Maize Landraces are Less Affected by Striga hermonthica Relative to Hybrids in Western Kenya. (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Midega, Charles A. O.; Pickett, John; Hooper, Antony; Pittchar, Jimmy; Khan, Zeyaur R.
• Is Part Of: Weed technology. Volume 30:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 28
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: Striga, Striga hermonthica (Delile) Benth., -- maize, Zea mays L., Zea mays L. 'Rachar', Zea mays L. 'Endere'; Food security, -- integrated control, -- smallholder farmers, -- striga, -- varietal resistance; Weeds -- Periodicals; Weeds -- Control -- Periodicals; 632.5
• DOI: 10.1614/WT-D-15-00055.1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0890-037X

Abstract

Abstract : Production of maize in western Kenya is severely constrained by the parasitic weed striga. Although productivity of maize can be improved through adoption of improved varieties, adoption of such varieties remains low in the region, as the majority of smallholder farmers still grow unimproved open-pollinated varieties (landraces). The performance of two improved hybrid varieties was evaluated against six landraces in striga-infested soils in western Kenya. The varieties were planted in plots under natural striga infestation and were supplemented with pot experiments under artificial infestation. Striga emergence was lower in landraces than in the hybrid varieties in both field and pot experiments. Similarly, height of maize plants at harvest and grain yields were higher in the landraces than in the hybrids. After three continuous cropping seasons, in all treatments, striga seedbank density increased two to seven times. Seedbank increase was higher with hybrids and two of the landraces, 'Rachar' and 'Endere'. These results provide an insight into the potential role landraces could play in efforts toward an integrated management approach for striga in smallholder cropping systems. They also highlight the need to develop hybrid maize lines with local adaptation to biotic constraints, specifically striga.