Herbicide evolution and technology

Studying the evolution of herbicide resistance helps create strategies for in-crop weed control

Research Fellow Dr Roberto Busi has led this program to characterise new cases of herbicide resistance. Roberto’s work has been integral in assessing the risk of herbicide resistance in our AHRI labs before it is reported from the field. He uses this information to develop herbicide-based weed control strategies.

Roberto’s research has focussed on the evolutionary dynamics of herbicide resistance – to discover and understand why and how weeds evolve resistance so fast. His research has examined the impact of using low herbicide rates, and in a world-first, established that persistent use of the pre-emergent herbicide Sakura (pyroxasulfone) at low rates can lead to rapid resistance evolution in annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum).