The environmentally safe method of control of broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.) parasitizing on sunflower

Abstract

Orobanche cumana Wallr., an obligate parasite of sunflower, is widely spread in most countries cultivating this crop. It is one of the main factors limiting the cultivation of sunflower. The aim of our research was to determine the influence of application of oil crops (Brassicaceae) green manures on the sunflower infection with broomrape under greenhouse conditions. We used the green mass of white, black, common mustard and winter rapeseed as a green manure. We added the crushed green mass of these crops (62.5-90.0 g) to vessels with a soil-sand mixture mixed with broomrape seeds. After 15 days, we sowed the seeds of sunflower variety susceptible to all races of broomrape. We did not add the green manures in the control. The green manure of white mustard (variety Ruslana) showed the highest percentage of decrease in the infection degree – 44.7 %. The common mustard (Yunona) and black mustard (Niagara) reduced the infection by 25.9 and 27.0 %, respectively, the rapeseed (Tavrion) – by 24 %. We recommend using the green manures of these crops to reduce infection of sunflower crops with broomrape and as an environmentally safe method of clearing the field from its seeds.