The parasitic plant Striga hermonthica (Delile) Benth. is stimulated to germinate by biomolecules (strigolactones) produced in the roots of host and some non-host plants. Non-hosts induce Striga’s suicidal germination and are therefore used as trap crops. Among trap crops, the Slenderleaf legume in the genus Crotalaria (Crotalaria brevidens (L.) Benth.) and (Crotalaria orchroleuca (G.) Don.) has been popularized in African smallholder farms. However, the Striga germination efficiency of these locally grown Crotalaria varieties (landraces) is unknown. Also unclear is Crotolaria’s extent to inhibiting Striga growth, post germination. Extensive parasite penetration can expose the trap crop to secondary infections and possible phytotoxicity from Striga. We used in vitro germination assays to determine the Striga germination efficiency of 29 Crotalaria landraces. Furthermore, we determined Crotalaria’s ability to inhibit Striga attachment and growth using histological analysis. We found that: i) Crotalaria stimulated germination of Striga seeds at frequencies ranging between 15.5% and 54.5% compared to 74.2% stimulation by the synthetic strigolactone (GR24) used a positive control; ii) Crotalaria blocked Striga entry at multiple levels and did not allow growth beyond the pericycle, effectively blocking vascular connection with the non-host. Hence, Crotalaria is suitable as a trap crop in integrated Striga management.

Premise: Parasitic plants and their hosts are emerging model systems for studying genetic variation in species interactions across environments. The parasitic plant Striga hermonthica (witchweed) attacks a range of cereal crop hosts in Africa. Striga hermonthica exhibits substantial genetic variation in host preference and in specificity versus generalism. Some of this variation is locally adapted, but the genetic basis of specialization on certain hosts is unknown. Methods: We present an alignment-free analysis of population diversity in S. hermonthica using whole genome sequencing (WGS) data for 68 individuals from western Kenya. We validate our reference-free approach with germination experiments and a de novo assembled draft genome. Results: K-mer based analyses reveal high genome-wide diversity within a single field, similar to values between individuals collected 100 km apart or farther. Analysis of host-associated k-mers implicated genes involved in development of the parasite haustorium (a specialized structure used to establish vascular connections with host roots) and a potential role of chemocyanins in molecular host-parasitic plant interactions. Conversely, no phenotypic or genomic evidence was observed suggesting host-specific selection on parasite response to strigolactones, hormones exuded by host roots and required for parasite germination. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the utility of WGS for plant species with large, complex genomes and no available reference. Contrasting with theory emphasizing the role of early recognition loci for genotype specificity, our findings support host-specific selection on later interaction stages, suggesting recurring host-specific selection each generation alternating with homogenizing gene flow.