Parasitic Striga spp. cannot be controlled underground by selective herbicides, except on crops with target-site resistance to systemic herbicides. Spraying herbicides is uneconomic in African conditions. Instead, targeted herbicide use via seed dressing of maize varieties bred with mutant ALS genes is being commercialized in Kenya. A multi-partnership is currently testing this technology with farmers to create awareness to facilitate its delivery to control Striga for eventual deployment in sub-Saharan Africa. This technology has tripled yields in heavily infested areas and provided season long control in short season maize. High rainfall can leach the imidazolinone herbicide in short season maize, and normal rainfall leaches it in longer season maize. Controlled release formulants (high capacity ion exchangers) are being developed for this seed treatment application to limit herbicide leaching.

Conservation Agriculture Program

Text in English

INT2340