C ourtier-Orgogozo et al [1] argue that public debate and better governance are needed to properly control the use of gene editing for controlling pests in agriculture. They are correct in their assessment that this “could lead to multiple and uncoordinated releases of gene drives into the wild, which is likely to cause unpredictable ecological disturbances with farreaching consequences”. Howev...

Chemical control ofweeds has increased agricultural productivity, but complete reliance on chemicals has serious drawbacks. These include high cost per acre, decreasing effectiveness, negative effects on plant community diversity, and increased opportunities for environmental contamination. One alternative is biocontrol, the use ofbiologicalfactors that naturally limit weed populations. Long-te...

During 1999 to 2004, a project entitled: “Surveying, collecting and identification of fauna (insects) and flora of Iranian isles in Persian Gulf, with emphasis on plant pests, pathogenic fungi, weeds and their natural enemies” was carried out by financial support of the Scientific Research Council of Iran (Project No. 1511). At this period, 11 scientific excursions were done to the Iranian isle...

The effect of weeds, plant diseases and insect pests on spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) wheat (Triticum aestivum) grain nutrient yield was examined. Long-term field trial data used to assess the impact different yield. In absence pesticides, fungal caused largest annual yield-reduction in barley, 500 kg ha?1 average. Converting loss this represented reductions 8.1 9.2 nitrogen 1.5 1.6 phosphoru...

Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is a proven but relatively new strategy to control soil borne pests of horticultural crops through anaerobic decomposition of organic soil amendments. The ASD technique has primarily been used to control soil borne pathogens; however, this technique has also shown potential to control plant parasitic nematodes and weeds. ASD can utilize a broad range of carbo...

Oilseed rape (OSR; Brassica napus ) is a globally important crop which increasingly under pressure from pests, pathogens and weeds. We investigated the potential of achieving multifunctional protection benefits by intercropping oilseed with legumes. A field experiment was conducted in winter intercropped annual frost sensitive legumes berseem clover ( Trifolium alexandrinum or spring faba bean ...

An undeniable and expensive consequence of agricultural practices is the adaptation of weeds to agricultural systems. Weeds are responsible for significant crop yield losses and for financial losses in agricultural production – in the order of 10% per year worldwide (Oerke, 2006). To address this critical problem, the discipline of weed science has expanded over the past 50 yr into an amalgam o...

In a single experiment, field-grown Louisiana sugarcane was augmented with phytoparasitic nematodes, treated with aldicarb, or left untreated in both weedy and weed-free habitats to study interactions among nematodes, weeds, sugarcane, and sugarcane free amino acid titers. Aldicarb reduced three of the six phytoparasitic nematode genera at various times during the two growing seasons and was as...

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