Morphological Characterisation of Global Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana, L. Gaertn) Germplasm Reaction to Striga in Kenya

Abstract

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana, L. Gaertn) is an important food crop in Africa and Asia. Its grain is richer in protein, fat and minerals than other major cereals. The parasitic weed Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth seriously limits finger millet production through reduced yield in agro-ecologies where they co-exist. The damage of Striga to cereal crops is more severe under drought and low soil fertility. The main objective of this study was to determine genetic basis for reaction to S. hermonthica among the selected germplasm of finger millet through genotyping by sequencing (GBS). One hundred finger millet genotypes were evaluated for reaction to S. hermonthica (Del) Benth infestation under field conditions at Alupe and Kibos in Western Kenya. The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) consisting of 10 x 10 square (triple lattice). The genotypes were planted both under Striga (inoculated) and no Striga conditions and plant growth was monitored to maturity. Statistical analysis of phenotypic data using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) PROC ANOVA revealed highly significant differences among genotypes for morphological traits at P< 0.05.