Western Canada’s first glyphosate tolerant weed has been found.
Glyphosate tolerant kochia was detected in three southern Alberta fields.
The weeds were found in chem-fallow that had received multiple applications of glyphosate. They showed little or no damage, said Agriculture Canada researcher Bob Blackshaw.
He and fellow weed researcher Hugh Beckie collected seeds and grew them to ensure the resistance was established in the populations.
Monsanto said unlike most glyphosate tolerance, these weeds developed outside of a RoundUp Ready cropping system regime.
In Canada, kochia joins a short list of glyphosate tolerant weeds with Ontario’s tolerant fleabane and giant ragweed.
In North America, glyphosate tolerant kochia has shown up in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. Suspected instances are being investigated in the Dakotas and Montana.
