Silicon and Fungicide Effects on Anthracnose in Moderately Resistant and Susceptible Sorghum Lines

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of silicon (Si) and its interaction with fungicide on the management of sorghum anthracnose. The experiments were carried out in Si‐deficient soil in the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 growing seasons in a randomized, complete block, split‐split plot design with four replications. Calcium silicate (CS) and lime (L), at the rates of 6 and 5 ton/ha, respectively, were randomly assigned to the main plot. Two sorghum lines, BR‐008 (resistant) and BR‐009 (susceptible), were assigned to the split plots. The split‐split plots corresponded to with or without the fungicide Opera® (epoxiconazole + pyraclostrobin). The residual effect of CS and L from the 2008/2009 growing season was evaluated in the 2009/2010 growing season. For the 2008/2009 growing season, the area under anthracnose progress curve (AUAPC) was reduced by 39 and 42% for lines BR‐008 and BR‐009, respectively, with the application of CS. In the presence of the fungicide, the AUAPC was reduced by 35 and 42% for the CS and L treatments, respectively. Calcium silicate with and without fungicide contributed to decreasing the AUAPC by 44 and 37%, respectively. The fungicide spray decreased the AUAPC by 50 and 39% for lines BR‐008 and BR‐009, respectively. Without fungicide, the AUAPC decreased by 88% for line BR‐008 compared with line BR‐009; however, with fungicide, the reduction reached 90%. The Si leaf tissue concentration significantly increased with the CS application (5.9 g/kg) compared with the L application (0.3 g/kg), regardless of the sorghum line. The yield increased by 0.6 ton/ha with the CS compared to the L application. The fungicide increased yield by 0.48 ton/ha compared with the non‐fungicide spray treatment. The residual effect of CS in the soil increased Si leaf tissue concentration and yield as well as reduced the intensity of anthracnose in the 2009/2010 growing season.     

Quantification of Yield Losses Due to Anthracnose Stalk Rot on Corn in Brazilian Conditions

The anthracnose stalk rot of corn (ASR), caused by Colletotrichum graminicola, is a major disease of this crop and occurs in most Brazilian regions where corn is grown. Despite its widespread occurrence, there are no estimates of the effect of ASR on the yield of corn under the Brazilian conditions. In this study, we evaluated the effect of ASR on corn hybrids yield. Two experiments were conducted (first crop 2007/2008 and second crop, 2009) in areas with a history of occurrence of leaf anthracnose and ASR. Five hybrids were evaluated in the first and second crops: AG1051, BRS 1001, BRS 1010, BRS 1035, P30F80 and BRS 1010, 2B710, P30F80, DKB390, BRS 1035, respectively. At harvest, we evaluated the incidence of plants with anthracnose stalk rot (IPASR), and we selected pairs of healthy and diseased plants to quantify the effect of ASR in the ear weight (EW), grain weight (GW) and the weight of a sample containing 100 kernels (W100). The IPASR was higher in the hybrid BRS 1010 (21.87 and 45.28%, first and second crops, respectively). The EW, GW and W100 were lower in diseased plants in all hybrids. The mean weight loss in the first season was EW 29.03%, GW 27.83% and W100 17.08%, and the second season was EW 27.75%, GW 25.60% and W100 16.99%. The most affected hybrids with weight loss in the first crop were AG1051 (EW 34.31%, GW 33.05%, W100 19.96%) and BRS 1035 (EW 34.74%, GW 34.65%, W100 22.31%). In the second crop, were P30F80 (EW 30.72%, GW 30.92%, W100 19.24%), DKB390 (EW 30.61%, GW 29.81%) and 2B710 (W100 19.27%). Corn yield was strongly affected by ASR.     

Assessment of sorghum genetic resources of Ethiopia for anthracnose (Colletotrichum sublineolum Henn.) resistance and agronomic traits

Sorghum anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum sublineolum Henn. is one of the key diseases limiting sorghum production and productivity. Development of anthracnose‐resistant sorghum genotypes possessing yield‐promoting agronomic traits is an important breeding goal in sorghum improvement programs. The objective of this study was to determine the responses of diverse sorghum genetic resources for anthracnose resistance and agronomic traits to identify desirable lines for breeding. A total of 366 sorghum collections and three standard checks were field evaluated during the 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons. Lines were artificially inoculated with a virulent pure isolate of the pathogen. Anthracnose disease severity was assessed to calculate the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC). Agronomic traits such as panicle length (PL), panicle width (PW), head weight (HW) and thousand grain weight (TGW) were measured. Lines showed highly significant differences (p < .001) for anthracnose severity, AUDPC and agronomic traits. Among the collections 32 lines developed levels of disease severity between 15% and 30% in both seasons. The following sorghum landraces were selected: 71708, 210903, 74222, 73955, 74685, 74670, 74656, 74183, 234112, 69412, 226057, 214852, 71420, 71484, 200126, 71557, 75120, 71547, 220014, 228179, 16212, 16173, 16133, 69088, 238388, 16168 and 71570. These landraces had a relatively low anthracnose severity possessing farmer‐preferred agronomic traits. The selected genotypes are useful genetic resources to develop anthracnose‐resistant sorghum cultivars.     

Methodology to Improve the Efficiency of Evaluation of the Severity of Angular Leaf Spot in Common Bean

Disease severity assessment by means of a scoring scale, especially for angular leaf spot (Pseudocercospora griseola) in common bean, is hindered in experiments for assessment of progenies and/or breeding lines due to lack of uniformity of occurrence of the pathogens and segregation within progenies. The purpose of this study was to estimate the efficiency of the use of one plant per plot in assessing the severity of angular leaf spot in experiments for assessment of progenies and/or breeding lines in the common bean crop. To that end, two experimental strategies were used – one of them using one plant per plot and another using a standard size plot (SPP) (2–4‐m length rows). The experiments were conducted in the period from November 2011 to May 2012 in the municipalities of Lavras and Lambari, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Forty‐one lines from the breeding programme of the Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA) and from other research institutions were assessed, which differed in regard to their degree of susceptibility to P. griseola. The lines were assessed in regard to the severity of said disease using a five‐degree diagrammatic scale. In all the one plant per plot experiments, severity scores of angular leaf spot from the beginning of its occurrence, and later in intervals ranging from 7 to 12 days, were obtained. In the experiment with the SPP, assessment was made a few days prior to grain harvest. Estimates of the correlations between severity scores and grain yield (GY) were mostly of small magnitude. There was good coincidence between the lines classified as more resistant or more susceptible to the pathogen under the two conditions.     

The Association Between Leaf Malondialdehyde and Lignin Content and Resistance to Spot Blotch in Wheat

Spot blotch (causative pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.) Shoem) is a common disease of wheat in the Eastern Gangetic Plains region of India. The association of leaf malondialdehyde and lignin contents with the severity of spot blotch disease was studied using a correlation analysis based on a population of recombinant inbred lines bred from the cross cvs. Yangmai 6 (resistant) × Sonalika (susceptible). The material was field‐tested over two consecutive years and inoculated artificially with a highly virulent strain of the pathogen. Disease severity was assessed at three growth stages around and after anthesis. Leaf lignin content tended to be higher in the more resistant RILs, while the opposite was the case for leaf malondialdehyde content. Lesion size showed a positive correlation with disease severity and leaf malondialdehyde content, while disease severity and leaf lignin content were negatively correlated with one another, as were leaf malondialdehyde and leaf lignin content. Leaf malondialdehyde and/or leaf lignin content could be informative as markers for selection for higher levels of resistance against spot blotch in wheat.     

A comparative screening of hybrid,modern varieties and local rice cultivar for brown leaf spot disease susceptibility and yield performance

Five rice cultivars, one hybrid (WR96), three modern (BR16, BR26, and BRRI Dhan27) and one local (Pari) were screened for reaction to brown leaf spot disease caused by Cochliobolus miyabeanus and performance of yield-related characters. The severity of brown leaf spot varied with growth stages of rice plant as well as different cultivars tested under field condition. Low disease severity was observed at maximum tillering stage compared to moderate to high at dough stage, with hybrid cultivar WR96 showing highest disease, while local cultivar Pari had the lowest. Brown spot disease severity in different cultivars under induced epiphytic condition also followed the similar trend. The results also revealed that most of the yield-contributing characters examined showed wide variations among the cultivars. Modern cultivar BR16 produced the highest panicle length, number of grain per panicle and grain yield per hectare. At the same time as local cultivar Pari generated the lowest number of tiller per plant, panicle length, grain number per panicle and grain yield per hectare. Moreover, hybrid cultivar WR96 produced the highest percentage of spotted grain per panicle and seed yielding C. miyabeanus, and also the lower percentage of seed germination, while the reverse was observed in local cultivar Pari. These findings may allow producers and breeders to select rice cultivar, resistant or tolerant to brown leaf spot disease and to avoid significant reductions in grain yields.     

Multiline as a Strategy to Reduce Damage Caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum in Common Bean

The aim of the study was to verify whether a mixture of lines containing equal amounts of seven lines of Carioca‐type common bean, all agronomically uniform but each presenting different patterns of resistance to Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, would be less damaged by anthracnose than the individual pure lines. Plants cultured in experimental plots in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in the dry harvest seasons of 2007 and 2008 were inoculated with a mixture of races 65, 81, 87, 89 and 337 of the pathogen, and the severity of anthracnose was evaluated at 10‐ day intervals commencing 12 days after inoculation. The progress of the disease was estimated from the coefficients of the linear regression equations (b₁) and from the areas under the disease progress curves (AUDPC). The mean grain yields were determined in both experimental periods. The value of b₁ for the multiline was not different from that presented by the resistant line MA‐II‐22 and indicated a slower progress of the disease over time compared with susceptible lines. There were no differences in AUDPC values between the multiline and the resistant lines. The multiline presented a grain yield that was similar to those of the most productive lines even though susceptible lines comprised more than 28% of the mixture and such lines showed the lowest yields of grain. It is concluded that the use of the mixture of lines represents a good strategy for reducing the progress of anthracnose in the field and, as a consequence, reducing loss of grain yield.     

Morphophysiology, morphoanatomy, and grain yield under field conditions for two maize hybrids with contrasting response to drought stress

In the northern region of the state of Minas Gerais, lack of rainfall limits crop production in the field, which is possible only with irrigation. Agricultural and physiological practices have been intensively searched to overcome drought effects and consequently increase production. In this context, the objective of this study was to characterize morphophysiological and morphoanatomical changes and evaluate the attributes of grain yield under field conditions in two hybrids contrasting for drought tolerance. The experiment was carried out for 2 years (2010 and 2011) and the water deficit was imposed by stopping irrigation for 22 days at the pre-flowering stage. At the end of the stress treatment, leaf and root anatomy and morphophysiological characteristics (leaf water potential, chlorophyll content, percentage of dry leaves, leaf area, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence, and anthesis-silking interval) were evaluated. For a better interpretation of tolerance of the hybrids in the evaluated characteristics, an index was used stress index. Hybrid DKB 390 (tolerant) surpassed hybrid BRS 1030 (sensitive) in grain yield. Furthermore, it presented lower percentage of dry leaves, higher flowering synchronization, higher stomatal conductance, and higher Fv/Fm relationship. In the root, DKB 390 showed higher amount of aerenchyma in the cortex, an increase of exodermis width, and numerous metaxylem with smaller diameter. In the leaf, it presented higher number of stomata and smaller distance between the vascular bundles in the leaf blade. The study concluded that significant morphophysiological and morphoanatomical changes, which are related to drought tolerance, occurred in DKB 390, leading to a higher yield in the field.     

Effect of cultural methods on Striga (Striga hermonthica (Del.)) Benth management and yield of cereals in the Savanna Zone of Nigeria: a review

Data were obtained from the research done in the Guinea Savanna (Zaria 11°11′N; 070 38′E) and Sudan Savanna (Maiduguri ?11°51′N; 13°15′E) regions of Nigeria, respectively on different cultural methods of Striga control and management. In the Guinea Savanna, trials on the effects of nitrogen on the response of resistant and susceptible upland rice varieties to Striga hermonthica infestation and the effect of resistant and susceptible varieties of maize and crop rotation on Striga infestation was carried out, while the effect of inter-cropping trap crop (Bambaranut) with resistant sorghum varieties on S. hermonthica was studied in the Sudan Savanna Zone of Nigeria. In the Guinea Savanna, it was observed that a combination of upland rice variety, Faro 40 and an application of 90 kg N/ha in the wet season and WAB 56-50 upland rice variety and 120 kg N/ha in the dry season, respectively reduced Striga infestation and produced maximum grain yield. Also, the growing of resistant variety of maize (Across 97ITZ comp. I-W) after 1 or 2 years' rotation with cowpea or soybean was observed not only to be effective in Striga control, but resulted in higher grain yield of maize. In the Sudan Savanna, the use of resistant varieties of sorghum, 1CSV1002 and 1CSV1007 intercropped with bambaranut significantly reduced Striga infestation, but the grain yield of the resistant varieties was low. From these studies, Faro 40 with 90 kg N/ha application rate and WAB56–50 with 120 kg N/ha were suitable for the management of Striga and for higher grain yield of upland rice in both wet and dry seasons, respectively, while Across 97ITZ comp. I-W, resistant maize variety and 1 or 2 years rotation with cowpea or soybean were also the best for the management of S. hermonthica and for higher maize yield in the Guinea Savanna zone. Further research needs to be carried out in the Sudan Savanna to select a high yielding resistant variety of sorghum which when intercropped with bambaranut will not only control Striga infestation but will also give high grain yield.     

Stripe Rust Partial Resistance Increases Spring Bread Wheat Yield in South‐eastern Anatolia,Turkey

Stripe rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici is the most serious disease of wheat globally including south‐eastern Anatolia of Turkey, where wheat originated. In this study, 12 spring wheat genotypes were artificially inoculated and preserved in two locations, Diyarbak?r and Ad?yaman, during the 2011–2012 season to investigate loss in yield and yield components. Genotypes were evaluated at the adult plant stage using two partial resistance parameters: final disease severity and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). AUDPC ranged from 14.8 to 860 in Diyarbak?r, and 74 to 760 in Ad?yaman. Yield loss ranged from 0.6 to 68.5% in Diyarbak?r and 9.8 to 56.8% in Ad?yaman. Genotypes G1, G5, G7 and G8 were found to lose less yield, while higher yield loss was observed in G3, G4 (Nurkent), G5 and G9 (Karacada?‐98). The highest loss in thousand kernel weight was observed in a susceptible cultivar Karacada?‐98 in Diyarbak?r followed by 43.4 and 24.4% in Ad?yaman. Test weight loss reached 8.89% in Diyarbak?r and 20.8% in Ad?yaman. Yield loss and AUDPC had a positive significant relationship. Based on the values of AUDPC, final disease severity and yield loss, three major clusters were formed for 12 wheat genotypes. Partially resistant genotypes were found to lose less grain yield and seemed to be stronger against severe stripe rust pressure.     

Morphophysiological and biochemical attributes influence intra-genotypic preference of shoot fly [Atherigona soccata (Rondani)] among sorghum genotypes

Shoot fly [Atherigona soccata (Rondani)] is a destructive pest of sorghum at the seedling stage and causes huge losses to grain yield and green fodder. The host-plant resistance mechanism is the best approach to reduce the attack of insects in plants. The damage parameters, morphophysiological traits, and biochemical metabolites had been investigated in the leaves and stem of contrasting sorghum genotypes, viz., resistant (IS18551, ICSV705, ICSV700), moderately resistant (PSC-4), and susceptible (SWARNA and SL-44) at 15 and 21 days after emergence (DAE) against shoot fly infestation. The resistant genotypes recorded lowest shoot fly oviposition and incidence (0.3–0.7 eggs plant⁻¹ and 10–15%) than the susceptible genotypes (2.4–3.0 eggs plant⁻¹ and 70–80%), respectively. The susceptible genotype SWARNA recorded 50% and 80% higher deadheart formation than the resistant genotype IS18551 at 15 and 21 DAE, respectively. Resistant genotypes exhibited higher trichome density at adaxial and abaxial part of leaf (118–145 and 106–131) with pink colored leaf sheath (scale 1.50–3.25), glossy leaves (scale1.00–1.25), and lower leaf surface wetness (scale1.25–2.00) compared with susceptible genotype with 49.3–73.3 and 25.3–64.0, scale 2.50–4.00, scale 2.75–3.50, and scale 3.25–4.25 for the respective parameters. Another defense response of sorghum toward the insect attack was modulation of plant metabolism. The infested genotypes responded to insect attack by upregulation of total soluble sugar, total phenol, prussic acid, and chlorophyll content by 1.2–2.1-fold, 1.5–2.0-fold, 1.2–1.3-fold, and 1.2–3.9-fold with more induction in susceptible genotypes at 21 DAE. On the whole, the present study indicates that morphophysiological and biochemical attributes contribute toward the resistance mechanism in sorghum against shoot fly infestation.

     

Mechanisms governing the responses to anthracnose pathogen in Juglans spp

Juglans nigra and Juglans regia are two highly economically important species for wood and fruit production that are susceptible to anthracnose caused by Gnomonia leptostyla. The identification of genotypes resistant to anthracnose could represent a valid alternative to agronomic and chemical management. In this study, we analyzed 72 walnut genotypes that showed a variety of resistance phenotypes in response to natural infection. According to the disease severity rating and microsatellite fingerprinting analysis, these genotypes were divided into three main groups: (40) J. nigra resistant, (1) J. nigra susceptible, and (31) J. regia susceptible. Data on leaf emergence rates and analysis of in vivo pathogenicity indicated that the incidence of anthracnose disease in the field might be partially conditioned by two key factors: the age and/or availability of susceptible leaves during the primary infection of fungus (avoidance by late flushing) and partial host resistance. NBS profiling approach, based on PCR amplification with an adapter primer for an adapter matching a restriction enzyme site and a degenerate primer targeting the conserved motifs present in the NBS domain of NBS-LRR genes, was applied. The results revealed the presence of a candidate marker that correlated to a reduction in anthracnose incidence in 72 walnut genotypes.     

Effect of Saline Environment on Yield and Smut Disease Severity of Different Corn Genotypes (Zea mays L.)

The effects of saline irrigation water on growth, yield, smut index and leaf CI content were investigated under field conditions. The plants were grown in 1994 and 1995 and artificially infected with U. maydis- spore-suspension at V₆ and V₁₀ leaf stages. The severity was rated on a 1–9 scale, whenever the symptotns appeared. The results showed that superior growth, greater yield performance, associated with lower smut incidence and leaf Cl contents were generally observed on Taba than its counterparts. Increasing salinity exhibited significant increases in leaf CI and induced marked inhibition on growth, yield and SI data. The salt sensitivity of corn genotypes, as revealed from the comparison of the slope of linear regression equations, was related to 1.00: 1.19;1.42 for cvs Taba, 310 and 320, respectively. The differential yield response with respect to SI data proved that smut susceptibility was inversely related to salt tolerance concept. The data of Cl-disease interaction showed that smut reactions of highly susceptible and resistant genotypes (cvs 320 and Taba) were hardly monitored by plant Cl content, revealing that disease resistance is genetically controlled. Conversely, the progressive modifications of smut reaction, accompanied by CI accumulation in the moderately susceptible genotype 310 proved that disease resistance was environmentally conditioned by salt stress.     

Reduction of Winter Wheat Yield Losses Caused by Stripe Rust through Fungicide Management

Stripe rust of winter bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) causes substantial grain yield loss in Central Asia. This study involved two replicated field experiments undertaken in 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 winter wheat crop seasons. The first experiment was conducted to determine grain yield reductions on susceptible winter wheat cultivars using single and two sprays of fungicide at Zadoks growth stages Z61–Z69 in two farmers’ fields in Tajikistan and one farmer's field in Uzbekistan. In the second experiment, four different fungicides at two concentrations were evaluated at Zadoks growth stage Z69. These included three products from BASF – Opus (0.5 l/ha and 1.0 l/ha), Platoon (0.5 l/ha and 1.0 l/ha) and Opera (0.75 l/ha and 1.5 l/ha) – and locally used fungicide Titul 390 (0.5 l/ha and 1.0 l/ha). One and two sprays of fungicides did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in increasing grain yield. Stripe rust reduced grain yield and 1000‐kernel weight (TKW) from 24 to 39% and from 16 to 24%, respectively. The benefits from the two concentrations of the same fungicide did not consistently resulted in significantly higher grain yield, suggesting that the lower concentrations could be more cost effective. Our study provides important information about the selection of fungicides, spray concentrations and number of spray to control stripe rust and increase grain yield. The findings could play an important role in developing stripe rust management approaches such as fungicide rotation and strategic fungicide applications in Central Asian countries.     

Characterization of hostplant innate immunity from Kharif-II rice cultivars against rice leaf folder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guen.) via in-situ screening and physicochemical assays

In 2019 and 2020, ten rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars including check commonly grown in the Kharif-II season (June-November) were in-situ screened against rice leaf folder (RLF, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) in RLF-prone experimental plots in Bagerhat, Bangladesh, following RCBD (Randomized Complete Block Design) with three replicates and physicochemical analyses in the lab to evaluate their innate immunity to the pest. Of ten cultivars, only BRRI (Bangladesh Rice Research Institute) rice 72 and 87 tended to be moderately resistant (damage scale 3.00–4.99), while BRRI rice 73, 80, and 90 were susceptible to RLF (damage scale 7.00–8.99) and none appearing to be highly resistant or susceptible. In-field evaluation of Kharif-II rice cultivars against RLF, principal component analysis identified 14 key variables of 30 contributing maximum variance of PCA1 and PCA2. Cluster analysis grouped studied rice cultivars into four clades with clade II of BRRI rice 72 and 87 belonging to resistant club with high tannin and phenol contents (mg/g) assuring relatively higher yield (MT/ha) over others. A 3-D surface plot demonstrated, upsurge of larvae/ hill speeded up RLF incidence and severity (%) while bubble plot depicted, tiller infection (%) and RLF-fold length (cm) enhanced by leaf width (cm) limited the grain yield (MT/ha) in rice, well-supportive to correlation analysis. As per regression analysis, unit increment of tannin and phenol content (mg/g) declined tiller infection by 11 and 14%. Identified these two resistant cultivars could be used as potential parents in further breeding programs to develop an elite high yielding Kharif-II rice line by combining their novel resistance through hybridization.     

Potassium phosphites in the protection of common bean plants against anthracnose and biochemical defence responses

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of potassium phosphites for the control of anthracnose and the mode of action of these products on common bean plants against Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, comparing it with the standard resistance inducer acibenzolar‐S‐methyl. The protection of plants against anthracnose was evaluated in greenhouse after treatment with potassium phosphites (Phosphite A and B, 5.0 ml/L), acibenzolar‐S‐methyl (0.25 g/L), or no treatment (control). Two sprayings of the treatments were performed, respectively, at V4 stage (three trifoliate leaves) and at the R5 stage (flower buds present). The inoculation with C. lindemuthianum was performed 5 days after the first spraying. Phosphite formulations A and B reduced the severity of anthracnose by 68.7% and 55.6%, respectively, and the presence of phosphites in the leaf tissues were detected at concentrations between 1 and 3 mm by 7 days after spraying. These same concentrations of phosphites reduced the mycelial growth of C. lindemuthianum in vitro by 15.0% to 25.7%. In addition, the activities of defence enzymes and the levels of phenolic compounds and lignin were assessed. Phosphite treatments enhanced the activity of various enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, chitinase, and β‐1,3‐glucanase, and increased the lignin and a small increase in the levels of soluble phenolics. This study provides evidence that phosphite treatments control anthracnose by acting directly on C. lindemuthianum and by inducing the production of defence responses.     

Evaluation of Water Yam (Dioscorea alata L.) Germplasm for Reaction to Yam Anthracnose and Virus Diseases and their Effect on Yield

Use of genetic resistance is the most practical and economic way to manage major diseases of yams. In a search for sources of resistance, 40 water yam (Dioscorea alata L.) accessions from Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Puerto Rico were screened under natural disease infection conditions in Ibadan, Nigeria. The accessions were evaluated at 1, 3 and 6 months after planting (MAP) for severity of yam anthracnose and viral diseases. The effect of the pathogens on yield was also evaluated at harvest 9 MAP. There were significant differences (P < 0.001) between accessions for severities of anthracnose and viral diseases. Eight (20%) of them had lower anthracnose area under disease progress curves (AUDPC) values than the resistant check while 10 (25%) had AUDPC values below the trial mean. There were significant variations (P < 0.001) in yield components among the accessions. There was significant negative correlation of anthracnose severity with fresh tuber yield (r = −0.51) and with number of tubers per plot (r = −0.40). Similarly, significant negative correlations were observed of virus disease severity with fresh tuber yield (r = −0.78) and number of tubers per plot (r = −0.65). Linear regression models also showed that the fresh yield had significant negative relationships with anthracnose (R² = 0.26) and viral (R² = 0.62) diseases. The accessions identified as resistant constitute a valuable resource for breeding of resistant germplasm.     

RAPD-based SCAR marker SCA 12 linked to recessive gene conferring resistance to anthracnose in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum graminicola, infects all aerial parts of sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, plants and causes loss of as much as 70%. F₁ and F₂ plants inoculated with local isolates of C. graminicola indicated that resistance to anthracnose in sorghum accession G 73 segregated as a recessive trait in a cross with susceptible cultivar HC 136. To facilitate the use of marker-assisted selection in sorghum breeding programs, a PCR-based specific sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker was developed. A total of 29 resistant and 20 susceptible recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a HC 136 × G 73 cross was used for bulked segregant analysis to identify a RAPD marker closely linked to a gene for resistance to anthracnose. The polymorphism between the parents HC 136 and G 73 was evaluated using 84 random sequence decamer primers. Among these, only 24 primers generated polymorphism. On bulked segregant analysis, primer OPA 12 amplified a unique band of 383 bp only in the resistant parent G 73 and resistant bulk. Segregation analysis of individual RILs showed the marker OPA 12₃₈₃ was 6.03 cM from the locus governing resistance to anthracnose. The marker OPA 12₃₈₃ was cloned and sequenced. Based on the sequence of cloned RAPD product, a pair of SCAR markers SCA 12-1 and SCA 12-2 was designed using the MacVector program, which specifically amplified this RAPD fragment in resistant parent G 73, resistant bulk and respective RILs. Therefore, it was confirmed that SCAR marker SCA 12 is at the same locus as RAPD marker OPA 12₃₈₃ and hence, is linked to the gene for resistance to anthracnose.     

Pathotypes of Colletotrichum sublineolum in Response to Sorghum Populations with Different Levels of Genetic Diversity in Sete Lagoas‐MG

Sorghum anthracnose is one of the most important and destructive diseases of sorghum. Genetic resistance has been the most efficient strategy to control the disease, but the high variability of the pathogen population in Brazil has resulted in only modest efficacy. Accordingly, we investigated the variability of Colletotrichum sublineolum in response to sorghum populations with three levels of genetic diversity: pure stand, three‐way hybrids and physical mixtures of three‐way hybrids. Six plots of each treatment were planted in different areas and at different dates. A total of 480 isolates, that is 40 single‐conidium isolates per plot, were collected from the field experiment to characterize the variability of the pathogen in each host population. Isolates were inoculated in a greenhouse on a differential line set composed of eight sorghum inbred lines. Our results reveal that the pathogen populations derived from three‐way combinations had higher pathotype diversity than did those derived from pure stand host populations. More complexly, virulent phenotypes were also developed in genetically diverse stands compared to pure stand host populations. The diversification of the host population limits pathogen adaptation, thus resulting in a significantly higher number of pathotypes. The results of this study will improve the management of sorghum anthracnose in the field by helping sorghum breeders maintain disease resistance.     

Genetics of nonsenescence and charcoal rot resistance in sorghum

Summary Nonsenescence is a delayed leaf and plant death resistance mechanism in sorghum that circumvents the detrimental effects of reduced soil moisture combined with high temperatures during post-anthesis growth. This drought-tolerance mechanism is often equated with charcoal rot resistance, a widespread root and stalk disease of great destructive potential. Therefore, the inheritance of charcoal rot resistance was investigated directly, by exposure of sorghum to Macrophomina phaseolina, the causal organism, and indirectly, by determination of the inheritance of nonsenescence. Sorghum families derived from diallel crosses between two nonsenescent, resistant inbreds (B35, SC599-11E) and two senescent, susceptible inbreds (BTx378, BTx623) were evaluated in 1989 at College Station and at Lubbock, Texas, under controlled and field conditions. We determined that nonsenescence was regulated by dominant and recessive epistatic interactions between two nonsenescence-inducing loci and a third locus with modifying effects. The same conclusion was reached for charcoal rot resistance. The presence of different genetic mechanisms within SC599-11E for nonsenescence and charcoal rot resistance verifies that these two forms of resistance are not different manifestations of a single trait, i.e., they are not to be equated with each other. We conclude that nonsenescence alone cannot account for, and should not be used as the sole breeding criterion for, resistance to charcoal rot in sorghum.