Effect of phosphate‐based seed priming on strigolactone production and Striga hermonthica infection in cereals. (3rd January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jamil, M; Charnikhova, T; Verstappen, F; Ali, Z; Wainwright, H; Bouwmeester, H J; Vurro, Maurizio
• Is Part Of: Weed research. Volume 54:Number 3(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 307
• Page End: 313
• Publication Date: 2014-01-03
• Subjects: Weeds -- Control -- Periodicals; Herbicides -- Periodicals; 632.5
• DOI: 10.1111/wre.12067
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1737

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="wre12067-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Strigolactones, plant‐secreted underground signalling molecules, play an important role in agricultural ecosystems, because they mediate the interaction of crops with symbiotic AM fungi and parasitic weeds like <italic>Striga hermonthica</italic>. Cereal host plants secret these signalling molecules particularly under nutrient‐deficient conditions and especially when phosphate (P) is limiting. The objective of the present study was to see the potential of P seed priming for <italic>S</italic>. <italic>hermonthica</italic> management in cereals in relation to strigolactone production. It has been demonstrated that P fertiliser application down‐regulates the production of these signalling molecules in the rhizosphere, which results in lower <italic>S</italic>. <italic>hermonthica</italic> infection of cereals. The laboratory study showed maximum production of strigolactones from dry and water‐soaked seeds, while seed soaking in P solution reduced their production. Similarly, maximum <italic>S</italic>. <italic>hermonthica</italic> infection was observed under control treatments with dry sowing or water soaking, while P seed soaking decreased <italic>S</italic>. <italic>hermonthica</italic> germination, emergence and dry biomass in all cereal crops. Our study shows that P seed priming resulted in lower exudation of strigolactones, which induced less <italic>S</italic>. <italic>hermonthica</italic> seeds germination and hence may lead to lower <italic>S</italic>. <italic>hermonthica</italic> infection. P‐based seed priming could prove to be an effective and affordable strategy to reduce <italic>S</italic>. <italic>hermonthica</italic> infection in cereals. Further research for practical field application is needed.</p> </abstract>