Distribution of two Striga species and their relative impact on local and resistant sorghum cultivars in east Ethiopia

Abstract

In five districts of east Ethiopia, only Striga hermonthica was identified in sorghum fields in three districts, and only S. asiatica in two. When the Striga-resistant sorghum variety Gubiye/P9401 was grown there was indicated scanty occurrence of Striga (1 to 4/m2), whereas local varieties showed 133 to 288/m2. Such severe infestation of the local cultivars with Striga resulted in drastic yield reductions of sorghum. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd