Abundance and distribution of Striga (Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth.) infestation in selected sorghum (Sorghum bicolour L. Moench) growing areas of Tigray Region, Ethiopia

A survey was conducted in 2014 to determine the abundance and distribution of Striga hermonthica in selected woredas of Tigray.S. hermonthica was commonly distributed across all study sites, its prevalence varied among sites (Kebelies).The highest levels of Striga infestation was observed at Hadinet (400), Dabano (390), Nebar Hadinet (351), Giera (299), Hadas Lemlem (278), Selam (267), and Zuriya Dansha (261).Whereas, the lowest levels of Striga infestation was registered at Genetie (33), Gergellie (54), Kara Adishabo (59), Rawyan (81), Mentebteb (81), and Adi Keyh (84) shoots of striga shoots per m 2 , respectively.Abundance and distribution map of S. hermonthica was developed for the study area.On the other hand, the highest density of Striga shoots per plant of sorghum was recorded at Kulugizie Lemlem (38), Nebar Hadinet (27), Zuriya Dansha (27), Hadinet (19), Selam (17), Dabano (17), and Giera ( 16) respectively.Whereas, the lowest density of Striga shoots per plant of sorghum was registered at Genetie (4), Mentebteb (4), Rawyan (5), May Shek (7), Kara Adishabo (7) and Mitsa Werki (7).The highest level of Striga infestation was recorded at sites which had got the highest population density of sorghum, sites with low organic matter and available soil phosphorous content and sandy textured soils.Management practices channeled towards improving these limitations have been suggested for controlling of S. hermonthica in the region.