The occurrence and distribution of sorghum diseases in major production regions of Senegal, West Africa

Authors: Prom, Louis; SARR, MAME PENDA - Centre National De Recherche Agronomique (NCAR); DIATTA, CYRIL - Centre National De Recherche Agronomique (NCAR); NGOM, ALIOUNE - Centre National De Recherche Agronomique (NCAR); AIDARA, OUSMANE - Centre National De Recherche Agronomique (NCAR); CISSE, NDIAGA - Centre National De Recherche Agronomique (NCAR); MAGILL, CLINT - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: Plant Pathology Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/18/2020
Publication Date: 2/1/2021
Citation: Prom, L.K., Sarr, M., Diatta, C., Ngom, A., Aidara, O., Cisse, N., Magill, C. 2021. The occurrence and distribution of sorghum diseases in major production regions of Senegal, West Africa. Plant Pathology Journal. 20(1):1-10. https://doi.org/10.3923/ppj.2021.1.10.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3923/ppj.2021.1.10

Interpretive Summary: Sorghum plays an important part in the survival of farmers in Senegal; however, fungal diseases can cause significant yield loss. In order to effectively control plant diseases, it is important to know their occurrence, distribution, and economic importance of each disease in different production areas. A survey of 206 farmers' fields in Senegal was conducted to assess the presence of the different leaf and panicle diseases of sorghum. Results showed the presence of 15 different sorghum diseases, including leaf blight, anthracnose, long smut, sooty stripe, target leaf spot, rough leaf spot and covered kernel smut. The work is significant because it provides sorghum workers and funding and governmental agencies in Senegal a guide for the first time on the occurrence, distribution, and prevalence of the different sorghum diseases.

Technical Abstract: Sorghum ranks third behind millet and maize among dryland cereal production and plays a critical part in subsistence farming in Senegal. This is the first extensive survey of the occurrence, distribution, and "hotspots" of sorghum foliar and panicle diseases in Senegal, West Africa. In 2019, a survey was conducted on 206 farmers' fields along paved and unpaved roads and around rural villages in major sorghum production regions of Thies, Kolda, Kaolack, Tambacounda, Kaffrine, Diourbel, and Fatick. At each field, 40 plants were assessed arbitrarily using a W-shaped pattern to cover the whole field. Stops were made at intervals of 30 km and at each stop, 2-5 fields were surveyed for disease prevalence and incidence. Fifteen different sorghum diseases were documented. Leaf blight was the most prevalent disease, followed by anthracnose, zonate leaf spot, rough leaf spot, sooty stripe, and target leaf spot across the regions. Prevalence of covered kernel smut, gray leaf spot, oval leaf spot, long smut, grain mold, and maize mosaic virus were observed in low frequencies. The highest incidence of leaf blight and anthracnose was recorded in the region of Kolda. The incidence of sooty stripe was highest in the regions of Thies and Kaffrine, while zonate leaf spot incidence was highest in Tambacounda. The work is significant because for the first time this information was documented and can be utilized as a guide by researchers such as plant pathologists, students, government and funding agencies, and producers, on the occurrence, distribution, and relative importance of each sorghum disease in major sorghum-growing regions in Senegal, West Africa. The "hot spots" for evaluating sorghum germplasm for resistance to leaf blight, anthracnose, zonate leaf spot, sooty stripe, and rough leaf spot also were identified.