Striga asiatica, the Asiatic witchweed or the red witchweed,[1] is a hemiparasitic plant in the family Orobanchaceae. It is native to Asia and sub-Saharan Africa,[2] but has been introduced into other parts of the world including Australia and the United States. Asiatic witchweed is a serious agricultural pest, as it parasitises important crop species, including corn, rice, sorghum, and sugar cane, often causing substantial yield reductions.[1]
In the US, this witchweed was discovered in the Carolinas in 1956.[3] It is considered an invasive agricultural pest, and a vigorous eradication campaign has reduced the affected area by 99% [from 450,000 acres (1,820 km2) to about 3,400 acres (1,400 ha)].[4]
S. asiatica seedlings are not visible above ground, but white succulent shoots can be found attached to host roots. Mature plants have green foliage above ground, sparsely covered with coarse, short, white, bulbous-based hairs. Mature plants are normally 15–30 centimetres (5.9–11.8 in) tall, but have grown to 60 centimetres (24 in). Leaves are nearly opposite, narrowly lanceolate, about 1–3 centimetres (0.39–1.18 in) long, with successive leaf pairs perpendicular to one another. Flowers, produced in summer and fall, are small (less than 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) in diameter), sessile and axillary, with a two-lipped corolla, occurring on loose spikes. Flower colour varies regionally, from red, orange, or yellow in Africa to pink, white, yellow, or purple in Asia. The flowers give way to swollen seed pods, each containing thousands of dustlike seeds. Underground stems are white, round with scale-like leaves, turning blue when exposed to air. The roots are succulent, round, without root hairs, and found attached to a host species root system.[6]
Referencesedit
^ abc"Striga asiatica (Red Witchweed)". Retrieved 24 April 2019.
^Cochrane, V.; Malcolm C. Press (1997). "Geographical Distribution and Aspects of the Ecology of the Hemiparasitic Angiosperm Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze: A Herbarium Study" (PDF). Journal of Tropical Ecology. 13 (3): 371–380. doi:10.1017/S0266467400010579. JSTOR 2560290.
^•Werth, C.R.; Riopel, J.L. Riopel; Gillespie, N.W. (1984). "Genetic uniformity in an introduced population of witchweed (Striga asiatica) in the United States". Weed Science. 32 (5): 645–648. doi:10.1017/S0043174500059725. JSTOR 4043983.
^Spallek, T.; Mutuku, J.M.; Shirasu, K. (2013). "The genus Striga: A witch profile". Molecular Plant Pathology. 14 (9): 861–869. doi:10.1111/mpp.12058. ISSN 1464-6722. PMC6638688. PMID 23841683.
^"Invasive Species: Striga asiatica, Witchweed". 9 February 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
Sourcesedit
Simberloff, Daniel. 2003. Eradication - preventing invasions at the outset. Weed Science 51:247–253.
Striga asiatica in Brunken, U., Schmidt, M., Dressler, S., Janssen, T., Thombiano, A. & Zizka, G. 2008. West African plants - A Photo Guide. Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Frankfurt/Main.
External linksedit
Species Profile- Witchweed (Striga asiatica), National Invasive Species Information Center, United States National Agricultural Library. Lists general information and resources for Witchweed.
"Red witchweed". Business Queensland. 2016-10-12. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
May 03, 2024
striga, asiatica, asiatic, witchweed, witchweed, hemiparasitic, plant, family, orobanchaceae, native, asia, saharan, africa, been, introduced, into, other, parts, world, including, australia, united, states, asiatic, witchweed, serious, agricultural, pest, par. Striga asiatica the Asiatic witchweed or the red witchweed 1 is a hemiparasitic plant in the family Orobanchaceae It is native to Asia and sub Saharan Africa 2 but has been introduced into other parts of the world including Australia and the United States Asiatic witchweed is a serious agricultural pest as it parasitises important crop species including corn rice sorghum and sugar cane often causing substantial yield reductions 1 Asiatic witchweed Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Clade Eudicots Clade Asterids Order Lamiales Family Orobanchaceae Genus Striga Species S asiatica Binomial name Striga asiatica L Kuntze Synonyms Striga lutea While it is native to Africa and Asia it is invasive in farmlands of Kenya Tanzania and Uganda 1 In the US this witchweed was discovered in the Carolinas in 1956 3 It is considered an invasive agricultural pest and a vigorous eradication campaign has reduced the affected area by 99 from 450 000 acres 1 820 km2 to about 3 400 acres 1 400 ha 4 Biological control can be achieved by growing a Desmodium tick trefoil undercrop see push pull technology The trefoil can be used as green manure or animal fodder after the harvest 5 Contents 1 Description 2 References 3 Sources 4 External linksDescription editS asiatica seedlings are not visible above ground but white succulent shoots can be found attached to host roots Mature plants have green foliage above ground sparsely covered with coarse short white bulbous based hairs Mature plants are normally 15 30 centimetres 5 9 11 8 in tall but have grown to 60 centimetres 24 in Leaves are nearly opposite narrowly lanceolate about 1 3 centimetres 0 39 1 18 in long with successive leaf pairs perpendicular to one another Flowers produced in summer and fall are small less than 1 5 centimetres 0 59 in in diameter sessile and axillary with a two lipped corolla occurring on loose spikes Flower colour varies regionally from red orange or yellow in Africa to pink white yellow or purple in Asia The flowers give way to swollen seed pods each containing thousands of dustlike seeds Underground stems are white round with scale like leaves turning blue when exposed to air The roots are succulent round without root hairs and found attached to a host species root system 6 References edit a b c Striga asiatica Red Witchweed Retrieved 24 April 2019 Cochrane V Malcolm C Press 1997 Geographical Distribution and Aspects of the Ecology of the Hemiparasitic Angiosperm Striga asiatica L Kuntze A Herbarium Study PDF Journal of Tropical Ecology 13 3 371 380 doi 10 1017 S0266467400010579 JSTOR 2560290 Werth C R Riopel J L Riopel Gillespie N W 1984 Genetic uniformity in an introduced population of witchweed Striga asiatica in the United States Weed Science 32 5 645 648 doi 10 1017 S0043174500059725 JSTOR 4043983 Spallek T Mutuku J M Shirasu K 2013 The genus Striga A witch profile Molecular Plant Pathology 14 9 861 869 doi 10 1111 mpp 12058 ISSN 1464 6722 PMC 6638688 PMID 23841683 Asiatic Witchweed Retrieved 24 April 2019 Invasive Species Striga asiatica Witchweed 9 February 2012 Retrieved 24 April 2019 Sources editSimberloff Daniel 2003 Eradication preventing invasions at the outset Weed Science 51 247 253 Striga asiatica in Brunken U Schmidt M Dressler S Janssen T Thombiano A amp Zizka G 2008 West African plants A Photo Guide Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg Frankfurt Main External links editSpecies Profile Witchweed Striga asiatica National Invasive Species Information Center United States National Agricultural Library Lists general information and resources for Witchweed Red witchweed Business Queensland 2016 10 12 Retrieved 2021 09 28 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Striga asiatica amp oldid 1047010328, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
