Develop and test bioherbicides that specifically target palmer amaranth (pigweed) and waterhemp without harming soybeans, while creating a commercialization roadmap to provide farmers with a cost-effective, sustainable weed control option.

• Palmer amaranth (pigweed) is a critical threat to U.S. soybean production, with management costs exceeding $100/acre and no guaranteed control.
• As chemical herbicide options dwindle and resistance spreads, pigweed and waterhemp are emerging as "superweeds."
• Novel bioherbicides offer a sustainable, environmentally friendly, and potentially cost-effective alternative to traditional herbicides.
• Bioherbicides can be produced domestically in a decentralized manner, supporting:
  • Local and rural economic opportunities
  • Reduced dependence on volatile international chemical markets
  • Greater resilience to supply chain disruptions
• This research explores the first steps toward commercializing bioherbicides for pigweed and waterhemp, which could transform weed management in soybeans.

• Introduces new tools for controlling pigweed and waterhemp to complement chemical herbicides.
• Supports integrated weed management, improving yields and profitability while lowering risk of herbicide resistance.
• Reduces environmental impact by limiting chemical herbicide use and runoff.
• Offers potential cost savings through effective, targeted control and domestic production that lowers input costs.
• Provides a path to practical adoption by surveying farmers, agronomists, and the chemical industry to ensure the bioherbicides fit real-world needs.
• Facilitates future-proof weed management by offering new modes of action that delay or prevent further herbicide resistance.

• Dr. Ahmad Fakhoury, Professor, Southern Illinois University
• Dr. Burt Bluhm, Professor, University of Arkansas
• Dr. Jason Bond, Professor, Southern Illinois University

• Southern Illinois University (SIU) – Greenhouse assays and bioherbicide testing on IL pigweed/waterhemp populations
• University of Arkansas (Bluhm Lab) – Bioherbicide formulation, optimization, and field trials
• Field Sampling Across Illinois – Collection of diseased pigweed and waterhemp samples from farms statewide to identify and assess local pathogen strains

Dr. Ahmad Fakhoury
Professor
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
618-453-1782
amfakhou@siu.edu