2008 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) The objectives of this cooperative research project are to: a) evaluate sorghum germplasm in several locations in Mexico for resistance to anthracnose, grain mold, head smut, and downy mildew; and b) determine the races of head smut, anthracnose, and downy mildew pathogens in the region. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Exotic and adapted sorghum accessions will be planted in several locations in Mexico and evaluated for disease reaction. Standard sets of sorghum differentials will be provided by the ARS cooperator to identify the pathotypes of anthracnose, head smut, and downy mildew in Mexico. These sets of differentials will be open ended. Data will be analyzed and comparison among the accessions based on maturity groupings and other agronomic traits will be recorded. 3.Progress Report This is a new project, with the goal of identifying new resistant sources to important fungal diseases of sorghum in the U.S. and Mexico. In FY 2008, 177 sorghum accessions from Mali, Sudan, and Uganda were planted in Rio Bravo, Celaya, and Ocotlan, Mexico. Data collection and analysis are underway. It is expected that sorghum germplasm having significant disease resistance characteristics will be identified by this work; resistant germplasm will be made available to breeders in both countries for use in developing new sorghum lines and varieties to enhance productivity and minimize losses to fungal diseases. The ADODR of this project and the cooperator maintain regular communications by phone and e-mail, where progress of the work is discussed and evaluated, and where solutions to work impediments are developed. The ADODR and the cooperator meet periodically (at scientific meetings, annual visits to experimental sites, etc.), where the work is discussed and evaluated.