Parasitic Plants in Forage Legumes – Medicago sativa L.

Abstract

Medicago sativa L. is one of the main forage crops widely grown throughout the world. The yield quality and quantity of the alfalfa crop are influenced by many factors. Weeds, as the most problematic pests in agriculture, compete with crops obtaining water, nutrients, light, and space, and parasitic weeds are becoming a threat to food production. Weed species, such as Cuscuta spp., are particularly noxious since they also directly extract valuable water and nutrients from the host plant, and in some cases can also be difficult to eradicate.