E3 Journal of Scientific Research

E3 Journal of Scientific Research Vol. 2 (3) pp. 039-046, September 2014; © E3 Journals; ISSN 2276-9919

Assessment of the resistance of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) varieties to the parasitic weed (Striga hermonthica) in Cameroon

Philippe Kosma¹^*, Tene Eric Romuald^1,2, Yakouba Oumarou¹, Lendzemo Venansius²
¹ Department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and By-Products, The Higher Institute of Sahel, University of Maroua (Cameroon), BP 46 Maroua, Cameroon
²Regional Center for Agronomic Research of Maroua (Cameroon), BP 2237 Maroua, Cameroon
^*Corresponding Author E-mail: philippekosma@yahoo.fr
Accepted 11 September 2014

Abstract

Sorghum is a food product which ensures food safety in Cameroon. However, the production yields remain low because of the many parasitic constraints due particularly to Striga hermonthica, plant parasite that can cause up to 100 % of losses if no protective measures are taken. Generally, the level of resistance of various local varieties of sorghum to S. hermonthica, remains unknown; which results in very low yields, despites the techniques employed to fight. This constitutes a risk to their diffusion in rural community. The farmers and biological control methods of cultivation generally used in rural areas remain very binding and give unsatisfactory results. Concerning chemical control, it is polluting and expensive. In the search for alternatives to these methods of struggles mentioned above, this work was undertaken to determine the level of resistance in 13 varieties of sorghum to S. hermonthica. To this end, after planting S. hermonthica in the various pots, its influence on the 13 varieties of sorghum has been measured through the evaluation of their parameters of growth, the rate of emergence and the number of foot of S. hermonthica fixed on the roots of varieties of sorghum tested and finally the fresh and dry weight of seedlings of sorghum. The variety CK-60B deemed very sensitive to S. hermonthica has been used as a witness of reference. In view of the results obtained, it reveals that compared to the reference variety CK-60B, the varieties CS-54, S-35, CS-95, CS-130, Zouaye, Mabassi, CS-233, IRMA-Bp, CS-61, CS-154, SSD-35 seems to be resistant or at least tolerant to S. hermonthica. By against the varieties Damougari and Gueling have been proved susceptibles.

Keywords: Sorghum bicolor; resistance; tolerance; sensitive; Striga hermonthica

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