INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGY ISSN Print: 1560–8530; ISSN Online: 1814–9596 17–0531/2018/20–3–493–498 DOI: 10.17957/IJAB/15.0504 http://www.fspublishers.org Full Length Article To cite this paper: Zoclanclounon, Y.A.B., G. Kanfany, C. Thiaw, A. Fofana, N. Mbaye and N. Cisse, 2018. Assessment of pearl millet genotypes for downy mildew resistance and agronomic performance under field conditions in senegal. Int. J. Agric. Biol., 20: 493‒498 Assessment of Pearl Millet Genotypes for Downy Mildew Resistance and Agronomic Performance under Field Conditions in Senegal Yedomon Ange Bovys Zoclanclounon 1* , Ghislain Kanfany 1,2 , Cheikh Thiaw 3 , Amadou Fofana 3 , Nalla Mbaye 4 and Ndiaga Cisse 1 1 Centre d’Etudes Régional pour l’Amélioration de l’Adaptation à la Sécheresse, BP 3320, Route de Khombole, Thiès, Sénégal 2 West Africa Center for Crop Improvement, University of Ghana, PMB 30, Accra, Ghana 3 Centre National de Recherches Agronomiques de Bambey, Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles, BP 211 Bambey, Sénégal 4 Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, BP 5005 Fann-Dakar, Sénégal * For correspondence: angez9914@gmail.com Abstract Sclerospora graminicola is a pathogen that causes important damage in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Brown] fields in Asia and Africa. In order to identify new sources of resistance to this disease, a set of 20 genotypes was assessed during the rainy season 2015 at Bambey, Nioro, Kolda and Sinthiou Maleme research stations in Senegal. Comparative survey between locations showed that the highest downy mildew incidence (100%) was recorded in Kolda. The 7042S, an international susceptible check, showed downy mildew incidence of 91.12%, IP22441 line was susceptible at Kolda (incidence = 30.5%), resistant at Sinthiou Maleme (incidence = 6.5%), moderately resistant at Bambey (incidence = 18%) and highly susceptible at Nioro (incidence = 70%). IP22295 line was susceptible at Kolda (incidence = 24.5%) but resistant at Bambey (incidence = 0%), Nioro (incidence = 3.5%) and Sinthiou Maleme (incidence = 0%). A hierarchical cluster analysis of these tested genotypes integrating agronomic parameters and response to downy mildew has identified four genotype groups characterized by downy mildew resistance, vegetative growth, panicle yield and flowering time. This study has shown the variability of S. graminicola populations from different tested locations. Genotypes IP22315, IP2295, SOSAT-C88-Sadore and SOSAT-C88-Pantacheru presented stable resistance to downy mildew across the tested locations. These genotypes can be used as parents for breeding pearl millet varieties resistant to the downy mildew disease under Senegal environments. © 2018 Friends Science Publishers Keywords: Downy mildew; Incidence; Pearl millet; Resistance; Senegal Introduction Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an important crop grown in Asia and Africa. It is a vital staple food crop for poor people in dry-land areas (Das, 2017). Climate change resilience, soil salinity and acidity tolerance are key characteristics of this crop in sustaining food security, nutrition and health in dry-land zones (Jukanti et al., 2016). Approximately, 500 million people depend on pearl millet and it is currently grown on 28 million hectares throughout the world (Siddaiah et al., 2017). In Senegal, this cereal is the most cultivated with approximately 922,008 hectares as harvested area and 749,874 tons produced in 2015 (Diagne et al., 2017). Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kaffrine, Kolda and Tambacounda are the main pearl millet production regions in Senegal. One of the major biotic constraints of pearl millet production is downy mildew disease (Sharma et al., 2011). It is caused by an oomycete, Sclerospora graminicola, a very destructive pathogen that can cause 80% yield loss (Sudisha et al., 2011). Because of its genetic (Sastry et al., 1995) and pathogenic variability (Pushpavathi et al., 2006; Sudisha et al., 2009), identification and monitoring of new sources of resistance are important in downy mildew management. Several studies highlighted some host specific resistance (Hash et al., 2006; Sharma et al., 2011). But assessment of genotypes with interesting agronomic characteristic including resistance to downy mildew in Senegal field conditions is not clearly established. In addition, it is a great challenge to maintain durable stability in plant breeding when pathogen populations’ variability risk exists (Leonard, 1977; Dangl and Jones, 2001). In fact, characterization of potential S. graminicola populations’ virulence is currently unknown in Senegal. A multi-location monitoring of downy mildew virulence is one of the efficient ways to assess genotypes. It allows to finding out genotypes resistance status in natural conditions