Patricia Lowery Adu-Yeboah

My PhD research aims to investigate the evolution of glyphosate resistance in barley grass (Hordeum spp) through characterisation of resistant populations and to determine alternative management strategies.

Barley grass is an annual grass weed that rapidly germinates in autumn, and is problematic in both cropping and non-cropping situations in Australia. Whilst it has been confirmed that barley grass populations have evolved resistance to Group B and several Group A herbicides, recently there have been reports of some populations surviving Group M (glyphosate) applications in South Australia. These resistant populations are growing in vineyards, cereal cropping paddocks and along road-sides. My research aims to investigate the resistance of barley grass to glyphosate and develop alternative management strategies.

The study objectives are to:

• Screen barley grass populations from different situations for resistance to glyphosate;
• Determine levels of resistance and screen  for mechanisms of resistance in confirmed populations
• Determine mode of inheritance of resistant populations
• Determine potential fitness penalties associated with glyphosate resistance;

Knowledge gained from this project will be essential in developing  effective management strategies for control or slow rate of  resistance evolution in situations identified.