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Review
. 2014 Aug 20:2014:368647.
doi: 10.1155/2014/368647. eCollection 2014.

Effects and Management of Parthenium hysterophorus: A Weed of Global Significance

Manpreet Kaur  1 , Neeraj Kumar Aggarwal  1 , Vikas Kumar  1 , Romika Dhiman  1
Affiliations
Review

Effects and Management of Parthenium hysterophorus: A Weed of Global Significance

Manpreet Kaur et al. Int Sch Res Notices. .

Abstract

Congress grass, Parthenium hysterophorus L., of the family Asteraceae (tribe: Heliantheae), is an erect and much branched annual or ephermeral herb, known for its notorious role as environmental, medical, and agricultural hazards. It is believed to have been introduced into India and Australia from North America and in the last few years the weed has emerged as the seventh most devastating weed in Africa, Asia, and Australia. The aim of this review is to provide general information about the physiology, distribution, ill effects, and management of parthenium. Control of parthenium has been tried by various methods, but no single management option would be adequate to manage parthenium, and there is a need to integrate various management options. Successful management of this weed can only be achieved by an integrated approach with biological control as the key element.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Parthenium weed; (a) rosette stage of parthenium plant; (b) tap root system of parthenium;(c) capitula; and (d) black wedge shaped seeds.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Area of infestation of parthenium; (a) crop field infestation; (b) residential plot infestation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Four of the five types ofsymptoms of commonly known parthenium dermatitis; (a, b) airborne contact dermatitis; (c) chronic actinic dermatitis in a female; and (d) prurigo-like lesions over dorsa of hands.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Zygogramma bicolorata feeding on parthenium weed.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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