The first U.S. detection of the noxious weed Egyptian broomrape, Orobanche aegyptiaca, has been found in a processing tomato field in Solano County.
A single Egyptian broomrape plant can produce hundreds of thousands of tiny seeds capable of living in the soil for 15 years. The seeds can be dispersed by wind and farm machinery.
Egyptian broomrape is found in Africa, the Middle East, several Asian countries, and Eastern Europe.
The weed infects about 30 broadleaf plants, including bell pepper, tomato, cabbage, sunflower, carrot, eggplant, celery, melons, potato, sunflower, and various legumes.
In watermelon, Egyptian broomrape can reduce yield by 50 percent.
http://westernfarmpress.com/vegetables/new-noxious-weed-found-california-processing-tomato-field