Pearl millet downy mildew as affected by seed dressing and cultivar in the Sahel and Sudan savanna of Nigeria

Field trials in which seed dressing with Apron Star 42 WS (metalaxyl-M) was tested on five pearl millet cultivars were laid at Gashua (Sahel) and Maiduguri (Sudan Savanna) for three wet seasons (1998–2000). Using the split-plot design, seed dressing and cultivars were tested in main- and sub-plots, respectively. Results showed that at each location and season, there was significantly high seedling emergence and grain yield but lower downy mildew incidence as a result of seed dressing with metalaxyl-M compared with check. Among the cultivars tested, SOSAT C-88 had significantly lower downy mildew incidence and the highest grain yield during the three seasons. Dressed with metalaxyl-M, other cultivars had lower downy mildew and higher grain yield than undressed check. It is therefore important that pearl millet should be dressed with metalaxyl as routine practice before cultivation in the arid area of Nigeria.