Occurrence and growth inhibitory activity of Striga hermonthica (delile) benth on Sorghum bicolor (L.) moench in Lafia, Nigeria

Incidence of Striga hermonthica was investigated on some Sorghum bicolor farms in Lafia, Nigeria. Quadrant sampling technique was used and a total of six plots of size 10m x 10m each were sampled randomly in three locations, namely; Shabu, Shendam Road and Makurdi Road in Lafia North, East and Central respectively. Incidence parameters such as the number of Striga and Sorghum, the height of Striga, distance of Striga to infected Sorghum and height of Sorghum were documented. A total of 572 stands of Striga were counted in all sampled locations. Sorghum farms in Shabu had the highest mean population of Striga (261), followed by both Shendam and Makurdi Road with mean populations of 13 Striga each. Negative correlations were observed between height of Striga and height of infected Sorghum (-0.371), as well as between number of Striga and number of Sorghum plants (-0.818). Distance of Striga to infected Sorghum correlated positively with height of infected Sorghum (0.153). Positive correlation was also observed between number of Striga and height of infected Sorghum (0.584). It was thus concluded that Striga had a significant negative effect on growth of Sorghum in the study area. Therefore this activity of Striga require integrated management approaches for sustainable Sorghum production and yield improvement.Keywords: Incidence, Lafia, Parasitic activity, Striga, Sorghum