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Accepted manuscript

Weed Biology and Management under a Changing Climate: An Integrative Review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 April 2026

Xingwei Lai
Affiliation:
Researcher, Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, P. R. China; 823264799@qq.com
Hua Zhang
Affiliation:
PhD Scholar, Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology, Ecology and Production Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; zh347029559@163.com
Alireza Hasanfard
Affiliation:
Researcher, Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran; alireza.hasanfard@yahoo.com
Bhagirath Singh Chauhan*
Affiliation:
Professor, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia; b.chauhan@uq.edu.au
*
Corresponding author: Bhagirath Singh Chauhan; Email: b.chauhan@uq.edu.au
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Abstract

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The global climate is changing, characterized by rising temperatures (projected to increase by 1.5–2 C by the end of the century) and elevated atmospheric CO2 levels (>410 ppm), which are recognized as the primary drivers of climate change. These changes significantly affect multiple aspects of weed biology, including seed germination, seedbank dynamics, photosynthesis, root growth, phenology, and biomass production, often enhancing weed growth and competitive ability by 60–90% under elevated temperature and CO2 conditions. Climate change not only modifies the biological traits of weeds but also influences the effectiveness of current management practices, including herbicide application, potentially increasing herbicide resistance. In this context, smart agriculture and artificial intelligence–based technologies offer promising tools for precise weed identification, monitoring of distribution patterns, and prediction of weed dynamics, thereby optimizing management strategies, reducing herbicide use, and improving control efficiency. Understanding climate-induced biological changes in weeds and integrating advanced technologies into management approaches are crucial for mitigating ecological threats and ensuring the sustainability of agricultural production.

Information

Type
Review
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Weed Science Society of America