Abstract: A laboratory study was conducted to investigate the effects of several leguminous multipurpose tree (MPT) leaf crude extracts on the different stages of the life cycle of Striga asiatica. The MPTs used were Sesbania sesban, Luceana leucocephala, Acacia angustissima and Calliandra callothyrsus. Stages studied were germination, haustoria initiation, attachment and penetration of Striga asiatica on maize seedlings. Using the agar gel assay method discs containing preconditioned S. asiatica seeds were immersed into 9 cm petri dishes containing two millimeters of the MPT crude leaf extracts. Autoclaved water agar at room temperature was then poured over the mixture of S. asiatica seeds and leaf extract. The petri dishes were swirled around to evenly distribute S. asiatica seeds and leaf extracts in the agar. A germinating maize seed was submerged in the solidifying agar near the edge of the petri dish, with the root tip pointing across the plate. Germination of S. asiatica was significantly reduced (p< 0.05) by all the mulch extracts. The greatest reduction in germination (49%) resulted from S. sesban extracts while extracts from L. leucocephala caused the least reduction (24%). All the leaf mulch extracts did not affect haustoria formation. Attachment was not observed in any of the dishes including the control.