Research from the Sussman Lab in the Department of Biochemistry has led to the development of a new herbicide system. The research was led by Paige Henning, a postdoctoral researcher in the Center for Genomic Science Innovation, and Benjamin Minkoff, a scientist.
The herbicide system uses a natural plant peptide, SPH, to suppress and kill a wide variety of weeds. SPH targets a receptor found in nearly all plant species, giving it broad activity. The researchers showed that removing this receptor from crops makes them resistant to SPH, enabling selective weed control. The result is an ecofriendly herbicide that could simplify farming and reduce environmental impact. The team filed for a patent through the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF).
WARF developed a video where you can learn more about this work, which was nominated for a 2025 WARF Innovation Award.