Agronomic Performance of Striga Resistant Early‐Maturing Maize Varieties and Inbred Lines in the Savannas of West and Central Africa

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe potential maize (Zea mays L.) yield in the savannas of West and Central Africa (WCA) is constrained by Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. parasitism. Field trials at Ferkessedougou, Côte d'Ivoire; Abuja, Nigeria; and Mokwa, Nigeria, in 2002, and at Mokwa and Abuja in 2004, evaluated the performance of 11 early maturing maize varieties under artificial Striga infestation and Striga‐free conditions. Another trial at Mokwa and Abuja in 2004 evaluated 100 early maturing inbred lines under Striga infestation and Striga‐free conditions. The varieties differed significantly in grain yield under both conditions. Acr 94 TZE Comp 5‐W, Acr TZE Comp 5‐Y, and TZE‐W Pop × 1368 STR C1 were identified as promising varieties, based on grain yield, Striga damage ratings, and Striga emergence counts. The most promising variety, Acr 94 TZE Comp. 5‐W in terms of high grain yield, reduced Striga damage and low Striga emergence, outyielded the reference entry by 2% under Striga‐free conditions and 45% under Striga infestation. Ward cluster analysis of the varieties and inbred lines produced four major clusters each, under both Striga‐infested and Striga‐free conditions. In each case, the varieties and inbred lines assigned to each cluster under Striga infestation differed from those in the Striga‐free conditions. Several inbred lines with high grain yield, low Striga emergence and reduced Striga damage were identified as sources of Striga resistance for maize breeding programs in WCA.