Striga, a parasitic weed which occurs naturally in parts of Africa, Asia, and Australia, can severely affect the crop and yield losses in finger millet and other cereals by 20 to 80%. Striga can be controlled with limited success by hand weeding, herbicide application, crop rotations, improved soil fertility, intercropping and biological control. The most economically feasible and environmentally friendly control measure would be to develop and use Striga-resistant cultivars. Striga resistant genes have not been identified yet in cultivated finger millet but could be found in crop wild relatives of finger millet. Another pathogen in finger millet cultivation is the fungus Helminthosporium nodulosum, causing leaf blight. Finger millet pests are bird predators, such as quelea in East Africa.
Striga a parasitic weed which occurs naturally in parts of Africa Asia and Australia can severely affect the crop and yield losses in finger millet and other cereals by 20 to 80% Striga can be controlled with limited success by hand weeding herbicide application crop rotations improved soil fertility intercropping and biological control The most economically feasible and environmentally friendly control measure would be to develop and use Striga-resistant cultivars Striga resistant genes have not been identified yet in cultivated finger millet but could be found in crop wild relatives of finger millet Another pathogen in finger millet cultivation is the fungus Helminthosporium nodulosum causing leaf blight Finger millet pests are bird predators such as quelea in East Africa