Invasive weed mapping of Lebanon.

Surveying and early detection of invasive weeds are essential for strategic management and monitoring. Accordingly, a weed mapping was conducted during July 2011, against native (Orobanche ramosa, Cuscuta spp., Sorghum halepense and Xanthium strumarium) and non native (Abutilon theophrasti, Datura stramonium, Solanum elaeagnifolium and Verbesina encelioide) weeds of Lebanon. A global positioning system (Garmin © 2006) was used for precise waypoint, elevation, navigation and distance. The result of interviewing and interacting with the residents in 95 villages distributed between the Beq'aa and the North governorates of Lebanon, along with the observations made on the route, yielded the first detection of Abutilon theophrasti in both governorates. Solanum elaeagnifolium and Verbesina encelioide were not found in the agro-ecosystems of either governorates. This is the first report of the introduction of Abutilon theophrasti in Lebanon and the establishment of a baseline data on weeds of Lebanon. The adoption of an integrated weed management program with a quarantine and control techniques and methods is needed to manage the spreading of weeds and to lessen their ability to adapt to a constantly changing system which uses several control practices.