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Agriculture

Syngenta backs sterile pollen start-up

by Melody M. Bomgardner
March 15, 2020 | A version of this story appeared in Volume 98, Issue 10

 

This image shows the herbicide-resistant weed Palmer amaranth.
Credit: North Dakota State University
WeedOUT is targeting Palmer amaranth control with its sterile pollen technology.

The venture arm of the agricultural chemical firm Syngenta has invested an undisclosed sum in WeedOUT, a biological crop protection start-up based in Israel. WeedOUT harvests pollen from specific weed species and irradiates the pollen to make it sterile. When broadcast in a field, the sterile pollen pollinatesfemale weed plants, which then produce seeds that do not germinate. The company says it can curtail populations of herbicide-resistant weeds such as Palmer amaranth, water hemp, and rigid ryegrass.

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