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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Insect Control and Cotton Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #432687
Research Project: Molecular and Genetic Approaches to Manage Cotton and Sorghum Diseases

Location: Insect Control and Cotton Disease Research

Title: Genomic analysis of resistance to Exserohilum turcicum in Nigerien and Senegalese sorghum using GWAS and machine learning

Author
item Prom, Louis
item Ahn, Ezekiel
item TUKULI, ADAMA - Orise Fellow
item BOTKIN, JACOB - University Of Minnesota
item Park, Sunchung
item Perkin, Lindsey
item MAGILL, CLINT - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: Journal of Pathogens
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/31/2026
Publication Date: 4/5/2026
Citation: Prom, L.K., Ahn, E.J.S., Tukuli, A.R., Botkin, J.R., Park, S., Perkin, L.C., Magill, C.W. 2026. Genomic analysis of resistance to Exserohilum turcicum in Nigerien and Senegalese sorghum using GWAS and machine learning. Journal of Pathogens. 15(4). Article 389. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15040389.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15040389

Interpretive Summary: Sorghum is an important food source for hundreds of millions of people in the semi-tropical and drier tropical regions. However, crop productivity is severely hindered by leaf blight, resulting in significant yield and economic losses. Over 100 sorghum lines from Niger and Senegal were evaluated for resistance to leaf blight, and several resistant lines were identified. Using genome-wide association studies and machine learning, we identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms and associated genes that are linked to leaf blight phenotypes and defense mechanisms. These genes will provide valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at improving sorghum resistance to leaf blight.

Technical Abstract: Sorghum, an essential crop in Niger, ranks second to pearl millet in importance for food, feed, and commerce. However, its yields are hindered by various factors, including diseases such as leaf blight caused by Exserohilum turcicum. In this study, 100 accessions collected from Niger and Senegal, along with SC748-5 and BTx623, were evaluated across two environments for leaf blight incidence and severity. Among the accessions, S39, N23, and N38 exhibited mean leaf blight incidence below 50%, while S3, S43, N23, and N38 displayed the lowest severity levels, with a mean severity in Niger of 24.5 ± 0.64. Accession N23 stood out as a potential source of leaf blight resistance due to its low incidence and severity levels. Using genome-wide association studies and machine learning, several SNPs associated with leaf blight phenotypes were identified. Genes near these SNPs were linked to plant defense mechanisms and stress responses, providing valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at improving sorghum resistance to leaf blight.