Response of Short Season Maize Cultivars to Striga Infestation

A glasshouse experiment was conducted to assess tolerance/resistance of five short season maize cultivars namely, CG4141, CG4538, CG4585, PHB3427 and PHB3435 to Striga ( Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze) infestation. Striga infested all cultivars but to different levels. Maize ( Zea mays ) height and diameter were only suppressed in cv CH4141. Shoot fresh and dry weights were suppressed in all other infested cultivars except PHB3427. All cultivars but PHB3427 and CG4538 were very susceptible with CG4141 suffering the greatest reductions in most parameters. Striga emerged 12 to 17 days earlier in PHB3435 and CG4141 than in PHB3435 and more plants emerged from CG4141 and CG4538. Striga plants supported by CG4141 and PHB3435 flowered earlier than others. The number of capsules in Striga was lowest in plants which emerged on CG4585 while no capsules were formed on plants growing on PHB3427. Generally, CG cultivars were more susceptible than PHBs. Farmers are recommended to grow cultivars PHB3427 and CG4585 which were relatively more resilient to the weed