Integrated agronomic management of parasitic weed seed banks

Abstract

The vast production of minute seeds, the extremely high seed dispersal potential and the selective germination and extended longevity of the individual seeds represent major difficulties in managing the parasitic weeds of the Orobanchaceae. Without management, existing parasite soil seed banks rapidly increase and parasite seed can disperse over a wide range leading to new parasite infestations. Integrated long-term strategies are needed to succeed in combating against these devastating weeds. The strategies must include a range of measures targeting reduction, containment and prevention of the build-up of seed banks. Phytosanitary measures are crucial in preventing new and recurring parasitic plant infestations. These include the use of soil, crop seeds and transplants, grazing animals and equipment that are free from parasite seeds as well as reducing seed production in infested fields by hand weeding, resistant and tolerant crops, catch and trap crops, soil fumigation, soil solarisation and in some cases flooding.