Weed Flora Evolution in the Era of Climate Change: New Agronomic Issues as a Threat to Sustainable Agriculture

The impacts of climate change on Mediterranean weed flora were investigated to inform future weed management strategies. Projections indicate that rising temperatures and increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations are likely to favor ruderal species characterized by rapid phenological development and high dispersal capacity. Enhanced abiotic stressors-such as elevated temperatures, water scarcity, and increased UV-B radiation-are expected to affect crops more severely than weeds, given the latter's greater evolutionary potential to develop stress-tolerant biotypes. Moreover, the increased frequency and intensity of extreme events (e.g., drought, flooding, and soil salinization) may reduce weed community diversity, potentially leading to dominance by a limited number of highly competitive species and consequently intensifying reliance on chemical weed control. Simplification of weed communities may also increase vulnerability to the introduction and establishment of alien species, particularly those originating from hot and arid regions, some of which may be parasitic, toxic, or allergenic. Climate change-induced phenological mismatches between flowering plants and pollinators are likely to favor wind-pollinated weed species, further compromising the aesthetic and ecological quality of agricultural landscapes. Additionally, increased production of wind-dispersed allergenic pollen, together with the anticipated rise in herbicide applications, may pose significant risks to human health. An effective agronomic strategy to address future weed scenarios should include the genetic improvement in crops to enhance adaptive plasticity, exploiting germplasm from ancestral lines and related wild species.