Researchers at the University of Minnesota and Colorado State University have developed a genetic test for early detection of Palmer Amaranth. Palmar Amaranth is a high impact agronomic weed species that has cost the U.S. ag industry billions of dollars. The Lead Research Author Dr. Anthony (BREW-SAH) Brusa of the University of Minnesota says their research is very reliable.
He says the test which will be commercially available yet this year is 99.9 percent effective.
Brusa says this will help growers identify Palmer Amaranth and the only way to do that successfully is genetically.
Palmer Amaranth is an invasive species that has shown the potential to wipe out up to 91 percent of corn yields, 68 percent of soybean yields and 54 percent of cotton yields.
