COLUMBIA, 1/25/11 (Beat Byte) -- Two
bacterial enzymes confer resistance to an herbicide called "2,4-D," protecting
corn and soybean plants while nearby superweeds -- a huge threat to U.S.
agriculture -- get zapped by the powerful weed killer, MU plant sciences
researcher Zhanyuan Zhang has discovered
with researchers at Dow AgroSciences.
Resistant to other weed killers such as RoundUp, superweeds grow unabated unless farmers plow them under before they suffocate crops. Once considered a miracle herbicide, Roundup has fallen fast, as weeds have evolved to survive it, growing again across millions of farmland acres.
Resistant to other weed killers such as RoundUp, superweeds grow unabated unless farmers plow them under before they suffocate crops. Once considered a miracle herbicide, Roundup has fallen fast, as weeds have evolved to survive it, growing again across millions of farmland acres.
Roundup targets amino acid synthesis, but 2,4-D is a
hormone regulator, Zhang explained. "Because it has a different mode of
action, 2,4-D is an ideal herbicide to deal with Roundup-resistant weeds," he
added, noting that 2,4 D exhibits low toxicity, short persistence in the
environment, and economical cost. And because it's so effective, farmers will
use less of it.
"The less chemicals farmers use in the field, the less
money they spend on production," said Zhang. "That leads to less cost for the
consumer, as well as improved food safety and environmental safety."
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