CYNDON DACTYLON )L.( PERS شناخت و كنترل پنجه مرغي

Identification and control of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.)Pers)

Bermudagrass [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] is a perennial, warm-season and C4 plant of Gramineae (Poaceae) that reproduces by seed, stolon and rhizome. The species is drought resistant and tolerates alkalin soils. Bermudagrass grows on a wide range of soil types. High capability for vegetative reproduction as well as reproductive reproduction causes rapid expansion in short time after establishment and itʹs eradication is practically difficult. Apart from competing with the crop for growth requirements (e. g. water and nutrients), this weed is considered a potent allelopathic plant, which inhibites crop growth and depresses crop yield. Worldwide, bermudagrass is perhaps one of the most serious weed of the grass family. Also, C. dactylon interferes with producing numerous annual and perennial crops in Iran. It is considered as one the worst weeds in Iran. Therefore, heavy cost is spent for controling of weed by different methods in fields and gardens, annually. Careful selecting of tillage instruments is very important in mechanical control, because using some instruments (e.g. disk) are resulted in increasing weed population. Successful chemical control is possible by translocated (systemic) herbicides. Finally, although bermudagrass is known as the worst weed in Iran, some genotypes of this species are used as turfgrass or pasture plant, and medicinally applying of this plant has long history in many countries.