed biomass. The dynamics of the weed population are determined by the efficacy of representative herbicides on individual weed species and by seedbank parameters. Herbicide efficacy is determined by a log-logistic dose–response curve for each species. Simulation of a rotation with winter oilseed rape/wheat/wheat/barley showed contradictory predictions of herbicide use, because herbicide use in a rotation with either glyphosate- or glufosinate-tolerant oilseed rape was not reduced in the amount of kg a.i. ha^–1 compared with a traditional treatment, whereas the treatment frequency (number of standard recommended doses per unit area) decreased.     

Practical experiences with a system for site-specific weed control in arable crops using real-time image analysis and GPS-controlled patch spraying

Information on temporal and spatial variation in weed seedling populations within agricultural fields is very important for weed population assessment and management. Primarily, spatial information allows a potential reduction in herbicide use, when post‐emergent herbicides are only applied to field sections with high weed infestation levels. This paper presents a system for site‐specific weed control in sugar beet, maize, winter wheat, winter barley, winter rape and spring barley. The system includes on‐line weed detection using digital image analysis, computer‐based decision making and Global Positioning System‐controlled patch spraying. In a 2‐year study, herbicide use with this map‐based approach was reduced in winter cereals by 6–81% for herbicides against broad leaved weeds and 20–79% for grass weed herbicides. Highest savings were achieved in cereals followed by sugar beet, maize and winter rape. The efficacy of weed control varied from 85% to 98%, indicating that site‐specific weed management will not result in higher infestation levels in the following crops.     

Potential impact of weedy Brassicaceae species on oil and meal quality of oilseed rape (canola) in Australia

Brassicaceae weeds are a widespread problem in Australian oilseed rape crops. The weeds not only compete for resources during crop growth, but also have the potential to reduce both oil and meal quality of the harvested crop. This study investigated oil and meal quality of weedy species from the Brassicaceae family that were collected throughout cropping regions of Australia. Eighty‐nine lines from 19 species were grown and evaluated in the same environment for their potential to contaminate Australian oilseed rape seed lots. Seed and flowering characteristics of each species were also examined. The glucosinolate concentration of most of the weedy species was greater than 100 μmol g^?1 of oil‐free meal, well above the threshold for meeting oilseed rape quality. Erucic acid content of 18 of the 19 weedy species also exceeded the oilseed rape quality standard of less than 2% erucic acid. This study highlights the potential of the weedy species to reduce the quality of Australian oilseed rape crops.     

Evaluation of selected commercial oilseed rape cultivars for early vigour,weed suppression and yield in southern New South Wales

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 with natural weed infestations, with and without pre-emergent herbicide treatment. Cultivar differences were observed in oilseed rape canopy architecture and yield; however, early-season biomass, light interception, leaf area index and visual vigour ratings exhibited both year and location interactions. Cultivars with the highest biomass, light interception, leaf area indices and visual vigour were typically also the most weed-suppressive, in particular GT-50 and Hyola 600RR. Although crop and weed biomass accumulation differed significantly among cultivars for both location and year, weed biomass was inversely related to cultivar biomass in both years and locations. Hybrid Hyola and GT-50 cultivars exhibited up to 50% less weed biomass while maintaining consistently high levels of dry crop biomass. In addition, pre-emergent herbicide applications reduced weed infestation and contributed to higher crop yield in both locations and years. Given the consistent aboveground competitive ability of certain oilseed rape cultivars, our study demonstrated that diverse cultivar-dependent competitive traits such as early growth vigour, biomass production, absorption of photosynthetically active radiation and production and retention of crop residue significantly impacted weed establishment and total weed biomass. Our findings suggest that cultivar selection offers potential as a tool for maintaining suitable grain yield in the presence of weeds while potentially delaying the development of herbicide resistance through efficacious weed suppression.     

除草剂对蚕豆、油菜田小籽虉草的防除效果和安全性评价

小籽虉草Phalaris minor是近年来危害云南中西部地区冬季作物田的恶性杂草。云南冬季作物以阔叶作物为主, 有必要开展在阔叶作物田小籽虉草的化学防除效果研究。本研究在室内和田间测试了108 g/L高效氟吡甲禾灵EC、150 g/L精吡氟禾草灵EC、10%精喹禾灵EC、69 g/L精噁唑禾草灵EW、240 g/L烯草酮EC、12.5%烯禾啶EC、5%唑啉草酯EC等7种阔叶作物田茎叶处理剂对小籽虉草的防效以及对油菜和蚕豆的安全性。室内研究结果表明, 药后30 d, 5%唑啉草酯EC、12.5%烯禾啶EC、10%精喹禾灵EC在推荐剂量作用下对小籽虉草的鲜重防效超过90%, 杂草植株表现明显枯死症状, 并且安全性指数均大于2; 240 g/L烯草酮EC的株防效较差, 鲜重防效也低于50%; 其他药剂的鲜重防效为80%左右。田间药效试验表明, 5%唑啉草酯EC防效最优, 接近95%, 108 g/L高效氟吡甲禾灵EC和12.5%烯禾啶EC等防效能达到90%, 其他药剂的防效也超过80%, 所有药剂对油菜和蚕豆均安全。以上结果表明, 当前大多数阔叶作物田禾本科杂草除草剂对小籽虉草高效, 对作物安全, 控制小籽虉草的备选除草剂品种较多。     

Imidazolinone-tolerant crops: history, current status and future

Imidazolinone herbicides, which include imazapyr, imazapic, imazethapyr, imazamox, imazamethabenz and imazaquin, control weeds by inhibiting the enzyme acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS), also called acetolactate synthase (ALS). AHAS is a critical enzyme for the biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids in plants. Several variant AHAS genes conferring imidazolinone tolerance were discovered in plants through mutagenesis and selection, and were used to create imidazolinone-tolerant maize (Zea mays L), wheat (Triticum aestivum L), rice (Oryza sativa L), oilseed rape (Brassica napus L) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L). These crops were developed using conventional breeding methods and commercialized as Clearfield* crops from 1992 to the present. Imidazolinone herbicides control a broad spectrum of grass and broadleaf weeds in imidazolinone-tolerant crops, including weeds that are closely related to the crop itself and some key parasitic weeds. Imidazolinone-tolerant crops may also prevent rotational crop injury and injury caused by interaction between AHAS-inhibiting herbicides and insecticides. A single target-site mutation in the AHAS gene may confer tolerance to AHAS-inhibiting herbicides, so that it is technically possible to develop the imidazolinone-tolerance trait in many crops. Activities are currently directed toward the continued improvement of imidazolinone tolerance and development of new Clearfield* crops. Management of herbicide-resistant weeds and gene flow from crops to weeds are issues that must be considered with the development of any herbicide-resistant crop. Thus extensive stewardship programs have been developed to address these issues for Clearfield* crops.     

Modelling the effect of crop and weed on herbicide efficacy in wheat

Recommended field application rates of herbicides have to give effective weed control in every situation and are, thus, often higher than that required for specific fields. An understanding of the interaction between crop:weed competition and herbicide dose may, in many cases, allow herbicide application rates to be reduced, important both environmentally and economically. We have developed a model of the interaction between crop:weed competition and herbicide dose, using an empirical model of the relationship between crop yield and weed biomass (related to weed density), and an empirical model of the relationship between weed biomass and herbicide dose. The combined model predicts crop yield, given herbicide dose and weed biomass at an interim assessment date. These crop yield loss predictions may be used to quantify the herbicide dose required to restrict yield loss to a given percentage. Parameters of the model were estimated and the model tested, using results from experiments, which used cultivated oats ( Avena sativa ) or oilseed rape ( Brassica napus ) as model weeds in a crop of winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum ).For the crop:weed:herbicide combinations investigated there was little increase in crop yield for herbicide dose rates above 20% of recommended field rates, in broad agreement with the model predictions. There may still be potential for further reduction below this level on economic grounds; the model could be used to estimate the `break-even' herbicide dose.     

Weed populations in winter wheat as affected by crop sequence, intensity of tillage and time of herbicide application in a cool and humid climate

Summary There is a lack of information on the combined effects of preceding crop, reduced tillage (especially no-tillage) and the time of herbicide application on the development of weed populations and the efficiency of weed control in winter wheat in humid temperate climates. An experiment was conducted with a crop rotation (winter wheat – oilseed rape – winter wheat – maize) on a sandy loam and a loamy silt soil in the Swiss midlands to investigate the impact of different preceding crops and pre- and post-emergence control of weeds in conventional tillage (CT; mouldboard plough), minimum tillage (MT; chisel plough) and no-tillage (NT; no soil disturbance systems). When winter wheat was grown after maize and winter wheat was grown after oilseed rape, the ranking order of weed density in treatments without herbicide application was NT < MT < CT and CT < MT < NT respectively. Analysis of variance and canonical discriminant analysis showed that Epilobium spp., Sonchus arvensis , Myosotis arvensis and volunteer crops were more abundant in NT than in MT and CT. The efficiency of post-emergence weed control was generally better than that of pre-emergence weed control, regardless of tillage intensity.     

Response of imidazolinone-tolerant and -susceptible volunteer oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) to ALS inhibitors and alternative herbicides

BACKGROUND: Imidazolinone-tolerant oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) varieties are currently grown in Canada, North America, Chile and Australia with high acreage. A Europe-wide introduction has started and will be pushed further for both spring and winter varieties. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of imidazolinone tolerance for future volunteer oilseed rape control in subsequent crops, particularly winter wheat. RESULTS: A greenhouse bioassay showed cross-tolerance of imidazolinone-tolerant oilseed rape towards sulfonylureas, triazolopyrimidines and sulfonylaminocarbonyltriazolinones (resistance factors between 5 and 775), with a homozygous variety expressing a much higher tolerance level compared with a heterozygous variety. Calculated ED₉₀ values suitable for controlling tolerant plants were always much higher than the recommended herbicide dose. Generally, results were confirmed under field conditions, but with higher efficacies than expected in some cases (e.g. florasulam). Herbicides with an alternative mode of action were found to be effective in controlling imidazolinone-tolerant volunteers in subsequent winter wheat crops. CONCLUSION: Herbicide strategies have to be adjusted for volunteer control in subsequent crops if imidazolinone-tolerant oilseed rape varieties are to be grown. However, agronomic tools (harvest date, harvest technique, tillage) should be used conscientiously in the first place to keep volunteer oilseed rape densities at the lowest possible level. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Simulating evolution of glyphosate resistance in Lolium rigidum II: past, present and future glyphosate use in Australian cropping

Glyphosate is a key component of weed control strategies in Australia and worldwide. Despite widespread and frequent use, evolved resistance to glyphosate is rare. A herbicide resistance model, parameterized for Lolium rigidum has been used to perform a number of simulations to compare predicted rates of evolution of glyphosate resistance under past, present and projected future use strategies. In a 30‐year wheat, lupin, wheat, oilseed rape crop rotation with minimum tillage (100% shallow depth soil disturbance at sowing) and annual use of glyphosate pre‐sowing, L. rigidum control was sustainable with no predicted glyphosate resistance. When the crop establishment system was changed to annual no‐tillage (15% soil disturbance at sowing), glyphosate resistance was predicted in 90% of populations, with resistance becoming apparent after between 10 and 18 years when sowing was delayed. Resistance was predicted in 20% of populations after 25–30 years with early sowing. Risks of glyphosate resistance could be reduced by rotating between no‐tillage and minimum‐tillage establishment systems, or by rotating between glyphosate and paraquat for pre‐sowing weed control. The double knockdown strategy (sequential full rate applications of glyphosate and paraquat) reduced risks of glyphosate and paraquat resistance to <2%. Introduction of glyphosate‐resistant oilseed rape significantly increased predicted risks of glyphosate resistance in no‐tillage systems even when the double knockdown was practised. These increased risks could be offset by high crop sowing rates and weed seed collection at harvest. When no selective herbicides were available in wheat crops, the introduction of glyphosate‐resistant oilseed rape necessitated a return to a minimum‐tillage crop establishment system.     

Ecological weed management by cover cropping: effects on weed growth in autumn and weed establishment in spring

Cover crops grown in the period between two main crops have potential as an important component of a system‐oriented ecological weed management strategy. In late summer and autumn, the cover crop can suppress growth and seed production of weeds, whereas the incorporation of cover crop residues in spring may reduce or retard weed emergence. Based on these two criteria, six cover crop species were evaluated for their weed suppressive potential in 2 years of experimentation in the Netherlands. Fodder radish, winter oilseed rape and winter rye had the strongest competitive ability in autumn; the competitive strength of Italian ryegrass was intermediate and white lupin and lucerne were poor competitors. Competitiveness was strongly correlated to early light interception. Surprisingly, doubling the recommended sowing density did not increase weed suppressive ability. Although a poor competitor in the fall, after incorporation in spring, lucerne had the strongest inhibitory effect on seedling establishment, followed by winter oilseed rape and white lupin. Winter rye and fodder radish did not affect seedling establishment, whereas Italian ryegrass was not evaluated because of re‐growth after incorporation. Competition in autumn and subsequent residue‐mediated suppression of weed establishment in spring varied among the cover crop species, with winter oilseed rape offering relatively strong effects during both periods.     

Weed control in conventional and herbicide tolerant winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) grown in rotations with winter cereals in the UK

Two winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus) cultivars, tolerant to glyphosate and glufosinate, were compared with a conventional cultivar at three sites over 4 years, in 3‐year crop rotations in the UK. The winter oilseed rape was grown in Years 1 and 4, with winter cereals, which received uniform herbicide treatments, in the intervening years. The second winter oilseed rape treatments were applied to randomised sub‐plots of the original plots. Weed densities were recorded in autumn and spring and weed biomass was measured in summer. At most sites, there was only one application of glufosinate or glyphosate, whereas two products were often used on the conventional variety. The timing of glyphosate and glufosinate application was, on average, 34 days later than that of the conventional broad‐leaved weed control treatments. Overall weed control, across all sites and years, was not statistically different between the conventional, glyphosate and glufosinate treatments. However, glyphosate achieved higher control of individual weed species more frequently than the other treatments. Glufosinate and the conventional treatments were similar in performance. The treatments in Year 1 sometimes affected weed populations in the subsequent cereal crops and, in rare instances, those in the rape in Year 4. Carry‐over effects were small after most treatments. In general, weed survival was greater in the oilseed rape crops, irrespective of the treatment, than it was in the intervening cereal crops.     

Integrated pest management and weed management in the United States and Canada

There is interest in more diverse weed management tactics because of evolved herbicide resistance in important weeds in many US and Canadian crop systems. While herbicide resistance in weeds is not new, the issue has become critical because of the adoption of simple, convenient and inexpensive crop systems based on genetically engineered glyphosate‐tolerant crop cultivars. Importantly, genetic engineering has not been a factor in rice and wheat, two globally important food crops. There are many tactics that help to mitigate herbicide resistance in weeds and should be widely adopted. Evolved herbicide resistance in key weeds has influenced a limited number of growers to include a more diverse suite of tactics to supplement existing herbicidal tactics. Most growers still emphasize herbicides, often to the exclusion of alternative tactics. Application of integrated pest management for weeds is better characterized as integrated weed management, and more typically integrated herbicide management. However, adoption of diverse weed management tactics is limited. Modifying herbicide use will not solve herbicide resistance in weeds, and the relief provided by different herbicide use practices is generally short‐lived at best. More diversity of tactics for weed management must be incorporated in crop systems. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of rye cover crop residue and herbicides on weed control in narrow and wide row soybean planting systems

Α three‐year, non‐irrigated field study was conducted in 1998, 1999, and 2000 at the Southern Weed Science Research Unit farm, Stoneville, MS to study the effects of rye cover crop residue, soybean planting systems, and herbicide application programs on the control, density and biomass of several weed species and soybean yield. The soybean planting systems comprised 19 cm rows with high plant density, 57 cm rows with medium plant density, and 95 cm rows with low plant density. The herbicide programs evaluated were pre‐emergence, postemergence, pre‐emergence followed by postemergence, and no herbicide. Flumetsulam and metolachlor were applied pre‐emergence, and acifluorfen, bentazon, and clethodim were applied postemergence. The presence or absence of rye cover crop residue and a soybean planting system did not affect weed control of the species evaluated (browntop millet, barnyard grass, broadleaf signal grass, pitted morningglory, yellow nutsedge, Palmer amaranth and hyssop spurge), when herbicides were applied, regardless of the application program. In addition, rye cover crop residue was not an effective weed management tool when no herbicide was applied, because density and biomass of most weeds evaluated were higher than a no cover crop residue system. Among soybean planting systems, narrow with high plant density soybeans reduced density of grasses, broadleaf weeds and yellow nutsedge by 24–83% and total weed biomass by 38%, compared to wide with low plant density soybeans. Although weed pressure was reduced by narrow with high plant density soybeans, herbicide applications had the most impact on weed control, weed density and biomass. All herbicide programs controlled all weed species 81–100% at two weeks after postemergence herbicide applications, in comparison to no‐herbicide. Density of grasses and all broadleaf weeds as well as total weed biomass was lower with the pre‐emergence followed by postemergence program than these programs alone. Soybean yields were higher in the pre‐emergence followed by postemergence, and postemergence only programs than the pre‐emergence alone program. Planting crops in narrow rows is one cultural method of reducing weed pressure. However, even with the use of this cultural practice, prevalent weed pressure often requires management with herbicides.     

Predicting the risk of weed infestation in winter oilseed rape crops

Chemical weed control before crop and weed emergence is a systematic practice in winter oilseed rape crops in France. It would be profitable both for farmers and the environment to predict the level of weed infestation early on in the growing season and to control weeds only when necessary using post‐emergence weed control. The objective of this paper was to develop and evaluate simple models to predict weed biomass in oilseed rape crops. The model input variables were related to weed population characteristics and farmers’ practices. The models can be used to classify oilseed rape plots into two categories: plots with a level of weed infestation above a threshold or those with level of weed infestation below a threshold. A data set including 3 years of experiments, conducted across several regions in France, was used to estimate the parameters and to evaluate the models. High values of sensitivity and specificity were obtained when weed biomass was predicted as a function of sowing date, type of soil tillage, soil mineral nitrogen, crop density, weed density at emergence, and main characteristics of the most abundant weed species. Model performance strongly decreased when input variables related to the weed population were not taken into account. The best models correctly classified 90% of the plots with high weed infestation and 64% of the plots with low weed infestation.     

Influence of weather on the efficacy of dichlorprop-P/MCPA and trihenuron-methyl

The influence of weather on the efficacy of dichlorprop-P/MCPA and tribenuron-methyl on annual weeds in spritig barley was studied in the field during 4 years at six locations in southern Sweden. The herbicides were applied at one-eighth to three-quarters of the full dose at three application times with approximately 6-day intervals. Weather stations, placed in the experiments, recorded climatic data, Maximum herbicide efficacy was obtained when spraying 1 week after the cotyledon stage with half or three-quarters of the recommended dose. Dose-response curves were estimated and the ED₈₀ doses were calculated. On average, the herbicide dose required to obtain an effect of 80% was about 40% of the recommended dose. The influence of weather was analysed for seven different periods: 7 and 2 days before and after herbicide application, 1 day before and after application, and the day of herbicide treatment. The most pronounced eftects of weather were found for the day of and the day before herbicide application, revealing the strong influence of weather on herbicide uptake and plant metabolism. High air tetnperature and low global radiation during the day of treattnent reduced the ED₈₀ dose of dichlorprop-P/MCPA, whereas the ED₈₀ dose of tribenuron-methyl increased. For both herbicides, precipitation and high soil temperature increased the ED₈₀ dose, which reflects the importance of rain on herbicide uptake and the effect of soil temperature on plant growth. The R² values were higher in the analyses of dichlorprop-P/MCPA than of tribenuron-methyl, indicating that the effect of dichlorprop-P/MCA was more weather-dependent than that of tribenuron-methyl. Separate analyses of the ED₈₀ doses for Brassica napus L., Chenopodium, album L. and Stellaria media (L.) Vill. generally resulted in increased R² values. but otherwise gave results similar to those for the total weed population. Although the analyses revealed significant effects of indivtdual weather factors on herbicide efficacy, it was not possible to discern a consistent and causal relationship between weather and herbicide performance.     

Are herbicide‐resistant crops the answer to controlling Cuscuta?

BACKGROUND: Herbicide‐resistant crop technology could provide new management strategies for the control of parasitic plants. Three herbicide‐resistant oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) genotypes were used to examine the response of attached Cuscuta campestris Yuncker to glyphosate, imazamox and glufosinate. Cuscata campestris was allowed to establish on all oilseed rape genotypes before herbicides were applied. RESULTS: Unattached seedlings of C. campestris, C. subinclusa Durand & Hilg. and C. gronovii Willd. were resistant to imazamox and glyphosate and sensitive to glufosinate, indicating that resistance initially discovered in C. campestris is universal to all Cuscuta species. Glufosinate applied to C. campestris attached to glufosinate‐resistant oilseed rape had little impact on the parasite, while imazamox completely inhibited C. campestris growth on the imidazolinone‐resistant host. The growth of C. campestris on glyphosate‐resistant host was initially inhibited by glyphosate, but the parasite recovered and resumed growth within 3–4 weeks. CONCLUSION: The ability of C. campestris to recover was related to the quality of interaction between the host and parasite and to the resistance mechanism of the host. The parasite was less likely to recover when it had low compatibility with the host, indicating that parasite‐resistant crops coupled with herbicide resistance could be highly effective in controlling Cuscuta. Published 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cytochrome P450‐mediated herbicide metabolism in plants: current understanding and prospects

Cytochrome P450s (P450s) have been at the center of herbicide metabolism research as a result of their ability to endow selectivity in crops and resistance in weeds. In the last 20 years, ≈30 P450s from diverse plant species have been revealed to possess herbicide‐metabolizing function, some of which were demonstrated to play a key role in plant herbicide sensitivity. Recent research even demonstrated that some P450s from crops and weeds metabolize numerous herbicides from various chemical backbones, which highlights the importance of P450s in the current agricultural systems. However, due to the enormous number of plant P450s and the complexity of their function, expression and regulation, it remains a challenge to fully explore the potential of P450‐mediated herbicide metabolism in crop improvement and herbicide resistance mitigation. Differences in the substrate specificity of each herbicide‐metabolizing P450 are now evident. Comparisons of the substrate specificity and protein structures of P450s will be beneficial for the discovery of selective herbicides and may lead to the development of crops with higher herbicide tolerance by transgenics or genome‐editing technologies. Furthermore, the knowledge will help design sound management strategies for weed resistance including the prediction of cross‐resistance patterns. Overcoming the ambiguity of P450 function in plant xenobiotic pathways will unlock the full potential of this enzyme family in advancing global agriculture and food security. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry