African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6893

Full Length Research Paper

Indigenous knowledge of Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke, in Burkina Faso

Pingawindé SAWADOGO
  • Pingawindé SAWADOGO
  • Laboratoire Biosciences/Equipe de Recherche Génétique et Amélioration des plantes, Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, UFR/SVT, BP 7021, Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso.
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Nerbéwendé SAWADOGO
  • Nerbéwendé SAWADOGO
  • Laboratoire Biosciences/Equipe de Recherche Génétique et Amélioration des plantes, Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, UFR/SVT, BP 7021, Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso.
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Tinga Jeremy OUEDRAOGO
  • Tinga Jeremy OUEDRAOGO
  • Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA) BP 7047, Ouagadougou 03 Burkina Faso.
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Zakaria DIENI
  • Zakaria DIENI
  • Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA) BP 7047, Ouagadougou 03 Burkina Faso.
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Teyioué Benoit Joseph BATIENO
  • Teyioué Benoit Joseph BATIENO
  • Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA) BP 7047, Ouagadougou 03 Burkina Faso.
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Hamadou ZONGO
  • Hamadou ZONGO
  • Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA) BP 7047, Ouagadougou 03 Burkina Faso.
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Léandre PODA
  • Léandre PODA
  • Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA) BP 7047, Ouagadougou 03 Burkina Faso.
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Jean Baptiste De La Salle TIGNEGRE
  • Jean Baptiste De La Salle TIGNEGRE
  • Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA) BP 7047, Ouagadougou 03 Burkina Faso.
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Mahamadou SAWADOGO
  • Mahamadou SAWADOGO
  • Laboratoire Biosciences/Equipe de Recherche Génétique et Amélioration des plantes, Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, UFR/SVT, BP 7021, Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso.
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  •  Received: 22 August 2020
  •  Accepted: 02 December 2020
  •  Published: 31 January 2021

Abstract

Striga gesnerioides is one of the major constraints to cowpea production in West Africa. In Burkina Faso, Striga is a national phenomenon despite the control measures proposed by research. This study aims to collect farmers' perceptions of S. gesnerioides. Thus, a survey was conducted among cowpea producers in 15 localities across the four agroclimatic zones of Burkina Faso. Data collected were related to farmers' ability to distinguish S. gesnerioides from Striga hermonthica, their perceptions of yield losses, local control strategies they use and the social utility of Striga. The study revealed a good knowledge of the pest by farmers. Farmers identified S. gesnerioides by its small height, its bushy growth habit and the haustorium that distinguishes it. They attributed 20 to 100% yield losses to the effects of the parasite. The most widely used indigenous control method is by manually uprooting the plants. Despite of its harmfulness to cowpeas, S. gesnerioides is used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes and curing animal’s wounds and urinary problems.

Key words: Farmers’ perceptions, ethnobotanical survey, Striga gesnerioides, use.