Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Master in Crop Protection

Institute for Plant Pathology and Plant Protection
Weed Biology and Weed Management

Cyperus rotundus
Clara Oliva Gonçalves Bazzo
Cyperus rotundus
 Considered one of the most important
invasive plants in the world.

 High competitive aggressiveness by

nutrients.

 Great plasticity in the development in

different types of soils.

 Can produce up to 40 tons of vegetable

matter per hectare.

Source: Dreamstime.com
 Areas infested with C. rotundus show great
reduction in populations and productivity.
 Taxonomy

Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Spermatophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Monocotyledonae
Order: Cyperales
Family: Cyperaceae
Genus: Cyperus
Species: Cyperus rotundus
Source: Wikipedia.com Source: phuctamduong.com
Common names

 English: coco grass; java grass; nut sedge; nutgrass; purple nut-grass;
purple nutsedge; red grass; red nut sedge; water grass
 Spanish: castanuela; cebolleta; chufa; chufila; cipero; contra yerba;
corocilla; cortadera; jonquillo; juncea; lengua de gallina; negrillo;
paraquita; pasto bolita; totorilla
 French: souchet an forme d'olive
 Chinese: xiang fu zi
 Portuguese: alho-bravo; capim-alho; capim-dandá; junca de conta;
tiririca; tiririca-vermelha
 Germany: Apotheker-Cypergras; Asiatisches-Cypergras; Runde-Cypergras;
Runde-Zyperwurzel
 Origin and Distribution

 Cyperus has the meaning of an Greek word, kyperos ; rotundus is a Latin

adjective that means round.

 Present in all countries of tropical and subtropical climate, and in many

temperate climates.

 Center of origin is the Asian continent, more specifically in India.

 In Brazil it was probably introduced through Portuguese merchant ships in

colonial times.

 It can be found in all types of soil and climate.

Origin and Distribution

Source: www.cabi.org
Botanic Description
 Herbaceous plant, with a size of 15 to 50
cm in tropical conditions;
 Leaves are arranged in the form of the
triangle in the lower third ;
 Sheaths are closed forming the stem with
triangular section, and absence of ligule;
 Inflorescence develops in the apical part
of the stems, in antela of simple or slightly
branched axes;
 Rays numbered from three to nine, have
irregular lengths;
 In the apical part of each ray there is a
set of linear spighets.
Source: FloraSBS Source: FloraSBS
Botanic Description
 Botanic Description

 Rhizomes are the structures by which

the plant branches in all directions,
and it is through them that nutrient
reserves reach the tubers.
 From a basal bulb begins the
formation of an extensive rhizomatous
Source: centralindiaherbs.com system.
 At intervals of 5 to 25cm, from the
rhizomes origin the tubers, which
together, resemble a rosary.
 The tubers are of rounded or irregular
shape and can reach up to 25mm in
length.

Source: pukkaherbs.com
Botanic Description
 The roots are fibrous, thin, and deepen
to more than one meter.

 From each clone (set of tubers and

interconnected bulbs), emerges a large
number of aerial portions, consisting of
leaves and stems with inflorescence.

 It is common in densely infested areas

that occur from 2000 to 4000 of these
manifestations per square meter

Source: Syngenta
 Life Cycle

 Presents differentiated life cycle according to edafoclimatic conditions.

 Although it is a perennial plant, it interrupts the cycle when soil temperatures and
humidity are very low.
 Tubers become dormant in the soil for long periods.
 Longevity of the tubers is between 3 and 5 years.
 In Brazil, the optimal temperature for sprouting is in the range of 25 oC to 35 oC.
 Formation of new tubers begins five to six weeks after the stem tuber sprouting, and
may sometimes occur 17 days after emergence.
 A single plant of tiririca can produce 7,000 tubers in the same year, reaching a
density of 1200 plants/m2.
 In the field, without the interference of crops, it normally produces from 10 to 30
million tubers/ha during a season.
 Economic Impacts

 Affects approximately 52 crops in more than 90 tropical and subtropical countries,

including rice, cotton, maize, beans, sugarcane and vegetables.

 In Brazil, it is estimated that 50% of the soils are infested with C. rotundus.

 Also in Brazil, nutsedge, at 600 to 1600 plants/m2, reduced the production of garlic
in 89%, okra in 62%, carrot in 43%, and tomato in 53%.

 High infestation of nustedge in Argentina resulted in a fall of up to 75% in sugarcane

harvest and a reduction of 65% in sugar production.

 In Colombia, in maize crop competition in the field for 30 days reduces grain yield
by 30%.
Uses

 Tubers have already been used for medicinal purposes in Africa, China,
Southeastern Europe and India, as a medicine for malaria, as an
aphrodisiac and as an insect repellent.

 The tubers and leaves of C. rotundus contain a high concentration of a

phytohormone called indolebutyric acid, a synthetic auxin specific for the
formation of plant roots.
Control

 Due to its aggressiveness, the control of C.

rotundus, at the threshold of economic
levels, can only be achieved through the
integration of control methods.

 The application of an isolated method, such

as weeding, is totally innocuous for the
diminution of the population of these plants
in an area.

 The use of mechanical implements prior to

the application of herbicides has been
defended by some researchers.
Control

 Chemical control is one of the most effective control methods which are
known for C. rotundus. However, it has not yet been possible to eradicate
this plant with the use of the chemical method alone.

 In the control of C. rotundus two herbicides have more prominence: 2,4 D

(2,4-dichloro phenoxyacetic acid) and glyphosate.
Control

 Mulching can partially controls the

incidence of purple but presents
problems of plastic drilling due to the
emergence of the plant.

 It is also should not be used as a

isolated control method, but rather a
component of an integrated control
strategy.

Source: Embrapa - BR
 Control

 The use of biological control to C. rotundus has been intensively studied with
many microorganisms, however, few cause significant damage to the weed.

 The Cercospora caricis fungus species was identified by Embrapa Researchers

Genetic Resources and Biotechnology as a potential biocontrol agent of
nutsedge.

 The fungus were as efficient at controlling as 2,4D or weeding.

Obrigada pela atenção

Thank you for listening

Danke fürs Zuhören