Understanding seed longevity in weeds

Efficient weed management in agricultural systems is key for achieving maximum potential yields and crop quality. The fate of weed seeds in the soil seedbank though is not well understood. Only a fraction of the seeds in the soil bank will germinate each year, but they often survive for longer in soil than in carefully controlled conditions of a modern seed store. Different accessions/strains vary in these traits even within a species. The basis of these differences is currently unknown but hampers the development of robust weed control strategies, from the screening of herbicides through to the development of appropriate agronomical practices