Usefulness of rhizotron method to evaluate Striga resistance in rice

Abstract

A rhizotron comprising a Petri dish filled with rock wool overlaid by glass fiber filter paper supplemented with nutrient solution was used to evaluate post-attachment resistance of rice against Striga hermonthica （Del.） Benth. under controlled environments. Compatibility of the parasite to the host observed in the rhizotron experiments is, in general, consistent with that observed under outdoor conditions. The rhizotron method also enabled to evaluate varietal differences in several resistance mechanisms that block the parasite from penetrating and developing.　These results verify the usefulness of the method to predict susceptibility of a host plant to the parasite and study plant-plant interactions taking place in the rhizosphere.