AN INTRODUCTION OF WEED GENOMICS

Invasive weeds present a persistent threat to current agriculture and have large economic and biological losses;nevertheless we have little information about the weed genomics. Genomics tools such as next generationsequencing platforms, functional genomics approaches, comparative genomics, transposon mutagenesis, antisensedown regulation, RNAi technology have recently been successfully applied in herbicide resistant studies. Genomicstools are becoming increasingly more accessible and reasonably priced especially in weed science. One example isnext generation sequencing technology which provides both sequence and a measure of expression levels. Thesetools provide new insights into the herbicide resistance and response of the weeds in different environmentalconditions. Weed genomics should increase the potential of discovering new herbicides mechanism of action andprovide techniques to improve the efficiency and crop safety of new herbicides. Also, Genetically Modified (GM)crops are the next issue in weed science, genomic tools will make this process more feasible and applicable. Here,we try to propose information about weed genomics and provide collaboration between weed scientists andgenomicist that could lead to better weed management.

Keywords:

Genomics tools , Genomicist , Herbicide resistant , GM crops , Weed scientists