Weed & Pest Control : Molecular Biology, Practices & Environmental Impact

In this book, current research is presented no the study of weed and pest control with a special focus on molecular biology, agronomic practices and environmental impact. Topics discussed include integrated weed management in winter cereals; control of Orobanche spp. in terms of molecular aspects and agronomic practices; alien plant species invading rare and protected habitats; "belowground" seedbank processes as alternative non-chemical options for weed control; glyphosate-resistant volunteer maize (Zea mays L.) and its impact and management; the case of several Fabaceae weeds in terms of their tolerance to glyphosate and its mechanisms; the case of the invasive pest Phyllocnistis citrella and some proposed control strategies; pollen provisioning for the conservation of omnivorous phytoseiids: an integrated approach for pest control in protected cropping systems, vineyards and orchards; aphidophagous ladybird beetles as biological control agents and the use of Bacillus spp. as a biocontrol agent. By means of the above mentioned chapters, it is shown how management of several noxious weeds and pests should be achieved, relies on the several achievements of molecular biology and minimises the negative environmental effects of a sole and non-orthologic chemical control. Integrated management of weeds and pests gives the opportunity to significantly reduce the use of pesticides by utilising a variety of methods, including cultural, biological and structural strategies to control a multitude of weed and pest problems, and keep them from becoming a problem.