ALS-INHIBITING HERBICIDE SEED TREATMENTS CONTROL STRIGA-HERMONTHICA IN ALS-MODIFIED CORN (ZEA-MAYS)

Seed treatments with two acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbic ides, the sulfonylurea herbicide nicosulfuron and the imidazolinone he rbicide imazaquin, controlled the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica in corn. The XA-17 gene in ALS-modified P3180IR corn strongly reduced co rn injury from herbicide seed treatments while another ALS modificatio n was not effective. Combining seed treatment of ALS-inhibiting herbic ides and ALS-modified corn with the XA-17 gene may offer a practical m eans for African growers to control Striga hermonthica.