Duration: 3 years (2006 –2008).
Purpose: To identify sorghum genotypes with stable
resistance to grain mold (complex of fungi) and major foliar diseases,
anthracnose (Colletotrichum graminicola) and leaf blight (Exserohilum
turcicum), and develop hybrid parental lines and varieties for enhanced
productivity in the Semi-Arid Tropics.
Background/description: Sorghum is the third most
important cereal crop in India after rice and wheat. Despite significant
advances in genetic improvement in sorghum during the past three decades, the
potential high yields of rainy season hybrids have not been realized in the farmers’
fields. Biotic stresses such as insect-pests and diseases are the major
production constraints. Among diseases, grain mold and foliar diseases, such as
anthracnose and leaf blight are the major constraints during the rainy season.
All the three diseases are quite widespread and often devastating under
favorable conditions. In India, grain mold causes substantial quality loss and
also induces mycotoxin production, which is of major concern for food and feed
industry. Foliar diseases are often serious under warm and humid weather
conditions and cause substantial grain and fodder loss. ICRISAT has ongoing program on identification and
utilization of resistance to these diseases in sorghum, with special emphasis
on transferring resistance in to hybrid parents (male-sterile, maintainer, and
pollinator lines) for developing high-yielding disease-resistant hybrids.
Several sources of resistance to anthracnose and leaf blight have been
identified and some of them have been utilized in breeding hybrid parental lines.
However, stability of resistance of these sources remains to be evaluated.
Resistance to grain mold is inadequate, and there is a need to identify high
levels of grain mold resistance by refining the screening technique,
identifying the major pathogenic fungi, and determining the resistance
mechanisms involving various plant traits, such as grain color, grain hardness,
panicle type, etc. Emphasis is also being given to understand the role of Fusarium complex in the grain mold that
produce fumonisins, and identify resistance to these.
Agroecozone(s) and location(s): Sorghum growing
regions of Asia and Africa.
Expected outputs: The project will lead to: a) the development of
varieties and hybrids with stable resistance to major fungal diseases, and b) provide
an assessment of the effect of disease-resistant cultivars on economic gains
for farmers in SAT; c) generate information on mechanisms and inheritance of
resistance to grain mold; d) further enhancement of our knowledge in
identifying and utilizing the resistance through molecular breeding approaches.
Potential impact and beneficiaries: The results of this project will be of direct benefit
to scientists, NGOs, Private sector, and the farmers in Asia and Africa. The outputs will
lead to increased productivity and production of sorghum in the SAT primarily
by supporting the development of high-yielding hybrids and varieties with
resistance to major diseases. The
direct beneficiaries would be sorghum farmers who would have enhanced farm
income.
Partners: a) ICRISAT, b) NARS in Asia and Africa, c) Private
Seed Industry, d) NGOs, and e) Farmers.
Development investor(s): Consortium of Public and
Private Seed Industry, Suri-Sehgal
Foundation and others
ICRISAT contact person(s)/principal
investigator(s): RP Thakur (r.thakur@cgair.org)
and BVS Reddy (BVS.Reddy@cgiar.org).