Scientists at the University of Sheffield have discovered factors that drive the evolution of herbicide resistance in crops – except for agriculture, these factors can also have an impact on medicine. Allogeneic biochemical substances such as herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and antibiotics are used in agriculture and health care to control and eliminate pests and diseases. However, the pests are resistant to all of these types of xenobiotics and render them ineffective, with serious consequences for crop production and health.

This new study, conducted by researchers from the Faculty of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield, in collaboration with the Lausanne Institute and the Zoological Society of Zoology in London, draws lessons from past agricultural system management to reduce the future evolution of resistance. , provides important insights.

Current strategies for managing resistance revolve around diverse management and the range of chemicals used. Similar technologies have been proposed in the fields of medicine and agriculture, but there is no consensus on what is the best method.

In this new study published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, the researchers examined the evolution of resistance to herbicides in Alopecurus myosuroides. Blackgrass has become a widespread weed, with 88% of the plots appearing in 24,824 plots that the researchers monitored (randomly selected small-area habitats as samples for the assessment of plant and animal local distribution). In recent years, it has been spreading to the north. Scientists have also discovered valerian in areas that have never been discovered in the past decades.

The study provides important insights for diversified management and is considered as a possible technology to reduce the evolution of drug resistance. Research shows that only when farmers reduce their investment in herbicides can the technology work to reduce resistance. If you continue to use the same level of herbicide, and some even increase the amount of input, then this technology will not be effective.

New discoveries show that the amount and diversity of herbicide products are positively related to each other.

Studies have shown that even in the absence of chemicals, repeated use of the same management of directional selection can lead to resistance evolution. This highlights the need to design a management system that is expected to evolve. In addition to focusing on density and yield, resistance needs to be considered.