Applying COVER Crops to REDUCE Constraint of Egyptian Broomrape IN Infested Fields.

Egyptian broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca pers.) is a parasitic angiosperm and major constraint to agriculture in Africa and Asia inflicting devastating losses to farmers. Management with herbicides or other methods is difficult; thus, Non chemical economical methods such as using cover crops could be an effective way to prevent broomrape from spreading. To fulfill this aim, having the knowledge of the host range including hosts, false­hosts or nonhost seems essential. Through current study trap and catch crops culturing to decrease infestation of Egyptian broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca Pers.) was tested in PE bag and pot experiments. 27 crops, members of the Asteraceae, Malvaceae, Fabaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Poaceae, Pedaliaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Linaceae and Solanaceae families were grown in 2Kg pots containing sterile soil, infested with 0.6 g of Egyptian broomrape seeds. Control pots contained only 0.6 g of Egyptian broomrape. After 75 days plants were incorporated in to the soil and tomato seedlings were planted in the pots. Eighty days later the experiment was terminated by determining the number and dry weight of the Egyptian broomrape shoots as well as their capsules. The most significant reduction in broomrape shoots and capsule number was demonstrated in pots which formerly contained cotton (cotton is a non-host which roots secrete Strigol a germination inducer of broomrape seeds). Furthermore, major damage from broomrape is restricted by utilizing Poaceae & Piperaceae family, sorghum &pepper in particular. Except Cotton & Sorghum most probably whole cultured plants such as Tomato, Sun flower, Soy bean, Chick pea, Zucchini, Mung bean, Wheat, Barley, Corn, Vetch, Oat, Rye, Beet, Sugar beet, Triticale, Sain foin, Caster-oil plant, Mill , Sesame, Fiber flax, Alfalfa, Red been, Cucumber, pepper suggested as trap crops or hosts for O.aegyptiaca. We hold this view on account of visiting emergence sign of broomrape seeds on given plants root. However, growing tubercles weren’t seen in PE bags. Cotton (Gossypium  hirsutum  L) reduced early infestation of the parasite and significantly increased tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) dry weight. Results obtained through PE bags investigation were in agreement with what concluded from the pots experiment.

 Keywords: Cotton, sorghum, Host crop, Trap crop, declining Broomrape’s infestation