Study Identifies Rhizobacteria to Fight Striga and Boost Sorghum Yields in Ethiopia
July 24, 2024| |
A research team from Ethiopia has identified potential Striga-suppressing rhizobacteria associated with sorghum. The rhizobacteria have been shown to significantly reduce Striga seed germination rates.
To identify the Striga-suppressive rhizobacteria, 117 bacterial isolates were collected from the rhizosphere of 12 sorghum varieties in three regions of Ethiopia. These isolates were screened for hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA).
Of the isolates, 47 produced HCN to varying degrees of potency, while 22 produced IAA. Twenty-one isolates were found to be common producers of both HCN and IAA, and these were further tested for their effects on Striga hermonthica germination. In vitro assays revealed significant germination inhibition, with the lowest germination rates observed in isolates E19G12 (0%), E29G2b (1%), and E19G10 (2.7%), respectively.
Further characterization revealed that these effective isolates belonged to the genera Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Klebsiella, and Enterobacter, highlighting their potential as bioherbicides to combat Striga infestations in sorghum.
For more details, read this article.
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