Host specificity of Fusarium oxysporum Schlect (isolate PSM 197), a potential mycoherbicide for controlling Striga spp. in West Africa

MarleyPS, KroschelJ & ElzienA (2005) Host specificity of Fusarium oxysporum Schlect (isolate PSM 197), a potential mycoherbicide for controlling Striga spp. in West Africa. Weed Research45, 407–412. Summary The ability of Fusarium oxysporum (PSM 197), a potential mycoherbicide for control of Striga hermonthica, to control different Striga species (S. hermonthica, S. asiatica and S. gesneroides) and another parasitic weed, Alectra vogelli, was investigated under glasshouse conditions. Significant reductions in the total number of emerged plants of S. asiatica (91.3%), S. gesneroides (81.8%) and S. hermonthica (94.3%) were achieved in the presence of F. oxysporum (PSM 197). The pathogen only caused a reduction of 8.5% in A. vogelli. This high susceptibility of the three Striga species provides a possible opportunity to control these parasites simultaneously with this mycoherbicide