Education
Ph.D., Agronomy/Weed Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. August 1988
Dissertation: A search for metribuzin tolerance in fieldbeans (Phaseolus vulgaris).
M.S., Agronomy/Weed Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. December 1985
Thesis: Response of fieldbeans (Phaseolus vulgaris) to reduced rates of 2,4-D and dicamba.
B.S., Agronomy/Crop Protection, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. August 1980
Research
My Extension and Research Program focused on integrated weed management in dryland small grain production in eastern Washington. I focused on the troublesome weeds in each of the three rainfall zones of eastern Washington, i.e., low, medium, and high. This included the winter annual grass weeds such as downy brome (Bromus tectorum), jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica), feral rye (Secale cereale), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), and rattail fescue (Vulpia myuros); as well as some of the troublesome warm-season broadleaf weeds in small grains and/or fallow such as mayweed chamomile (Anthemis cotula), Russian-thistle (Salsola tragus), prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea), and smooth scouringrush (Equisetum laevigatum). The use of herbicides in conjunction with cultural practices such as crop rotation, plant population, row spacing, and fertility were investigated as will the use of tillage, when necessary. Herbicide-resistant weeds are a major concern in the region and integrated weed management strategies were devised to deal with existing herbicide resistance issues and slow the development of new herbicide-resistant biotypes. As part of my Extension appointment, I provided leadership for the WSU Extension Dryland Cropping Systems Team. One of our major projects was the development of the Wheat and Small Grains Website, where growers and consultants can find all the information and decision tools that WSU Extension has related to wheat and small grains production and marketing. I also served as the host of the WSU Wheat Beat Podcast where I talked with WSU faculty, postdocs, graduate students and USDA-ARS scientists about their wheat-related research. I also managed the Weeders of the West Blog and contributed articles with my weed science colleagues from the PNW.
Recent Publications
- Thorne ME and Lyon DJ. 2025. Chlorsulfuron + metsulfuron applied in fallow is effective for long-term control of smooth scouringrush (Equisetum laevigatum) in wheat. Weed Technol. 40(e4), 1-9.
- Lyon DJ, and Thorne ME. 2025. Glyphosate improves long-term control of smooth scouringrush (Equisetum laevigatum) with chlorsulfuron + metsulfuron. Weed Technol. 39:e68.
- Lyon, D.J., M.E. Thorne, and M. Savic. 2025. Managing smooth scouringrush and field horsetail in dryland cropping systems. (FS405E).
- Thorne M.E., Lyon DJ. 2024. Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum) seed shatter in wheat. Weed Sci. 73:e20.
- Lyon, D.J., I.C. Burke, J.M. Campbell, and J. Barroso. 2024. Italian ryegrass management in inland Pacific Northwest dryland cropping systems. (PNW778).
- Oreja, F.H., D.J. Lyon, J. Gourlie, H.C. Wetzel, and J. Barroso. 2023. Russian thistle (Salsola tragus) post-harvest control and plant dispersal. Weed Technol.
- Savic, M., M.E. Thorne, and D.J. Lyon. 2023. Smooth scouringrush (Equisetum laevigatum) control with glyphosate is affected by surfactant choice and application time. Weed Technol.
- Lyon, D.J., and M.E. Thorne. 2023. Rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea) control and winter wheat injury with picloram applied in fallow. Weed Technol. 37:296-302.
- Spring, J.F, S.R. Revolinski, F.L. Young, D.J. Lyon, and I.C. Burke. 2022. Weak population differentiation and high diversity in Salsola tragus in the inland Pacific Northwest, USA. Pest Manag. Sci. 78:4728-4740.
- Lyon, D.J., and M.E. Thorne. 2022. Smooth scouringrush (Equisetum laevigatum) control with glyphosate in Eastern Washington. Weed Technol. 36:457-461.
- Thorne, M.E., and D.J. Lyon. 2022. Rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea L.) control in fallow. Weed Technol. 35:1045-1051.
- Adjesiwor, A.T., D.J. Lyon, J. Barroso, and J.M. Campbell. 2022. Integrated management of wild oat in the Pacific Northwest. (PNW759).
- San Martin, C., M.E. Thorne, J.A. Gourlie, D.J. Lyon, and J. Barroso. 2021. Seed retention of grass weeds at wheat harvest in the Pacific Northwest. Weed Sci. 69:238-246.
- Gill, K.S., N. Kumar, H.S. Randhawa, K. Murphy, A.H. Carter, C.F. Morris, R.W. Higginbotham, D.A. Engle, S.O. Guy, D.J. Lyon, T.D. Murray, X.M. Chen, and W.F. Schillinger. 2021. Registration of ‘Resilience CL+’ soft white winter wheat. J. Plant Registr. 15:196-205.
- Lyon, D.J., J. Barroso, M.E. Thorne, J. Gourlie, and L.K. Lutcher. 2021. Russian-thistle (Salsola tragus L.) control with soil-active herbicides in no-till fallow. Weed Technol. 35:547-553.