Orobanche Parasitic Weed Threatens India’s Mustard Crop
Why in the news
A spreading parasitic weed has raised worries about farm incomes and oilseed self-reliance, since mustard is India’s biggest home-grown oilseed.
Key facts
- Mustard covers about 9 million hectares and is central to the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds.
- The weed has no chlorophyll; it drains water, nutrients and photosynthates.
- Damage begins before it shows above ground, and yield loss cannot be reversed once it is detected.
Exam angle
- Weed: Orobanche aegyptiaca, root-parasitic.
- Remedies: herbicide-tolerant hybrids (under farmer trials) and biotech lines for precision weed control.