Evaluation of formulated strigolactone analogs for Striga management in Kenyan agriculture
Striga hermonthica, an obligate root parasitic weed affecting cereal crops, poses a significant threat to global food security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Germination of Striga seed largely relies on signaling molecules released by the host roots, mainly strigolactones (SLs). Suicidal germination i...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Agriculture and Food Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325002923 |
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| author | Muhammad Jamil Sylvia Mutinda Jian You Wang Damaris Barminga Agnes Mwihaki Lynet Navangi Teresa O. Okiyo Rohit H. Patil Titus Ngatia Patrick Mudavadi Steven Runo Salim Al-Babili |
| author_facet | Muhammad Jamil Sylvia Mutinda Jian You Wang Damaris Barminga Agnes Mwihaki Lynet Navangi Teresa O. Okiyo Rohit H. Patil Titus Ngatia Patrick Mudavadi Steven Runo Salim Al-Babili |
| author_sort | Muhammad Jamil |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Striga hermonthica, an obligate root parasitic weed affecting cereal crops, poses a significant threat to global food security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Germination of Striga seed largely relies on signaling molecules released by the host roots, mainly strigolactones (SLs). Suicidal germination is an effective strategy for reducing Striga seed banks in infested soils by applying SL analogs in the absence of a host. However, the challenge remains in developing suitably formulated SL analogs for field application. In this report, we assessed the activity of two SL analogs, MP3 and Nijmegen-1, in both granular and liquid formulations in laboratory and greenhouse settings, and conducted mini-field and field trials to evaluate their effectiveness under farmers’ conditions, using maize as the host crop in Kenyan agriculture. We observed a significant induction of Striga seed germination reaching up to 56 % in laboratory germination bioassays and a reduction in Striga emergence by up to 77 % in greenhouse pot studies. In mini- and field trials in different infested fields, we recorded up to 80 % and 65 % reduction in Striga emergence, respectively. In conclusion, the formulated SL analogs demonstrate significant potential to reduce Striga infestation in maize fields in Kenya and are promising candidates for use by farmers due to their simplicity, ease of handling, stability, and effectiveness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d47cc20fd2274c43ac8e95195989481b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-1543 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Agriculture and Food Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-d47cc20fd2274c43ac8e95195989481b2025-08-20T03:26:38ZengElsevierJournal of Agriculture and Food Research2666-15432025-06-012110192110.1016/j.jafr.2025.101921Evaluation of formulated strigolactone analogs for Striga management in Kenyan agricultureMuhammad Jamil0Sylvia Mutinda1Jian You Wang2Damaris Barminga3Agnes Mwihaki4Lynet Navangi5Teresa O. Okiyo6Rohit H. Patil7Titus Ngatia8Patrick Mudavadi9Steven Runo10Salim Al-Babili11The BioActives Lab, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University, 43844 - 00100, Nairobi, KenyaThe BioActives Lab, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University, 43844 - 00100, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University, 43844 - 00100, Nairobi, KenyaKenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, Alupe Center, Busia, 399-50400, KenyaKenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, Kibos Center, Kisumu, KenyaUPL House, Express Highway, Bandra-East, Mumbai, 400 051, Maharashtra, IndiaUPL Kenya Leadership Team, 00100, Nairobi, KenyaKenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, Alupe Center, Busia, 399-50400, KenyaDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University, 43844 - 00100, Nairobi, KenyaThe BioActives Lab, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding author. The BioActives Lab, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.Striga hermonthica, an obligate root parasitic weed affecting cereal crops, poses a significant threat to global food security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Germination of Striga seed largely relies on signaling molecules released by the host roots, mainly strigolactones (SLs). Suicidal germination is an effective strategy for reducing Striga seed banks in infested soils by applying SL analogs in the absence of a host. However, the challenge remains in developing suitably formulated SL analogs for field application. In this report, we assessed the activity of two SL analogs, MP3 and Nijmegen-1, in both granular and liquid formulations in laboratory and greenhouse settings, and conducted mini-field and field trials to evaluate their effectiveness under farmers’ conditions, using maize as the host crop in Kenyan agriculture. We observed a significant induction of Striga seed germination reaching up to 56 % in laboratory germination bioassays and a reduction in Striga emergence by up to 77 % in greenhouse pot studies. In mini- and field trials in different infested fields, we recorded up to 80 % and 65 % reduction in Striga emergence, respectively. In conclusion, the formulated SL analogs demonstrate significant potential to reduce Striga infestation in maize fields in Kenya and are promising candidates for use by farmers due to their simplicity, ease of handling, stability, and effectiveness.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325002923Field trialsMethyl PhenlactonoateNijmegen-1MaizeStrigaStrigolactones |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Jamil Sylvia Mutinda Jian You Wang Damaris Barminga Agnes Mwihaki Lynet Navangi Teresa O. Okiyo Rohit H. Patil Titus Ngatia Patrick Mudavadi Steven Runo Salim Al-Babili Evaluation of formulated strigolactone analogs for Striga management in Kenyan agriculture Journal of Agriculture and Food Research Field trials Methyl Phenlactonoate Nijmegen-1 Maize Striga Strigolactones |
| title | Evaluation of formulated strigolactone analogs for Striga management in Kenyan agriculture |
| title_full | Evaluation of formulated strigolactone analogs for Striga management in Kenyan agriculture |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of formulated strigolactone analogs for Striga management in Kenyan agriculture |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of formulated strigolactone analogs for Striga management in Kenyan agriculture |
| title_short | Evaluation of formulated strigolactone analogs for Striga management in Kenyan agriculture |
| title_sort | evaluation of formulated strigolactone analogs for striga management in kenyan agriculture |
| topic | Field trials Methyl Phenlactonoate Nijmegen-1 Maize Striga Strigolactones |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325002923 |
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