Management of Broomrape (Orobanche spp.) – A review

Abstract

Broomrapes (Orobanche spp.) are phanerogamic holoparasites that subsist upon the roots of many important crops thus causing considerable yield losses, especially in the drier and warmer areas of Europe, Africa and Asia. The major principles of reducing the seed bank and controlling the weed in the germination and parasitic/ reproductive phases are critically reviewed. Practices to control broomrape include physical methods (weeding, soil tillage, flooding, irrigation, solarization, flaming), chemical methods (soil fumigation, herbicide application, use of germination stimulants) and biological methods (use of resistant or tolerant varieties, cropping systems with trap and catch crops, intercropping, biological control with insects or fungi). Cultural practices which help to avoid germination, infection or strong reproduction of the weed or improve the crop's tolerance should be optimized. However, no single cheap method can control the weed, so integrated management practices are required. Integrated control strategies are site‐ and cropping‐system specific but have in common that measures are taken to kill part of the seed bank, induce the conditioned seeds to germinate in the absence of the commercial crop, kill emerging Orobanche shoots before seed set during growth of the commercial crop and further reduce or avoid damage to the commercial crop.

Chemical control of branched broomrape in processing tomato using sulfonylureas in southern Italy

“…Seeds of parasitic plants only germinate in response to germination stimulants present in the exudates from host roots (Joel et al, 1995;Dhanapal et al, 1996). However, seeds become progressively sensitive to germination stimulants only after the release from dormancy following a period of wet conditions (conditioning) immediately before germination (Murdoch and Kebreab, 2013).…”

Characterization of resistance to crenate broomrape (Orobanche crenata) in a new small-seeded line of Tunisian faba beans

“…Yield losses can reach 5 to 95% depending on the infestation level and the planting date of faba bean (Mesa-Garcia and Garcia-Torres 1986). Up until now, numerous cultural, mechanical, chemical and biological control strategies have been employed, including catching and trapping crops (Dhanapal et al 1996;Parker and Riches 1993). These strategies remain insufficient, too expensive, or too difficult to employ.…”

Integrated Agronomic Management of Parasitic Weed Seed Banks

“…By this method, the parasite seed bank is reduced in a manner similar to that of trap crops. Important crops reported as potential catch crops for broomrape control are faba bean (Vicia faba), field mustard (Brassica campestris), white mustard (Sinapis alba), lentil (Lens culinaris), berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) (Parker and Riches 1993;Sauerborn and Saxena 1986;Dhanapal et al 1996;Acharya et al 2002;Fernandez-Aparicio et al 2008.…”