Striga hermonthica is a destructive parasitic weed that threatens cereal production and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. One promising control method is “Suicidal Germination” which forces Striga seeds to germinate in host's absence, reducing the soil seed bank. As the efficiency of strigolactones (SLs) is often limited by seed dormancy, we tested whether the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) could enhance germination, either alone or in combination with synthetic SL analogs (MP3 and Nijmegen-1). In laboratory tests, ACC triggered germination in a time- and dose-dependent manner in unconditioned as well as conditioned seeds, and ACC + SL treatments achieved a germination rate of more than 73%. In greenhouse experiments, ACC reduced Striga emergence by 62%, while ACC + MP3 reduced it by 93%, and improved host plant growth. Field trials conducted in Burkina Faso in millet and maize crops showed 72-82% reduction in Striga emergence by ACC and SL treatment combinations while field trials in Kenya showed statistically non-significant reduction. Molecular analyses indicated that the treatments activated ethylene-related genes, increased ACC levels, reduced abscisic acid, and increased gibberellin levels, thereby helping to break seed dormancy. Overall, applying ACC together with SL analogs effectively stimulated suicidal germination under real field conditions. This approach provides an effective strategy for managing Striga and enhancing cereal yields in affected regions.