Orobanche species : A new herb in Chhattisgarh, India

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

The reference book on weed science titled scientific weed management by eminent weed scientist Dr. O.P. Gupta explains Orobanche as problematic weed. According to this book, there are four major parasitic species of broomrape (Orobanche sp). These are O.cernua on tobacco and sunflower, O. ramosa and O. aegyptica on tomato and like crops and O. crenata on broadbeans (Vicia faba). Besides, O. ramosa is a menace in Brassica crops. In India, losses due to Orobanche in tobacco crop alone are estimated at 30 to 35%.

The book titled Flora medica by Dr. John Lindley describes O. major, found in barren soil and parasitical upon the roots of broom or furze. Root of few fibres. Stem about a foot high, erect, dusky, unbranched, angular, hollow, fleshy, clothed, like every other parts, with short, rough, glandular pubescence and beset with scattered lanceolate, upright scales, in the place of leaves, the base turnid, ovate, clothed with smaller, more abundant scales; Spike terminal, simple, rather dense, of from 15 to about 20 flowers, of a dull purplish brown, without any scent and after a white turning entirely brown, dry and membranous. Bracts solitary under each flower. Sepals deeply cloven. Upper lip of corolla large. Filaments dilated and channelled. Anthers smooth. Ovary downy all over as well as the style. Orobanche is an annual parasitic herb propagating by seed. Its seeds disseminate by winds, birds and farm animals. They can remain dormant in soil for 2-12 years. For the first time I got information on its introduction in Chhattisgarh , in the year 1997-99, through my friend working in pesticide company. To report its introduction, I conducted small survey and prepared research note but unfortunately it remained unpublished. I am giving the details of this note in present article. The title was Orobanche ramosa : A new problematic weed in Chhattisgarh and details are "Orobanche ramosa, an annual parasitic weed, is becoming a new problem for the tomato growers of Chhattisgarh since last 3-4 years. This is a new weed and has not been reported in Chhattisgarh earlier. A survey conducted by the Department of Agronomy, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur revealed that out of four major districts of Chhattisgarh Plains including Rajnandgaon, Durg, Raipur and Bilaspur, maximum infestation was found in Durg. The survey was conducted with the help of more than 100 respondents from these selected districts. All respondents were tomato growers and were facing the problem of Orobanche. This survey also revealed that as the weed is a new problem for the region, suitable and effective weed management recommendations are not available. The local name of this weed has yet not been coined. According to 57 percent respondents, the introduction of new high yielding varieties from different parts of India is the factor responsible for increasing Orobanche infestation in the region. Although systematic studies have not been conducted on Orobanche in the region but according to respondents, losses due to Orobanche in tomato varies between 10-30%."

Although it is considered as problematic weed by the weed scientists but for the herb experts and researchers, it is a valuable medicinal herb. Several years after its introduction in Chhattisgarh, living with this herb, the traditional healers have also started its use as medicine in treatment of many common and complicated diseases. It is now establishing as popular veterinary medicine. In reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India, many valuable medicinal properties and uses of Orobanche \have been reported. The whole herb of Orobanche aegyptica (Syn. O. Indica) is used as cure for boils in throat of cattle. It is also considered as powerful astringent, and as bitter plant the infusion of which is employed as a detergent application to foul sores and internally to restrain alvine fluxes. After its introduction in Chhattisgarh, I showed and presented this herb to many traditional healers to start experiments. As it is parasitic herb, the traditional healers consider it medicinally more useful as compared to the medicinal properties of host plant, because according to them, it extracts only healthy and useful natural chemicals for its survival. They claim that the Orobanche infesting tomato herb possess more useful medicinal properties as compared to tomato. Although scientifically it has yet not been tested but the traditional healers are conducting their experiments on the basis of this hypothesis only. The experiments are in progress and according to them, every day they are adding new uses in the list. Surprisingly, the infestation of Orobanche has not spread as fast as we expected in last five years. Possibly mother nature is not wiling to adopt this new herb introduction by human being, in this region. Orobanche is considered as problematic weed in many countries around the world. I am confident that the innovative approach of our healers will motivate the researchers of these countries to think on possible uses of this so called problematic weed.

Thank you very much for reading the article.