Kolo M.G.M., Mamudu A.Y.
Abstract
Seeds of two maize (Zea mays L.) varieties (Striga resistant Jo-98 and susceptible Obatanpa) were dressed with
Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R. Br. pulp at 164 g to 1.0 kg maize seed. Various volumes of tap water
(0, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 ml) were each added, stirred with a stirring rod and left overnight for 18 hours
before sowing to evaluate their efficacy in Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. control under field conditions.
The control was maize seeds without Parkia pulp dressing. The experiment was laid out as a split-plot arrangement
in a randomized complete block design with maize varieties in the main plots and Parkia pulp concentration
constituting the sub-plot treatments. All the treatments were replicated three times in both 2004 and 2005.
Results indicate that maize varieties did not significantly differ in delaying Striga shoot emergence, reducing
Striga shoot density per m2 and number flowering and maize syndrome reaction score in 2004, but the resistant
maize variety Jo-98 effectively reduced these parameters than the susceptible Obatanpa in 2005.
Also, the resistant maize was significantly taller and produced greater grains than the susceptible one in both
years of the study. The addition of 50 ml water significantly delayed Striga shoot emergence by 14 and 4 days
in 2004 and 2005, respectively and correspondingly reduced shoot density by 58 to 62% and 69 to 71% compared
with the no-water treatment. It also reduced Striga development and enhanced maize growth. These resulted in
significant increase in maize grain yield by over 80% compared with the treatment without addition of water and
with greater grain yield in the resistant variety than the susceptible one at each pulp concentration.
Maize grain yield obtained from both varieties showed a high negative correlation with number of Striga shoots/m2
and positive relationship with maize plant height.
Key words:
Parkia biglobosa pulp, maize seed treatment, Striga hermonthica management