Will Weeds Always Win?
Time & Location
Thu 13 Mar - 11:45 - 14:00
FarmED, Honeydale Farm, Station Rd, Chipping Norton OX7 6BJ, UK
About the Event
Can discovering which genetic pathways keep weeds strong reveal strategies to enhance crop resilience and advance sustainable farming? Read More...Ever wondered why weeds always seem to win? Curious about how they outsmart our weed control methods and easily overcome environmental challenges? Wish our crops could be as resilient as the weeds next to them? Is there really anything we can do about black-grass? If so, this Lunchtime Talk is for you!
The Weed Molecular Biology team at Rothamsted Research is exploring each of these questions. We bring weeds into our labs to study their extraordinary ability to thrive. Using cutting-edge techniques – such as advanced measurements, genome sequencing and manipulation of gene expression – we uncover the secrets that give weeds their competitive edge. We ask questions about how weeds withstand the stresses of climate change and evade modern agricultural controls, such as herbicides. Although we work on a variety of weeds, our main focus is on black-grass, one of the most troublesome weeds in English agriculture. Can our work reveal weed’s vulnerabilities, which could be targeted for more effective and sustainable weed management strategies and can we identify which traits would be useful to select for future-proofing our crops against climate change?
About the speaker:
Dr Dana MacGregor is a plant molecular geneticist with expertise in understanding how plants survive the challenges of their environment and how they pass these beneficial traits on to secure the success of subsequent generations. She is currently focusing on agricultural weeds, particularly black-grass.
Please arrive at 11:45am. The talk will start at midday, and lunch will be served at 1:00pm.
Cancellation Policy
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Tickets
Ticket type
Talk & Lunch
Price
£20.00
VAT Included
Quantity
If you would like to book for your team or pay by BACS/Invoice please call our team on 01993 402403