Introduction and identification of Solanum elaeagnifolium cavanilles in cotton farms

Solanum elaeagnifolium is a woody perennial, seed or vegetative propagated and broadleaved herbaceous. It has branching stems up to 1 m height that often is cease aerial growth during winter and extensive root system spreads to 2 m deep. Invasions of croplands and pastures by S. elaeagnifolium are most conspicuous during midsummer when the plants are flowering. The life cycle of the plant is composed of 5 phases: vegetative regeneration and germination during spring; vegetative development duration which depends on the biotope; flowering from spring to the end of summer and fructification from the end of spring until autumn. S. elaeagnifolium has a negative impact mainly on crop production as like as on livestock production, environment, trade and international relations. This species was reported from cotton fields of Tehran province for the first time in 2013.