Precursor-directed soil microbiome activation disrupts the lifecycle of the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica
The continued devastating effects of the witchweed Striga hermonthica on crop productivity in sub-Saharan Africa are largely due to the high abundance of long-lived seeds in the topsoil layer. To target this seedbank and the early stages of the Striga lifecycle, we discovered specific sulfurous volatiles produced by soil bacteria with highly suppressive effects on S. hermonthica seed germination and viability. Steering specific members of the indigenous soil microbiome via precursor-directed activation of the volatile biosynthetic pathways disrupted the early stages of the Striga lifecycle and effectively controlled infection of sorghum in greenhouse and field trials in Ethiopia. Collectively, this study demonstrates how fundamental understanding of natural product chemistry of indigenous soil microbiomes can provide precursor-directed intervention measures to "break the witches' spell'.
The continued devastating effects of the witchweed Striga hermonthica on crop productivity in sub-Saharan Africa are largely due to the high abundance of long-lived seeds in the topsoil layer. To target this seedbank and the early stages of the Striga lifecycle, we discovered specific sulfurous volatiles produced by soil bacteria with highly suppressive effects on S. hermonthica seed germination and viability. Steering specific members of the indigenous soil microbiome via precursor-directed activation of the volatile biosynthetic pathways disrupted the early stages of the Striga lifecycle and effectively controlled infection of sorghum in greenhouse and field trials in Ethiopia. Collectively, this study demonstrates how fundamental understanding of natural product chemistry of indigenous soil microbiomes can provide precursor-directed intervention measures to "break the witches' spell'.
Netherlands Institute of Ecology