Added: 1 year ago
<p><em>Striga</em>, also referred to as “witch weed,” damages the crop long before it appears above ground, adding to its destructive qualities, further complicating its management. This parasitic weed attaches itself to the roots of host plants – usually cereals like maize and sorghum – then extracts essential nutrients and moisture meant for growth, causing stunted growth and crop loss. Once above ground, the <em>Striga</em> flower produces between <a href="https://www.cimmyt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/De-Groote-et-al-2008-Potential-of-herbicide-re.pdf">50,000-200,000 seeds</a>, which are released into the soil and triggered to germinate when close to potential host crop roots. In the absence of host crops, the seeds remain dormant in the soil for over 20 years, only to attack in subsequent maize planting seasons when conditions become favorable.</p>
Kenya
