Plant materials
Seeds of Sorghum bicolor were obtained from the USDA-ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit, and Griffin, Georgia, USA (https://www.ars-grin.gov/). SRN39 (PI656027) was used as the resistant control while the Chinese landrace, Shanqui Red (PI 656025) as the susceptible control. Seeds of Striga hermonthica were collected from sorghum growing fields in Western Kenya, Alupe (0.45°, 34.13°) during the long rain-growing season in 2017. Seeds were stored and handled under an approved quarantined laboratory facility at Kenyatta University (Nairobi, Kenya).