Effect of Striga Infestation on Sorghum Agronomic Traits and Its Breeding Strategy for Resistance in Ethiopia: A Review

Abstract

In Ethiopia sorghum is a major cereal crop grown in wide agroecology however, in most of moisture stress sorghum growing areas are infested by striga. Striga is an obligate root parasitic and a major biotic constraint to sorghum production in Ethiopia. Farmers sown susceptible sorghum varieties in striga infested field resulted plant height and dray matter and yield components were affected therefore, loss significant grain yield production. Farmers named reduction of sorghum growth and stunting as main indication of Striga infestation. Varieties exhibited lower reduction for these traits in striga infestation was named resistant varieties. In Ethiopian Gobiye, Abshir and Birhan registered as striga resistance, drought tolerant and early maturing varieties. Currently in Ethiopian sorghum national breeding program these resistance varieties utilizing as a source of resistance gene and crossing with landraces and other improved genotypes to develop new high grain yielding and resistance variety with farmers preferred agronomic traits. Also resistance variety SRN 39 and Framida use in breeding program. Resistance varieties also a central components of integrated striga management. The screening techniques is undergoing at major sorghum growing areas and striga infested field however, the striga occurrence is complicated and  slow down the development of new resistance variety. Laboratory screening data conceding with field data was a mandatory to developed resistance varieties. Generally, enhancing sorghum grain yield production by developing high yielding stable striga resistance varieties, improving integrate striga controlling managements and distributing resistance varieties to the farmers are unambiguous. The objectives of this paper is to review the effect of striga on sorghum agronomic traits and  breeding strategy.

Keywords: Striga infestation, Sorghum, resistance

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/9-15-06

Publication date: August 31^st 2019