ISSN 2375-1231
African Journal of Crop Science ISSN 2375-1231 Vol. 4 (2), pp. 268-274, February, 2016. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Determinants of the growth and yield parameters of sorghum genotypes screened for loose smut in the Sudan savanna region of Nigeria
1Rabiu Ibrahim*, 2Sayyu Kaita Danja and 2Moussa Murtala Umar
1Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa state, Nigeria.
2Department of Plant Science, Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 22 January, 2015
Abstract
One hundred and four sorghum genotypes were screened under field conditions for loose smut using the hypodermic stem injection artificial inoculation method and laid on a randomized complete block design with two replications. Results showed that, of the 104 sorghum genotypes screened for loose smuts, there was marked reduction in growth parameters in 26 (diseased) plants compared to healthy or non- infected (78) plants. Similarly, number of day to 50% heading as well as grain yield/hectare were significantly (P<0.05) affected in loose smut infected plants than in healthy plants, with the former usually having less number of days to heading, as well as less yield than the latter. However, day to 50% flowering was not significantly (P>0.05) affected even among the diseased plants. The present study have confirmed the fact that in loose smut, plants showing symptoms usually matured earlier and produced less grain yield but did not confirm the hypothesis that the affected plant flowers earlier than the healthy ones.
Key words: Growth and yield parameters, loose smut, sorghum genotypes, Sudan Savanna.