LSU AgCenter shines light on resistant weeds

LED light and mild warming show promise in weed destruction.

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With the increase in herbicide-resistant weed varieties, researchers are examining new methods of control — including using blue light to target stubborn weed species.

LSU AgCenter weed scientist Lauren Lazaro is leading a study looking at the possibility of using blue LED light and mild warming to kill weed seeds at harvest.

Lazaro said she was contacted by Global Neighbor Inc., an Ohio-based company that is studying the use of different blue light levels and temperatures to kill weed seeds.

Weed Seed Destroyer nis a unit that bolts to the back of combines and saturates weed seeds with light and heat as it passes with the chaff flow during harvest.

The blue light technology is a non-chemical approach to stunting the growth of herbicide-resistant weed seeds, Lazaro said.

“The goal for the company is that this equipment will be bolted onto the combine at harvest and to combine blue light and temperature to make weed seeds unable to germinate,” she said.

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