Dor, E., Department of Phytopathology and Weed Research, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Ramat Yishai, 30095, Israel
Eizenberg, H., Department of Phytopathology and Weed Research, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Ramat Yishai, 30095, Israel
Joel, D.M., Department of Phytopathology and Weed Research, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Ramat Yishai, 30095, Israel
Smirnov, E., Department of Phytopathology and Weed Research, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Ramat Yishai, 30095, Israel
Achdari, G., Department of Phytopathology and Weed Research, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Ramat Yishai, 30095, Israel
Hershenhorn, J., Department of Phytopathology and Weed Research, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Ramat Yishai, 30095, Israel

Weeds of the genus Orobanche are obligatory chlorophyll-lacking root parasites that infect and severely damage many dicotyledonous agricultural crops in warm-temperate and subtropical regions of the world. The genus comprises over 100 species, at least six of which are notable weeds. Orobanche palaestina Reut. is an endemic Mediterranean species, previously reported to parasitize thistles [Notobasis syriaca (L.) Cass. and Cirsium phyllocephalum Boiss. & Bl.] and annual legumes in native Mediterranean habitats, mainly in disturbed places such as roadsides and waste sites. In recent years, we have observed a rapid expansion of O. palaestina populations adjacent to commercial agricultural fields in the Jezreel Valley of Israel. The ability of O. palaestina to infect crops was tested in pots under nethouse conditions. The experiments revealed that O. palaestina is able to parasitize agricultural crops. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), gazania (Gazania uniflora Gaertn.), vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) were found to be potential hosts for this parasite, and all of them, except vetch and artichoke, were preferred to thistle, the native host. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) induced O. palaestina seed germination and root attachment, but the attached parasites could not reach maturity and died soon after the attachment stage. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), carrot (Daucus carota L.), garland chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleraceae L.) were not parasitized by O. palaestina. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.