سیروان بابائی

One of the most susceptible hosts of the Phelipanche aegyptiaca (pers.) Pomel (Egyptian Broomrape) is tomato. Broomrape causes yield loss in tomato due to severe infestations in many regions of Iran. The main objective of this investigation was to evaluate and compare the effect of some trap crops on reducing the broomrape damage and to increase the yield of tomato in broomrape infested field. Trap crops consisting of Egyptian clover, sesame, mungbean, common flax, brown Indianhemp, cotton, pepper and black-eyed pea were studied during 2008 and 2009. Through the first year, trap crops were cultivated in pots and in the next year, tomato was transplanted into those pots. Results showed that Sesame, brown Indianhemp, common flax and black-eyed pea decreased broomrape biomass by 86, 85.3, 75.2, and 74.4%, respectively. Reducing broomrape biomass caused increases in the tomato yield. Meanwhile, sesame, brown Indianhemp, Egyptian clover and mungbean increased total biomass of tomato by 71.4, 67.5, 65.5, and 62.5 %, respectively. It was found that these plants have a great potential to reduce broomrape damage and they can be used in rotation in broomrape infested fields.