Palmer Amaranth

Pigweed is a major challenge to our farmers and growers. It is extremely resilient and resistant to many herbicides, posing a significant threat to the agriculture industry. ARS scientists in Stoneville MS, along with collaborators from Clemson University, are researching the pigweed itself to find ways to mitigate this highly adaptable weed.

Last summer, farmers in the Midwest got an unwelcome surprise after planting native seed on Conservation Reserve Program acres: Palmer amaranth (aka Palmer’s pigweed), an aggressive and hard-to-kill weed that is native to the Southern United States. Pat Tranel, molecular weed scientist at the University of Illinois, noted that growers who sell seeds are in jeopardy due to the spread of this noxious weed. “Unless they have a way to certify their product is Palmer-free, they can’t sell it,” Tranel said. Tranel and graduate student Brent Murphy developed a way around these issues. Their low-cost method can identify Palmer amaranth DNA from within a mixed sample without having to grow the plants. This project was made possible with support from NIFA.

Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) is an annual plant in the pigweed family (Amaranthaceae). It is native to the southwest United States/northern Mexico deserts and is currently increasing its range across the country. USDA NRCS, their partners, as well as farmers and landowners are working to eradicate these infestations before they spread to new areas. Midwest Climate Hub fellow, Dr. Erica Kistner-Thomas is getting a jump on how the distribution of Palmer amaranth will change from current to future climate conditions. Climate change is going to benefit this heat-tolerant weed by lengthening its growing season, boosting seed production and expanding its potential U.S. geographic range.