Assessing weeds at risk of evolving glyphosate resistance in Australian sub-tropical glyphosate-resistant cotton systems

Abstract

Glyphosate resistance will have a major impact on current cropping practices in glyphosate-resistant cotton systems. A framework for a risk assessment for weed species and management practices used in cropping systems with glyphosate-resistant cotton will aid decision making for resistance management. We developed this framework and then assessed the biological characteristics of 65 species and management practices from 50 cotton growers. This enabled us to predict the species most likely to evolve resistance, and the situations in which resistance is most likely to occur. Species with the highest resistance risk were Brachiaria eruciformis, Conyza bonariensis, Urochloa panicoides, Chloris virgata, Sonchus oleraceus and Echinochloa colona. The summer fallow and non-irrigated glyphosate-resistant cotton were the highest risk phases in the cropping system. When weed species and management practices were combined, C. bonariensis in summer fallow and other winter crops were at very high risk. S. oleraceus had very high risk in summer and winter fallow, as did C. virgata and E. colona in summer fallow. This study enables growers to identify potential resistance risks in the species present and management practices used on their farm, which will to facilitate a more targeted weed management approach to prevent development of glyphosate resistance.