Nutritional management and maize variety combination effectively control Striga asiatica in southern Africa
Abstract Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important staple food crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and contributes significantly to food security. Due to Striga, maize yield loss is estimated between 20 and 80% forcing some farmers to abandon their land therefore threatening food security. Many strategies ha...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
CABI
2022-07-01
|
| Series: | CABI Agriculture and Bioscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-022-00108-4 |
| _version_ | 1826843956014481408 |
|---|---|
| author | Simbarashe Mutsvanga Edmore Gasura Peter S. Setimela Cacious S. Nyakurwa Stanford Mabasa |
| author_facet | Simbarashe Mutsvanga Edmore Gasura Peter S. Setimela Cacious S. Nyakurwa Stanford Mabasa |
| author_sort | Simbarashe Mutsvanga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important staple food crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and contributes significantly to food security. Due to Striga, maize yield loss is estimated between 20 and 80% forcing some farmers to abandon their land therefore threatening food security. Many strategies have been applied to combat Striga infested fields to improve maize yields but alternative feasible approaches are still required. This study aimed at determining effects of phosphorus (P) and maize variety on Striga asiatica germination and attachment. A factorial experiment of eight P levels (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 kg ha−1), six maize varieties and Striga (inoculated and non-inoculated) in a 4 × 24 α-lattice design with three replications was set in a glasshouse at the University of Zimbabwe. A similar experiment was set under laboratory conditions using agar gel plates to determine S. asiatica germination using a complete randomized design with three replications. Adding P (at 40 kg ha−1) to soil infected with Striga, significantly (p < 0.05) reduced Striga counts and haustorial root attachments in all varieties with CV4 and R201 supporting lowest numbers. P also significantly (p < 0.05) improved plant height, chlorophyll content, leaf, cob, total biomasses and grain yield across all maize genotypes. Cultivar CV4 produced the highest grain yield under Striga attack. Furthermore, cultivars CV4 and CV1 had significantly (p < 0.05) lowest Striga seed maximum germination distance and percentages at zero P. Application of P reduced Striga germination, attachments and emergence in all varieties and increased tolerance of maize varieties. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T04:34:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2c894e7e4a21471c98433373ef054897 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-4044 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-16T13:51:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | CABI |
| record_format | Article |
| series | CABI Agriculture and Bioscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-2c894e7e4a21471c98433373ef0548972025-02-02T05:58:26ZengCABICABI Agriculture and Bioscience2662-40442022-07-013111410.1186/s43170-022-00108-4Nutritional management and maize variety combination effectively control Striga asiatica in southern AfricaSimbarashe Mutsvanga0Edmore Gasura1Peter S. Setimela2Cacious S. Nyakurwa3Stanford Mabasa4Department of Crop Science, University of ZimbabweDepartment of Crop Science, University of ZimbabweMaize Program, International Maize and Wheat Improvement CenterDepartment of Crop Science, University of ZimbabweDepartment of Crop Science, University of ZimbabweAbstract Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important staple food crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and contributes significantly to food security. Due to Striga, maize yield loss is estimated between 20 and 80% forcing some farmers to abandon their land therefore threatening food security. Many strategies have been applied to combat Striga infested fields to improve maize yields but alternative feasible approaches are still required. This study aimed at determining effects of phosphorus (P) and maize variety on Striga asiatica germination and attachment. A factorial experiment of eight P levels (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 kg ha−1), six maize varieties and Striga (inoculated and non-inoculated) in a 4 × 24 α-lattice design with three replications was set in a glasshouse at the University of Zimbabwe. A similar experiment was set under laboratory conditions using agar gel plates to determine S. asiatica germination using a complete randomized design with three replications. Adding P (at 40 kg ha−1) to soil infected with Striga, significantly (p < 0.05) reduced Striga counts and haustorial root attachments in all varieties with CV4 and R201 supporting lowest numbers. P also significantly (p < 0.05) improved plant height, chlorophyll content, leaf, cob, total biomasses and grain yield across all maize genotypes. Cultivar CV4 produced the highest grain yield under Striga attack. Furthermore, cultivars CV4 and CV1 had significantly (p < 0.05) lowest Striga seed maximum germination distance and percentages at zero P. Application of P reduced Striga germination, attachments and emergence in all varieties and increased tolerance of maize varieties.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-022-00108-4Striga asiaticaStriga countsStriga germination distanceStriga germination percentagePhosphorus nutritionZea mays L. |
| spellingShingle | Simbarashe Mutsvanga Edmore Gasura Peter S. Setimela Cacious S. Nyakurwa Stanford Mabasa Nutritional management and maize variety combination effectively control Striga asiatica in southern Africa CABI Agriculture and Bioscience Striga asiatica Striga counts Striga germination distance Striga germination percentage Phosphorus nutrition Zea mays L. |
| title | Nutritional management and maize variety combination effectively control Striga asiatica in southern Africa |
| title_full | Nutritional management and maize variety combination effectively control Striga asiatica in southern Africa |
| title_fullStr | Nutritional management and maize variety combination effectively control Striga asiatica in southern Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nutritional management and maize variety combination effectively control Striga asiatica in southern Africa |
| title_short | Nutritional management and maize variety combination effectively control Striga asiatica in southern Africa |
| title_sort | nutritional management and maize variety combination effectively control striga asiatica in southern africa |
| topic | Striga asiatica Striga counts Striga germination distance Striga germination percentage Phosphorus nutrition Zea mays L. |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-022-00108-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT simbarashemutsvanga nutritionalmanagementandmaizevarietycombinationeffectivelycontrolstrigaasiaticainsouthernafrica AT edmoregasura nutritionalmanagementandmaizevarietycombinationeffectivelycontrolstrigaasiaticainsouthernafrica AT peterssetimela nutritionalmanagementandmaizevarietycombinationeffectivelycontrolstrigaasiaticainsouthernafrica AT cacioussnyakurwa nutritionalmanagementandmaizevarietycombinationeffectivelycontrolstrigaasiaticainsouthernafrica AT stanfordmabasa nutritionalmanagementandmaizevarietycombinationeffectivelycontrolstrigaasiaticainsouthernafrica |