Effect of selected trap crops accessions on germination and attachment of Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. On Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

Abstract

Screen house studies were conducted in the northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria to determine the ability of ten soyabeans genotype, cowpea genotype and groundnut genotype each for their ability to stimulate Striga suicidal germination in 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons at Federal University of Technology Minna GidanKwano Research farm in polybags. The experiment was 3 x 10 x 2 factorial laidout in a randomized complete block design. Factor A consists of string seed at three levels inoculation rate (0, 2.5 and 5g) mixed with 20g of sterilize soil respectively. Factor B was three trap crops, 10 varieties each. Factor C was sorghum variety consisting of resistance (ICSV1002) and susceptible (Local) varieties. All the treatments were replicated five times. Results indicate that sorghum variety I.CSV1002 significantly (P <0.05) delayed Striga shoot emergence, supported fewer Striga density, produced taller plant heights and higher grain yield in all the test trap crops irrespective of planting years and sampling periods compared to the local sorghum variety. Striga emergence was significantly (P <0.05) delayed in soyabeans varieties. Cowpea variety IT04K-333-2 and IT07K-25-3-3 in 2013 and 2014 respectively compared to other cowpea varieties and groundnut variety Chico and TES, QH 243 C, RMP-12 and RMP-91 in 2013 and 2014 respectively compared to other groundnut variety. Fewer Striga shoots were recorded in soyabeans variety TGX 1448-2E and TGX 1937 IF in 2013 and 2014 respectively, cowpea variety IT04K-217-5 in both years and groundnut variety RMP-91 compared to other varieties. Sorghum plant height was significantly (P<0.05) taller in soyabean variety TGX 1448-2E in both year. Cowpea variety ITO4K-217-5 and groundnut variety RMP- 91 compared to other varieties grain yield was higher in soyabeans variety TGX 1448-2E, Cowpea variety ITO4K-339-1 and groundnut variety RMP-91 compared to other varieties. 0g Striga level (control) showed the best performance in sorghum plant height and grain yield compared to 2.5 and 5g Striga level in all the test trap crops.