Pearl millet is an important major staple food for millions of people in Africa and Asia especially in
the northern regions of Nigeria where it is consumed on daily basis in different forms. Its
productivity has been severely hindered by various biotic and abiotic factors, such as Striga. Striga
alone can result in yield losses of between 20 to 100% in severe cases. Breeding for resistance to this
parasitic weed has been constrained due to limited source of resistance, therefore searching new
sources of resistance from pearl millet germplasm is essential to facilitate progress in developing
new varieties with farmers preferred traits. The present work was carried out to identify novel
sources of resistance from adapted landraces and exotic germplasm for further use in breeding.
Results have shown existence of pearl millet genotypes with good performance in terms of low to
no Striga emergence and high yield which are important features associated with Striga resistance
in Striga prone areas. This work lays the foundation for development of Striga resistant pearl millet
varieties for northern savannah areas of Nigeria
