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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #140160
Title: DOWNY MILDEW INCIDENCE IN PEARL MILLET POPULATION HYBRIDS IN WEST AFRICA.

Author
item Wilson, Jeffrey - Jeff
item Hanna, Wayne
item SANOGO, M - IER,CINZANA,MALI
item GONDA, J - INRAN,MARADI,NIGER
item ANGARAWAI, I - MAIDUGURI,NIGERIA

Submitted to: Intsormil
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/3/2002
Publication Date: 11/15/2002
Citation: Wilson, J.P., Hanna, W.W., Sanogo, M., Gonda, J., Angarawai, I. 2002. Downy mildew incidence in pearl millet population hybrids in west africa. INTSORMIL PI Conference. November 18-20, 2002. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Downy mildew resistance is required to maintain stable pearl millet yields in West Africa, and identifying diverse sources of resistance is necessary as new cultivars are developed. Twenty five pearl millet population hybrids were evaluated for adaptation and yield at three locations (Cinzana, Mali; Maradi Niger; and Maiduguri, Nigeria) in 2001. These yield trials provided an opportunity to evaluate and compare the downy mildew resistances of these hybrids. Information derived from these trials could allow insight into the relative usefulness of the parental and hybrid populations as sources of downy mildew resistance. Parental cultivars of the hybrids included Ankoutess, Ex-Bornu, GR-P1, HKP-GMS, Iniari, Mansori, P3Kollo, SoSat-C88, and Ugandi. Mean downy mildew incidence across locations ranged from 9.0% at Mali to 10.7% at Nigeria. Over all locations, mean incidence ranged from 3.2% for a population derived from SoSat x Ankoutess to 18.9% for a population derived from Ex-Bornu x Mansori (lsd 0.05 = 6.0). Populations with SoSat as a parent were among the most resistant to downy mildew. Location x entry interaction was significant. Disease incidences of populations at Mali and Niger were correlated (r=0.47, P=0.02), whereas incidences at Nigeria were not correlated with those from the other locations. Differences in incidence among the locations may be the result of virulence differences within the local Sclerospora graminicola populations, or from non-standardized assessment techniques. Acknowledgment: Research was supported in part by INTSORMIL project ARS-204.