Characterization of Striga Sp. Seed Bank Depleting Bacteria from Striga Infested Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moench) Growing Areas of Northern and Eastern Ethiopia
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Date
2020-06-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Striga hermonthica is a very devastative parasitic weed of (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) which is the third important crop in Ethiopia. It is hemi-parasite living with the host plant by attaching small sucker root system to host plant. A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of bacterial isolates obtained from soil samples collected from Striga infested sorghum growing fields in Amhara, Tigray and Oromia Regions to inhibit (deplete) the Striga seed bank. Surface sterilized and conditioned Striga seeds were buried in the soil by using teabag to determine germinated, viable and decayed seeds at different times after burial. A total of 44 isolates were isolated from germinated and decayed striga seeds and tested for their effect on germination and seed decay of Striga seeds. Six isolates (GS29, GS32, GS34, GS39, GS42 and GS45) were stimulated 10.33, 9.0, 9.67, 8.33, 5.33 and 8.33 Striga seeds germination from the total of 35 seeds respectively in the absence of host plant synthetic stimulant. On the other hand four isolates (SD3, SD9, SD36 and SD46) significantly decayed Striga seeds at P<0.05 (21, 20, 21.33 and 21 seeds respectively) in order to reduce Striga attack. Selected isolates were characterized by using biochemical tests, and three isolates were classified under the genus Pseudomonas while the other three isolates were grouped under the genus Klebsiella. The four isolates that showed seed decay were classified under the genus Bacillus.
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Keywords
Germination, Stimulant, Seed Decay, Viability, GR-24