A widespread facultative hemi-parasitic weed, threatening rice production in Africa

Rhamphicarpa fistulosa is a facultative hemi-parasitic plant of the Orobanchaceae family, adapted to wet soils. Apart from tropical Australia, it is only found in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is considered a minor weed in cereal crops such as rice. Due to this status, the species has received only s...

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Autores principales: Rodenburg, J., Morawetz JJ, Bastiaans, L.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Wiley 2015
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/76593
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author Rodenburg, J.
Morawetz JJ
Bastiaans, L.
author_browse Bastiaans, L.
Morawetz JJ
Rodenburg, J.
author_facet Rodenburg, J.
Morawetz JJ
Bastiaans, L.
author_sort Rodenburg, J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Rhamphicarpa fistulosa is a facultative hemi-parasitic plant of the Orobanchaceae family, adapted to wet soils. Apart from tropical Australia, it is only found in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is considered a minor weed in cereal crops such as rice. Due to this status, the species has received only sporadic attention. Recent field observations and encounters with rice farmers in several African countries showed that R. fistulosa is, however, a more serious and increasing production constraint than previously thought. Results from a systematic literature review and a global herbarium study support this. The species has a broad distribution over Africa (at least 35 countries from Madagascar to Senegal and from Sudan to South Africa) and a wide range in altitude (0–2150 m a.s.l.) and environment (waterlogged swamps to moist free-draining uplands). Rhamphicarpa fistulosa is relatively independent and persistent because of the presumably wide host range, the facultative nature of its parasitism and its prolific seed (estimated 100 000 seeds m−2 under moderate infestation levels). Finally, R. fistulosa causes severe yield losses (average 60%) and high regional annual economic losses (estimated US $175 million), while effective control options are scant and awareness of the species among important R&D stakeholders is almost absent. An integrated approach is advocated to assist the rice sector to reduce current R. fistulosa-inflicted losses and to prevent further spread of the species into new areas.
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spelling CGSpace765932024-03-05T11:44:54Z A widespread facultative hemi-parasitic weed, threatening rice production in Africa Rodenburg, J. Morawetz JJ Bastiaans, L. climate change agriculture food security rice vampire weed inland valley rain-fed lowland parasitic plant integrated weed management subsistence farming sub-saharan africa Rhamphicarpa fistulosa is a facultative hemi-parasitic plant of the Orobanchaceae family, adapted to wet soils. Apart from tropical Australia, it is only found in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is considered a minor weed in cereal crops such as rice. Due to this status, the species has received only sporadic attention. Recent field observations and encounters with rice farmers in several African countries showed that R. fistulosa is, however, a more serious and increasing production constraint than previously thought. Results from a systematic literature review and a global herbarium study support this. The species has a broad distribution over Africa (at least 35 countries from Madagascar to Senegal and from Sudan to South Africa) and a wide range in altitude (0–2150 m a.s.l.) and environment (waterlogged swamps to moist free-draining uplands). Rhamphicarpa fistulosa is relatively independent and persistent because of the presumably wide host range, the facultative nature of its parasitism and its prolific seed (estimated 100 000 seeds m−2 under moderate infestation levels). Finally, R. fistulosa causes severe yield losses (average 60%) and high regional annual economic losses (estimated US $175 million), while effective control options are scant and awareness of the species among important R&D stakeholders is almost absent. An integrated approach is advocated to assist the rice sector to reduce current R. fistulosa-inflicted losses and to prevent further spread of the species into new areas. 2015-04 2016-08-25T11:51:29Z 2016-08-25T11:51:29Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/76593 en Open Access Wiley Rodenburg J, Morawetz JJ, Bastiaans L. 2015. A widespread facultative hemi-parasitic weed, threatening rice production in Africa. Weed Research 55(2):118-131.
spellingShingle climate change
agriculture
food security
rice vampire weed
inland valley
rain-fed lowland
parasitic plant
integrated weed management
subsistence farming
sub-saharan africa
Rodenburg, J.
Morawetz JJ
Bastiaans, L.
A widespread facultative hemi-parasitic weed, threatening rice production in Africa
title A widespread facultative hemi-parasitic weed, threatening rice production in Africa
title_full A widespread facultative hemi-parasitic weed, threatening rice production in Africa
title_fullStr A widespread facultative hemi-parasitic weed, threatening rice production in Africa
title_full_unstemmed A widespread facultative hemi-parasitic weed, threatening rice production in Africa
title_short A widespread facultative hemi-parasitic weed, threatening rice production in Africa
title_sort widespread facultative hemi parasitic weed threatening rice production in africa
topic climate change
agriculture
food security
rice vampire weed
inland valley
rain-fed lowland
parasitic plant
integrated weed management
subsistence farming
sub-saharan africa
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/76593
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