The invention relates to the use of a dicarboxyhc acid comprising 2 to 5 carbon atoms to control the growth of holoor hemiparasitic plants, as well as to the strain Azospirillum brasilense L4, registered with CNCM (Collection Nationale de Cultures de MicrOorganismes, France) under number 1-4830, capable of producing a dicarboxyhc acid exhibiting a bioherbicidal activity against Striga and Orobanche.