2012 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: The goal of this project is to identify resistance sources to long smut and grain mold among U.S. and West Africa sorghum germplasm resources. In FY 2012, 24 sorghum germplasm lines, including commercial hybrids, cultivars, and other sorghum lines, were evaluated for resistance against long smut and grain molding fungi in production areas near the city of Bambey, Senegal, West Africa. The lines were rated for grain mold, with 1=no mold and 5=very moldy. One hybrid (Triumph 459) and one other line exhibited low to moderate grain mold infection. Triumph 459, NECS 2, and BTx 623 exhibited low levels of long smut infection. The results show that Triumph 459 may be useful in sorghum breeding programs. Work by this project, as it continues, will identify additional sorghum germplasm types that will be useful to breeders in developing new, disease-resistant sorghums for productive use by farmers in all sorghum production areas of the world.