A EUROPEAN WEED SURVEY IN 10 MAJOR CROP SYSTEMS TO IDENTIFY TARGETS FOR BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL

In 1986, the Working Group on Biological Control within the European Weed Research Society planned a weed survey in 10 major crop systems throughout Europe, They were: (1) winter and (2) spring cereals, (3) maize and sorghum, (4) potatoes, (5) sunflower and soya, (6) colza (winter rapeseed), (9) sugar beet and (10) temperate orchards and irrigated Mediterranean orchards. Questionnaires were sent out to prominent weed scientists in all 26 European countries to rate the abundance and frequency of important weeds according to three classes for all crop systems in their respective countries. The results of the survey are presented. Based on the per cent of maximum score attained by individual weed species the 15 most important weeds were determined for each crop, and the 20 top scoring weeds for all crop systems combined. The prospects for biological control of weeds in Europe are discussed.