SORGHUM HEAD BUG INFESTATION AND MOULD INFECTION ON THE GRAIN QUALITY OF SORGHUM IN NORTHERN GHANA

Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ) panicle is reported to be attacked by a myriad of insect pest species, whose infestation predisposes the grains to fungal infection, thereby compromising their quality. A complex of bugs has been reported to infest sorghum, thereby affecting quality of grains in West Africa. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of head bug ( Eurystylus oldi (POPPIUS) infestation and mould infection on sorghum grain quality. An experiment consisting of eight sorghum breeding lines (two parental checks and six F8 derivatives), was carried out in fields at three Agro-ecological Zones (Nyankpala, Damongo and Manga) in Northern Ghana. Results showed that damage caused by head bug populations per panicle were not significant (P>0.05). Head bug damage was, however, found to be highly correlated with panicle grain mould ratings (PGMR) at all three locations. This points to the significant roles head bug damage plays in fungal infection of sorghum grains. The derivatives, on the other hand, suffered less PGMR than the compact headed Kapaala, across the three locations. The three dominant fungi isolated at Manga and Nyankpala included those of the genera Curvularia sp. (31.6 and 31.4%, respectively), Fusarium sp. (22.3 and 27.6%, respectively) and Thielaviopsis sp. (20.3 and 20.9%, respectively). At Damongo, Fusarium sp. (29.6%), Curvularia sp. (23.6%) and Mucor sp. (17.2%) were dominant. Grain quality, in terms of head bug and mould damage ratings, showed the following lines emerging superior at Manga (SARSORG-MRG-2011-3, SARSORG-SBG-2011-5 and SARSORG-SRG-2011-6), at Damongo (SARSORG-TRG-2011-1, SARSORG-SBG-2011-5 and SARSORG-MBG-2011-4) and at Nyankpala (SARSORG-MBG-2011-4, SARSORG-MRG-2011-3 and SARSORG-TRG-2011-1) and; thus suggest they may possess some desirable traits for which they could be selected for further improvement.La panicule du sorgho ( Sorghum bicolor ) a \ue9t\ue9 rapport\ue9e d\u2019\ueatre attaqu\ue9e par une multitude d\u2019esp\ue8ces d\u2019insectes pestes, dont l\u2019infestation pr\ue9dispose les grains \ue0 l\u2019infection des champignons, par cons\ue9quent compromet leur qualit\ue9. Un complexe de punaises a \ue9t\ue9 rapport\ue9 d\u2019infester le sorgho, donc affecte la qualit\ue9 des grains en Afrique de l\u2019Ouest. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019investiguer l\u2019effet de l\u2019infestation des punaises de t\ueate ( Eurystylus oldi , POPPIUS) et des moisissures sur la qualit\ue9 des grains du sorgho. Une exp\ue9rimentation comportant huit lign\ue9es am\ue9lior\ue9es du sorgho (deux contr\uf4les parentaux et six F8 d\ue9riv\ue9es), \ue9tait conduite au champ en trois zones agro-\ue9cologiques (Nyankpala, Damongo et Manga) au Nord du Ghana. Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 que les dommages caus\ue9s par les populations de punaises de t\ueate sur la panicule n\u2019\ue9taient pas significatifs (P>0,05). Le dommage de la punaise de t\ueate \ue9tait, toutefois, retrouv\ue9 hautement corr\ue9l\ue9 avec les scores de panicule de grains moisies (PGMR) \ue0 toutes les trois locations. Ceci montre le r\uf4le significatif que joue la punaise de t\ueate dans l\u2019infection fongique des grains du sorgho. Les d\ue9riv\ue9es, d\u2019autre part, ont souffert moins de PGMR que le Kapaala \ue0 t\ueate compacte, \ue0 travers les trois locations. Les trois champignons dominants isol\ue9s \ue0 Manga et Nyankpala comprennent ceux du genre Curvularia sp. (31,6 et 31,4%, respectivement), Fusarium sp. (22,3 et 27,6%, respectivement) et Thielaviopsis sp. (20,3 et 20,9%, respectivement). A Damongo, Fusarium sp. (29,6%), Curvularia sp. (23,6%) et Mucor sp. (17,2%) \ue9taient dominants. La qualit\ue9 du grain, en termes des scores du dommage de punaise de t\ueate et des moisissures, a montr\ue9 que les lign\ue9es suivantes \ue9taient sup\ue9rieures \ue0 Manga (SARSORG-MRG-2011-3, SARSORG-SBG-2011-5 et SARSORG-SRG-2011-6), \ue0 Damongo (SARSORG-TRG-2011-1, SARSORG-SBG-2011-5 et SARSORG-MBG-2011-4) et \ue0 Nyankpala (SARSORG-MBG-2011-4, SARSORG-MRG-2011-3 et SARSORG-TRG-2011-1) et\ua0; donc sugg\ue8re qu\u2019ils pourraient poss\ue9der quelques traits d\ue9sirables pour lesquels ils pourraient \ueatre s\ue9lectionn\ue9s pour une meilleure am\ue9lioration

Cowpea striga problems and research in Nigeria

Brief mention of research into the infestation of cowpeas by Striga gesnerioides conducted by staff of the Botany Department of the University of Nigeria at Nsukka is followed by more extensive discussion of work on this host-parasite relationship conducted at the Institute of Agricultural Research at Samaru. Investigations at the Institute have covered the following aspects: symptoms of infection and the extent of yield losses in Nigeria, screening for resistance under field conditions, the development of pot culture techniques, the effect of inoculum density on the number of emergent S. gesnerioides plants, the effects of the frequency of watering, the effect of the extent of lateral distribution in inoculum, the progress of infection with time, the effect of soil N content in the incidence of infection, the effect of N fertilizer application indices for measuring infection, screening cowpea lines for resistance and the inheritance of resistance. Proposed future work on the cowpea-S. gesnerioides relationship is noted

Genetic Enhancement of Pearl Millet for Downy Mildew Resistence

International Sorghum and Millets Newslette

Enhancing farmers’ access to technology for increased rice productivity in Ghana

A two-year emergency rice (Oryza sativa L.) initiative was launched in 2009 in response to the globalrice crises in 2008. The objective of this initiative in Ghana was to increase rice productivity in order toimprove food security. Project activities included planning sessions, demonstrations, training coursesand community seed production. The project made remarkable progress in enhancing access to qualityseed and fertilizer for over 12,600 farmers while expanding knowledge of best-bet productiontechnologies. Farmers produced 28,663 Mt of paddy which was 16,841 Mt above what they normallyproduced without project intervention. Average yield increased by 92% and also 4,093 women farmersconstituting about 32.4% of the total number of participating farmers benefited directly from the project.Seed fairs, rural radios and audio-visual broadcasts on improved rice production technologies wereused to reach non-participating farmers. The combination of methods that stimulated adoption ofimproved rice production technology was effective in achieving both increased paddy yields andhousehold income. We conclude that investment in rice technology transfer and production effortsduring the two-year period was well justified

Partnership for improved access to agro-inputs and technology: Some experiences from the emergency rice initiative project in Ghana

A two-year emergency rice (Oryza sativa L.) initiative project was launched in 2009 in response to the global rice crisis in 2008. The objective of this initiative in Ghana was to increase rice productivity in order to improve food security. Project activities included seed fairs, dissemination of information on improved production technologies using videos and rural radios, training of agro-input dealers,extension officers and farmers as well as promotion of best-bet practices through field demonstrations.The project made progress in strengthening the ability of agro-input dealers to create business linkages with input suppliers and extend their retail networks to rice farmers. Overall, 34 agro-input dealers were trained, in collaboration with the Ghana Agro-dealer Development project, on agro-input business management, product knowledge and rice production. Thirteen agro-input dealers were assisted to access credit for business development. Better financed, trained agro-dealers were then able to provide over 12,600 rice farmers with improved seed, mineral fertilizers, technical advice on agro-input use and the promotion of improved agronomic practices through field demonstrations. Some agro-input dealers even provided free inputs for the conduct of demonstrations on new products and good agronomic practices. On average, fertilizer application in demonstration trials increased paddy yields by 68 to 80%over the farmer practice of no fertilizer application. For the participating farmers, there were significant increases in rice paddy yields, reductions in the cost of operations and improvements in the contribution of rice to household incomes. The results suggest that a holistic and multi-stakeholder partnership is an efficient way to improve the access by small-holder resource-poor farmers to agro-inputs and technology and also an effective way to grow the rural agro-input marke