Effects of 2, 4-D, GR24 and conditioning period on striga hermonthica

RASHIDA MOHAMMED AHMED ABUSIN, University of Bahri, Sudan
ELFATIH ABDELAZIZ AHMED MOHAMMED, Agricultural Research Corporation, Sudan
HAMZA AZIBER OUSMAN, University of N’Djamena, Chad
MOHAMMED MAHGOUB HASSAN, National Centre for Research, Sudan
AMANI HAMAD ELTAYEB HAMAD, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Sudan
TILAL SAYED ABDELHALIM MUSA, Agricultural Research Corporation, Sudan
ABDELGABBAR ELTAYEB BABIKER, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Sudan
Purpose: This study was set to examine the effects of 2, 4-D on the early developmental stages of the root parasitic weed Striga hermonthica.
Design/Methodology/Approach: S. hermonthica seeds, sprinkled on 8 mm glass fibre discs, in Petri dishes, were treated with 2, 4-D, incubated, treated with GR24, examined for germination radicle extension and response to the haustorium inducer Dimethoxy-p-Benzoquinone (DMBQ).
Findings: Striga seeds conditioned in Distilled Water (DW), and subsequently treated with the synthetic germination stimulant GR24, displayed 53.7–87.4% germination. Seeds conditioned in 2, 4-D prior to treatment with GR24 exhibited 2–64.4% germination. Germilings from seeds conditioned in DW exhibited 8.8–45.4 mm radicle extension. Seeds conditioned in 2, 4-D displayed shorter radicles (0.4–6.2 mm). DMBQ applied to Striga germilings from seeds conditioned in DW effected 73.1% haustorial initiation. Germilings from seeds conditioned in 2, 4-D developed significantly less haustoria.
Originality/value: Germination, radicle extension and haustorium induction were negatively correlated with 2, 4-D concentration.
Keywords: 2, 4-D; Striga; GR24; germination; Dimethoxy-p-Benzoquinone; DMBQ; haustorium; radicle; Sudan.