MICROORGANISMS IN WEED-CONTROL STRATEGIES

Alternative weed management strategies are needed to expand the capabi lity of weed control as weed pressures continue to limit optimum yield , and as the use of synthetic chemical herbicides for weed control bec omes more restricted. Biological control of weeds is based on the prem ise that biotic factors influence the distribution, abundance, and com petitive abilities of plant species. Biological control is one alterna tive means of suppressing weed growth and establishment. More than 100 microorganisms have been identified as having the potential for weed biocontrol. There are, however, a number of problems with using these agents that must be solved, including limited host spectrum, lack of c onsistency across environments, and slow or inadequate weed suppressio n. It has been shown that soil microorganisms are capable of suppressi ng weeds in the field. It is imperative to develop an understanding of these soil microbes and their ecology so that they may be used to ben efit agriculture, especially for weed management. Further study is req uired so that they may be produced efficiently and used effectively in weed management strategies.