The battle over herbicide resistance includes the latest in technology. “We are a diagnostic lab essentially using DNA-based tools to identify pests and pathogens within agriculture,” said Zach Bateson, research manager, National Agricultural Genotyping Center. “We have a statewide survey going on right now where we can detect herbicide-resistant markers in kochia as well as pigweeds.” Kochia is typically resistant to herbicides that are commonly used in pest management. “We have a genetic test that looks at a marker associated with that resistance and the benefit of that is that we can test leaf samples taken directly from the field.” Results can be seen within five-to-seven days after the samples come into the lab. Results are returned to the requester, but the data is also added to a countywide map that catalogues markers and the resistant traits.
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