Barley is a potential trap crop for root parasitic broomrape weeds.

Abstract

Root parasitic broomrape (Phelipanche and Orobanche spp.) weeds cause devastating damage to agricultural production all around the world. The seeds of broomrapes germinate when they are exposed to germination stimulants, mainly strigolactones (SLs), released from the roots of any plant species; however, broomrapes parasitize only dicot plants. Therefore, monocots can be trap crops for broomrapes, as they induce seed germination but are not parasitized. In this study, we examined two European and one Japanese barley cultivar for their potential as trap crops for broomrapes. We found that the European cultivars, Sebastian and Golden Promise, are good potential trap crops, as they produce more SLs and exhibit higher mycorrhizal colonization rates as compared to the Japanese cultivar Shunrai.