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The mechanism of suppression by the legume Desmodium uncinatum of the parasitic weed Striga

Reference	BBS/E/C/00004862
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor John Pickett
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Antony Hooper
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	66,188
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	14/05/2007
End date	13/05/2010
Duration	36 months

Abstract

The aim of this project is to elucidate the mechanism(s) underlying the Striga-supressive effects of Desmodium uncinatum root exudates. Intercropping with D. uncinatum is used as a Striga control measure by poor subsistence farmers in Africa but understanding the mechanism is essential for sustainability and for the extension of this approach to the control of weeds more generally, including the UK. The main objectives are:- 1. The production and standardisation of plant root exudates from D. ucinatum, maize, cowpea and L. japonicus. 2. Identification of the stage(s) of the Stiga lifecycle affected by compounds present in D. uncinatum root exudate and determination of the concentration dependence of the effect. 3. Purification/fractionation of the novel flavenoid/isoflavanoid compounds identified in the root exudates of Desmodium species to test the hypothesis that they are responsible for the Stiga suppression observed in the field. 4 To determine whether root exudate from the model legume Lotus japonicus contains the novel flavoniod/isoflavonoid Striga-suppressive compounds.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	Crop Science, Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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