UC Weed Science (weed control, management, ecology, and minutia)

Last week, I had a chance to visit research cooperators in Chile and tour some of their processing tomato fields with serious infestations of the parasitic weed, branched broomrape and it was really eye opening for me.

Invasive plants can stay dormant for decades or even centuries after they have been introduced into an environment before rapidly expanding and wreaking ecological havoc, according to a new study led by the University of California, Davis.

Roundup Ready technology incorporates genetic resistance to glyphosate into crops and it's an excellent tool for weed control. Initial screening in the early 2000s found good alfalfa crop safety, and many growers currently rely on glyphosate as the only herbicide.

David E. Bayer, Emeritus Professor in the UC Davis Department of Plant Biology, passed away on January 20, 2024 in Davis, CA. Dr. Bayer earned his B.S and M.S. degrees from Oregon State University and his Ph.D.

Keep an eye out for this potential problem weed in southern California: Stipa capensis. First reported in 1995 in Riverside, this species is native to the Mediterranean and has established in the Coachella Valley of the Sonoran Desert.