A Review on the Effects and Managements of Cuscuta Campestris in Ethiopia

Abstract

Cuscuta campestris is native to North America of the family Cuscutaceae have a very distinct appearance, consisting mainly of leafless, glabrous, yellow or orange twining stems and tendrils, bearing inconspicuous scales in the place of leaves, known for its notorious role as environmental, medical, and agricultural hazards. Cuscuta like many troublesome weeds has different names in different localities. Common names in addition to dodder include love vine, strangle-weed, devils’ guts, gold thread, pulldown, devilsringlet, hellbind, hellweed, devilshail, and hailweed. It is believed to have been introduced into India and Australia from North America and in the last few years the weed has emerged as the seventh most devastating weed in Africa, Asia, and Australia. It is also spread in contaminated crop seed but this should be avoidable by sieving, as the seeds are appreciably smaller than even the small seeded linseed varieties grown in Ethiopia. The two species most likely to be encountered in Ethiopia are both introduced. The common and most serious in agriculture is C. campestris. The second one is C. eplinum, which is very similar superficially to C. campestris except for slightly paler yellow stems and slightly larger flowers.  Integrated weed management (IWM) aims to diversify weed management strategies to reduce the reliance on herbicides. This includes the integration of a wide range of cultural control options such as cultivations, drilling date, cropping choice, biocontrol, mechanical and other physical control. The aim of this review is to provide general information about the physiology, distribution, and management of cuscuta. Control of cuscuta has been tried by various methods, but no single management option would be adequate to manage cuscuta, and there is a need to integrate various management options. Successful management of this weed can only be achieved by an integrated approach with biological control as the key element.

Keywords: Cuscuta, dodder, management, noxious

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/13-17-04

Publication date:October 31^st 2023