The Unsung Champions of Evolution: Weeds and Their Management in Agricultural Systems

The history of weeds is closely intertwined with the development of agriculture. As early farmers began to select crops, weeds emerged as formidable competitors, evolving alongside them in a continuous struggle for survival. Over the past 23,000 years, while crops have been bred for human purposes, weeds have continuously adapted, thriving despite rigorous weed management practices. This coevolution highlights the remarkable ability of weeds to evolve rapidly, establishing them as true champions of adaptation. Herbicide resistance, in particular, exemplifies this phenomenon, with weeds developing both target-site resistance (TSR) through genetic mutations and non-target-site resistance (NTSR) through metabolic changes. Often, these mechanisms combine, resulting in heightened levels of resistance, especially within herbicide-resistant crop systems. The evolutionary success of weeds not only underscores their adaptability but also emphasizes their critical role in supporting biodiversity and ecosystem resilience, particularly in simplified agricultural landscapes. This chapter focuses on the evolution of weed management strategies and emphasizes the urgent need to transition to ecologically based weed management (E-bWM) approaches that balance productivity with sustainability, recognizing the ecological value of weeds in fostering resilient agricultural systems.