Combining host plant defence with targeted nutrition: key to durable control of hemiparasitic Striga in cereals in sub-Saharan Africa?

Immaculate M Mwangangi, Lucie Büchi, Stephan M Haefele, Lammert Bastiaans, Steven Runo, Jonne Rodenburg

Journal: The New phytologist 2021;230(6):2164-2178

PMID: 33577098

Abstract

Host plant defence mechanisms (resistance and tolerance) and plant nutrition are two of the most widely proposed components for the control of hemiparasitic weeds of the genus Striga in tropical cereal production systems. Neither of the two components alone is effective enough to prevent parasitism and concomitant crop losses. This review explores the potential of improved plant nutrition, being the chemical constituent of soil fertility, to fortify the expression of plant inherent resistance and tolerance against Striga. Beyond reviewing advances in parasitic plant research, we assess relevant insights from phytopathology and plant physiology in the broader sense to identify opportunities and knowledge gaps and to develop the way forward regarding research and development of combining genetics and plant nutrition for the durable control of Striga.

Address: Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK.; Sustainable Agriculture Sciences Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK.; Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, 6700 AK, the Netherlands.; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, 43844-0100, Kenya.

DOI: 10.1111/nph.17271

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https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.17...

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https://scite.ai/reports/33577098

MeSH Terms: Africa South of the Sahara, Edible Grain, Oryza, Plant Diseases, Striga