Crop-weed interactions

Weeds are the most important biotic yield-reducing factor in terms of potential yield loss. Increased societal concern on the environmental and public health effects of herbicides result in restrictions on their use. This, in addition to evolution of weed resistance to herbicides, calls for a transition in weed control from primarily chemical to primarily ecological. We aim to understand the ecology and particularly the life-cycle of weeds to provide the scientific basis for this transition.