Screening for Striga (Striga Hermonthica (Del.) Benth.) Resistance Gene in Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moench) Genotypes Using Gel Based Assay and Lgs1 Marker in Ethiopia
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Date
2020-06-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is the most important cereal crop in the semi-arid parts of the world where it is the staple food crop for most of the population. In sub-Saharan Africa, the hemi-parasitic flowering weed, Striga hermonthica is the major biotic constraint for sorghum production. In countries such as Ethiopia and Sudan its yield losses can be up to 100% when the crop is heavily infested by witch weeds (Striga spp.). Overcoming sorghum grain yield losses caused by striga through resistance breeding has been hampered by a lack of reliable screening techniques. Striga resistant varieties offer the most practical control option. Therefore, the objective of this study was to screen striga resistant or susceptible sorghum germplasms using agar gel assay, low germination stimulant marker and root system architecture. The experiment was conducted in the University of California, Davis, USA. The treatments consisted of 59 sorghum genotypes (including 2 standard checks). These genotypes were screened in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications. The treatments were grouped according to their germination stimulant activity on S. hermonthica: high (Maximum Germination Distance (MGD) >10 mm); low (MGD <10 mm). From High Germination Stimulant (LGS1) or low germination stimulant (lgs1) genotyping and gel germination, we concluded that the SRN39, Gobiye, Birhan, Hora Doldy No- 02 and ESTL-101295 are likely resistant genotypes to S. hermonthica. Root System Architecture screening also revealed that the different sorghum genotypes studied had different root system architecture. Therefore, the conducted study showed the possibility to get sources of striga resistance or susceptible genotypes if larger numbers of Ethiopian sorghum genotypes are screened.
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Keywords
Agar Gel Assay, Lgs 1 Marker, Resistance