Soil Microbes as Bioherbicides: An Eco-friendly Approach to Control Striga

Abstract

Striga, also called witch weed, is a notorious obligate root hemiparasitic weed of global food security crops such as sorghum, maize, millet and upland rice causing considerable yield loss in Sub Saharan Africa. Several Striga control measures have been developed which include cultural, chemical and resistance breeding. However, many of these methods are either not practically successful or are not economically feasible for low-income farmers. Furthermore, the negative effects of agrichemicals on the environment have attracted scientist to look for an alternative weed management strategy. The use of microorganisms naturally occurring in the soil as biological control agents offer an alternative approach to control the parasitic weeds. Soil is the natural home of numerous forms of beneficial microorganism playing vital role in maintaining the dynamic equilibrium. In recent time, soil born microbes, primarily bacteria and fungi, become the most effective Striga management strategy that targets Striga seed bank in the soil. Hence, this review presents a comprehensive and new approach on the roles of soil microbes in fight against Striga.