%0 Journal Article
%T In-Vitro Whole-Seedling Assay For Evaluating Non-Host Crop Plant Induction Of Germination Of Witch Weed Seeds
%A M O Ahonsi
%A A M Emechebe
%J African Crop Science Journal
%D 2005
%I 
%X Legume-cereal rotation can reduce density of witch weed (Striga hermonthica) seeds in soil. However, legume species and cultivars vary greatly in ability to stimulate germination of S. hermonthica seeds of same or different populations, hence the need for simple method for routine characterisation of these species and cultivars for germination of the parasite seeds. A simple and inexpensive technique, In-vitro whole-seedling assay; was developed and tested for screening non-host crops for ability to stimulate germination of S. hermonthica seeds. In order to compare this new technique with the well established ¡®cut-root assay\', sixteen legume cultivars, comprising of seven cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), six soybean (Glycine max), and three groundnut (Arachis hypogea ), in addition to maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids 8338-1 and 9022-13 (used as checks) were screened against three S. hermonthica populations. The new technique was at least as efficacious as the cut-root assay in detecting differences in ability of cultivars of legume crop species to stimulate germination of S. hermonthica seeds. There was less variability in the results obtained in different experimental runs with the new technique, compared with those obtained with the cut root method. The new technique is considered simpler and requires less time, labour and materials. The results obtained for the different legume cultivars screened also suggest that large scale screening of groundnut cultivars for suicidal germination of Striga would be worthwhile in the development of control strategies for the parasite in the region. Key Words: Arachis hypogea, cut-root assay,Glycine max, Striga spp., trap crops, Vigna, unguiculata, Zea mays RESUME La rotation de l¨¦gumes et de c¨¦r¨¦ales peut r¨¦duire la densit¨¦ de graines de Striga hermonthica dans le sol. Cependant, les esp¨¨ces et les vari¨¦t¨¦s de l¨¦gumes varient largement en capacit¨¦ pour stimuler la germination de graines du S. hermonthica des m¨ºmes ou diff¨¦rentes populations. De l¨¤, la n¨¦cessit¨¦ d\'¨¦laborer des m¨¦thodes simples de caract¨¦risation de routine des esp¨¨ces et vari¨¦t¨¦s de germination de parasites des graines. Une technique simple et moins co teuse, l\'essai complet de semi in vitro, ¨¦tait d¨¦velopp¨¦e et test¨¦e pour le d¨¦pistage des plantes non h tes pour leurs aptitudes a stimuler la germination des graines de S. hermonthica. Dans le but de comparer cette nouvelle technique avec celle ¨¦tablie d\'essai de coupe de racine, seize vari¨¦t¨¦s de l¨¦gumes, comprenant sept de ni¨¦b¨¦ (Vigna unguiculata), six de sorgho (Glycine max), et trois d\'arachide (Arachis hypogea), en plus du ma s (Zea mays L.), les hybrides 8338-1 et 9022-13 (utilis¨¦es comme contr les) ¨¦taient ¨¦valu¨¦s contre trois populations de S. hermonthica. La nouvelle technique ¨¦tait au moins efficace comme celle de l\'essai de racines coup¨¦es dans la d¨¦tection des diff¨¦rences en capacit¨¦s des vari¨¦t¨¦s des l¨¦gumes d\'esp¨¨ces de plantes pour stimuler la germination des graines de S. hermont
%U http://www.ajol.info/index.php/acsj/article/view/27787