Genetically engineered herbicide-resistant crops and herbicide-resistant weed evolution in the United States

Kniss, AR

HERO ID

5042500

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2018

Language

English

HERO ID 5042500
In Press No
Year 2018
Title Genetically engineered herbicide-resistant crops and herbicide-resistant weed evolution in the United States
Authors Kniss, AR
Journal Weed Science
Volume 66
Issue 2
Page Numbers 260-273
Abstract Genetically engineered (GE) herbicide-resistant crops have been widely adopted by farmers in the United States and other countries around the world, and these crops have caused significant changes in herbicide use patterns. GE crops have been blamed for increased problems with herbicide-resistant weeds (colloquially called by the misnomer "superweeds"); however, there has been no rigorous analysis of herbicide use or herbicide-resistant weed evolution to quantify the impact of GE crops on herbicide resistance. Here, I analyze data from the International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds and the USDA and demonstrate that adoption of GE corn varieties did not reduce herbicide diversity, and therefore likely did not increase selection pressure for herbicide-resistant weeds in that crop. Adoption of GE herbicide-resistant varieties substantially reduced herbicide diversity in cotton and soybean. Increased glyphosate use in cotton and soybean largely displaced herbicides that are more likely to select for herbicide-resistant weeds, which at least partially mitigated the impact of reduced herbicide diversity. The overall rate of newly confirmed herbicide-resistant weed species to all herbicide sites of action (SOAs) has slowed in the United States since 2005. Although the number of glyphosate-resistant weeds has increased since 1998, the evolution of new glyphosate-resistant weed species as a function of area sprayed has remained relatively low compared with several other commonly used herbicide SOAs.
Doi 10.1017/wsc.2017.70
Wosid WOS:000426959000012
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Diversity; evolution; GMO; herbicide resistance; herbicide-tolerant crops; site of action; superweeds; weed management