Patterns Of Striga Resistance In Sorghum And Millets With Special Emphasis On AfricaK VRamaiahauthorAlthough host plant rcsistance in sorghum was denlonstrated as carly as 1920 both in Africa and India, its exploitation it1 breeding broad-spectrum stablc resistant cultivars started only recently. In pearl millet, however, the cxistcncc of host plant resistance is not yet clearly demonstrated. Striga-resistant sorghum varieties are in general agronomically poor. Multi-locational evaluation in Africa revealed that Framida ahd N 1 3 are the most stable rcsistant varieties. These two varieties were resistant to both S. asiatica and S-. herm-onthica. Some of the varieties like Najjadh, 12610C and IS 9830 revealed a narrow spectrum of rcsistance when tcsted across different seed samples of S. hcrmonthica. Ccnetic analysis of field rcsistancc in sorghum revealed that it is controlled predominantly by additive genc action and thus straight selection is effective. A pedigree approach to transfer resistance into elite agronomic backgrounds was successful. Several sclcctions with promising levels 01 resist~nce, stablc grain yiclds and good grain quality wcre identified and arc now in 'on farm' tests. In millet, a few less susceptible lincs have been identified. Intercrossing them and following the pedigree system of selection resulted in increased levels of rcsistancc and grain yields, The need for integrated Striga rnanagemcnt, ~ncluding resistant cultivars and complementary agronomic control practices, is cmphasised.Sorghum1983Conference or Workshop Item