Title: TOLERANCE OF SORGHUM LANDRACES AND VARIETIES TO STRIGA (STRIGA HERMONTHICA) INFESTATION IN ETHIOPIA
Abstract: A pot experiment was conducted at Sirinka Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia in 1999 to evaluate the level of resistance of local and improved sorghum varieties to Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. The results indicate that the three exotic varieties, which were bred for striga resistance (P-9401, P-9403 and SRN-39), and two local varieties (Ayefere- Asfachew and Wotere) supported significantly lower numbers of emerged striga compared to the susceptible checks. Striga dry biomass weight and shoot height were also significantly lower for these varieties. Plant height, dry shoot weight and dry root weight were also least affected by striga infestation in these varieties. Most of the local sorghum varieties, which were praised for their resistance, had disappointing infestation levels.