Post-Attachment Resistance to Striga Hermonthicain Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana)
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Date
2023-10
Authors
Kunguni, Josephine S.
Kibet, Willy
Oduori, Chrispus O.
Dida, Mathews M.
Anami, Sylvester
Kilian, Benjamin
Mutuku, Josiah M.
Runo, Steve
Odeny, Damaris A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
WILEY
Abstract
Finger millet is a highly nutritious and climate-resilient cereal crop. Despite its
importance, finger millet productivity in East Africa trails other cereals due to
several biotic and abiotic factors, including the parasitic weed, Striga hermonthica.
Striga spp. are noxious parasitic weeds whose damage can result in 100% yield
losses in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of our study was to determine differences in post-attachment responses of a selection of genotypes. We germinated
finger millet in Petri dishes, transferred them to rhizotrons and infected the roots
with Striga that had been pre-conditioned for 7 days at 30 C and subsequently pregerminated using GR24. Histological analysis was done on three distinct genotypes
to determine the host–pathogen interactions. The attachment of Striga onto the
host was observed 3 days after inoculation. LESK10, a wild genotype, and
OKHALE1 (cultivated) consistently supported fewer Striga plants after inoculation,
while GBK029646A, a cultivated finger millet, consistently supported the highest.
Histological analysis recorded an incompatible reaction in both OKHALE1 and
LESK10 and a compatible reaction in GBK029646A as early as 3 days after infection. Our results suggest the likely existence of novel resistance in crop wild relatives that will be valuable for developing durable resistance to Striga in elite finger
millet varieties.
Description
Article
Keywords
GR24, millet, parasitic plant, post-attachment resistance, rhizotrons, witchweed
Citation
Kunguni, J. S., Kibet, W., Oduori, C. O., Dida, M. M., Anami, S., Kilian, B., ... & Odeny, D. A. (2023). Post‐attachment resistance to Striga hermonthica in finger millet (Eleusine coracana). Weed Research.