Sorghum is a vital commodity and greatly contributes to the daily calorie
needs for millions of the inhabitants in Senegal, West Africa. Yet, sorghum productivity and profitability are impacted by
diseases. In the 2022 growing season, 122 farmers’ fields across 7 regions,
notably Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kolda, Tambacounda, and Thies were
surveyed for foliar and panicle diseases. During the survey, stops were made at
30 km intervals and at each stop, 2 - 5 fields were evaluated. In each field, 40
plants mostly at soft to early hard dough stages of development were assessed
using a W-shaped pattern to cover the whole field. A total of 13 diseases,
including leaf blight, anthracnose, Zonate leaf spot, Sooty stripe, rough leaf
spot, oval leaf spot, long smut, grain mold, and covered kernel smut were
documented. The most predominant diseases were leaf blight, anthracnose, and
zonate leaf spot. The prevalence of leaf blight was 100%, while anthracnose and
zonate leaf spot were found in 93 out of the 122 fields surveyed, indicating a
76% prevalence, respectively. Across the regions, the prevalence of rough leaf
spot was 47%, covered kernel smut (32%), oval leaf spot (19%) and target leaf
spot (19%). Mean incidence of leaf blight was high in all regions, ranging from
94% (Kaolack) to 100% (Fatick and Tambacounda). The highest mean incidence of
anthracnose (62%) and covered kernel smut (16%) was noted in Tambacounda
region. In the region of Thies, the highest mean incidence of zonate leaf spot
(49%) was recorded. The mean severity of leaf blight (37%) was highest on
plants assessed in the region of Kaffrine, followed by those in the regions of
Kaolack, Tambacounda, and Kolda. Anthracnose infection was most intense on
plants evaluated in Kolda, while zonate leaf spot was most severe in the region
of Tambacounda. Fields with incidences of 85% and above were considered as “hotspots”
to evaluate sorghum germplasm for disease resistance. This survey is
significant because the information obtained will be beneficial to plant
pathologists, sorghum producers, government officials, and funding agencies to
prioritize research projects that ensure productivity and food security.
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