Why have weeds from your fields tested for herbicide resistance
- To know if herbicides will work on your weeds
- Avoid potentially wasteful use of herbicides - save money and prevent unnecessary use
- Help assess the threat posed by resistance on newly farmed blocks of land
- Monitor the success (or otherwise) of long-term resistance management strategies
- Samples taken for resistance testing help put the results in a wider context
The Weed Resistance Action Group (WRAG) has issued guidance on the benefits of herbicide resistance testing.
Interpretation of test results
In addition to all of the WRAG recommended components, you will receive an interpretation of the results to help guide your resistance management strategy.
Resistance testing methods
Grass Weeds
There are two methods to test for herbicide resistance - Petri-dish assay and Glasshouse pot testing using seeds.
- With the Petri-dish assay, seeds are prepared and then germinated in herbicide solutions. Seedling growth is recorded after 14 days.
- With Glasshouse pot testing using seeds, plants are grown in soil, treated with herbicide (at 2-3 leaf stage) and assessed 3-4 weeks later. This method of testing is used for more effective assessment of ALS resistance.
Both test types are needed for black-grass and Italian ryegrass. The pot test only is needed for wild oats.
| Types of resistance testing offered by ADAS |
| Weed |
Test type |
Method of testing |
When will results be available? |
Cost |
| Black-grass |
Pot test and Petri test |
Petri dish: enhanced metabolism using Pendimethalin as an indicator herbicide, ACCase target site using cycloxydim
Pot test: ALS inhibitors (sulfonylurea)
|
Petri dish: Before post-emergence herbicides are applied*
Pot test: December
|
£235 |
| Black-grass |
Pot test |
ALS inhibitors (sulfonylurea) |
December |
£150 |
| Black-grass |
Petri test |
Enhanced metabolism using Pendimethalin as an indicator herbicide, ACCase target site using cycloxydim |
Before post-emergence herbicides are applied* |
£125 |
| Italian ryegrass |
Pot test and Petri test |
Petri test: ACCase TS (cycloxydim), ACCase TS (using pinoxaden)
Pot test: ALS inhibitors (sulfonylurea) |
Petri dish: Before post-emergence herbicides are applied*
Pot test: December |
£235 |
| Wild oats |
Pot test |
ALS inhibitors (sulfonylurea), fenoxaprop-ethyl and pinoxaden |
December |
£250 |
| Brome species |
Pot test |
ACCase, ALS inhibitors , glyphosate |
|
Free**
|
* If seeds are received by the end of July, results will normally be available by the end of September.
**Contact laura.davies@adas.co.uk for more information.
All tests can be tailored to specific requirements, i.e. different herbicide choices and methods, so please contact us to discuss this further and for quotations on specific tests). Discounts are offered for bulk samples.
Order your herbicide resistance test.
Broad-leaved weeds
We also offers ALS-inhibitor (sulfonylurea) resistance testing for poppy, chickweed, and mayweed.
If you would like broad-leaved weeds tested for resistance to different actives, tests can be tailored to specific requirements, i.e. different herbicide choices and methods, different species. Please contact us to discuss this further and for quotations on different tests.
Discounts are offered for bulk samples.
Order your herbicide resistance test
Sampling weed seeds for resistance testing
Resistance tests are only as good as the sample collected. Follow the guidelines below to ensure your seed sample is suitable.
- Do not collect from the edge of the field. Collect a representative sample from across the field; across 2-3 tramlines and across an area of 100m.
- Where patches occur in the field, sample the patches and mix together; the bigger the area the better.
Grass weeds
When taking samples of grass weed seed for resistance testing, make sure the seed is ripe. Black-grass, ryegrass and wild oat seeds are ready for sampling when seeds are brown and the seeds fall off the panicle on their own when gently brushed with your hand. You won’t need to force seed off the plant.
Black-grass growth stages - the ideal time to collect black-grass seed for herbicide resistance is when the plant is at 10-20% shedding
Best times to sample:
- Black-grass – 2nd or 3rd week of July, when 10-20% of seed has shed
- Italian ryegrass - early/mid July
- Wild oats - late July/early August
How to sample:
- Collect a small mug of seed. Collect just the seeds; avoid collecting intact heads as they are unlikely to be ripe
- When you collect a mug of seed, allow the seeds to dry in a container for a few days.
- Transfer seed to a paper envelope.
- Samples are ready for sending.
Dr Sarah Cook explaining how to collect black-grass seed for herbicide resistance testing
Broad-leaved weeds
You will need:
- Paper bag/ envelope with the bottom taped up to prevent seed escape.
- Sharp knife or scissors
To collect poppy and mayweed:
- Cut off mature seed heads
- Place the heads in the paper bag or envelope.
- Leave the seeds in a well-ventilated area, making sure the bag remains open to the air to allow drying of the seed heads.
- Before posting, seal the bag/envelope with sticky tape to prevent seeds escaping.
To collect chickweed
Check chickweed plants for flowers and seed heads. Seed heads will be always be green.
- Pull large quantities of chickweed and place in a paper sack. Do not pack it in too tightly but allow enough room for air to circulate.
- Place the open sack in a well-ventilated area where the plants can dry out. As they dry seed will fall from the heads to the bottom of the sack.
- When dry remove the chickweed straw from the sack shaking any loose seeds into the sack.
- When the straw has been removed, tip the seeds into an envelope. Before posting seal the bag/envelope with sticky tape to prevent seeds escaping
- Alternatively post the sack containing the chickweed plants
Deciding which field(s) to have tested
Ideally fields should be tested every 3 years to coincide with a typical 3 year rotation. Understanding the resistance profile of the grass weed population in the field will help to optimise control measures.
If cost is a prohibitive factor in testing then the following points can be used as a guide when selecting sites:
- Fields that have never been tested before
- Fields tested 5+ years ago
- Fields with continuous cropping (i.e. winter wheat only)
- Fields where control of grass weed is poor
- Fields where suspected resistant patches are still very small/discrete
- Fields with the worst yields