Survey of the Prevalence and Incidence of Foliar and Panicle Diseases of Sorghum Across Production Fields in Niger

Louis Kajac Prom, Haougui Adamou, Adamou Issa, Abdoulaye Abdoulaye Abdoulkadri, Karimou Issa, Ali Outani Bibata and Clint Magill

Background and Objective: In Niger, sorghum ranks second as the most important cereal after pearl millet and is used primarily as a staple food and fodder. In 2019, an extensive survey of the occurrence and distribution of foliar and panicle diseases affecting sorghum in farmers’ fields from major production regions of Niger was conducted. Materials and Methods: A total of 121 fields in the regions of Tillabéri, Tahoua, Dosso and Maradi along paved and unpaved roads, including National and Secondary (RN1, RN2, RN3) were surveyed. In each field, 60 plants at late flowering to hard dough stages of development were assessed using a W-shaped pattern. Results: The study documented 21 different sorghum diseases, including anthracnose, long smut, oval leaf spot, leaf blight, head smut and zonate leaf spot. The most prevalent diseases were anthracnose, leaf blight, oval leaf spot, rough leaf spot and long smut. The highest mean incidence of anthracnose, leaf blight and rough leaf spot was recorded from Maradi, whereas, the regions of Dosso and Tahoua exhibited the highest mean oval leaf spot incidence. The highest incidence of long smut and zonate leaf spot was recorded in fields in Dosso region. Locations with highest incidence of these diseases can be considered ‘hot spots’ for resistance evaluations. Conclusion: This study is significant because for the 1st time it provides researchers, funding and governmental agencies in Niger a guide on the occurrence, distribution, prevalence and ‘hot spots’ for sorghum diseases.

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