A new Bromus species /Bromus benekenii (Lange) Trimen/ is appeared in the Hungarian cereal fields

Roland Szabó

Sumi Agro Hungary Kft., Budapest, Hungary

The indicated and identified grass weed is native in the Carpatian Basin and belongs to the Graminaceae family and Bromus genus. This Bromus originally found in deciduous forests from the hilly zone to the mountain range. This herb seems a neutral plant, but from agricultural point of view, it can occasionally be a noxious weed too (e.g. along the upper Tisza river in Hungary). Bromus benekenii easily spreads and grows with seeds. The preferred secondary habitats are fields and flood basin areas. The best venue for this plant has a sunny to half shade with high water capacity. Bromus genus has 20 species in Hungary and from these 9 on the fields. The bromus benekenii is 10th Bromus species on the Hungarian cereal fields. Facts indicate that the Bromus benekenii is colonised on the arable land, and in our opinion, it would be advisable to localise this threat now. A special morphology attitude for the identification. We can see every situation a cartilaginous knot the bottom of the flowering.

Detection and Spread in the Hungarian cereal fields: Bromus benekenii was discovered first during the growing season 2017 in an extremely high dense scale in a winter wheat field in Tiszadob, a small village near Tiszavasvári in the county of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg in the eastern part of Hungary. Bromus benekenii was detected only 2 times in rural side in Hungary. Both venues are along the upper Tisza river in winter wheat fields with an extremely density. The Bromus yield potential was much more higher, than winter wheat in these situations. After commercial spraying of pinoxaden with maximal dose two times no reduction of Bromus benekenii was determined. The development of Bromus benekenii was still strong and so fully covered the place shortly before harvest.

Short conclusion: Bromus benekenii seems to be very resistant against herbicides including the special grass weed killer as well.