Researchers^[1] suggest that genetically engineering crops to exhibit vibrant colors could revolutionize farming practices, potentially eliminating the need for herbicides by facilitating weed detection, as stated by scientists.

This strategy is deemed increasingly crucial as resilient, climate-resistant weed like crops are anticipated to be cultivated for food in the future, according to the authors of a report published in the journal Trends in Plant Science.

Lead author Michael Palmgren, a plant scientist from the University of Copenhagen, conveyed to the Guardian^[2], “Modifications could involve features like hairs, leaf shapes, or emitted light at wavelengths beyond human vision. Anything that works on a large scale could be considered. The challenge of discerning between a weed and a crop becomes pressing as we cultivate weeds.”

The research highlights the difficulty in distinguishing new crops from weeds, underscoring the necessity of finding effective discrimination methods. The paper proposes modifying crop genomes to express pigments such as anthocyanins, found in blueberries, or carotenoids, responsible for the orange hue of carrots.

The researchers note that "Fat hen (Chenopodium album), grown for its nutritious seeds in India and Nepal, was a staple food in Europe during the Iron Age. Today, it thrives as a robust weed in European fields, causing significant crop losses. Some scientists propose improving fat hen to create a new sustainable crop that requires minimal care. However, distinguishing the improved fat hen from the wild variety poses a challenge, as initial changes may only be noticeable after seed development."

Advancements in genetic science have facilitated the identification of genes responsible for desirable traits selected by our ancestors in crop plants. This enables the rapid breeding of new crops with these traits using genetic engineering. Given that many wild plants exhibit higher tolerance to extreme weather and climate-related challenges compared to current crop plants, breeding them could mitigate potential food shortages amid climate disruptions.

However, these new crops may closely resemble their weed counterparts. To facilitate their identification and weeding without herbicides, scientists propose creating visually distinct plants that robotic weeders can easily discern from weeds.

“Distinguishing these new crops from their less productive and closely related wild plants could present tremendous challenges for weed control,” note the researchers. “Utilizing gene editing to enhance their visual recognition by weeding robots could effectively address this issue.”

1. ^{^}

   De novo domestication: what about the weeds? Pedro M.P. Correia
   Javad Najafi, Michael Palmgren, Published: April 17, 2024DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2024.03.001

2. ^{^}

   Gene-editing crops to be colourful could aid weeding, say scientists, 18th of April, 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/apr/17/gene-editing-crops-to-be-colourful-could-aid-weeding-say-scientists