Farmers' perspectives on the biotic constraint of Striga hermonthica and its control in western Kenya

Maize production in Western Kenya is constrained by Striga hermonthica and declining soil fertility. Integrated Striga Management (ISM) packages have been proposed. An ISM field experiment assessed combination of 4 maize varieties with 5 levels of soil fertility amendments. Imazapyr Resistant (IR) maize and local yellow seed Shipindi had highest germination percentages of 90% and 81% respectively, compared to commercial white seed Duma and local white seed Rachar. Duma had significantly large plants in terms of leave size and plant height; and taking least time to silking and tasseling while producing heaviest cobs and grains per plant. Synthetic fertilizer (DAP+CAN) was associated with the least germination percentage, but produced the largest plants with many leaves, took the shortest time to silking, and produced highest cob weight and grain weight, with very low S. hermonthica infestations regardless of the maize varieties. Cattle manure (CM) and water hyacinth compost containing cattle manure culture (HCM) and Effective Microbes™ (HEM) had the highest S. hermonthica population per unit area. Maize grown with water hyacinth compost containing Effective Microbes™ (HEM) positively influenced cob weight than those receiving cattle manure (CM) and the controls; while being associated with the highest numerical increase in grain yield/area. Alternative soil fertility interventions based on these observations are therefore proposed.

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Integrated management of Striga hermonthica, stemborers, and declining soil fertility in western Kenya

Field Crops Research ◽

10.1016/j.fcr.2008.01.002 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 107 (2) ◽

pp. 102-115 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

B. Vanlauwe ◽

F. Kanampiu ◽

G.D. Odhiambo ◽

H. De Groote ◽

L.J. Wadhams ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Striga Hermonthica ◽

Western Kenya

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The effectiveness of local strains of Fusarium oxysporium f. Sp. Strigae to control Striga hermonthica on local maize in western Kenya

Food Science & Nutrition ◽

10.1002/fsn3.1732 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (8) ◽

pp. 4352-4360

Author(s):

Dorah A. Oula ◽

John M. Nyongesah ◽

George Odhiambo ◽

Samuel Wagai

Keyword(s):

Striga Hermonthica ◽

Western Kenya ◽

Local Strains

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Screening for potential Striga hermonthica fungal and bacterial biocontrol agents from suppressive soils in Western Kenya

BioControl ◽

10.1007/s10526-017-9833-9 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (5) ◽

pp. 705-717 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Johnstone Omukhulu Neondo ◽

Amos Emitati Alakonya ◽

Remmy Wekesa Kasili

Keyword(s):

Biocontrol Agents ◽

Striga Hermonthica ◽

Western Kenya

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Effect of Corn (Zea mays) Genotypes Which Vary in Maturity Length onStriga hermonthicaParasitism

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/s0890037x0002296x ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 63-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Joel K. Ransom ◽

George D. Odhiambo

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Striga Hermonthica ◽

Yield Potential ◽

Western Kenya ◽

Late Season ◽

Maize Genotypes ◽

Wide Range ◽

Early Maturing ◽

Days To Maturity ◽

Corn Grain

Corn (maize) genotypes which varied in days to maturity were evaluated for level ofStriga hermonthicaparasitism in western Kenya during three seasons. Fifteen genotypes, with a wide range in days to maturity, were grown in fields heavily infested withS. hermonthica.Early and late-seasonStriganumbers and corn grain yield were used to evaluateStrigaparasitism. There was considerable variation in the timing and amount ofStrigaattachment among seasons. Days to silking and late-seasonStriganumbers were correlated (P ≤ 0.05) in all experiments although only weakly in one of the experiments. Grain yield was negatively correlated with days to silking in two of three experiments as were yield and early seasonStriganumbers. Although earlier-flowering genotypes consistently supported lessStriga, they did not always yield more than the later-maturing genotypes due to confounding effects of yield potential and adaptation. There was considerable variation inStrigaparasitism among genotypes within maturity groups, and the relative response of genotypes varied between seasons. These data suggest that in some seasons early maturing genotypes have potential to reduceStrigaattack in heavily infested areas and yield more than later-maturing genotypes.

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Morphological Characterisation of Global Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana, L. Gaertn) Germplasm Reaction to Striga in Kenya

Asian Journal of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ◽

10.9734/ajbgmb/2018/v1i227497 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Sirengo Peter Nyongesa ◽

Oduor Chrispus ◽

Dennis Simiyu Wamalwa ◽

Odeny Damaris Achieng ◽

Rajneesh Paliwal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Statistical Analysis ◽

Finger Millet ◽

Block Design ◽

Genotyping By Sequencing ◽

Eleusine Coracana ◽

Striga Hermonthica ◽

Phenotypic Data ◽

Western Kenya ◽

Statistical Analysis System ◽

Analysis System

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana, L. Gaertn) is an important food crop in Africa and Asia. Its grain is richer in protein, fat and minerals than other major cereals. The parasitic weed Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth seriously limits finger millet production through reduced yield in agro-ecologies where they co-exist. The damage of Striga to cereal crops is more severe under drought and low soil fertility. The main objective of this study was to determine genetic basis for reaction to S. hermonthica among the selected germplasm of finger millet through genotyping by sequencing (GBS). One hundred finger millet genotypes were evaluated for reaction to S. hermonthica (Del) Benth infestation under field conditions at Alupe and Kibos in Western Kenya. The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) consisting of 10 x 10 square (triple lattice). The genotypes were planted both under Striga (inoculated) and no Striga conditions and plant growth was monitored to maturity. Statistical analysis of phenotypic data using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) PROC ANOVA revealed highly significant differences among genotypes for morphological traits at P<0.05.

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Effect of Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth on Yield and Yield Components of Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids in Western Kenya

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v8n8p112 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (8) ◽

pp. 112

Author(s):

Peter Okoth Mbogo ◽

Mathews Mito Dida ◽

Barrack Owuor

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays ◽

Yield Components ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Striga Hermonthica ◽

Management Options ◽

Western Kenya ◽

Maize Hybrids ◽

Grain Yields ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Yield And Yield Components

Striga hermonthica (Striga) weed is widespread in Kenya, where it causes significant cereal crop losses, particularly when susceptible varieties are grown. The use of maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes that support reduced Striga hermonthica emergence can form an important basis for developing resistant cultivars. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of diverse maize hybrids to Striga weed infestation and to identify high yielding and stable hybrids. Six experimental maize hybrids and three commercial hybrid checks (DK8031, PhB3253 and H513) were evaluated under Striga and Striga free conditions at Nyahera and Maseno in western Kenya in 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. The data collected included grain yields and other yield components; emerged Striga counts and Striga damage rating (on a scale of 1-5) at 8 and 10 weeks after planting (WAP). Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in grain yield and yield components; emerged Striga counts and Striga damage syndrome in both years. Negative correlation (r) was observed between emerged Striga and yield as well as between Striga damage ratings and yield. Maseno experimental hybrids produced much better grain yields and were more stable compared to commercial varieties under Striga infestation and in Striga free fields. Deployment of the tolerant/resistant high yielding well adapted hybrids coupled with other management options such as rotation with legumes and cultural practices could possibly help in depletion of Striga seed bank in the soils in western Kenya. EH12 and EH14 maize hybrids were formally released for commercialization in the Striga endemic areas of western Kenya.

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