Department of Agronomy, G.K.V.K., University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore - 560 065, India.
Lantana camara L. (Family: Verbenaceae) considered as one of the ten world's worst weeds. It is a weed of fence lines, pastures, rangelands, waste places and cultivated lands. It is a perennial, erect shrub of 2 to 5 m tall with branches. Its seeds are dispersed by frugivorous birds. It is found to be an alternate host of Dlaporthe sp., Physalopora fusca, Ascochyta phaseolarom, Pratylenchus pratensis, Hoplothrips flaviceps and Thrips tabad. Lantana is used far soil erosion control, biogas production, fuel and medicinal purposes. Lantana tops may be used as a plant nutrient source since it contains rich source of N, P and K, respectively. Management of lantana by mechanical and chemical control has not met with any reasonable success. So, lantana becomes a target for classical biological control. Numerous natural exotic species and natural indigenous species were tried as bio control agents have also met with little or anly partial success. It can also be managed by utilizing as allelopathic source for weed management and as nutrient source for sustainable crop production. Thus, an integrated management approach for the control of lantana should be evolved to control this noxious weed in the long run. Research information on various studtes regarding the biology and management of this weed in India and allover world are reviewed in this paper.
