Poplar and willow trees, the new hosts of Cynanchum acutum in Iran

Document Type : Scientific Letters

Authors

1 Researcher, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran.

3 Researcher, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran

4 3- Researcher, Dezfol (Safiabad) Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Khuzestan, Iran.

10.22092/irn.2024.364293.1559

Abstract

Cynanchum acutum is an invasive herbaceous perennial weed from the Asclepiadaceae family that is one of the main limiting factors to successful crop production. This species has recently been introduced to the Iranian fauna and has spread rapidly throughout the country. Cynanchum acutum is one of the unique invasives, typically having high reproductive rates, fast growth rates, and suitable dispersal mechanisms. The initial detection of this weed in the Alborz research station (a subsidiary unit of the country's forest and rangeland research institute) was three years ago. In 2023, its spread was observed in the mother collections of poplar, willow and juniper trees on the edge of the station. In this research, C. acutum is reported for the first time in Iran on poplar and willow, and due to the necessity of preserving plant collections (poplar) as a genetic resource, necessary measures should be taken.

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