BROOKS, Alta. — Researchers are making progress in developing a bioherbicide suitable for use against Canada thistle, wild mustard and dandelion in cereals, forage grasses, flax and alfalfa.
Karen Bailey and Russell Hynes of Agriculture Canada in Saskatoon are working with phoma macrostoma, a fungus derived from Canada thistle.
Phoma has been licenced from Agriculture Canada by Scotts Miracle-Gro, which plans to launch a turfgrass product in 2014, Bailey told the Alfalfa Seed Commission Alberta meeting March 26.
It may sub-license the product for agricultural use, she added.
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Only three microbial herbicides are now registered for use in Canada, none of them for agriculture.
“Right now, we have no bioherbicides in agriculture, but that’s what we want to change with phoma and get a registration,” said Bailey.
Crop trials have shown the product provides significant control of the target weeds and other broadleafs, and it also reduces weed biomass, which makes it easier for crops to compete. Tests also show it inhibits weeds’ root development.
Phoma is a pre-emergent treatment applied by broadcast in granular form, but Bailey said work is progressing on a spray formulation that might provide more options for timing of application.
In alfalfa, phoma must be applied to mature stands because it can be lethal to the crop in its first year of establishment.
Bailey said the product stays where it is applied and has no residual activity beyond four months.
She said the product in its current form is likely too expensive for agricultural use, but research will continue this year on ways to make phoma more potent and cheaper.
“We believe that phoma will be able to provide weed control in agriculture for Canada thistle, wild mustard, dandelion, as well as other broadleaf weeds. We can reduce the actual numbers of these weeds as well as the biomass.”
