Weed Threat to Mustard

Recently, Mustard, India’s largest indigenous source of edible oil, is facing a serious threat from the root-parasitic weed Orobanche aegyptiaca, leading to major yield losses and renewed dependence on edible oil imports.

• Mustard is cultivated on nearly 9 million hectares, mainly in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and West Bengal, and is central to India’s edible oil self-reliance strategy.
• Orobanche aegyptiaca has emerged as a major “hidden threat”, particularly in Haryana and Rajasthan, causing yield declines.
• The weed parasitises mustard roots underground, extracting nutrients and water, with damage occurring before visible shoots emerge, making control difficult.
• Repeated mustard ....