Abstract
For the first time in sterile nutrient media in the absence of the host plant, different forms and rates of nitrogen compounds were screened for their effect onS. hermonthica Benth. shoot development beyond seed germination. There was no shoot formation beyond the inoculation stages whenS. hermonthica germlings were grown in media devoid of nitrogen source. In culture media containing some nitrogen sources, healthy shoots were formed. Increasing concentrations of KNO3, NaNO3, Ca(NO3)2, Mg(NO3)2 and asparagine resulted in a significant increase inS. hermonthica shoot development. Inversely, increasing concentrations of (NH4)2SO4, NH4H2PO4, NH4Cl and urea led to increasing significant reduction ofS. hermonthica shoot development. The amino acids, glycine and asparagine supported reduced shoot development ofS. hermonthica, indicating that organic nitrogen cannot replace inorganic nitrogen forStriga growth. The ammonium nitrogen compounds, (NH4)2SO4 and NH4H2PO4, suppressed further shoot elongation and total dry weight of 20 and 40 days oldStriga hermonthica plants, in sterile culture media. The organic compounds urea, allylthiourea and thiourea had an effect similar to ammonium compounds. Arginine and glycine on the other hand did not suppress the further development of the parasite. The suppressive effect of nitrogen however, was greater when the parasite was 20 days old than when it was 40 days old. This work provides data to show that some nitrogen compounds reduce the severity ofS. hermonthica attack by direct suppression ofStriga growth and development at the post-germination stage and after shoots have been formed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agabawi KA and Younis AE (1965) Effect of nitrogen on growth and nitrogen content ofStriga hermonthica Benth. andSorghum vulgare Lur. grown for forage. Plant and Soil 23(3): 295–304
Beevers L (1976) Nitrogen Metabolism in Plants. Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd., London, 333 p
Cechin I and Press MC (1993) Nitrogen relations of the sorghum —Striga hermonthica host — parasite association: germination, attachment and early growth. New Phytology 124: 681–687
Choïc Y, Lesaint C and Leroux F (1961) Comparaison de l'influence de la nutrition nitrique et ammoniacale combinée ou non avec une déficience en acide phosphorique, sur l'absorption et la métabolisme des anions-cations et plus particblièrment des amides organiques chez le maïs. Comparison du maïs et de la tomate quant à l'effet de la nature de l'alimentation azotée. Ann Physiol Vég 3: 141–163
Crawford NM and Campbell WH (1990) Fertile fields. Plant Cells 2: 829–835
Cutter EG (1955) Anatomical studies on the shoot apices of some parasitic and saprophytic angiosperms. Phytomorphology 5: 231–247
Givan CV (1979) Metabolic detoxication of ammonia in tissues of higher plants. Phytochemistry 18: 375–382
Hunter JJ and Visser JH (1986) Nitrate reductase activity (NRA) of cultivated Scrophulariacean root parasites. S Afr J Bot 52: 246–248
Igbinnosa I (1993) The effect of nitrogen fertilizers on host/parasite relationships betweenStriga hermonthica Benth. andZea mays. PhD thesis, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria, 367 p
Johnson AW, Roseberry G and Parker C (1972) A novel approach toStriga andOrobanche control using synthetic germination stimulants. Weed Research 16: 223–227
Kroschel J (1989) Der einfluss von Stickstoff auf phanerogame Wurzelparasiten und ihre Wirtspflanzen unter besonderer berücksichtigung vonStriga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. (Schrophulariaceae). Plits 7(3): 1–154
Martinoia E, Heck V and Wienken A (1981) Vacuoles as storage compartments for nitrate in barley leaves. Nature 289: 292–294
McNally SF and Stewart GR (1987) Inorganic nitrogen assimilation by parasitic angiosperm. In: Weber HC and Forstreuter W (eds) Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Flowering Parasitic Plants (pp. 539–546) Marburg, Germany
Miflin BJ and Lea PJ (1976) The pathway of nitrogen assimilation in plants. Phytochemistry 15: 873–885
Murashige T and Skoog F (1962) A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiologia Plantarum 15: 473–497
Ogborn JEA (1984) Research priorities, with specific reference to agronomy. In: Ayensu ES, Doggett H, Keynes HD, Marton-Lefevre J, Musselman LJ, Parker C and Pickering A (eds)Striga — Biology and Control (p. 185) ICSU, Paris
Okonkwo SNC (1964)In vitro culture of seedlings ofStriga senegalensis Benth. Nature 204: 1108–1109
Okonkwo SNC (1966a) Studies onStriga senegalensis Benth. III.In vitro culture of seedlings: Establishment of cultures. Am J Bot 53: 679–687
Okonkwo SNC (1966b) Studies onStriga hermonthica benth. IV.In vitro culture of seedlings: Effect of various sugars and glutamine. Am J Bot 53: 687–693
Okonkwo SNC (1991)In vitro growth response of cultured germinated seeds of witchweek (Striga asiatica). In: Ransom JK, Musselman LJ, Worsham AD and Parker C (eds) Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium of Parasitic Weeds (pp. 155–163) CIMMYT, Nairobi
Pesch C and Pieterse AH (1982) Inhibition of germination inStriga by means of urea. Experimentia 38: 559–560
Ramaiah KV (1984) Patterns ofStriga resistance in sorghum and millets with special emphasis on Africa. In: Ayensu ES, Doggett H, Keynes HD, Marton-Lefevre J, Musselman LJ, Parker C and Pickering A (eds)Striga — Biology and Control (pp. 71–93) ICSU, Paris
Raven JA (1985) Regulation of pH and generation of osmolarity in vascular plants: a cost benefit analysis in relation to efficiency of sue of energy, nitrogen and water. New Phytol 191: 25–77
Salsac L, Chaillou S, Morot-Gaudry JF, Lesaint C and Jolivet E (1987) Nitrate and ammonium nutrition in plants. Plant Physiol Biochem 25:805–812
Sauerborn J (1991) The economic importance of phytoparasitesOrobanche andStriga. In: Ransom JK, Musselman LJ, Worsham AD and Parker C (eds) Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium of Parasitic Weeds (pp. 137–143) CIMMYT, Nairobi
Simier P, Fer A and Renaudin S (1993) Identification of the main osmotically active solutes int he unstressed and water-stressed root-hemiparasitic angiospermThesium humile and its hostTriticum vulgare. Aust J Plant Physiol 20: 223–230
Stewart GR, Nour J, McQueen M and Shah N (1984) Aspects of the biochemistry ofStriga. In: Ayensu ES, Doggett H, Keynes HD, Marton-Lefevre J, Musselman LJ, Parker C and Pickering A (eds)Striga-Biology and Control (pp. 161–167)ICSU, Paris
Thalouarn P, Rey L, Hirel B, Renaudin S and Fer A (1987) Activity and immunocytochemical localization of glutamine synthetase inLathraea clandestina L. Protoplasma 141: 95–100
Thalouarn P, Philouze V and Renaudin S (1988) Nitrogen metabolism key enzyme activities in a Scrophulariaceae holoparasiteLathraea clandestina L. J Plant Physiol 132: 63–68
Thalouarn P, Canevet S and Renaudin S (1990) Carbon and nitrogen metabolism in a holoparasitic plant,Lathraea clandestina L., with respect to the main phenologic stages. J Plant Physiol 136: 193–197
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Igbinnosa, I., Cardwell, K.F. & Okonkwo, S.N.C. The effect of nitrogen on the growth and development of giant witchweed,Striga hermonthica Benth.: effect on cultured germinated seedlings in host absence. Eur J Plant Pathol 102, 77–86 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01877118
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01877118