Abstract:
Two types of laboratory experiments in vitro and in vivo were undertaken at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences University of Gezira Sudan to investigate the effects of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L Moench root exudates and root extracts on early developmental stages of Strigahermonthica Del Benth. collected from different locations in Sudan Collection of seeds was made in S hermonthica endemic areas in Gadarif Gezira and Kordofan A total of fifteen Striga populations were collected Twelve S hermonthica populations one each were collected from under sorghum and three S hermonthica populations one each were collected from under millet The fifteen S hermonthica populations were arranged in completely randomized design with three replicates Striga seeds and or germilings were examined under a binocular for germination haustorium initiation attachment and penetration 24 72 144 192 hour after initial incubation respectively Data were collected and subjected to analysis of variance procedure Means were separated for significant using Duncan s Multiple Range Test P? 0.5 The results revealed that root exudates and extracts of all plants induced seed germination and haustorium initiation in S hermonthica However the highest germination haustorium initiation attachment and penetration attained by each of S hermonthica population were on their respective hosts These findings suggest the existence of both inter-and intra-crop specificity Moreover the results confirmed the existence of two strains of S hermonthica one specific to sorghum and the other to millet
