Desert Invader

Sahara Mustard is an invasive weed that grows quickly, overtaking native habitats and smothering native plants.

Sahara mustard is the common name for Brassica tournefortii. Other common names are Asian mustard, African mustard, and wild turnip-rape.

When wet, Sahara mustard seeds form a gel-like (mucilaginous) coating. This allows them to spread by adhering to things like animals, tires, and shoes. It also protects the seeds in water, giving them another avenue of dispersal through waterways.

Protected by the coating or intact within their pods, the ability of Sahara mustard seeds to float across large bodies of water expands their range and threatens shoreline habitats. 

As the seeds disperse, they may lie dormant until ideal conditions are met for germination. Seeds have been found to remain viable in the seedbank for 3 or more years.

Sahara mustard plants thrive in arid and semi-arid environments.

Sahara mustard's rapid growth from gemination to senescence is cause for concern in areas where it has invaded, such as the American Southwest. It dominates nutrients and space to crowd out native plants and destroy habitats.

Early detection and control is the ideal approach to managing weed invasions since well established communities of Sahara mustard can be difficult to eradicate.

Although labor intensive, hand pulling offers the best solution for new invasions where a seed bank has not yet been established. For best control weeds must be pulled before seeds develop and all plant material must be completely removed from the environment. Undeveloped seeds left behind in broken plant material may still continue to develop.

Herbicides can also be used for control but are most effective when applied in the early stages of development, prior to flowering and seed development. Because Sahara mustard germinates earlier and quicker than native species, early herbicide treatment has less of an impact on the development of native species.

Continuous monitoring of current and potentially new Sahara mustard invasions is an important aspect of management. Sahara mustard seeds have been known to survive in the soil for 3 or more years. Repeated visits to monitor treated sites for reoccurrence is critical for curtailing continued infestations.

The ideal plan for controlling a Sahara mustard invasion involves manual control combined with targeted chemical control and continuous monitoring.