LAHORE: The 22nd International Asia-Pacific Weed Science Conference Tuesday kicked off at the Government College University Lahore. The experts from Indonesia, United States, Bangladesh, Australia, Sudan, Jordon, Iran and India are participating in the five-day conference being held on the theme of 'Judicious Weed Management- Road to Sustainability'. Addressing the opening session of the conference, Meritorious Professor of Weed Science Dr Khan Bahadar Marwat said the weeds losses in Pakistan amount to Rs 250 billion annually in the major field crops of maize, wheat and rice. Besides economic losses, invasive weeds are major threat to our biodiversity; many of the weeds cause allergies and also promote insect and disease proliferation. Dr Bahadar said that Canada thistle, a weed of sugarcane, has developed resistance against specific herbicides and spread to other crops in Peshawar Valley. GCU Dean of Sciences Dr Ikramul Haq said weed scientists are confronted with incalculable challenges in eradication of weeds injurious to crops. He said that the changing behaviour of weeds is also causing problems for vegetation managers, which is compelling the human attitude towards sustainable management of weeds. Addressing the students, GCU Professor Emeritus Dr Khalid Hameed Shiekh said that all researches are useless unless implemented. "The researches done in the filed weeds and seeds should be forwarded to the framers, so that they can draw benefits out of them," he added. Later, Colorado State University Professor Emeritus Robert Zindhal gave a comprehensive lecture on the ethics of weed science. University of Jordon, Amman Prof Dr Jamal R Qasem presented his findings on parasitic flowering plants in Jordon. The technical sessions of the conference Ecology, Allelopathy and Management begins today (Wednesday). Around 150 presentations are scheduled to be held at the conference in the next four days of the conference. The conference will remain in session till March 12.F.P. Report
