Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2010.201.208Fusarium isolates to Striga hermonthica in Burkina Faso]]>YonliD. TraoreH. SeremeP. HessD. E.SankaraP. 52010135Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. is an important constraint to cereal crop production in Burkina Faso, of which sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is the most important component. Native Fusarium species to use as bio-control agents to S. hermonthica has been investigated. Fifty one Fusarium isolates obtained from diseased plants of S. hermonthica were evaluated for their pathogenicity against Striga under controlled environmental conditions. Of 51 Fusarium isolates, 14 were pathogenic to S. hermonthica but their virulence differed. These 14 isolates were evaluated for their effects on Striga seed germination in the laboratory and their ability to kill emerged Striga plants growing in greenhouse pots. Spores of Fusarium sp. isolates 150a-M, 125b-Za, 6-Fa, Fusarium equiseti isolates 5-Kou, 31-Kom, 32-Or, 13-Ba and Fusarium oxysporum isolate 34-Fo reduced Striga germination by 78 to 96% compared to the untreated control. The study showed that at the rate of 33 mg mL-1, metabolites of Fusarium sp. isolates 125b-Za, 6-Fa, F. equiseti 5-Kou and F. oxysporum 34-Fo prevented Striga seed germination. In addition to these four isolates, Fusarium sp. isolates 141b-O, 150a-M and F. equiseti isolate 32-Or were effective at 67 mg mL-1. Percentage of Striga mortality ranged from 17-37% between 14 and 28 days after inoculation with spores of F. oxysporum 34-Fo and F. equiseti 5-Kou. Striga dry biomass was reduced by 84 and 78% for the respective isolates compared to the untreated control with Striga. Sorghum yield was improved by 84 and 99% with Fusarium sp. 6-Fa and F. oxysporum 34-Fo, respectively, compared to the control without Striga. The use of Fusarium spores and metabolites against Striga offers different possibilities of bio-herbicides formulation that can be combined with other controls methods in the integrated Striga management. Further studies will be carried out under field conditions to assess the efficacy and safety of these Fusarium isolates to environment and humans and evaluate low cost strategies for transfer to subsistence farmers.]]>Abbasher, A.A. and J. Sauerborn,1992Fusarium nygamai, a potential bioherbicide for Striga hermonthica control in sorghum.]]>2291296Abbasher, A.A., D.E. Hess and J. Sauerbom,1998Striga hermonthica or Sorghum and pearl millet in West Africa.]]>6179188Berner, D.K. and O.A. Williams,1998Striga gesnerioides seeds stimulated by hosts and non-hosts.]]>8212421247Carson, A.G. and E.M. Kunjo,1991Striga in the Gambia.]]>1991pp: 486493Ciotola, M., A.K. Watson and S.G. Hallet,1995Fusarium oxysporum with potential to control Striga hermonthica in Africa.]]>35303309Ejeta, G. and L.G. Butler,1993Striga life cycle and their contributions to Striga resistance.]]>17580Elzein, A. and J. Kroschel,2004Fusarium oxysporum Foxy 2 shows potential to control both Striga hermonthica and S. Asiatica.]]>44433438Elzein, A., J. Kroschel, P. Marley and G. Cadisch,2009Striga-mycoherbicidal products containing Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. strigae during storage?]]>119349367Gomez, K.A. and A.A. Gomez,19842nd Edn.,Pages: 680Pages: 680Gressel, J., A. Hanafi, G. Head, W. Marasas and A.B. Obilana et al.,200423661689Haussmann, B.I.G., D.E. Hess, H.G. Welz and H.H. Geiger,2000Striga-resistant sorghums.]]>66195211Hess, D.E., G. Ejeta and L.G. Butler,1992Striga.]]>31493497Idris, A.E., M.A. Abouzeid, A. Boari, M. Vurro and A. Evidente,2003Fusarium sp. Inhibiting germination of Striga hermonthica seeds.]]>426570Kroschel, J., A. Hundt, A.A. Abbasher and J. Sauerborn,1996Striga hermonthica.]]>36515520Lagoke, S.T.O., V. Parkinson and R.M. Agunbiade, 19911991pp: 314Marley, P.S., S.M. Ahmed, J.A. Shebayan and S.T.O Lagoke,1999Fusarium oxysporum with potential for biocontrol of the witchweed Striga hermonthica in the Nigerian Savanna.]]>9159163Parker, C. and D.C. Reid,1979Striga species. some preliminary observations.]]>1979pp: 7990Parker, C. and C.R. Riches,1993Pages: 332Pages: 332Sauerborn, J., I. Dorr, A.A. Abbasher, H. Thomas and J. Kroschel,1996Fusarium nygamai, a hyperparasite of Striga hermonthica.]]>75359Schaub, B., P. Marley, A. Elzein and J. Kroschel,2006Striga hermontica management in Sub-Saharan Africa: Synergy between Striga-mycoherbicides (biocontrol) and sorghum and maize resistant varieties.]]>20691699Siame, B.A., Y. Weerasuriya, K. Wood, G. Ejeta and G.L. Butler,1993Striga asiatica, from host plants.]]>4114861491Sugimoto, Y., N.E. Ahmed, N. Yasuda and S. Inanaga,2002Striga hermonthica germination produced by Fusarium solani.]]>50658661Traore, H., D.E. Hess, G. Hoffmann, A. Son and G. Salle,2001Striga hermonthica in Burkina Faso.]]>9645653Vogler, R.K., G. Ejeta and L.G. Butler,19963611851191Zonno, M.C., M. Vurro, R. Capasso, A. Evidente, A. Cutignano, J. Sauerborn and H. Thomas,1996Fusarium nygamai from Striga hermonthica.]]>1996pp: 223226