Resistant Weed Testing Is Available for Horticulture Growers

 

Herbicide resistant weeds are not unique anymore, they are the norm.  When I ask growers how many believe they have herbicide resistant weeds on their farm, more than 70 per cent of the hands in the room go up.  Then I ask – how many people have tested their suspected populations?  And not a single hand goes up.  I always wonder why?  In the past testing a weed for herbicide resistance could take up to a year, now we can do it in under 2 weeks and the service will be free, at least for the foreseeable future.  So, there is absolutely no excuse not to get your weeds tested.

 

Why is it so important to get your weeds tested?  It’s simple, the number and distribution of herbicide resistant weeds in Canada is increasing rapidly in all crops and the cases of multiple resistances (weed biotypes resistant to more than one group of herbicides) are becoming more common.  Currently, there are 12 genetic quick tests that can be used to determine target site resistance in specific weeds to specific groups of herbicides and more are in development.  These tests can be completed in under 2 weeks.  Having diagnostic tests available to quickly confirm the presence of herbicide resistant weeds will improve the timeliness of management and prevent the spread, which will increase the life time of current herbicides for as long as possible.

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.