Effects of wheat-canola intercropping on Phelipanche aegyptiaca parasitism

Abstract

Parasitic weeds especially Phelipanche aegyptiaca decrease severely the production of canola. This study evaluated the effect of intercropping different wheat genotypes with canola on Phelipanche aegyptiaca growth. Ten wild wheat genotypes with different ploidy levels including TRI11712, TRI19322, TRI18664, TRI19652, TRI565, TRI15593, TRI12911, TRI11554, TRI17606, TRI7259P and seven cultivated bread wheats, namely: Falat, Chamran, Alamut, Baiat, Kavir, Sepahan, Alvand in addition to a canola cultivar called Zarfam were studied. The results revealed that intercropping of canola with wheat could significantly reduce broomrape growth depending on the type of wheat genotype. A significant genetic variation of allelopathic activity in wheat was observed, indicating the contribution of multiple genes conferring the allelopathic trait. TRI565 and TRI12911, TRI15593, TRI18664, TRI19652, TRI17606, TRI19322, and TRI7259 genotypes showed strong inhibitory effects and can be considered as potential allelopathic genotypes to suppress broomrape. The inhibitory potential of wild wheat genotypes was stronger than cultivated wheat genotypes. Alamut, Baiat, Alvand, Sepahan, and TRI11712 possessed strong stimulatory effects on broomrape germination. Such genotypes may be valuable as trap crops for depleting the Egyptian broomrape seed bank.

Keywords

• allelopathy
• intercropping
• parasitic plants
• Phelipanche aegyptiaca
• Striga
• wheat-canola