A total of eighty three seed samples of red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) and berseem clover (T. alexandrinum L.) germplasm were imported from USA and Egypt, respectively through National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi during 2007. While processing the consignment for quarantine clearance, a total of 17 species of weeds were intercepted, of which nine species are not yet reported from India, whereas, eight species are known to occur in different parts of the country. Five exotic weed species had a Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) score of more than 12 indicating their potential to become serious weed and fifteen weed species were found viable even after two and half years of storage at room temperature. The observations indicated that import of red clover and berseem clover seeds from USA and Egypt has the risk of introduction and dissemination of exotic weeds into India. The weed species intercepted, their weed potential and seriousness using Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) system are discussed.
Trifolium, Plant Quarantine, Exotic Weeds, Weed Risk Assessment
