West Africa Rice Development Association, Côte d ’ Ivoire

In response to the demand evidenced by a request from the West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA), this project was established to characterise the molecular and phenotypic variability of rice leaf scald (Monographella albescens) and rice blast (Magnaporthe grisea) populations at selected WARDA and NARS rice trial sites. This characterisation was intended to identify those sites best suited to use for the screening of rice varieties for disease resistance traits, in support of improvement and promotion of environmentally-benign methods of rice disease control in the region. Three trial sites in Nigeria and three in Ghana (the latter being trial sites for the DFID-PSP study on farmer-participatory variety selection for upland rice) were surveyed throughout the duration of the project, and samples of the two pathogens subjected to molecular and pathotypical analyses. Additional samples were also obtained from nearby farmers fields for comparative purposes. Blast samples collected from screening sites in Côte d ’ Ivoire and Burkina Faso were also characterised for their genetic and pathogenic diversity. Dr. Y. Séré, the Principal Pathologist at WARDA, completed a three month training and researc