GESTIONE DELLA RESISTENZA NEL CONTESTO DELL'IWM E DELLA NUOVA NORMATIVA EUROPEA

The approval and implementation of the EU Pesticide package will have a significant impact on herbicide resistance appearance, diffusion and management. Herbicide resistance is widespread in Italy, where 27 biotypes have been identified with 18 weed species involved and 13 regions affected. Although IMW is widely known and should be the basis of herbicide resistance management, its implementation is still limited. It is foreseen that the new and complex EU legislation on pesticides will have contrasting effects on resistance risk and management: the further reduction in number and diversity of herbicides available due to Regulation 1107/2009 will increase the risk of resistance and make its management harder, while implementation of Directive 128/2009 should increase the sustainability of cropping systems and therefore lower the risk of resistance. Resistance is a complex issue where general management principles exist, but integrated solutions must be identified case-by-case.