Strigolactones released from plant roots trigger both seed germination of parasitic weeds such as Striga spp. and hyphal branching of the symbionts arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Generally, strigolactone composition in exudates is quantitatively and qualitatively different among plants, which may be involved in susceptibility and host specificity in the parasite-plant interactions. We hypot...

Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth is an obligate root hemi-parasite of several cereals. Its effect on cereal crops is the main constraint for food production in sub-Saharan Africa. Various control methods have been already proposed, but the infestation by these parasitic plants persists. An appropriated method for Striga management adapted for the African farmer is very much needed. In this study...

Recurrent drought and Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth parasitism constrains maize production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Transfer of resistance genes from wild relatives can improve to tropical maize. The objectives this study were (i) determine the combining ability 12 extra-early yellow inbreds derived Zea diploperennis germplasm; (ii) classify into heterotic groups using grouping based on g...

Parasitic weeds belonging to the Orobanchaceae family are a menace in Sub-Saharan African (SSA). Specifically, two witchweeds from genus Striga, S. hermonthica and asiatica, jointly responsible for land abandonments cereal yield reductions SSA. Factorial experiments involving fourteen maize genotypes levels of Striga asiatica infestation (infested noninfested) were conducted under pot laborator...