Effects of N, P and K on Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze seed germination and infestation of sorghum

Raju, P S and Osman, M A and Soman, P and Peacock, J M (1990) Effects of N, P and K on Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze seed germination and infestation of sorghum. Weed Research, 30 (2). pp. 139-144. ISSN 0043-1737

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Abstract

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) plants were grown in pots with 12.5 and 50 mg applied N kg−1 soil. With an increase of soil N, the Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze infestation, as well as the sorghum shoot dry matter losses due to infestation, decreased. The relative differences in stimulant capacity to induce Striga seed germination among the four sorghum genotypes were not consistent over the 0 to 150 mg N 1−1 range. The sorghum root exudate was considerably more active at 0 mg N 1−1, than at 30 mg N 1−1, and the stimulant produced at 150 mg N 1−1 failed to induce Striga seed germination. Presence of N in the growth medium considerably reduced the effectiveness of the stimulating substance produced by sorghum roots, whereas K promoted stimulant activity only in the absence of N. The presence or absence of P in the growth medium did not affect Striga seed germinability, probably due to the inability of this element to interfere with the production or activity of the stimulating substance from the host plants. It can be concluded, therefore, that sorghum plants seem to produce active root exudate only in conditions of N deficiency

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Subjects:	Mandate crops > Sorghum Others > Entomology
Depositing User:	Mr B K Murthy
Date Deposited:	02 Apr 2014 09:56
Last Modified:	02 Apr 2014 09:56
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/7735
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3180.1990.tb01697...
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	IDRC(Canada)
Acknowledgement:	UNSPECIFIED
Links:	Google Scholar

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