Herbicide resistance in Europe: an overview

This paper provides an overview on herbicide resistance in Europe (updated to July 2005) with emphasis on the southern European situation. The impact of the EU Council Directive 91/414/EEC on the management of herbicide-resistant weeds is discussed. Wheat is the crop most affected, followed by maize and orchards. Rice crops in southern Europe, especially in Italy, are particularly affected by ALS-resistant populations. Major European-wide resistance problems are caused by Alopecurus myosuroides, Lolium spp. and Papaver rhoeas. The situation seems to be evolving faster in southern Europe, with a wider variety of biotypes, herbicides and cropping systems involved. The constantly increasing reliance on target-site-specific herbicides such as ALS and ACCase inhibitors will increase the resistance risk. More effort must be made to convey a common, effective and science-based message to farmers. The diversity in European farming systems must be preserved if we are to prevent and/or limit the impact of herbicide resistance to a lower level than that being experienced in other continents. Integrated weed management should be widely adopted.