Evaluation of a Subset of Ethiopia Sorghum Collection Germplasm from the National Genetic Resources Program of the United States Department of Agriculture for Anthracnose Resistance

Abstract

Globally, one of the most devastating diseases of sorghum is anthracnose incited by Colletotrichum sublineola . During the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons, 94 and 64 accessions from the Ethiopian sorghum germplasm collection maintained by the National Genetic Resources Program of the United States Department of Agriculture were evaluated for anthracnose resistance. Seeds were planted in 1.8 m rows with 0.9 m row spacing in a randomized complete block design. The accessions and checks were replicated three times and 30 days after planting, inoculated by placing C. sublineola -colonized grains in the plant whorls. A total of 30 accessions, including PI533918, PI533923, PI534131 and PI534151 were resistant to the disease in both years. These identified resis tant sources can be used in breeding programs to develop anthracnose - resistant lines and hybrids.