Evaluation of sorghum lines for Striga resistance

Striga (Striga hermonthica) has endangered most sorghum-growing areas of Africa and is increasing. Therefore, eight genetically diverse elite sorghum lines including a susceptible check (SSV-4) were evaluated for two years in a Striga-infested field. The experiment was a split-plot arrangement with three replications and Striga infestation as main-plot and sorghum lines as sub-plot treatments. There were no significant year or year by line effects. There was genetic variation for resistant to Striga. Resistance was expressed as adult plant resistance. Sorghum lines SSV-3 and KSV-4 possessed partial resistance, with low damage score (3.0 and 2.7), reduced height (13.7 and 16.8%), and grain reduction (17.9 and 18.2%), respectively. Line KSV-8 was tolerant to Striga. Lines SS-3, KSV-4, and KSV-8 are potential sources of Striga resistance.