Prof. Mathews M.DidaDepartment of Applied Plant SciencesSchool Of Agriculture & Food Security Maseno University, Kenya

Evaluation of Kenyan Finger millet accessions for Blast disease and Striga

weed

First Bio-Innovate Regional Scientific ConferenceUnited Nations Conference Centre (UNCC-ECA)Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 25-27 February 2013

Importance of finger millet (E.coracana)

Nutritious cereal in eastern Africa.

Rich in amino acids and minerals.

Excellent storage qualities.

Major Constraints to finger millet production

Blast disease

Striga weed

LodgingDrought

Objectives of studyTo evaluate response of diverse finger millet lines/accessions for Blast disease and Striga hermonthica in western Kenya, and To identify genotypes with best agronomic traits for breeding

80 finger millet lines were evaluated for blast and other agronomic characters at Maseno University farm long rains (LR) season of 2012 80finger millet lines were evaluated for Striga response in a Striga-sick farm in Ragengni in Siaya in LR Season of 2012

Experimental designs were Randomized Complete Blocks with 2 replicates of single 3 m long plots.

All experiments were done under natural disease or weed pressure.

Materials and Methods

Striga weed in experimental plots at Ragengni

Blast experiment:Maseno Site

Data collected;seed yield per plot, blast severity and lodging (on scales of 1-5), plant height, days to 50 percent flowering and threshing percentage

Striga experiment: Ragengni Site

Data collected;seed yield per plot, plant height, days to 50 percent flowering.

Striga weed damage ratings were visually taken on a scale of 1 to 5 at 60 and 80 days after planting.

Results and DiscussionSummary of results of phenotype screening at Maseno for top 20 percent of lines based on seed yield

Rank EntryDays to flow

Blast severity

Lodging score

Grain yield (g)

Plt height Threshing %

1 105 71 1.8 1 670 111.9 0.76

2 146 69 1.4 2 620 115.6 0.81

3 47 74 1.0 2.8 610 118.1 0.81

4 102 74 1.4 2 600 116.5 0.75

5 113 75 1.1 2 582.5 117.9 0.81

6 125 68 2.2 2.3 545 118.6 0.80

7 119 75 1.4 1.3 45 115.3 0.81

8 90 76 1.3 2.2 530 123.3 0.75

9 61 80 1.2 3.5 530 141.2 0.67

10 55 73 2.0 3 515 133.3 0.79

11 150 77 1.5 3.8 505 125.2 0.75

12 94 82 1.1 1.3 505 136.3 0.77

13 124 75 1.4 1.3 505 121 0.71

14 71 66 1.7 1 495 110 0.77

15 80 79 1.6 2 485 139.2 0.75

16 5 76 1.6 1.9 485 124.1 0.73

Mean 75.4 1.80 2.31 396.56 121.99 0.72

LSD 6.37 0.8 1.42 190.69 20.14 0.09

CV (%) 4.24 22.23 30.86 24.16 8.29 6.29

Results & Discussion Cont,• Genotypes score ranges• Blast Severity 1-3.7• Days to flowering 61-84• Lodging score 1-4.8• Threshing % 0.38-0.83

• 75 % of lines scored 2 or less for head blast

• Lodging was prevalent and serious at Maseno.

• Some tall and semi dwarf finger millet lines were resistant to lodging.

Rank ENTRYDays to fower

Grain Yield (g/plot)

Striga ratings at 60 days

Striga ratings at 80 days

Mean Striga Ratings

1 82 72 445 2.5 1.8 2.12 146 71 405 1.9 1.5 1.73 149 63 360 1.0 2.3 1.64 119 74 295 3.1 2.7 2.95 97 72 285 1.5 2.5 2.06 148 70 285 1.9 2.7 2.37 150 80 275 2.8 1.9 2.48 144 63 265 1.0 2.7 1.89 5 78 250 2.8 2.5 2.6

10 102 70 245 1.5 1.8 1.611 121 73 235 2.7 2.4 2.512 94 80 230 1.5 2 1.813 147 71 230 2.7 2.7 2.714 96 79 225 2.9 3 3.015 106 79 225 2.7 2.4 2.516 108 74 222.5 2.7 2.5 2.6

Mean 75.4 162.7 2.8 2.7 2.8LSD 6.4 122.6 1.1 0.9 0.9CV 4.2 37.8 20.4 16.5 15.5

Summary of results of Striga screening at Ragengni for top 20 percent of lines based on seed yield

CONCLUSIONS

1. Finger millet genotypes with the best blast severity rating of 1 were;

Entries 45 and 47 namely; GBK033368 or IE 2437and GBK033370 or IE 2555

2. Lodging resistant were(a).Semi dwarf lines (90-

115 cm)• Entries 23,71,105 & 141,

the IE 2431, IE 3534,IE 2412 & WhiteSel6,respectively.

(b). Tall lines (>120 cm)Entries 68,81,100 & 131namely; IE 2441, IE3520,IE

2485,IE2393,respectively.

CONCLUSIONS CONT.3. Entries 102 (IE2396,

146 (Gulu E) and 149 (White Sel6 x IE2035) were resistant to Striga weed and had severity rating of 1.6 or 1.7

4. The lowest grain yielders were susceptible and had severity ratings of 4.

These were entries nos.16, 22, 101, 113 & 141; IE

2377, IE 2459, IE 2427, IE 2567 &White Sel6, respectively.

Gulu-E

Recommendations

Further Study

1. Estimates of yield losses in finger millet due Striga weed infestation should be made under farmer’s fields using bigger plots.

2. Mechanisms of Striga weed resistance in finger millet should be determined.

3. The mechanisms of lodging resistance in tall finger millet lines should be determined.

Outputs4. The identified blast, lodging and Striga resistant

genotypes should be disseminated to farmers or be deployed in breeding programs.

Acknowledgements

• Maseno University

• Job Otieno, Field Assistant

• Jonathan Achuongo and Julius Ndenda, Field Attendants• Elly K Onde, Owner of Striga sick farm

• This research was funded by Sida through Bio-Innovate Africa