SCREENING EXUDATES AND AQUEOUS EXTRACTS FROM SELECTED FICUS SPECIES ON THE GERMINATION OF STRIGA HERMONTHICA SEEDS

ABSTRACT
Striga (witchweed) is the most important biological limitation to cereal food production in sub-Saharan Africa. The presence of Striga is sometimes used as an indicator of poor soil fertility and some measures commonly used to control it include: cultural practices, herbicide use, and growing resistant variety. This study explores the potential effect of aqueous extracts and sap exudates of selected fig (Ficus species) on the germination of Striga hermonthica seeds. Striga seeds growing on Sorghum were collected from Bayero University, Kano State. Selected Ficus species sourced from Ugbowo Campus, University of Benin, were identified and their sap extracted, their leaves and barks collected as well. Extracts and exudates collected were oven dried (60), weighed and grinded. Standard procedures for preconditioning and germination of Striga seeds were followed after which a solution of crude exudate or extract was added before a few drops of the germination stimulant GR24 was added to the Striga seeds. The number of seeds that germinated were counted using a light microscope and percentage seed germination was inferred from the ratio of germinated seeds to the total seeds on the whatman disk. Results show that seeds exposed to leaves of Ficus gave the higher germination while those exposed to bark of Ficus gave the least germination of Striga. This indicates that bark of Ficus has more inhibitory effect on S. hermonthica germination.