Abstract
To investigate the role of Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella oxytoca and Enterobacter sakazakii in Striga
hermonthica seed germination, we have used two varieties of sorghum to test over time for the selected
bacteria, using GR-24, a synthetic strigol analogue as a standard and water as a check. Sorghum seeds
coated with a mixture of bacterial cells (5 x 107cfu ml-1) from 24 h old cultures were planted in
pasteurized potted soil, which was infested with 0.05 g (about 3000) viable S. hermonthica seed per pot
14 d before sowing. Results have indicated that the bacterial isolates could stimulate S. hermonthica
germination in the laboratory and in the screen-house. In vitro, only Pseudomonas sp. 4MKS8 gave
significant stimulation of S. hermonthica seed at 5% level of probability as compared to the water
check. In the screen-house, the four bacterial isolates stimulated significant germination of S.
hermonthica.
Key words: Striga hermonthica, Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter sakazakii, germination
stimulant, sorghum.
