Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. is ranked among the worst and extensively disseminated weed species. It is emerging as a potential menace for agroecosystems in 53 different countries across the world. This weed is adapted to warmer regions and is native to Mediterranean areas of Africa, Asia, and Europe. In the mid-1900s, cultivation of this weed species as a potential forage crop resulted in its escape from crop fields and invasion of agricultural and natural areas, but in some European countries, it has been introduced deliberately (e.g., as contamination of seeds and soil). S. halepense interferes with economically important agronomic and horticultural crops and cause 57-88% yield losses. Herbicide tolerance, diverse propagation mechanisms, rapid development, and strong competitiveness are key attributes in its invasion. Conventional management approaches are limited in their scope to control this weed due to its rapid vegetative growth and increasing herbicidal tolerance. Integration of chemical methods with cultural or mechanical approaches is important for restricting its future spread to non-infested areas. This review provides insights into the invasion mechanisms of S. halepense, which will help in its
Avena fatua and Avena ludoviciana are closely related grass weed species infesting a large number of crops around the world. These species are widely distributed in diverse agro-ecosystems from temperate to sub-tropical regions due to their unique seed traits, successful germination ecology, high competitive ability, and allelopathic potential. A. fatua is more widespread, adaptable, and problematic than A. ludoviciana. Both these species infest major winter and spring crops, including wheat, oat, barley, canola, maize, alfalfa, and sunflower, causing up to 70% yield losses depending on crop species and weed density. Chemical control has been challenged by large-scale herbicide resistance evolution in these weed species. A. fatua is the most widespread herbicide-resistant weed in the world, infesting about 5 million hectares in 13 countries. The use of alternative herbicides with different modes of action has proved effective. Several cultural practices, including diverse crop rotations, cover crops, improved crop competition (using competitive cultivars, high seed rates, narrow row spacing, altered crop geometry), and allelopathic suppression, have shown promise for controlling A. fatua and A. ludoviciana. The integrated use of these cultural methods can reduce the herbicide dose required, and lower dependency on herbicides to control these grasses. Moreover, integrated management may successfully control herbicide-resistant populations of these weed species. The use of integrated approaches based on the knowledge of biology and ecology of A. fatua and A. ludoviciana may help to manage them sustainably in the future.
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