Field assessment of Fusarium oxysporum based mycoherbicide for control of Striga hermonthica in Nigeria

Marley, P. S.; Shebayan, J. A. Y.

doi:10.1007/s10526-004-0461-9

Cited by 20 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Pests such as Striga and stem borers can have devastating consequences for grain yield throughout Africa. In addition to herbicide application (Carsky et al 1994;Tuinstra et al 2009) and the use of fungal spores (Marley and Shebayan 2005;Venne et al 2009), crop rotation has been demonstrated to control Striga and improve yield. Carsky et al (2010) demonstrated maize-soybean rotations reduced the Striga-derived yield decline in maize relative to a continuous grain rotation; the authors suggest the control mechanism is soybean reduction of the Striga viable seedbank by exuding a germination stimulant.…”

Section: Contextual Agricultural Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient management in African sorghum cropping systems: applying meta-analysis to assess yield and profitability

Tonitto

Ricker‐Gilbert

2016

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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Declining soil fertility and limited farmer access to inorganic fertilizer frequently cause sub-optimal grain yields throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Farm productivity is also at risk from extreme weather and future climate change. Significant uncertainty remains in predicting climate in Africa, increasing the challenge of planning for climate change adaptation. Sorghum is adapted to African climate patterns and is predicted to maintain widespread suitability across different African climatic zones under climate change. Sorghum's drought tolerance and ability to withstand water logging make it an important crop for maintaining productive agroecosystems under a changing climate. Due to its status as a staple grain, improved sorghum management can provide smallholder farmers with stability in their household nutritional needs. We reviewed sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) yield trends across nutrient management scenarios using meta-analysis. We compared yield across eight nutrient management practices: (i) N-only, (ii) P-only, (iii) N and P, (iv) N and P microdose, (v) legume management, (vi) manure addition, (vii) organic matter (OM) amendment, and (viii) mixed amendment. Our review demonstrated (1) yield improvement considering all scenarios averaged 66 % relative to no nutrient inputs, (2) yield under chemical fertilizer amendment increased by 47-98 % of control yield, (3) yield under organic nutrient amendment increased by 43-87 % of control yield, and (4) the profitability of a management scenario was not solely determined by the magnitude of yield increase. For example, due to the high cost of fertilizer, addition of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) generated the largest yield increase, but the lowest profit, in two of three countries analyzed. In contrast, an edible legume in rotation averaged 43 % yield improvement relative to no nutrient inputs and a net profit of US $146 to $263 per hectare. Facilitating access to both fertilizer inputs and diversified rotations has the greatest potential to increase grain yield in Africa.

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Section: Contextual Agricultural Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient management in African sorghum cropping systems: applying meta-analysis to assess yield and profitability

Tonitto

Ricker‐Gilbert

2016

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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“…As a rule, Fusarium , mainly F. oxysporum , isolated from S. hermonthica selectively attack Striga spp. ( Abbasher and Sauerborn, 1992 ; Ciotola et al, 1995 ; Savard et al, 1997 ; Abbasher et al, 1998 ; Marley et al, 1999 ; Amalfitano et al, 2002 ; Marley and Shebayan, 2005 ; Elzein and Kroschel, 2006 ; Schaube et al, 2006 ; Venne et al, 2009 ; Watson, 2013 ). An isolate from Mali in combination with fertilizer inputs successfully prevented Striga emergence and resulted in 400% increase of sorghum dry matter ( Ciotola et al, 1995 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Striga Biocontrol on a Toothpick: A Readily Deployable and Inexpensive Method for Smallholder Farmers

Nzioki

Oyosi²,

Morris

et al. 2016

Front. Plant Sci.

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Striga hermonthica (witchweed) is a parasitic weed that attacks and significantly reduces the yields of maize, sorghum, millet, and sugarcane throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Low cost management methods such as hand weeding, short crop rotations, trap cropping, or conventional biocontrol have not been effective. Likewise, Striga-tolerant or herbicide-resistant maize cultivars are higher yielding, but are often beyond the economic means of sustenance farmers. The fungal pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. strigae, has been the object of numerous studies to develop Striga biocontrol. Under experimental conditions this pathogen can reduce the incidence of Striga infestation but field use is not extensive, perhaps because it has not been sufficiently effective in restoring crop yield and reducing the soil Striga seed bank. Here we brought together Kenyan and US crop scientists with smallholder farmers to develop and validate an effective biocontrol strategy for management of Striga on smallholder farms. Key components of this research project were the following: (1) Development of a two-step method of fungal delivery, including laboratory coating of primary inoculum on toothpicks, followed by on-farm production of secondary field inoculum in boiled rice enabling delivery of vigorous, fresh inoculum directly to the seedbed; (2) Training of smallholder farmers (85% women), to produce the biocontrol agent and incorporate it into their maize plantings in Striga-infested soils and collect agronomic data. The field tests expanded from 30 smallholder farmers to a two-season, 500-farmer plot trial including paired plus and minus biocontrol plots with fertilizer and hybrid seed in both plots and; (3) Concerted selection of variants of the pathogen identified for enhanced virulence, as has been demonstrated in other host parasite systems were employed here on Striga via pathogen excretion of the amino acids L-leucine and L-tyrosine that are toxic to Striga but innocuous to maize. This overall strategy resulted in an average of >50% increased maize yield in the March to June rains season and >40% in the September to December rains season. Integration of this enhanced plant pathogen to Striga management in maize can significantly increase the maize yield of smallholder farmers in Kenya.

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“…Others upregulate the expression of phosphate transporters in their host plant, enhancing P uptake (Yadav et al., 2010 ), or producing toxic substances that detract herbivores from their hosts (Pozo et al., 2021 ). Finally, certain endophytic strains act as biocontrollers of parasite weeds by obstructing their xylem vessels (Marley & Shebayan, 2005 ) or inhibiting seed germination (Anteyi et al., 2022 ). This fascinating biocontrol ability allowed to develop mycoherbicides, efficient products for controlling parasitic weeds (Sands & Pilgeram, 2009 ).…”

Section: Fungi As Plant Growth‐promoting Microorganismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fungi beyond limits: The agricultural promise of extremophiles

Zenteno‐Alegría,

Yarzábal Rodríguez,

Ciancas Jiménez

et al. 2024

Microbial Biotechnology

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Global climate changes threaten food security, necessitating urgent measures to enhance agricultural productivity and expand it into areas less for agronomy. This challenge is crucial in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). Plant growth‐promoting microorganisms (PGPM), bacteria and fungi, emerge as a promising solution to mitigate the impact of climate extremes on agriculture. The concept of the plant holobiont, encompassing the plant host and its symbiotic microbiota, underscores the intricate relationships with a diverse microbial community. PGPM, residing in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and endosphere, play vital roles in nutrient solubilization, nitrogen fixation, and biocontrol of pathogens. Novel ecological functions, including epigenetic modifications and suppression of virulence genes, extend our understanding of PGPM strategies. The diverse roles of PGPM as biofertilizers, biocontrollers, biomodulators, and more contribute to sustainable agriculture and environmental resilience. Despite fungi's remarkable plant growth‐promoting functions, their potential is often overshadowed compared to bacteria. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a mutualistic symbiosis with many terrestrial plants, enhancing plant nutrition, growth, and stress resistance. Other fungi, including filamentous, yeasts, and polymorphic, from endophytic, to saprophytic, offer unique attributes such as ubiquity, morphology, and endurance in harsh environments, positioning them as exceptional plant growth‐promoting fungi (PGPF). Crops frequently face abiotic stresses like salinity, drought, high UV doses and extreme temperatures. Some extremotolerant fungi, including strains from genera like Trichoderma, Penicillium, Fusarium, and others, have been studied for their beneficial interactions with plants. Presented examples of their capabilities in alleviating salinity, drought, and other stresses underscore their potential applications in agriculture. In this context, extremotolerant and extremophilic fungi populating extreme natural environments are muchless investigated. They represent both new challenges and opportunities. As the global climate evolves, understanding and harnessing the intricate mechanisms of fungal‐plant interactions, especially in extreme environments, is paramount for developing effective and safe plant probiotics and using fungi as biocontrollers against phytopathogens. Thorough assessments, comprehensive methodologies, and a cautious approach are crucial for leveraging the benefits of extremophilic fungi in the changing landscape of global agriculture, ensuring food security in the face of climate challenges.

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Field assessment of Fusarium oxysporum based mycoherbicide for control of Striga hermonthica in Nigeria

Cited by 20 publications

References 11 publications

Nutrient management in African sorghum cropping systems: applying meta-analysis to assess yield and profitability

Nutrient management in African sorghum cropping systems: applying meta-analysis to assess yield and profitability

Striga Biocontrol on a Toothpick: A Readily Deployable and Inexpensive Method for Smallholder Farmers

Fungi beyond limits: The agricultural promise of extremophiles

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