Bahiagrass grown for foundation seed had become infested primarily with knotroot foxtail, and secondarily with yellow foxtail. Seed from both foxtail species are mechanically inseparable to certified seed standards from bahiagrass seed. Studies were conducted to determine if pendimethalin applied PRE, in combination with multiple POST applications of diclofop would sufficiently control and/or suppress foxtail seed head production so as to prevent contamination of the harvested bahiagrass seed. Neither pendimethalin nor multiple applications of diclofop were detrimental to bahiagrass seed head production. Although pendimethalin had no effect of knotroot foxtail seed head production, diclofop was effective. Depending on the year, between one and three POST applications of diclofop at 1.12 kg/ha each were effective in reducing, but not completely eliminating, knotroot foxtail seed head production in bahiagrass.

UK agriculture is undergoing significant change with reduced subsidies for food production, increasing consumer demands for food safety and traceability, and environmental concerns including climate and demographic change. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture adopted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation supports the use of genetic resources for research and breeding. Mining genetic resources for useful genetic variation is perceived as a major benefit of genebanks. However, utilization by breeders may be constrained by poor characterization of genetic resources, a widening gap between improved and unimproved material, and the disruption of well- adapted genotypes during introgression. Breeders working with grasses and forage legumes for sustainable agriculture are fortunate in the wealth of genetic variation available both within the primary species of interest and among related species. New DNA technologies allow more targeted approaches to the use of these genetic resources. Possibilities for gene transfer between related species using conventional techniques expand the available gene pools while potential use of genetic transformation extend these even further.