Weedy Orobanchaceae: The problem

Abstract

While only a relatively small number of parasitic Orobanchaceae are weedy and parasitise agricultural crops, the impact of these species on world agriculture and world economy is tremendous. This chapter presents the key problems that farmers face in trying to control weedy Orobanchaceae and suggests an integrative approach for their management based on combining the various control measures, which are individually discussed in Chaps. 22 - 26. It also discusses the importance of considering the basic biological aspects of the weedy parasites in any attempt to manage them, including accurately identifying the species and their local populations, reliably diagnosing the field seed banks and understanding the factors that affect their spatial and temporal diversity in agricultural areas.