Survey of fungal foliar and panicle diseases of Sorghum in important Argo-Ecological zones of Uganda

A survey was conducted in 2014 to determine the prevalence of fungal diseases on Sorghum across different agro-ecological zones in Uganda. In Uganda, 37 sorghum fields were sampled in Dodoma and Singida, provinces representing the central drier areas, and in Simiyu, Shinyanga, Mwanza, and Mara Provinces representing the humid Lake-zone region, Farmers were possessively selected and at least 30 plants per field along two diagonal transects were visually assessed for disease. Ten and 14 diseases were identified in Tanzania respectively. Among the major diseases identified, those more prevalent in Uganda were leaf blight caused by Setosphaeria turcica (P= 0.0031) and rust caused by Puccinia purpurea (P < 0.0001). Major diseases, more prevalent in Tanzania, were anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum sublineola (P = 0.0207) and zonate leaf spot caused by Gloeocercospora sorghi (P=0.0312). We report for the first time, the occurrence of ladder leaf spot caused by Cercospora fusimaculans, confirm its occurence in Tanzania. This is the first comprehensive sorghum disease survey report in over 15 years in both countries. The survey will help prioritise research and extension efforts to manage these diseases. Experiment location on Google Map