Black Jack: A Special Weed in Tropical Soils

Bidens pilosa occurs in practically all the Brazilian territory, besides several other tropical habitats. This plant's most advantageous aspects in the competition with major annual and perennial cultivars are its abundant and long propagule production, preferential photo-blastism, water use efficiency, high nutrient extraction and use, and morphophysiological characteristics. Due to B. pilosas plasticity and adaptative flexibility, as well as interaction of the characteristics determining its competitiveness, it is difficult to identify those which are associated with higher competitive capacity and expressiveness. This species presents biotypes resistant to some herbicides, rendering its control difficult in agricultural areas. The use of other management methods is also difficult, due to the wide variation in the flow of propagule dissemination, germination and emergence, as well as the beneficial association of this weed with microorganisms present in the soil. Although this plant has aggressive infesting characteristics, this work has reported some mechanisms that can be used for its integrated management. B. pilosa also presents medical properties, with extensive scientific studies being necessary in order to obtain benefits.