Sorghum Anthracnose and Sustainable Management Strategies in West and Central Africa

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum graminicola remains the most important foliar disease of sorghum in West and Central Africa. This paper describes the advances made in sorghum anthracnose research that has led to a better understanding of pathogenic and genotypic diversity, epidemiology and important disease management strategies. We further highlight how understanding pathogen diversity interplays with the major sustainable anthracnose management strategies such as the use of host plant resistance and crop residue management within the region.

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] breeding for resistance to leaf and stalk anthracnose, Colletotrichum sublineolum, and improved yield: Progress and prospects

“…Premature defoliation in highly susceptible cultivars which may result in a death of a plant before seed development. The foliar infection occurs at any stage of plant development and may cause yield losses from 20% up to 80% Marley et al, 2005;Tesso et al, 2012). It can also cause reduction in kernel number and size.…”

“…The infected seeds appear dark brown or black with streaks encircling the seed. Additionally, the infected seeds can cause reduced germination and new introductions/pathotypes of the disease in new regions (Cardwell et al, 1989;Marley et al, 2004). Further, sorghum anthracnose often occurs as a mixed infection with zonate leaf spot in Mali and Nigeria (Bandyopadhyay et al, 1996).…”

“…More than 40 races/pathotypes have been reported from different geographical areas of the world using different sets of putative host differentials (Casela and Ferreira, 1995;Marley et al, 2001Marley et al, , 2004Mathur et al, 2002;Rooney et al 2002). The C. graminicola races were first reported in the United States in 1967 (Haris and Johnson, 1967).…”

“…However, for planting dates to be used as an effective control method in disease management, one has to know the cycle of the disease and find out the optimum time when the diseases reached its optimum/peak levels. Altering of planting dates (Ngugi et al, 2000;Marley 2004), planting disease free seeds, and crop rotation can serve as important methods for controlling sorghum anthracnose disease severity (Warren 1986;Cardwell et al, 1989;Somda et al, 2007). These methods are inexpensive and are environmentally friendly, but may be ineffective especially if they are to be implemented in large fields.…”

“…These chemicals have been reported to be effective in the controlling anthracnose in Nigeria (Akpa et al, 1992). Other fungicides were reported to be effective in controlling the anthracnose disease (Marley et al 2004;Gwary and Asala, 2006b). Sorghum seed treatment with vitavax (carboxin) followed by a spray with zined was also the most effective anthracnose control (Michereff et al, 1994).…”