Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 January 2017
Rice vampireweed belongs to the Orobanchaceae and is found in Africa andAustralia. It is a hemiparasitic weed of lowland rice genotypes and causeslosses of 40 to 100% of rice grain yield. Our study addressed the geneticdiversity of rice vampireweed in Benin and Senegal. The specific objectivesof this research were to study the genetic diversity of rice vampireweedaccessions in Benin and Senegal and the relationship between the differentgenotypes of rice vampireweed through agroecological areas. To achieve theseobjectives, the genetic diversity of rice vampireweed accessions using theAFLP technique was studied. Based on our results, dendrogram classificationhas distinguished four different genetic groups. The populations of Beninand Senegal are genetically diverse. Substantial genetic differentiation (GST) exists among agroecological areas within Benin and Senegal (GST = 0.17). The high genetic diversity of rice vampireweed inBenin and Senegal presents a challenge for the development of resistant ricegermplasm.
Associate Editor for this paper: Dean Riechers, University of Illinois.