Response to anthracnose infection for a random selection of sorghum germplasm

Authors: Erpelding, John; Wang, Ming

Submitted to: Plant Pathology Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/7/2007
Publication Date: 6/1/2007
Citation: Erpelding, J.E., Wang, M. L. 2007. Response to Anthracnose Infection for a Random Selection of Sorghum Germplasm. Plant Pathology Journal 6(2): 127-133.

Interpretive Summary: Anthracnose is one of the most destructive diseases of sorghum. Disease epidemics have resulted in grain yield losses of more than 50%. The use of resistant varieties is the most economical approach for controlling the disease. Genetic variation for resistance is necessary to further enhance the development of disease resistant varieties. Germplasm collections are important resources for the identification of additional sources of resistance. With more than 43,000 sorghum accessions in the US National Plant Germplasm System, additional information is necessary to identify regions associated with anthracnose resistance. Therefore, 97 sorghum accessions representing 28 countries were randomly selected from the germplasm collection and evaluated for anthracnose disease response. Thirty accessions were resistant to anthracnose and resistant germplasm was identified from 14 countries. Sorghum germplasm accessions from Ethiopia and Mali were frequently associated with anthracnose resistance. However, anthracnose resistant germplasm was also identified from Benin, Burundi, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa and Uganda. The identification of anthracnose resistant germplasm from multiple locations could provide additional genetic diversity for disease resistance to enhance sorghum improvement.

Technical Abstract: Anthracnose is one of the most important diseases of sorghum and substantial grain yield losses can occur during disease epidemics. The disease can be successfully managed through the use of resistant cultivars. Germplasm collections provide important sources of genetic diversity for the identification of additional sources of disease resistance for crop improvement. A subset of 97 accessions was randomly selected from the sorghum collection maintained by the US National Plant Germplasm System and evaluated for anthracnose disease response in Isabela, Puerto Rico during the 2004 wet growing season. Two evaluations were conducted and climatic conditions varied between evaluations. The amount of rainfall was similar between evaluations; however, the lower temperatures during the second evaluation appeared more favorable for disease expression. Thirty accessions conferred a resistant disease response for the two evaluations. Sorghum germplasm from 28 countries were evaluated for anthracnose disease response and resistance accessions were observed for collections from 14 countries. Results indicate that germplasm from Ethiopia and Mali could be an important source of anthracnose resistance. The germplasm collections from Benin, Burundi, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa and Uganda could also be useful for the identification of anthracnose resistance and could contribute to the genetic diversity for disease resistance to enhance sorghum improvement.