Evaluation of ecologies and severity of Striga weed on rice in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Striga spp. is renowned for causing great losses in cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa. Crop competitiveness with parasitic weeds such as Striga is an important criterion for selection in an initiative to produce and release rice cultivars to farmers that are able to give high and stable yields under low-input conditions. The symptoms of Striga infected rice plants are chlorosis, wilting and stunted growth. Rice yield is reported to be reduced by more than 50% in areas that are infested by the weed. In addition, areas that are heavily infested have been abandoned and rendered unfit for crop production. Notable advances in Striga weed control technology have been made, yet the weed continues to be a major cause of low agricultural production. This is an indication of poor linkage between research institutions and agricultural extension which is a bottleneck to research findings to benefit farmers.