Growth and Yield Parameters of Sorghum Genotypes as Affected by Artificial Inoculation Techniques for Screening Against Head Smut in Nigeria

Abstract

Field trial was conducted at Bayero University, Kano research farm with the aim of determining the effect of stem injection artificial inoculation technique on the growth and yield parameters of one hundred and four sorghum genotypes against head smut. The trial was laid on a randomized complete block design with two replications. Results obtained on the growth parameters which includes plant height, number of leaves and number of tillers per plant have shown that, of the 104 sorghum genotypes screened for head smuts, there was marked reduction in growth parameters in 27 (diseased) plants compared to non- infected (77) plants. Similarly, number of days to 50 % heading as well as grain yield/hectare were significantly (P<0.05) affected in head smut infected plants than in healthy plants, with the former usually having less number of days to heading, as well as less yield than the latter. However, days to 50 % flowering was not significantly (P>0.05) affected even among the diseased plants. The present study have shown that in head smut, plants showing symptoms usually matured earlier and produced less grain yield.Keywords; sorghum genotypes, head smut, growth and yield parameters, Sudan savanna