2009 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of this cooperative research project is to evaluate sorghum germplasm in several locations in Senegal and Gambia for resistance to long smut and grain mold. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Exotic and adapted sorghum accessions will be planted in several locations in Senegal and Gambia and evaluated for disease reaction. U.S. sorghum germplasm and inoculation protocol will be provided by the ARS cooperator. Weather data will be collected from each location. 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, having as its goal the identification of resistant sources to long smut and grain mold among U.S. and West Africa sorghum germplasm resources. In FY 2009, about 30 sorghum germplasm lines, including new commercial hybrids, cultivars, and isogenic lines were evaluated for resistance against long smut and grain molding fungi in Bambey and Nioro, Senegal, West Africa. Data collection and analysis are underway. It is expected that sorghum germplasm with either tolerance or resistance to long smut and grain mold will be identified by this work. The availability of long smut-resistant sorghum germplasm would better position the U.S. sorghum production industry to effectively deal with long smut so as to prevent it from becoming a major obstacle to sorghum production in the U.S. 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 at annual visits to experimental sites, etc., where the work is discussed and evaluated.