The Effects of Sowing Date on Faba bean and Orobanche crenata Relationship

Abstract

Background: Orobanche crenata Forsk (O.c.) is an obligate root parasite that subsists on several important legume crops. Recently, it has become one of the major constraints limiting the productivity of broad bean in different parts of the world. Methods: four experiments were carried out to study the effects of some ecological factors on faba bean (Vicia faba) and O.c relations, quantitatively and qualitatively. Results: Generally, the results of the survey work and the four experiments indicated that when different host plants (faba bean cultivars) are parasitized by the same parasite (e.g. O.c), they evolved different responses. Conclusion: The scopes of inflicting damages to faba bean due to crenate broomrape are many and diverse, but the degree of attention and work done to solve the problems caused by the parasite is still very low.