In the European Union, the Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides makes it mandatory to implement the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). To face this challenge, member states of the European Union has co-funded an initiative to coordinate Integrated Pest Management (C-IPM) through an ERA-NET funding programme under the Seventh Framework Programme on research and development.
The present report is the result of a project with participating institutes from and co-funded by parties from Italy Greece, and Denmark.
The project aimed at monitoring, mapping, developing innovative detection tools and characterizing (patterns, levels and resistance mechanisms) selected resistant populations as well as devising resistance management strategies for Lolium in various agronomic situations.
In Denmark, herbicide resistant Lolium is not as widespread as in Italy or Greece. However, several populations have been found to be resistant to both ALS and ACCase inhibitors. In contrast to Italy and Greece, only one mutation in the ALS gene was identified in the Danish populations, and it was present in only one population, indicating that the main resistance mechanism in Denmark is non-target site. Furthermore, no glyphosate resistance was found in Denmark.
The lower incidence of herbicide resistance in Denmark compared to Italy and Greece is probably attributed to a lesser use of winter annual crops and a higher use of crop rotation in Denmark.
Based on the results of this collaborative project, country specific guidelines to manage herbicide resistance Lolium have been developed, published, and distributed to grower associations.
