New control methods for parasitic weeds

28 februari 2008

Parasitic weeds parasitise cereals and other economically important crops in many regions of the world and can cause large yield losses. To develop new control methods the germination stimulants may be suitable targets. WOTRO-researcher Zhongkui Sun studied the germination stimulants of maize and the model plants Arabidopsis and rice. For his research project Biosynthesis of germination stimulants of parasitic weeds Striga and Orobanche he received a PhD from Wageningen University on 26 February 2008.

Genes from maize were cloned and characterised and transgenic plants created that induced less germination of Striga. Arabidopsis was shown to produce strigolactones but also germination inducing compounds from other compound classes. The rice germination stimulants seem to consist only of strigolactones and the treatment of rice with an inhibitor of strigolactone biosynthesis greatly reduced Striga infection, making this an interesting option to develop into a control method. Also, some other results from the work of Zhongkui Sun, such as the inhibitory effect of mycorrhizal fungi on the germination of Striga, can potentially be developed into new control methods.

Zhongkui Sun received a PhD from Wageningen University on 26 February 2008 for his research project Biosynthesis of germination stimulants of parasitic weeds Striga and Orobanche.

Source: Wageningen University