Striga-resistant crop varieties become a reality

Chinese scientists have identified genes in sorghum that confer resistance to a major parasitic plant, providing a crucial foundation for developing Striga-resistant crop varieties, researchers said.

Using artificial intelligence predictions combined with molecular and cellular biology techniques, the research team pinpointed key amino acid sites that enhance crop resistance to parasitic plants. The discovery could help combat parasitic threats to agriculture worldwide.

The study, published on Wednesday in the journal Cell, was conducted by a collaborative team from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Syngenta Group China and the Yazhou Bay National Laboratory, among others.

The researchers identified two specific genes in sorghum that, when knocked out, significantly increased the plant's resistance to Striga, commonly known as witch-weed.

"Similar to how human parasites affect health, parasitic plants can be equally destructive to crops and food security," said Xie Qi, director of the national key laboratory of crop genetic improvement and molecular breeding at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology.

Striga, a genus of parasitic plants, primarily targets monocot crops such as sorghum, maize and millet, severely reducing food production in Africa, Asia and tropical regions.

The Latin name Striga means "witch", and in some areas, the plant is colloquially called witch-weed due to its parasitic nature. It is also found in China's Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan and Hainan provinces.

According to the journal Science, Striga ranks among the world's top seven agricultural pests, alongside wheat stem rust, potato late blight and soybean rust.

Striga seeds can remain dormant in soil for more than 20 years, germinating rapidly and invading the roots of host plants once they detect their presence.

Traditional control methods, including chemical treatments, crop rotation and soil improvement, have proven costly and only partially effective.

"Developing crop varieties resistant to Striga is crucial to solving this issue," Xie said, noting that parasitic plants cause an estimated $10 billion to $12 billion in global economic losses annually.

The research team plans to validate the function of these genes in other key crops and promote the industrialization of Striga-resistant varieties.

The discovery marks a significant step in combating parasitic plants, offering hope for improved food security and agricultural sustainability worldwide, Xie said.