ALLELOPATHIC POTENTIAL OF Parkia biglobosa PLANT EXTRACTS ON Striga hermonthica (DEL.) BENTH CONTROL IN HYBRID MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

Phytochemical potentials of Parkia extracts was evaluated on hybrid variety and local maize cultivars to determine their efficacy on the control of Striga hermonthica (DEL). The experiment was carried out in both the laboratory and later evaluated in a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results obtained revealed that Parkia fruit extracts had a greater inhibitory effect on Striga emergence count but not significantly different from that of seed powder extracts. There was also significant varietal differences (P>0.001) to Striga infection, farmer‟s local was more strongly affected than the hybrid Across 97TZL. This result also suggested that both Parkia fruit and seed powder extracts have phytotoxic effects on the control of S. hermonthica. The hybrid Across 97TZL supported low Striga emergence and low infection to Striga damage than the farmer‟s local. This revealed that the hybrid is more resistant to Striga infection than the farmer‟s local. There was significant interaction between inoculation and variety on maize shoot and Striga shoot dry weight. .