Weed hosts of Cuscuta campestris in Turkey
Cuscuta campestris (Convolvulaceae), commonly known as dodder, is an annual parasitic plant native to temperate North America. It is regarded as invasive in Africa, Asia, some islands in the Pacific (for example Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia), New Zealand and parts of the EPPO region (for example Hungary and Spain). The risk of introduction of C. campestris is mainly from contaminated seed crops. Impacts are generally associated with yield reduction and a 57 % reduction has been reported in lucerne forage production. The host range of C. campestris is very wide and several hundred weed and crop species have been listed as hosts. Between 2015-2018, surveys were conducted in Edirne, Kırklareli and Tekirdağ Provinces in Northwestern Turkey to identify Cuscuta species and assess their ecology. C. campestris was identified on 23 dicotyledonous weed species from 15 families where Asteraceae had the highest number of hosts followed by Brassicaceae, Plantaginaceae and Polygonaceae. Within these families Plantaginaceae members were considered as most susceptible to C. campestris. Polygonum aviculare and Rumex crispus were very widespread species and were attacked frequently. Although the prevalence of C. campestris was very common in P. aviculare plants, the symptoms of parasite damage were not visible. In contrast several wilted and dried R. crispus plants were observed under heavy infections. Other species with a high infection included Lactuca serriola, Convolvulus arvensis, Portulaca oleracea, Tribulus terrestris and Ecballium elaterium. Species from Plantaginaceae, Plantago major and P. lanceolata had lower prevalence rate and degree of infection.
Sources
Șin B, Őztürk L, Sivri N, Avci GG, Kadioglu I (2020) Weed hosts of field dodder (Cuscuta campestris Yunck.) in Northwestern Marmara region of Turkey. Journal of Aegean Agricultural Research Institute 30, 80-86.