Sign In
Weed control

Weed control

The Weed Science group focuses its research on the areas of Integrated Weed Management, the biology and ecology of weeds, the evolution of herbicide resistance, the management of herbicide tolerant crops and on the use of geospatial technologies in the context of Precision Agriculture

Grupo de investigación dependiente del

​​Plant Protection Department

One of the main problems facing agriculture since the beginning has been the control of weeds. Weed-crop competition for available resources can lead to significant reductions in crop yields. Within this framework, our research lines aimed at achieving an Integrated Weed Control, which implies to extend the knowledge on weed biology and ecology, the status of herbicide resistance development to the commonly used herbicides and the nature of the resistance mechanisms, the sustainable use of plant protection products and the assessment of the potential risks associated with the use of herbicide-tolerant crops. In addition, in the context of Precision Agriculture, the group explores the opportunities offered by geospatial technology (drones, sensors, etc.) to address the practical aspects of crop protection, including the monitoring of crop variability, early detection of weeds and pests and phenotyping of high-yielding crops. All these studies have the ultimate goal of developing new and more sustainable crop management strategies.

​Investigation

The research lines developed in the Weed Science group:

  • Weed biology and ecology: we study the germination and emergence of different major weeds species in cereals (Lolium rigidum, Centaurea diluta, Avena sterilis, Ridolfia segetum, etc.) in order to develop emergency models for its use in decision-making in the framework of an integrated control of these species.
  • Herbicide resistance: we study the prevalence and geographical distribution of herbicide resistance to the most commonly used herbicides to control grass weeds in cereal crops (Lolium rigidum, Bromus diandrus, Avena spp., etc.). Herbicide Resistant populations and mechanisms conferring herbicide resistance are characterized and, the costs in biological fitness associated with resistance are evaluated, with the aim of implementing resistance management strategies under field conditions.
  • Interaction between the application of herbicides and fertilization in weed control: the reduction in phosphorus (P) fertilization on the competition of the troublesome weed Bromus diandrus and on the effect of herbicides used for its control in barley is studied.
  • Agricultural and environmental risks associated with herbicide-tolerant crops: the use of glyphosate as a tool for the incorporation of new herbicide options in the integrated management of weeds has been studied in different crops, evaluating the potential effects on the abundance and diversity of weeds and arthropods. The baseline sensitivity to glyphosate has been established for five monocotyledonous and eight dicotyledonous major weed species in maize cropping systems. GMHT crops can also transfer the herbicide resistance in our conditions by hybridization with related species; hybridization rates between maize and teosinte (Z. mays ssp. mexicana and Z. mays spp. parviglumis) were estimated and the fertility of the maize-teosinte hybrids is being studied.
  • Early detection of biotic and abiotic stress factors for site-specific control: we develop algorithms for early detection of weeds, pest, water stress or nutritional deficiencies using multispectral and hyperspectral sensors, image analysis and artificial intelligence techniques for stress mapping, with the aim to design site-specific control strategies that help farmers in decision-making, optimizing crop management, reducing losses and saving time and money.
  • Monitoring crop variability we design image analysis algorithms based on both spectral and spatial information (3D point clouds or Digital Surface Models, DSM) from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-imagery and object-based image analysis (OBIA) for healthy status and 3D-characterization (height, area and volume) of every plant through the crop cycle in large extensions.
  • High-throughput crop phenotyping we research in the development of high-throughput system based on the UAV-OBIA technological for the rapid, accurate and early identification and assessment of agronomical traits in field trials for large-scale plant phenotyping studies, reducing the crucial decision making time for breeders.

Miembros

Equipo Malherbología

Coordinador de Grupo

  • Iñigo Loureiro Beldarrain
    Organismos modificados genéticamente y su evaluación del riesgo ambiental. Potencial de intercambio de genes maíz-teosinte
    2016 - 2022 | EG17-018
  • Iñigo Loureiro Beldarrain
    Control integrado de Bromus diandrus en cebada. Interacción entre la disponibilidad de fósforo, el nivel de ploidía y el efecto herbicida
    2017 - 2021 | RTA2015-00011-00-00
  • M.C. Chueca
    Encomienda de Gestión “Valoración del impacto sobre el medioambiente de plantas modificadas genéticamente y otros OMG.”
    2013 - 2017 | EG13-75
  • Iñigo Loureiro Beldarrain
    Estado actual, naturaleza y evolución de la resistencia: a los herbicidas utilizados para el control de malas hierbas gramíneas en cereal
    2012 - 2016 | AGL 2011-23542
  • MC Chueca
    SPI Cooperation: “Assessing and Monitoring the Impacts of Genetically modified plants on Agro-ecosystems (AMIGA)”
    2011 - 2016 | 289706
  • María Remedios Alarcón Víllora (2021)
    Sistemas de manejo y diversidad arvense en cultivos herbáceos mediterráneos
    Dirección: Ana Sánchez Álvarez y Eva Hernández Plaza | Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
  • Elansurya Elangovan Vennila
    Tesis en proceso
    Dirección: Jordi Izquierdo Figarola y Eva Hernández Plaza | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Dept Enginyeria Agroalimentària I Biotecnologia

- Plant Protection Department - INIA: http://www.inia.es/IniaPortal/goUrlDinamica.action?url=http://wwwsp.inia.es/Investigacion/Departamentos/ProteccionVegeta

- Spanish Weed Science Society: https://semh.net/

- European Weed Research Society EWRS: https://www.ewrs.org

- Herbicide Resistance Prevention Committee: https://semh.net/cprh

- International Society of Precision Agriculture: https://www.ispag.org

Este sitio web utiliza cookies propias y de terceros para su funcionamiento y con el fin de analizar las páginas más visitadas. Puede aceptar o rechazar nuestras cookies haciendo clic en los botones a continuación o visitando nuestra página de política de cookies. Se aplica una opción predeterminada de 'no consentimiento' en caso de que no se haga una elección y un rechazo no limitará su experiencia de usuario. Si desea obtener más información sobre nuestra política de cookies, haga clic en el botón "Más información" a continuación.