Fighting the Parasitic Weed Striga

Scientists from Kansas State University have developed a method that could contribute to the international effort to eradicate Striga, a parasitic weed, from African fields. The weed costs $6 billion in crop damage every year in Africa. Underground, Striga parts connect to sorghum roots and feed on them, reducing yield dramatically and sometimes even destroying entire fields.

The method involves treating sorghum seeds with an inexpensive, low-toxic herbicide. “As the sorghum grows, the seed treatment will kill the Striga. All of these new technologies are being developed in Manhattan, and we are testing the seeds in Africa to select the right herbicide, rate, landrace, seed treatment, and other factors,” explained Kassim Al-Khatib, one of the scientists involved in the study. Treated seeds are currently being tested in Mali and Niger with successful results.

The news article is available at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/news/topstory.asp