Dressing of maize (Zea mays L) seed with Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R. Br extracts to control Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth.

Abstract

Field and pot experiments were carried out concurrently during the 2000 and 2001 rainy seasons in Minna (9° 37’ and 6° 30’E) to control Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. using extracts of Parkia bigblobosa (Jacq.) R.Br. An equal volume of 2.5 ml of husk methanol extract, husk ash, husk powder, seed coat water extract, seed coat ash, boiled seed coat ash were used to dress 36 g of maize (Zea mays L.) seeds (DMR-ESR-W) just prior to sowing. The same quantity of maize seeds were not treated with any Parkia material. The seeds were then sown at 25 cm intra-row on ridges 75 cm apart in a field heavily infested with S. hermonthica or sown in pots (65 cm top diameter) artificially infested with S. hermonthica seeds (c. 1960 seeds/pot). The field experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates while the pots were arranged completely randomnized. The data were subjected to analysis of variance. Results indicated that the greatest dry matter accumulation were found in maize plants whose seeds were dressed with Parkia seed coat ash. In addition, grain yield was 34 % and 25 % greater than the control in both years respectively although S. hermonthica shoot density was relatively high. On the other hand maize seeds soaked overnight in boiled and cooled seed supported the highest Striga shoot density both in the field and pots.