Patrick Tranel2025-10-10T15:43:58-05:00

Researchers

Dr. Patrick Tranel

Areas of Expertise:

  • Weed Management
  • Herbicide Resistance

Ainsworth Professor & Associate Head
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)

217-333-1531
tranel@illinois.edu

Dr. Tranel joined UIUC in the late 1990s and has been teaching undergrad and graduate students about weed science both on campus and more recently through the online Master of Science program. As weeds have evolved over the years, so has the research Dr. Tranel conducts. He uses molecular and genomic approaches to better understand how weeds evolve to the various tools farmers use to control them. A native of Galena, Ill., Dr. Tranel earned his Bachelor of Science in agronomy from Iowa State University, master’s in weed science from Washington State University and doctorate in botany from Michigan State University.

Fun Facts!
Dr. Tranel has a difficult time getting away from weeds. At home, he tends to a large garden, small orchard, wooded area and prairie – where he spends much of his time controlling weeds! The family farm near Galena still draws him home. He spends his time there enjoying the scenery of spring-fed streams and abundant wildlife. During football season, Dr. Tranel takes at least one trek further north for a Minnesota Vikings game. He’s a fan by default – growing up, they were the “home” team of the television stations reaching his northwest corner of Illinois!

Current Projects

Understanding and Managing Nontarget-Site Herbicide Resistance in Waterhemp2025-10-08T11:51:45-05:00

Waterhemp continues to be one of the most troublesome weeds in Illinois soybean production, with new cases of resistance making management even more difficult. While past research has helped guide strategies for glyphosate resistance, less is known about how to slow the spread of nontarget-site resistance. By identifying which management practices—such as crop rotation, herbicide mixtures, tillage, or cover crops—are most effective, this project will give farmers science-based recommendations to preserve herbicide effectiveness, protect yields, and keep waterhemp in check.

Past Projects

How Do Environmental Factors Impact Glufosinate Efficacy Against Waterhemp, and How Can I Mitigate Those Challenges?2025-10-03T17:43:15-05:00

There have been reports over the past three growing seasons of sub-par waterhemp control from glufosinate in soybeans. This project will dig into how environmental factors, such as humidity, temperature and light intensity, interact with time of application and impact glufosinate efficacy. Researchers will also investigate the resistance mechanism with the goal of developing a rapid resistance diagnostic test, similar to those developed for glyphosate and Group 14 herbicides.

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