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Parthenium invasion in Malaysia: a
possibility of ecological disaster
Dr. S. M. Rezaul KarimProfessor, Faculty of Agro-Based Industry,
Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli Campus
([email protected])
Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus) is an invasive and
obnoxious weed, which is
native to Mexico. It has invaded many countries including India,
Australia, Ethiopia,
Tanzania, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal,
Sri lanka. It has caused
remarkable ecological and economical losses in those places. In
India, the weed has been
rated as the Worst Weed of the century. Until now no record is
available in Malaysia. But
very recently (03 September 2013), Prof. Dr. S. M. Rezaul Karim,
from the Faculty of Agro-Based Industry, Universiti Malaysia
Kelantan in his preliminary survey found the weed to be
present infesting roadsides in Batang Kali, Selangor. The exact
site is near the Masjid Hulu
Yam Bharu on the edge of Jalan B57 and also near the bank of
Sungai Liam.
Map showing the site (green arrow) where parthenium was observed
in Batang Kali
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Closer view of the weed
The site on which Parthenium was observed to be present in
Batang Kali
The weed has severe allergenic effect on human and animal
health. In India, at least 11
persons died due to the diseases caused by this weed. Among the
probable human diseases
are skin dematitis/eczema, hay fever, itching and reddening of
the skin, respiratory problems
such as asthma, bronchitis etc. In case of livestock, it may
cause allergic inflammation of
mouth and udder, rashes on skin, ulceration of mouth and
digestive tracts. In severe cases
the animals may perish. When the cows and goats consume the
weed, the quality of milk is
impaired due to unacceptable odour and the mutton get
tainted.
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Direct contact of the weed with the skin, hands, feet and
ingestion of parthenium pollens
through nose are dangerous for human and animal health.
Allergic effect (eczema) of parthenium on human (cited from
Adkins, 2010)
The weed spreads very fast just like wildfire in the dry forest.
It can complete its life cycle
within one month only.
Allergic effect found on goats mouth (cited from Adkins,
2010)
Prof. Karim during his survey, noticed that near the infested
area there were some vegetable
and water melon farms managed by a number of private companies.
It is suspected that
during importation of agricultural materials (seed, compost,
implements etc.) from
parthenium-infested countries the weed seeds may have been
introduced in the area. Since,
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nobody in that area were aware about this weed being an
environmental pollutant, it has
therefore remained undisturbed for some time and consequently
has get itself established.
However, the population size of the weed at present is not so
extensive and is controllable.
It is recommended that proper eradication programme be initiated
as soon as possible.
Integrated weed management involving chemical control and
physical removal should bedone. For protection during during weed
control practices in the field/farm hands and face
should be well protected by using proper hand gloves and masks,
respectively. After
uprooting the weeds, these should be burned in a deep pit and
then buried to a depth of 1
m. Community awareness should be adopted through different media
channels to inform
Malaysians on how they can partake in early eradication
programme to avoid this alien
weed species becoming a potential ecological disaster.
