Using of crops as trap for Orobanche aegyptiaca management in tomato in greenhouse conditions

Application of catch and trap plants is a cultural and biological methods for Orobanche soil seed bank reduction. Catch crop is a host crop that is sacrificed before broomrape emergence and trap crop is a false host that stimulates the broomrape to germinate but does not allow it to attach and attack. For evaluation of Orobanche aegyptiaca seed reaction to root exudates of 7 crops, 0-5 mg of broomrape seeds were mixed with cultivation bed and the crop seeds were sown in the pots, in a completely rondomized design with four replications. After 40 days, the plants picked up from the crown and 7 leaf tomato seedlings were replaced. Dry and fresh weight of Orobanche and tomato aerial parts and fruits and Orobanche stem numbers were recorded at the end of trial. Results revealed that, Berseem clover was the strong catch crop and sunflower and pepper were weak ones. Flax and broomcorn were also strong trap crops and cotton, pinto bean, lens, broad bean and pea were weak ones. Other crops including wheat, barley, maize, sugar beet, sesame, and soybean were not considered as a host or trap and catch crops.