Studies on desmodium species for the allelochemicals involved in striga suppression
Abstract
The fodder legumes Desmodium uncinatum and D. intortum suppress the growth of
Striga hermonthica (witch-weed) via an allelopathic mechanism that involves Striga
germination stimulants and post-germination growth inhibitors. In this study, the root
extracts (dichloromethane, acetone and methanol) from the two Desmodium species were
investigated for Striga germination stimulation and post-germination radicle growth
inhibition activities. The less polar extract (dichloromethane) showed Striga germination
stimulation activity of over 40% at 10 ppm, but did not show any post-germination
radicle growth inhibition at the same concentration. On the other hand, the polar extracts
(acetone and methanol) were found to exhibit post-germination radicle growth inhibition
activities of over 45% at 10 ppm.
Citation
Ph.D ThesisSponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
Depatment of Chemistry, University of Nairobi
Description
Ph.D Thesis