DISTRIBUTION AND INFESTATION OF STRIGA SPECIES IN SHINYANGA REGION OF TANZANIA AND EVALUATION OF CONTROL METHODS

摘要

A survey of 56 maize and 26 sorghum fields was carried ou during February-March 1994 in order to collect data on the Striga distribution and infestation in Shinyanga Region of Tanzania. Striga hermonthica and Striga asiatica were observed in 51% and 24% of all fields inspected, respectively. In total, Striga was found in 59% of the maize and 65% of the sorghum fields with infection rates of the plant stands ranging mainly from 2.5 to 50%. Although the parasitic nature of Striga was unknown, many farmers had observed deleterious effects on their crops due to the presence of the weed. Of the proposed Striga control measures, rotation with trap crops such as cotton (96% of the farmers surveyed), the use of fertiliser in the form of cow manure (82%) and regular hand-pulling (54%) were most likely to be adopted in the future by the farmers.