Striga asiatica
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| Asiatic witchweed | ||||||||||||||
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| Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze |
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Striga lutea |
Asiatic witchweed (Striga asiatica) is a hemiparasitic plant in the broomrape family (Orobanchaceae). It is native to Asia and sub-Saharan Africa[1], but has been introduced into other parts of the world including Australia and the United States. Witchweed is a serious agricultural pest as it parasitises important crop species including corn, rice, sorghum, and sugar cane, often causing substantial yield reductions[2].
In the USA, witchweed was discovered in the Carolinas in 1955. It is considered an invasive agricultural pest, and a vigorous eradication campaign has reduced the affected area by 99 percent (from 450,000 acres (1,820 km²) to about 3,400 acres (14 km²))[3].
Biological control can be achieved by growing a Desmodium (tick-trefoil) undercrop. The trefoil can be used as green manure or animal fodder after the harvest.
[edit] References
- ^ Cochrane, V., Malcolm C. Press (1997). "Geographical Distribution and Aspects of the Ecology of the Hemiparasitic Angiosperm Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze: A Herbarium Study". Journal of Tropical Ecology 13 (3): 371–380.
- ^ USDA
- ^ Global Invasive Species Database
[edit] Sources
- Invasive.org
- Striga asiatica (TSN 505388). Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- Simberloff, Danial. 2003. Eradication- preventing invasions at the outset. Weed Science:51:247–253.
[edit] See also
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