Credit: Lauren D. Quinn, University of Illinois
The ability of waterhemp (pictured) to survive soil-applied residual herbicides comes down to a single gene, according to new research from the University of Illinois. Lead scientist Dean Riechers says when herbicide resistance is linked to a single, dominant gene, the trait can spread more quickly. So far, soil-applied herbicides still work much of the time, but the study suggests producers should add non-chemical control methods to their toolbox.