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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Crop Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #301664
Title: Evaluation of selected sorghum lines and hybrids for resistance to grain mold and long smut fungi in Senegal, West Africa

Author
item Prom, Louis
item PERUMAL, RAMASAMY - Kansas State University
item CISSE, NDIAGA - Centre National De Recherche Agronomique (NCAR)
item LITTLE, CHRISTOPHER - Kansas State University

Submitted to: Plant Health Progress
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/6/2014
Publication Date: 6/20/2014
Citation: Prom, L.K., Perumal, R., Cisse, N., Little, C.R. 2014. Evaluation of selected sorghum lines and hybrids for resistance to grain mold and long smut fungi in Senegal, West Africa. Plant Health Progress. 15(2):28-31.

Interpretive Summary: A number of sorghum lines and hybrids from the U.S. were evaluated for resistance to two important fungal diseases, grain mold and long smut in two locations in Senegal, West Africa. Sorghum lines Sureno, RTx2911, SC719-11E, and IS18760, and hybrids Sorghum Partners NK6638, Asgrow A571, AN600 x RN610, and Sorghum Partners NK6638 recorded low grain mold infection in both locations. Variety 3694 and SC748-5 and one hybrid, Novartis 2030/C, were resistant to long smut infection at both locations. Lines BTx623 and RTx430 recorded high levels of long smut infection, indicating that available commercial sorghum hybrids involving these two parental lines will likely be susceptible to long smut. None of the lines or hybrids showed resistance to both diseases. Long smut cannot be controlled with chemical seed treatment; therefore, it is important that sources of resistance from U.S. sorghum lines be identified. In the future, if long smut is observed in the U.S., sound control methods could be put in place immediately to protect sorghum growers and the seed industry.

Technical Abstract: Grain mold in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a major worldwide problem; damage caused by this fungal disease complex includes a reduction in yield (loss of seed mass), grain density, and germination. Long smut is another important fungal disease in sorghum and potential threat to food security in West Africa. Studies on identifying potential sources for these two diseases in Senegal, West Africa, are limited. The objective of this research was to assess the vulnerability of selected U.S. lines and hybrids to grain mold and long smut diseases in two locations in Senegal, West Africa, in 2009 and 2010. Four sorghum lines (Sureno, RTx2911, SC719-11E, and IS18760) and four hybrids (Sorghum Partners NK6638, Asgrow A571, AN600 x RN610, and Sorghum Partners NK6638) exhibited low grain mold severity in both locations. Variety 3694 and SC748-5 and one hybrid, Novartis 2030/C, were resistant to long smut infection at both locations. Lines BTx623 and RTx430 were found to be highly susceptible to long smut and hence the available commercial sorghum hybrids involving these two parental lines' genetic backgrounds are likely to be vulnerable to long smut. There are no differential responses between lines and hybrids for both grain mold and long smut disease severity. None of the lines or hybrids showed resistance to both diseases as these two fungal diseases are under the control of different gene(s).