Prevalence of sorghum diseases in Nigeria†

Abstract

Abstract A survey was conducted in farmers’ fields in Nigeria during the 1990 cropping season to determine the prevalence of sorghum diseases in the four major sorghum‐growing climatic zones (Sahel, Sudan, northern Guinea, and southern Guinea). The foliar diseases anthracnose (Colletotrichum graminicola) oval leaf spot (Ramulispora sorghicola) sooty stripe (Ramulispora sorghi) and grey leaf spot (Cercospora sorghi) were widely distributed. Anthracnose was predominant throughout the areas surveyed with ≥40% leaf area covered or destroyed by lesions in 70% of the surveyed fields. The incidence of other foliar diseases was low. Among the panicle diseases, long smut (Tolyposporium ehrenbergii) incidence was ≤10% in ≥20% farmers’ fields in the sahelian zone. Head (Sporisorium reilianum) covered (Sporisorium sorghi) and loose (Sphacelotheca cruenta) smuts were common, but their incidence varied from 1 to 10% in the Sahel, Sudan, northern Guinea and southern Guinea zones. Survey results based on ELISA indicated ...