Pearl millet is a dominant staple cereal crop for smallholder farmers in Senegal. However, the crop is constrained by various nonbiotic and biotic stresses such as downy mildew disease. To assess the prevalence of this disease in Senegal, a field survey was conducted during the rainy season of 2017 across eight main pearl millet production regions following latitudinal gradient with different climatic conditions. Results showed that downy mildew prevalence was higher in Kaolack (incidence = 68.19%), Kaffrine (incidence = 77.19%), Tambacounda (incidence = 97.03%), Sedhiou (incidence = 82.78%), and Kolda (incidence = 98.01%) than Thies (incidence = 28.21%), Diourbel (incidence = 24.46%), and Fatick (incidence = 37.75%) regions. The field survey revealed an incidence as high as 98% and 28% of infected area in surveyed fields. Significant correlations between geographic coordinates, disease incidence, and infected areas were also observed. This study provided information that could help to understand the prevalence of downy mildew in pearl millet in Senegal.

Maize is a highly valuable staple food crop in Sub-Saharan Africa regions. Its production is hampered by both biotic and abiotic stress. Early-maturing genetic resources appear as an excellent choice to manage adverse climatic change's effects. This study aimed to find the best extra-early maize genotypes based on genotype by environment interactions in the groundnut agro-ecological zone of Senegal. The trials were conducted in Paoskoto, Ndiedieng, Nioro and Keur Sene during the rainy seasons of 2016 and 2017. Six extra-early maize genotypes were evaluated following a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on grain yield were recorded and analysed using additive main effect and multiplicative interaction and genotype plus genotype by environment biplot methods. Analysis of variance revealed a significant (P < 0.01) genotype by environment effect on grain yield. The sum of squares variation was higher (77.2%) explained by the environment effect. The genotype 2008-TZEE-W-STR showed the highest yield performance (3299 kg ha-1) and lowest yield stability index (3). This genotype can be suggested to farmers for its cultivation and a good candidate for early maturing maize breeding program in Senegal.