Interception of non-indigenous weed seeds in lentil and lentil husk shipments imported from Australia, Canada, U.S.A., and Sri Lanka to India

Four weed species, non-indigenous to India, were intercepted from lentil and lentil husk import shipments. Raphanus raphanistrum L. in lentil shipment from Australia, Polygonum lapathifolium L. and Thlaspi arvense L. in lentils from Canada and U.S.A., and Echinochloa crus-pavonis (Kunth) Schult. in lentil husk imported from Sri Lanka were intercepted. The extent of contamination by the non-indigenous species was 0.1 to 0.2% by number. The infested shipments were salvaged. The non-compliances were notified to the trading partners on each interception as per the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) guidelines. Molecular characterization of intercepted weed seeds is envisaged.