During 1989-92 some pot and field experiments were conducted to study the effect of integrated control and the length of growing period of lucerne ( Medicago sativa L.) on broomrape infestation on tobacco plants. Clay pots 30 cm in diameter containing 13 kg of potting soil, previously fumigated with methyl bromide, were used. Seeds of Orobanche cermua Loefl were mixed into the soil at 100 mg per pot. The experiment included 6 treatments each consisting of 4 replications. Two sets of unplanted pots each of 12 pots were used as control treatments (T 5.6). The seeds of lucerne were planted in assigned pots in October 1989. The plants were allowed to grow for either 21, 33 months. Lucerne plants were removed after the assigned growing period. Tobacco seedlings were transplanted in all pots including the control treatments after removal of lucerne plants. Single application of MH was sprayed on tobacco plants at 700 gr. a.i./ha. in assigned pots 40 days after transplanting of tobacco. The above practices were conducted also in a field that was infested by O. aegyptiaca pers. The results of these trials indicated that:
- Lucerne caused significant reduction in broomrape infestation on tobacco and might be incorporated in agriculture as a trap crop to control broomrape species.
- Broomrape ( O. aegyptiaca ) infestation could be more reduced as the growing period of lucerne was extended.
- Broomrape infestation was not significantly affected by application of MH where lucerne was planted as a trap crop.