Evaluating the allelopathic potentiality of seed powder of two Brassicaceae plants in controlling Orobanche ramosa parasitizing Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. plants

Background Orobanche ramosa (Broomrape) is an obligate root parasite belonging to Orobanchaceae. It causes a great damage to tomato plants. Several attempts have been done in order to control this parasitic weed. So, the aim of this work is to study the allelopathic efficiency of Eruca sativa (Essp) and Sinapis alba (Sasp) seed powder in comparison to the herbicidal effect of Basamid (Dazomet) treatment in controlling Orobanche ramosa ( O. ramosa ) infesting Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) as well as their effect on Lycopersicon esculentum plant growth and yield. Materials/methods Two pot experiments were performed in the greenhouse of the National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt, during two successive winter seasons of 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. Treatments were applied by incorporating E. sativa (Essp) and S. alba (Sasp) seed powder to the soil at (5, 10, 15, 30, and 45 g/kg soil) concentration and Basamid treatment at 0.2 g/pot. Results The results indicated that no O. ramosa infestation on Lycopersicon esculentum appeared with all Essp and Sasp concentrations except with the lowest concentration (5 g/kg soil) that reduced O. ramosa tubercles dry weight at 100 days from transplanting (DFT) to about 48.4 and 42.0%, respectively, as compared to the infected control. Lycopersicon esculentum growth as well as its yield and yield components were significantly increased with Basamid treatment at 0.2 g/pot and all Essp and Sasp concentrations (5–45 g/kg soil) except some parameters with the lowest concentration (5 g/kg soil) of both materials used when compared with their corresponding infected control. The highest yield, which exceeds the yield of the healthy control, was obtained by using both Essp and Sasp at concentrations 45 followed by 30 g/kg. Conclusion The allelopathic efficiency of Essp and Sasp is due to the presence of allelochemicals, mainly glucosinolates and phenolic compounds which could play an important role, as a natural selective bioherbicide.