New University of Idaho research raises the possibility that exposing a crop cultivar to several generations of heavy weed pressure may be an effective way to breed more resilient varieties. Albert Kwarteng, a doctoral student in the Department of Plant Sciences who is leading the study for his dissertation, and his advisor, UI Extension weed scientist Albert Adjesiwor, have been saving and replanting repeated generations of spring wheat seed derived from parent plants raised in a weedy environment.
Spring wheat plants in the experiment have adapted to the stress over time. The researchers anticipate the project will clarify some mechanisms plants use to cope with stress from weeds, thereby helping wheat breeders.