Characterizing the recruitment biology of weeds

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Sustainable agricultural systems will be of increasing importance as world population and affluence increases, and the demands on agriculture increase. These systems must be holistic and reflect an understanding of the complete dynamics of the system. Weed management remains a key challenge and the greatest expenditures on pesticides in Canada by far are expenditures on herbicides for weed management. The ability of weeds to invade, proliferate and interfere poses a major threat to agro-ecosystem productivity and sustainability. Recruitment refers to the successful germination of seeds and emergence of seedlings. For common weed species, successful invasion, interference and proliferation is determined to a great extent by successful seedling recruitment. The purpose of this research program is to work to gain a better fundamental understanding of weed recruitment. If we understand recruitment we can devise means for limiting the success of problematic weeds. This is important for agriculture but also for the conservation and restoration of natural and semi-natural habitats which are commonly threatened by invasive weedy species. In addition, genes (traits) can move from crop to crop via weedy populations of crops species. Understanding the recruitment biology of weedy crop populations can facilitate their management, help prevent crop to crop gene (trait) movement, and facilitate the segregation of GM and non-GM crops and the successful confinement of novel traits (including industrial and pharmaceutical traits) away from food and feed crops to help ensure food safety.