Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 53: 3725 - 3733. Published May 29, 2012.
Integrated management of Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. in sorghum using Fusarium inoculum, host plant resistance and intercropping.
Yonli* D., Traoré H., Sérémé P., Sankara P. & Hess D.E.
1Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles, 04 B.P. 8645 Ouagadougou 04, Burkina Faso; 2Unité de Formation et de Recherches en Sciences de la Vie et de la Terre, B.P. 7021, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso ; 3Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College, P.O. Box 263, Wolf Lake, IN 46796, United States of America
ABSTRACT
Objectives: This study aimed at evaluating the individual and synergistic effects resulting from Fusarium inoculum (F-inoculum) (Fusarium oxysporum 34-FO), host crop resistance and intercropping system and their combination as an integrated Striga management (ISM).
Methodology and Results: A two-year experiment was conducted on a Striga-affected field at Kouaré Research Station. Treatments involved sorghum resistance (F2-20); F-inoculum incorporation into the seed hills and sorghum (F2-20) / cowpea (IT-89-KD-245) intercrop in alternated rows and their combination were compared to Striga-susceptible sorghum variety (S 29). The integration of sorghum resistance with one component from F-inoculum and intercropping system significantly affected Striga infestation. Two ISM plots based on sorghum resistance and F-inoculum integrated with intercropping delayed Striga emergence date and highly reduced the number of Striga emergedplants and dry biomass compared to that recorded on non-ISM plots. Both ISM treatments reduced Striga infestation over the cropping season (ASNPC) by 74% and 89%, respectively. The use of ISM including sorghum resistance and F-inoculum resulted in improving sorghum yield by 72%.
Conclusions and application of findings: These results demonstrated that Striga bio-control based on F-inoculumincorporationand the intercropping system constitute each of both an effective control method against S.hermonthica and their synergistic effect is more effective to reduce Striga infestation in field conditions. The intercropping effect would contribute to enhance the efficacy of F. oxysporum 34-FO in controlling S. hermonthica.
Key words: Striga hermonthica, integrated control, Fusarium inoculum, sorghum resistance, intercropping
.
FULL PAPER [PDF AVAILABLE HERE]
