Brinjal, Egyptian broomrape, Ethoxysulfuron, Metalyxyl, Orobanche aegyptiaca, Pendimethalin, Sulfosulfuron, Tomato 

Egyptian broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca Pers.) is the most troublesome root holoparasitic weed which causes severe damage to tomato and brinjal crops grown in Mewat and Bhiwani areas of Haryana. A study was conducted to test the efficacy and selectivity of two sulfonylurea herbicides, viz. sulfosulfuron and ethoxysulfuron, and neem cake; pendimethalin in combination with metalaxyl along with sulfonylurea herbicides for managing O. aegyptiaca in tomato and brinjal in field conditions. The post-emergence application (PoE) of sulfosulfuron and ethoxysulfuron at 50 g/ha 30, 60, 90 DAP (days after planting) were more selective to tomato and to control the parasite, O. aegyptiaca, more effectively with average yield increase of 51.7% over untreated check. Neem cake or metalaxyl were not effective to inhibit the growth of O. aegyptiaca in brinjal. It is inferred from this study that ethoxysulfuron at 25 g/ha PoE at 30 DAP and at 50 g/ha or sulfosulfuron at 50 g/ha PoE at 30 and 60 DAP, provided 85-90% control of O. aegyptiaca in tomato. Both the herbicides caused phytotoxicity to brinjal. The results of eight adaptive on-farm trials conducted in tomato during 2016-17 also revealed 92.3% control of O. aegyptiaca with a yield increase of 30.8% over untreated control.