Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Infection by the hemi-parasitic plant Striga hermonthica causes severe host plant damage and seed production losses. Increased availability of essential plant nutrients reduces infection. Whether, how and to what extent it also reduces striga-induced host plant damage has not been well studied. METHODS: The effects of improved macro- and micronutrient supply on host plant performance under striga-free and infected conditions were investigated in glasshouse pot assays. One striga-sensitive and two striga-tolerant genotypes were compared. Plants growing in impoverished soils were supplied with (1) 25 % of optimal macro- and micronutrient quantities, (2) 25 % macro- and 100 % micronutrients, (3) 100 % macro- and 25 % micronutrients, or (4) 100 % macro- and micronutrients. KEY RESULTS: Photosynthesis rates of striga-infected plants of the sensitive genotype increased with improved nutrition (from 12.2 to 22.1 μmol m-2 s-1) but remained below striga-free levels (34.9-38.8 μmol m-2 s-1). For the tolerant genotypes, increased macronutrient supply offset striga-induced photosynthesis losses. Striga-induced relative grain losses of 100 % for the sensitive genotype were reduced to 74 % by increased macronutrients. Grain losses of 80 % in the tolerant Ochuti genotype, incurred at low nutrient supply, were reduced to 5 % by improved nutrient supply. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing macronutrient supply reduces the impact of striga on host plants but can only restore losses when applied to genotypes with a tolerant background.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Improved nutrition raised photosynthesis in infected sensitive sorghum from 12.2 to 22.1 μmol m-2 s-1.
- Material
- sensitive genotypee0
- Treatment
- improved nutritione0
- Outcome
- Photosynthesis ratese0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 22.1 μmol m-2 s-1e0
- Comparator
- 12.2e0
Sorghum
StrigaOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“sorghum”
e0“Photosynthesis rates of striga-infected plants of the sensitive genotype increased with improved nutrition (from 12.2 to 22.1 μmol m-2 s-1)”
Claim · model-written summary
Photosynthesis in infected sensitive sorghum remained below uninfected levels.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“sorghum”
e0“but remained below striga-free levels (34.9-38.8 μmol m-2 s-1)”
Claim · model-written summary
In tolerant sorghum, increased macronutrients offset Striga photosynthesis losses.
- Material
- tolerant genotypese0
- Treatment
- increased macronutrient supplye0
- Outcome
- striga-induced photosynthesis lossese0
- Direction
- offsete0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“sorghum”
e0“For the tolerant genotypes, increased macronutrient supply offset striga-induced photosynthesis losses”
Claim · model-written summary
In sensitive sorghum, increased macronutrients reduced relative grain loss from 100 % to 74 %.
- Material
- sensitive genotypee0
- Treatment
- increased macronutrientse0
- Outcome
- Striga-induced relative grain lossese0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 74 %e0
- Comparator
- 100 %e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“sorghum”
e0“Striga-induced relative grain losses of 100 % for the sensitive genotype were reduced to 74 % by increased macronutrients”
Claim · model-written summary
Improved nutrient supply reduced Ochuti grain losses from 80 % to 5 %.
- Material
- Ochuti genotypee0
- Treatment
- improved nutrient supplye0
- Outcome
- Grain lossese0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Value
- 5 %e0
- Comparator
- low nutrient supplye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“sorghum”
e0“Grain losses of 80 % in the tolerant Ochuti genotype, incurred at low nutrient supply, were reduced to 5 % by improved nutrient supply”
e1“Photosynthesis rates of striga-infected plants of the sensitive genotype increased with improved nutrition (from 12.2 to 22.1 μmol m-2 s-1)”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors conclude that macronutrients restore Striga losses only in tolerant genotypes.
- Outcome
- can only restore losses when applied to genotypes with a tolerant backgrounde0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“sorghum”
e0“Increasing macronutrient supply reduces the impact of striga on host plants but can only restore losses when applied to genotypes with a tolerant background”
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