witchweed

Management of witchweed is difficult because the majority of its life cycle takes place below ground.

Furthermore, witchweed is capable of wiping out an entire crop.

Parasitizing important economic plants, witchweed is one of the most destructive pathogens in Africa.

An annual plant, witchweed overwinters in the seed stage.

Lists general information and resources for Witchweed.

Still, witchweed has demonstrated a wide tolerance for soil types if soil temperatures are favorably high.

In fact, witchweed affects 40% of Africa's arable savanna region, resulting in up to $13 billion lost every year.

Corn, sorghum, and sugarcane crops affected by witchweed in the United States have an estimated value well over $20 billion.

In fact, it is so prolific that in 1957 Congress allocated money in an attempt to eradicate witchweed.

Asiatic witchweed (Striga asiatica) is a hemiparasitic plant in the Scrophulariaceae family.

(witchweed), and Urochloa panicoides (liver-seed grass).

Striga hermonthica, commonly known as purple or giant witchweed, is a parasitic plant belonging to the genus Striga.

Increasing nitrogen levels in the soil, growing tolerant varieties,and trap-cropping, and planting susceptible crops harvested before witchweed seed is produced, can also be used.

Control of the witchweed, Striga hermonthica, by intercropping with Desmodium spp., and the mechanism defined as allelopathic.

Soil temperature, air temperature, photoperiod, soil type, and soil nutrient and moisture levels do not greatly deter the development of witchweed.

Striga hermonthica (purple witchweed) is also a parasite that affects grasses, particularly sorghum and pearl millet in sub-Saharan Africa.

Striga, commonly known as witchweed or witches weed, is a genus of parasitic plants that occur naturally in parts of Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Through infestation mapping, quarantine, and control activities such as contaminated seed destruction, the acreage parasitized by witchweed has been reduced 99% since its discovery in the United States.

Furthermore, the majority of crops in Africa are grown by subsistence farmers who cannot afford expensive witchweed controls, who therefore suffer much as a result of this pathogen.

Striga gesnerioides (cowpea witchweed) Africa, Arabian peninsula, India, USA (introduced)

To prevent witchweed from spreading it is necessary to plant uncontaminated seeds and clean soil and plant debris off of machinery, shoes, clothing, and tools before entering fields.

They also suppress witchweeds such as Asiatic Witchweed (Striga asiatica) and Purple Witchweed (S. hermonthica).

Striga asiatica (Asiatic witchweed) Africa, Arabian peninsula, India, Burma, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, New Guinea, Australia (introduced?)

For example, the seeds of the parasitic plant Witchweed (Striga asiatica) need to be within 3 to 4 millimeters (mm) of its host in order to pick up chemical signals in the soil to signal germination.