Witchweed [Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth] control using imazapyr seed coating in maize hybrids in the Nigerian savannah

Witchweed [Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth] is a major parasitic weed of most cereal crops in Africa, including maize. Seed treatment with low doses of acetolactate synthase–inhibiting herbicides, such as imazapyr, was introduced in the 1990s to control witchweed. Field trials were conducted in four locations in Nigeria in 2007 and 2008, to assess the effect of coating seeds of several maize hybrids with imazapyr on witchweed control. The...