AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Persons exposed to this plant for prolonged period manifest the symptoms of skin inflammation, eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis, hay fever, black spots, burning and blisters around eyes. Parthenium hysterophorus also causes diarrhoea, severe papular erythematous eruptions, breathlessness and choking (Maishi et al.

Detailed explanation-2: -Parthenium weed affects health in two ways, firstly upon the inhalation of certain airborne particles including fine hairs and pollen, an allergic response can result, leading to hay fever, bronchitis or asthma.

Detailed explanation-3: -Two most important diseases associated with parthenium were a rust disease, caused by Puccinia abrupta var. partheniicola, and a phyllody disease, caused by a phytoplasma of fababean phyllody (PBP) phytoplasma group.

Detailed explanation-4: -Parthenium allergy is caused by direct and indirect contact with Parthenium hysterophorus L. of the Compositae family, accidentally introduced into India from the USA 20 years ago.