2019
Accelerated development of bioherbicides to control palmer amaranth (pigweed)
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
AgricultureCrop protectionHerbicide
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Burton Bluhm, University of Arkansas
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:

Palmer amaranth continues its invasive spread through U.S. soybean fields. A bioherbicide could be a solution. Bioherbicides use a living organism, like a fungus or bacterium, or its derivatives, to control weeds. This research focuses on fungal pathogens to create a novel, highly aggressive bioherbicide that can control Palmer amaranth and other pigweeds. The search began by collecting diseased pigweeds throughout Arkansas in beyond. They isolated the fungi that attacked the plants and created a library of options to screen for bioherbicide potential. The focus is fungi specific to pigweed species, to take advantage of pathogenicity for just those weeds without damaging other plants. They are selecting the most promising, aggressive pathogens and creating panels of genetic variations to figure out what genes in the fungus promote virulence.

Key Benefactors:
Farmers, agronomists, weed scientists, herbicide developers

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Final Project Results

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.